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HISTOKY 



^i 



OF 



LUMBIA AED MONTOUR 



COUNTIES, 



PENNSYLVANIA, 



CONTAINING A HISTORY OF EACH COUNTY; THEIR TOWNSHIPS, TOWNS, 
VILLAGES, SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, INDUSTRIES, ETC.; PORTRAITS 
OF REPRESENTATIVE MEN; BIOGRAPHIES; HISTORY 
OF PENNSYLVANIA, STATISTICAL AND MIS- 
CELLANEOUS Matter, ETC. 



E3DITEI3 



BIT J. H- BJ^^TTXiE. 




ILIjTJSTI?..^TEr5. 



CHICAGO: 

A. WARNER & CO. 

1887. 



CHICAGO: 

JOHN MORRIS COMPANY, PRINTERS, 

118 AND 120 MONROE STREET. 



PREFACE. 



W -o-tl'^-"''g-""|frt/^^:J"glus settlements in the 
o, these counties, smTounded by he more ,ngo ^^ ^^ ^^^ 

Wyoming Valley at Sunbury, and the ^"^"^^^ j^^il,; exploits 

4estLnch," tas robbed these pages of mucW^^^ th P ^^ 

..adaHnga— ewh^^^^^^^ J , of a 

-rShrhrt:^.^^^^^^^ .. - - — -— - 

fXriirri"^arm^- Wilderness blossom li.e the 

^°^ To note the subsequent development and its ^^^'^^^^l^^^ZZ 
inspiration to the faithful discharge o the ^^^^^^,^''^ ^ g„„t, „, 
Ko pains have been ;P-f;;rp::;fre tLTeach other. Individual 
these counties, and to f '« ^^^^^^ rt nor carelessness to omit anythmg 

have been preserved. . ^ attributed to 

Errors will doubtless be ^-"'^^^tl^Lte s Id^^ken-but none, 
the writer's lack of proper equipment for the dut»su^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^ 

it is hoped, that will betray a d.spos.t»a ^ ™PP-^' °^ ^ ^1^^ .a^or has 
In the chapters upon the —.ps of «^ ""''■a J°u ^ ^^^.^ .^ 

^^^Tut'^^ttt^^*--'^^^^^^ 

ments gained in a w^^^J^-^L wishes to express his sense of 
In taking leave of the subject tne ^^ ^^^^ 

indebtedness to the gentlemen of ^^^ l^^J^^^^^^ ^::^,,,y ,,a assistance 
space fails to allow proper mention for the ^^'^^"^J^ J ^^^ ^ 

they have shown those engaged in this enterprise -^^2r:Z.J their kind- 
thatthe completeness of this volume may m some measure rep y 

ness. THE EDITOR. 

Philadelphia, Penn., April, 1887. 



COJSTTENTS. 



PART I. 



HISTOBY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



PAGE. 

CHAPTER I.— Introductory.— Cornells Jacob- 
son Mey, 1624-25. William Van Hulst, 1625 
-26. Peter Minuit, 1626-33. David Peter- 
sen de Vries, 1632-33. Wouter Van Twiller, 
1633-38 15-23 

CHAPTER II.— Sir William Keift, 1638-47. 
Peter Minuit, 1638-41. Peter Hollandaer, 
1641-43. John Printz, 1643-63. Peter Stuy- 
vesant, 1647-64. John Pappagoya, 1653-54. 
John Claude Rysingh, 1654-55 23-33 

CHAPTER III.— John Paul Jacquet, 1655-57. 
Jacob Alrichs, 1657-59. Goeran Van Dyck, 
1657-58. William Beekman, 1658-63. Alex. 
D'Hinoyossa, 1659-64 33-35 

CHAPTER IV.— Richard Nichols, 1664-67. Rob- 
ert Needham, 1664-68. Francis Lovelace, 
1667-73. John Carr, 1668-73. Anthony 
Colve, 1673-74. Peter Alrichs, 1673-74 35-41 

CHAPTER v.— Sir Edmund Andros, 1674-81. 
Edmund Cantwell, 1674-76. John Collier, 
1676-77. Christopher Billop, 1677-81 41-50 

CHAPTER VI.— William Markham, 1681-82. 
William Penn, 1682-84 51-61 

CHAPTER VII.— Thomas Lloyd, 1684-86. Five 
Commissioners, 1686-88. John Blackwell, 
1688-90. Thomas Lloyd, 1690-91. William 
Markham, 1691-93. Benjamin Fletcher, 
1693-95. William Markham, 1693-99 61-69 

CHAPTER VIII.— William Penn, 1699-1701. 
Andrew Hamilton, 1701-03. Edward Ship- 
pen, 1703-04. John Evans, 1704-09. Charles 
Gooken, 1709-17 69-75 



PAGK 

CHAPTER IX.— Sir William Keith, 1717-26. 
Patrick Gordon, 1726-36. James Logan, 
1736-38. George Thomas, 1738-47. Anthony 
Palmer, 1747^8. James Hamilton 1748-54 
75-89 

CHAPTER X.— Robert H. Morris, 1754-56. WU- 
liam Denny, 1756-59. James Hamilton, 
1759-63 89-97 

CHAPTER XL— John Penn, 1763-71. James 
Hamilton, 1771. Richard Penn, 1771-73. 
John Penn, 1773-76 98-104 

CHAPTER XII.— Thomas Wharton, Jr., 1777- 
78. George Bryan, 1778. Joseph Reed, 1778 
-81. William Moore, 1781-82. John Dickin- 
son, 1782-85. Benjamin Franklin, 1785-88 
104-114 

CHAPTER XIII.— Thomas Mifflin, 1788-99. 
Thomas McKean, 1799-1808. Simon Snyder, 
1808-17. William Findlay, 1817-20. Joseph 
Heister, 1820-23. John A. Shulze, 1823-29. 
George Wolfe, 1829-35 Joseph Ritner, 
1835-39 114^121 

CHAPTER XIV.— David R. Porter, 1839-45. 
Francis R. Shunk, 1845-48. William F. 
Johnstone, 1848-52. William Bigler, 1852-55. 
James Pollock, 1855-58. William F. Packer, 
1858-61. Andrew G. Curtin, 1861-67. John 
W. Geary, 1867-73. John F. Hartranft, 
1873-78. Henry F. Hoyt, 1878-82. Robert 
E. Pattison, 1882-86. James A. Beaver, 
1886 122-131 

Gubernatorial Table 132 



PART 11. 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 



PAGE. 

CHAPTER I.— General Topography and 

Geology 3-38 

Natural Divisions of the State — Location 
of Columbia County — Drainage — Ways — 
Local Topography — Physical Changes — 
Northern Glacier— Geological Terms De- 
fined — Glacial Characteristics — The Ter- 
minal Moraine — Its Course Outlined — 
Flooded Rivers — Paleozoic System— Nomen- 
clatures Compared — Geological Structure — 
Devonian Rooks— The Catskill— Chemung- 
Hamilton — Lower Helderberg — Salina and 
Clinton Series — Fossil Iron Ore- Montour 
Ridge — Its Ore Deposits— f)utcrops South of 
the Susquehanna— Coal Measures— Typical 
Coal Section, etc. 



PAGE. 

CHAPTER II.— The Planting and Exten- 
sion of the Early Settlements 38-65 

Aboriginal Occupants — Penn's Policy — 
Early Treaties — Encroachment of Settle- 
ments — The Walking Purchase — French 
War— The Treaty of 1756— The Pontiac 
Conspiracy — Fort Stanwix Treaty (176S) — 
Indian Trails — Moravian Missionaries — The 
First Settler— Indian Hostilities — Frontier 
Activities in 1778 — Wyoming Massacre — De- 
fense of the Frontier— Hunter's Report — 
Division of Public Sentiment — Depopula- 
tion of the Border — Peace and Immigration 
— Character of Earliest Settlement — Vary- 
ing Nationalities — New Jersey Emigrants, 
etc. 



yi 



CONTENTS, 



PAGE. 

CHAPTER III. — Organization of the 
COINTY 65-97 

., Formation of Northumberland County — 

Early Township Organization — Division of 
Columbia County Territory — Its Boundaries 
— Location of the County Seat — Opposition 
Manifested — The .Star of Empire — Township 
Development — The County .Seat Contest Re- 
vived — The Issue Forcibly Presented — Vote 
of the People Asked— Result of the Elec- 
tions — The Line of Division — Readjustment 
of Township Lines — Court-House, Jail and 
Other Public Buildings — First Court — 
Sketches of President Judges— Local Bar — 
Murder Trial — Table Showing Order and 
Nature of Formation of the Townships — 
Lists of President and Associate Judges, and 
Members of the Bar — County Officials. 

CHAPTER IV.— The Social Development 

97-123 

The (bounty's Pioneers — Early Facilitiesjfor 
Travel and First Dwelling Places— Primi- 
-' tive Farming and Domestic Life — Notes 
from an old Church Record — Society of 
Friends— Presbyterian Church— Introduc- 
tion of Methodism — The Lutherans — Other 
Religious Organizations — Educational Be- 
ginnings—The Early .Schools of Columbia 
County — Secondary Instruction — Statistics 
— Material Development — Water Transporta- 
tion — Railroads — Agricultural Associations 
— The Press— Minor Periodicals— Character 
of the Early Newspaper— Politics and Polit- 
ical Favors — Legislative and Congressional 
Changes, etc. 

CHAPTER v.— The Storm and Stress Pe- 
riod 124-151 

Columbia's Contribution to the Mexican 
War — First Organization for the Civil War 
— Enrollment and Drafts — Opposition and 
the Advent of the Military— Arbitrary Ar- 
rests—The "Iron Guards" — Career of the 
Sixth Reserves— In the Peninsular Cam- 
paign — Antietam and Fredericksburg — 
Forty-third (First Artillery) Regiment — 
Capture of Brockway — Chancellorsville and 
Meade's Campaign — The Fifty-second Reg- 
iment — The Eighty-fourth — In the Gettys- 
burg Campaign— One Hundred and Twelfth 
Regiment — One Hundred and Thirty-second 
— One Hundred and Thirty-sixth — Emer- 
gency Men of 1862— Drafted Militia— Emer- 
gency Men of 1863 — Contributions to the 
One Year Service — The Medical Fraternity 
— Medical Society — Active Members of the 
Profession, etc. 

CHAPTER VI.— Bloomsburg 151-184 

James McClure — A projected Quaker Com- 
munity—The First Birth and First Death- 
Fort McClure — The Lyon-Cooper Incident 
— Settlement at the Close of the War— Lud- 
■wig Eyer's Town — Its First Inhabitants — 
Taverns, Stores, Manufactures — The Town 
in 1838 — Incipient Development of the Iron 
Industry — The Growth of Industrial Enter- 
prises — Travel and Transportation Facilities 
— Increase of Population — Municipal Or- 
ganization — Internal Improvements — Pub- 
lic Schools — The Academy— The Literary 
Institute — The State Normal School — Secret 
and Benevolent Societies — Churches — Ceme- 
teries. 

CELA.PTER VII.— Scott Township 181-190 

Hon. George Scott— Character and Na- 
tionality of the First Settlers— Fort Wheeler 
— An Incident of its Siege— The Melicks — 
Subsequent Settlement — The Mining Indus- 
try — The Fisheries — Light Street— Espy- 
town — Webb's Lane — Boat Building— Inter- 
nal Improvements — Schools — Religious In- 
terests — Methodist Churches — The Presby- 
terian Church of Light Street — The Luther- 
an Church of Espy— Evangelical Churches. 



PAGE. 

CHAPTER VIII.— Briarcreek Township and 

Borough of Berwick 191-207 

Berwick-on-Tweed— Evan Owen — Owens- 
ville— Berwick Laid Out and Formally 
Named — Surrounding Natural Scenery— 
The Browns and Other Settlers— First Im- 
migrants^to Briarcreek Township — Certain 
Features of Domestic and Social Life — 
Initiatory Steps in Promoting Internal Im- 
provement—The Turnpikes and Bridge— Im- 
provement in the Appearance of the Town 
—Hotels and Stage Coaches— Political Organ- 
ization—The " Codorus " and the " Susque- 
hanna" Canal Excavations — Manufactures 
in Briarcreek Township — Evansville — 
Foundryville — The Jackson & Woodiu 
Manufacturing Company — Business Inter- 
ests—The Water Company — The Bank — 
Battalion Days — Military Record — Secret So- 
cieties—Schools — Berwick Academy — The 
Society of Friends — Reformed, Lutheran, 
Methodist, Evangelical, Baptist and Presby- 
terian Churches— Young Men's Christian 
Association. 

CHAPTER IX.— Centre Township 207-219 

Process of Erection— Extent and Bound- 
aries — The Salmon, Aikman and Van Cam- 
pen Families — Indian Tragedies — Difterent 
Versions of the Story of the Salmon Family 
■ — The Van Campen Tragedy— Settlement at 
the Close of the War— The Half-way House 
— Development of the Limestone Resources 
— Centre ville —Methodist Churches — Briar- 
creek Presbyterian Church — Lutheran, Re- 
formed, Evangelical and Baptist Congrega- 
tions — Fort Jenkins. 

CHAPTER X.— FiSHlNGCREEK T0WNSHIP..219-224? »/ 
The Original and Comprehensive Mean- 
ing of the Name— Its Finally Restricted 
Political Significance — Character of the 
First Settlement — Daniel McHenry — Set- 
tlers on Huntingdon Creek— Fishingcreek 
and Other Postoffices— Villages— Methodist 
Churches — Reformed Churches — Church of 
Christ (Disciples) at Stillwater. 

CHAPTER XL— SUGARLOAF AND Benton 

Townships 224-232: 

SuGARLOAF — Tenacity with which De- 
scendants of the Original Settlers Have 
Remained in the Same Locality a Charac- 
teristic of the Population of this Section — 
John J. Godhard and His Family — Will- 
iam Hess, Philip Fritz, Christian Laubach, 
Ezekiel Cole and John Kile — The North 
Mountain a Famous Hunting Region — An 
1/ Incident of 1836 — John McHenry's Experi- 
' ence as a Hunter — Hunting as a Business — 

Farming Implements — Cole's Mills — Civil 
Engineering — Traveling Facilities — Her- 
rington's Foundry— Schools — PostotKces — 
Saint Gabriel's Church — Methodist Episco- 
pal and Methodist Protestant Societies. 
Benton — Organization of Sugarloaf^Causes 
of the Division — Benton Erected — Early Set- 
tlement — The Penn Manor Lands — Social 
Customs — Schools — The Newspaper as an 
Educator in Country Districts — Postoffices 
— Churches. 

CHAPTER XII.— Greenwood and Jackson 
Townships 234-245 

Greenwood — Geographical Situation — Origi- 
nal Ownership of the Land — John Eves, the 
First Settler— The Journey with His Family 
— Unsuccessful EfTort to Introduce Hogs— 
The Flight and Return— Other Early .Set- 
tlers—Roads — Lumbering — Millville — Busi- 
ness Interests— Social and Secret Societies — 
Rohrsburg — Industries in the Vicinity — 
Churches — Public Schools — Greenwood 
Seminary. 

Jackson — Causes and Circumstances of its 
Sei)arate Poliiical Organization — Nature of 
the Tenure by which the Lands Were Held 



CONTENTS. 



Vll 



PAGE. 

—Settlement and Improvement— A Panther 
Adventure— Roads— Mail Routes and Post- 
offices— Waller—Schools—Churches. 

'CHAPTER XIII.— Mount Pleas.\nt and 
Orange Townships 245-256 

Mount Pleasant— Political Organization- 
Population— The Mount Pleasant Road— 
Welliversville — Canby — Mordansville — 
Manufactures— Churches— Schools. 

Orange— Position and Topography— Forma- 
tion as a Political Division— Indian Tradi- 

, tions— Abram Kline— Subsequent Immi- 
grants—Early Industries— Cleniuel G. Rick- 
etts, Proprietor of Orangeville— Its First 
Residents, Houses, Stores and Hotels— In- 
cidents of Village Life— Business and Man- 
ufacturing Interests— Churches— Secret So- 
cieties—Schools—The Academy. 

CHAPTER XIV.— Hemlock and Montour 

Townships 256-263 

Hemlock — Erection — Early Surveys— An 
Incident of Indian Adventure— German 
Settlers- The Iron and Slate Industries— 
The Buckhorn Tree— Buckhorn Village- 
Schools — Churches. 
Montour— Situation and Boundaries— Leon- 
ard Rupert— Successive Highways of Travel 
—The Stage Route, Canal, and Railroads- 
Formation of the Township — Rupert — 
Manufactures — Schools — The Methodist 
Episcopal Church. 

CHAPTER XV.— Madison and Pine Town- 
ships 264-269 

Madison — Geography and Topography of 
Madison— Indian History Associated with 
the Chillisquaque— TheWhitmoyer Tragedy 
—Priority of Settlement in this Region 
Explained— An Anomalous Survey— Roads 
—Formation of the Township — Stage 
Travel- Jerseytown- Industrial Features- 
Schools— Churches 
Pine— Character of the Surface— Exploits of 
Hunters in the Pine Swamps— John Lyon— 
The Asylum Land Company— Erection of 
Pine— Sereno— Schools— F. & A. M. Society 
—Churches. 

•CHAPTER XVI.— Catawissa and Frank- 
lin Townships 270-285 

Catawissa— Formation, Extent and Pres- 
ent Limits of Catawissa— Orthography of 
the Name— .James Le Tort- His Letter 
— Lapackpitton's Town— The Legend of 
Minnetunkee— Quaker Settlement at Cata- 
wissa— German Immigrants— "Tom Gau- 
ger "—The Furry Tragedy— Laying Out of 
" Hughesburg, alias Catawissey " — Early 
Mills, Stores and Merchants— The Bridge— 
Railroads— Manufactures— Building Asso- 
ciations—Extension of the Building Area— 



PAGE. 

Keed of Stronger Local Government— Inter- 
nal Improvements — Business Interests — 
Fraternal and Benevolent Societies- 
Churches — Schools. 
Franklin— Erection — Settlement— Schools — 
Churches. 

CHAPTER XVII.— Mifflin Township 286-291 

Formation— Physical Features — Early Set- 
tlers—The German Element— Founding of 
Mifflinville— The Town Plot— First Houses 
—People, Stores, Hotels, etc.— " Lost Arts" 
— Town Committee — Churches — South 
Mifflin Mills. 

CHAPTER XVIIL— Maine Township.... ...292-294 

Formation — Topographical Characteristics 
— First Settlement— Hauck's Furnace-Main- 
ville Mills— Railroads— Mainville-Churches 
— Schools. 

CHAPTER XIX.— Beaver Township 294-298 

Physical Features— Alexander McCauley 
and Andrew Harger— Abduction of the Lat- 
ter by the Indians— Settlement— Political 
Organization — Railroads— Coal— The Tide- 
Water Pipe Line— Beaver Valley Mills- 
Schools — Churches. 

CHAPTER XX.— RoARiNGCREEK Township. 

298-301 

The Natne and Formation — Surveys — 
The Reading Road — Mills — Millgrove— 
Churches— Schools. 

CHAPTER XXL— Locust Township 301-310 

Formation— Land Warrants— Quaker Im- 
migrants—A Mystery of the Forest— An 
Early Wedding— Roads— Mills— German Im- 
migration — The Reading Road — Stage 
Coaches — Esther Furnace — Slabtown — 
Postal Facilities— Kernville—Rhoadstown 
—Numidia— Schools— Churches. 

CHAPTER XXII.— CoNYNGHAM Township 

AND BOP.OUGII OF Centralia 310-318 

The Hon. John Nesbitt Conyngham— The 
Erection of this Township— The Red Tav- 
ern—Conflicting Land Titles— Girard's Pur- 
chase—Locust Mountain Coal and Iron 
Company— The Successive Opening of Col- 
lieries — Statistics of Coal Product for 1882. 
Centralia— The " Bull's Head "—The Town 
Laid Off— First Houses, Store and Post- 
office— Increase of Population— Borough 
Organization — Development of Business 
Interests — Mollie Maguire Disturbauces — 
Churches— Fraternal and Benevolent Socie- 
ties— Locustdale — Montana — The Shanties 
— Germantown — Schools — Character of the 
People Contrasted with the General, So- 
cial, Religious and Educational Status 
Elsewhere in the County. 



biogbaphicaIj sketches— part II. 



PAGE. 

Bloomsburg (in alphabetical order) "..•-. 321 

Bloomsburg (not in alphabetical order— T. C. 

Harter, M. D.) 368 

Beaver Township • 368 

Benton Township •••;•;; .■■,■■ Hi 

Briarcreek Township and Borough of Berwick.. 383 

Catawissa Township 396 

Centre Township ................. 411 

Conyngham Township and Borough of Centralia 428 

Fishingcreek Township 434 

Franklin Township 468 

Greenwood Township 464 

Hemlock Township 484 



PAGE. 

Jackson Township 489 

Locust Township 492 

Madison Township 501 

Maine Township 506 

Mifflin Township 509 

Montour Township 513 

Mount Pleasant Township 516 

Orange Township 521 

Pine Township 527 

Roaringcreek Township 532 

Scott Township .533 

Sugarloaf Township 538 



Yin- 



CONTENTS. 



POBTRAITS-PART II. 



PAGE. 

■^ Barton, Caleb 145 

t Brown, E. B 63 

-' Brown, J. C 253 

' Buckalew, C. R Parti, 45 

: Buckalew, John M 91 

" Creyeling, G. W 181 

^ Elwell, William 33 

r Ent, Wellington H 43 

•- Eves, Ellis 163 

t. Eyer, Rev. W. J 2 

•^ Fortner, Benjamin P 199 

w Funston, John A 73 



PAGE. 

''Barter, T. C, M. D 319 

Kester. A. P 271 

Knorr, Samuel 127 

Low, George L 289 

Low, E. W. M 235 

McKelvy, William 13 

McReynolds, J 63 

Neal, William 109 

Pohe, Joseph 217 

Pursel, Sylvester 307 

Snyder, Daniel Parti, 79 

Waller, Rev. D. J 23 



PAET III. 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 



PAGE. 

CHAPTER I.— Indians 3- 7 

Their Characteristics— The Government's 
Treatment of Them— The Indians in the 
War of the Revolution— Their Depreda- 
tions and Cruelties— The Curry Tragedy— 
Madame Montour. 

CHAPTER II.— Some of the Early Fami- 
lies 7-18 

Their Primitive Ways— The Montgomerys 
—Col. Montgomery's Battalion— Gen. Mont- 
gomery's Sketch— Phillip Maus— The Gulic- 
ses, Gearharts, Wilsons and Other Pioneers 
—Early Blacksmith Shops, Factories, Etc. 

CHAPTER III.— Eakly History— County 
Organization— Public Buildings, etc..18-28 

Origin of Its Name— Its First Survey, 
etc.— Ingress of Pioneers— Hardships of 
the Settlers— Primitive Navigation- County 
Organization — Public Buildings — Reflec- 
tions—Court House and Jail— Danville 
Hospital for the Insane. 

CHAPTERIV.— Description— Topography— 

Geology— Agricultiire, etc 28-38 

Hills, Valleys, Rivulets and Plains— Iron 
Ore in the County— First Orchards, Cider 
Mill and Press— Pomology— Agricultural 
Societies. 

CHAPTER v.— Internal Improvements 38-44 

Necessity the Mother of Invention— An 
Old Settler's Experience — Turnpikes— Ca- 
nal— The Danville Bridge— Railroads. 

CHAPTER VI.— Border Wars— War 1812- 

15— Mexican War— Civil War, etc 44-51 

Montour County in All These Struggles 
—Its Complement to the War of 1814— The 
Danville Militia— The Danville Blues— The 
Light Horse— The Columbia Guards— The 
Montour Rifles— The First in War— The 
Baldy Guards— Second Artillery— Danville 
Fencibles— Company E, Sixth Pennsylvania 
Reserves— Companies A and K, Thirteenth 
Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia— Company 
F, National Guards. 

CHAPTER VII.— Schools 52-58 

A Disquisition on Education — Early 
Schools and School Buildings in Montour 
County— Recollections of J. Fraser— Dan- 
ville Academy — Limestoneville Institute- 
Free Schools— School Statistics, etc. 



page. 

CHAPTER VIII.— Medical 61-63 

First Regular Physician — Early Medical 
Men and Their Students — Drs. Strawbridge, 
Magill, Murray, Gearharts, etc. — Physi- 
cians who have Registered in the County 
Since 1881. 

CHAPTER IX.— Bench .^nd Bar 64-66 

First Court in Danville — First President 
.Judge and Associates — First Officers of the 
Court, etc.— Earliest Lawyers to Locate in 
the County — Judge Cooper, Sr., Judge Grier, 
Judge Lewis and Others — Early Lawyers in 
the County. 

CHAPTER X.— Newspapers 66-72 

Present Literary Pabulum of the County 
— The Columbia Gazette — The Express — The 
Watchman — The Danville Intelligencer — The 
Daily Sun — Der Tariff Advokat — The Dan- 
ville Democrat — The Montour American and 
The Montour Herald— The Danville Record — 
The National Weekly Record — The Daily 
Record — The Medium — The Independent — The 
Mentor — The Gem. 

CHAPTER XL— Officials and Statistics...72-74 

Members ©f Congress — State Senators — 

Lower House — County Commissioners — 

Treasu rers — Sheriffs— Prothonotariei — Last 

Census of the County, and other Statistics. 

CHAPTER XII.— Danville 75-118 

Descriptive — Whom Founded By, and 
Name — The Town Plat — The Delaware In- 
dians — Phillip Maus and Other Early Pio- 
neers — The Montgomeries — Early Mills and 
Other Industries — First Fourth of July Cel- 
ebration — Early Preachings, Schools, etc. — 
Early Physicians — The Early Dead in the 
Old Presbyterian Church Cemetery — Inter- 
nal Improvements — Fifty-six years Ago — 
The Canal and its Facilities — Incorporation 
as a Borough— Industries — Churches— Socie- 
ties — Free Library — Water Works — Postof- 
fice — Borough Officials. 

CHAPTER XIII— Townships 121-138 

Mahoning 121 

List of taxables, 1798 — The Danville Insane 
Asylum — The Danville and Mahoning Alms- 
house. 

Anthony 122 

Its Erection and Name — Early Church 
Meetings — Preachers and Officers — Col. Rob- 
ert Clark — White Hall— Exchange. 



CONTENTS, 



IX 



PAGE. 

Derry 125 

Very Early Settlers — Brady's Fort — Early 
Mills — Pioneer Preachers — Borough of 
Washingtonville — Its Incorporation, Settle- 
ment and Early Days. 

Limestone 128 

Its Location — Henry and Joseph Gibson — 
The Valiet and Other Families— Limestone- 
ville and its History. 

Liberty 128 

Col. Thos. Strawbridge— The McWill- 
iamses and Currys — Early Record — Early 
Settlers — The Oldest Church — Mooresburg. 
Valley 133 



PAGE. 

First Permanent Settlement— The Curry 
Tragedy— Letter of Date 1783— Early Mills— 
The Maus Family— The Township Poor 
Farm— The Stutfelts— Churches— Mausdale. 

Maybkrry 135 

Its Boundaries— Formation and Name — 
Topography — First Settlements — Census, 
1880 — Schools and Churches. 

Cooper 137 

Its Location — Topography, Geology, etc. 
Grovania. 

West Hemlock 137 

New Columbia — Topography — Early Set- 
tlers—The Crossleys, Sandels and Cromleys. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES-PAST III, 



page. 

Danville 141 

Anthony Township 180 

Cooper Township 190 

Derry Township and Borough of Washington- 
ville 193 

Liberty Township 198 



PAGE. 

Limestone Township 204 

Mahoning Township 211 

Mayberry Township 214 

Valley Township 215 

WestHemlock Township 219 



PORTRAITS-PART III. 



PAGE. 

'' Beaver, Thomas 19 

; Boyd, D. M ^ 49 

. Bright, Dennis 99 

' Chalfant, Thomas 79 

■ Corell, Joseph 159 

'' Hoffa, J. P., M. D 139 

' Holloway, W. K 129 

' Hunter, Joseph : 39 

i^ Magill, W. H., M. D..... 2 



PAGE. 

Maus, Philip F 29 

Morgan, Dan 109 

Morrison, H. S 149 

i Newbaker, P. C, M. D 69 

Ridgway, M. S 119 

Schultz, S. S., M. D 59 

Strawbridge, James D., M. D 9 

Van Alen, T. 89 



MISCELLANEOUS, 

PAGE. 

Map ot Columbia and Montour Counties Part I, 11 

Map showing various purchases from Indians Part 1, 113 

Diagram showing proportionate annual production of Anthracite Coal since 1820 Part 1, 118 

Table showing amount of Anthracite Coal produced in each region since 1820 Part 1, 119 

Table showing vote for goyernors of Pennsylvania since organization of State Part 1, 132 



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PART I. 



istory«^Pennsylvania, 



BY SAMUEL P. BATES. 



" God, that has given it i-ne through many difficulties, "will, I believe, 
bless and nnake it the seed of a nation. I shall have a tender eare to the 
government that it be well laid at first. ----- i do, therefore, 
desire the Lord's w^isdona to guide me, and those that may be concerned 
"vvith me, that -we may do the thing that is truly -wise and just." 

WILLIAM PENN. 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



CHAPTEE I. 



Introductory — Cornelis Jacobson Mey, 1624-25— William Van Hulst, 1625- 
26— Peter Minuit, 1626-33— David Petersen de Vries, 1632-33— Wouter 
Van Twiller. 1633-38. 

IN the early colonization upon the American continent, two motives were 
principally operative. One was the desire of amassing sudden wealth 
without great labor, %vhich tempted advejituroua spii'its to go in search of gold, 
to trade valueless trinkets to the simple natives for rich furs and skins, and even 
to seek, amidst the wilds of a tropical forest, for the fountain whose healing 
waters could restore to man perpetual youth. The other was the cherished 
purpose of escaping the unjust restrictions of Government, and the hated ban 
of society against the worship of the Supreme Being according to the honest 
dictates of conscience, which incited the humble devotees of Christianity to 
forego the comforts of home, in the midst of the best civilization of the age, 
and make for themselves a habitation on the shores of a new world, where they 
might erect altars and do homage to their God in such habiliments as they 
preferreei, and utter praises in such note as seemed to them good. This pur- 
pose was also incited by a certain romantic temper, common to the race, es- 
pecially noticeable in youth, that invites to some uninhabited jepot, and Ras- 
selas and Robinson Crusoe- like to begin life anew. 

William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, had felt the heavy hand of 
persecution for religious opinion's sake. As a gentleman commoner at Ox- 
ford, he had been lined, and finally expelled from that venerable seat of learn- 
ing for non-comf ormity to the established worship. At home, he was whipped 
and turned out of doors by a father who thought to reclaim the son to the 
more certain path of advancement at a licentious court. He was sent to prison 
by the Mayor of Cork. For seven months he languished in the tower of Lon- 
don, and, finally, to complete his disgrace, he was cast into Newgate with com- 
mon felons. Upon the accession of James II, to the throne of England, over 
fourteen hundred persons of the Quaker faith were immured in prisons for a 
conscientious adherence to their religious convictions. To escape this harassing 
persecution, and find peace and quietude from this sore proscription, was the 
moving cause which led Penn and his followers to emigrate to America. 

Of all those who have been foundei's of States in near or distant ages, none 
have manifested so sincere and disinterested a spirit, nor have been so fair ex- 
emplars of the golden rule, and of the Redeemer's sermon on the mount, as 
William Penn. In his preface to the frame of government of his colony, he 
says: " The end of government is first to teiTify evil-doers; secondly, to cher- 
ish those who do well, which gives government a life beyond corruption, and 



16 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

makes it as durable in the world, as good men shall be. So that government 
seems to be a part of religion itself, a thing sacred in its institution and end. 
For, if it does not directly remove the cause, it crushes the effects of evil, and 
is an emanation of the same Divine power, that is both author and object of 
pure religion, the difference lying here, that the one is more free and mental, 
the other more corporal and compulsive in its operations; but that is only to 
evil-doers, government itself being otherwise as capable of kindness, goodness 
and charity, as a more private society. They weakly err, who think there is no 
other use of government than correction, which is the coarsest part of it. 
Daily experience tells us, that the care and regulation of many other affairs 
more soft, and daily necessary, make up much the greatest part of government. 
Governments, like clocks, go from the motion men give them, and as govern- 
ments are made and moved by men, so by them are they ruined, too. Where- 
fore, governments rather depend upon men, than men upon governments. Let 
men be good, and the government cannot be bad. If it be ill, they will cure 
it. But if men be bad, let the government be never so good, they will endeavor 
to warp and spoil to their turn. * * * That, therefore, which makes a good 
constitution, must keep it, men of wisdom and virtue, qualities, that because they 
descend not with worldly inheritances, must be carefully propagated by a vir- 
tuous education of youth, for which, after ages will owe more to the care and 
prudence of founders and the successive magistracy, than to their parents for 
their private patrimonies. * * * We have, therefore, with reverence to God, 
and good conscience to men, to the best of our skill, contrived and composed the 
Frame and Laws of this government, viz. : To support power in reverence 
with the people, and to secure the people from the abuse of power, that they 
may be free by their just obedience, and the magistrates honorable for their 
just administration. For liberty without obedience is confusion, and obedi- 
ence without liberty is slaveiy." 

Though born amidst the seductive arts of the great city, Penn's tastes were 
rural. He hated the manners of the corrupt court, and delighted in the homely 
labors and iunocent employments of the farm. " The country," he said, "is 
the philosopher's garden and library, in which he reads and contemplates the 
power, wisdom and goodness of God. It is his food as well as study, and gives 
him life as well as learning." And to his wife he said upon taking leave of 
her in their parting interview: "Let my children be husbandmen, and house- 
wives. It is industrious, healthy, honest, and of good report. This leads to 
consider the works of God, and diverts the mind from being taken up with vain 
arts and inventions of a luxurious world. Of cities and towns of concourse, 
beware. The world is apt to stick close to those who have lived and got wealth 
there. A country life and estate I love best for my children." 

Having thus given some account at the outset of the spirit and purposes of 
the founder, and the motive which drew him to these shores, it will be in 
place, before proceeding with the details of the acquisition of territory, and 
the coming of emigrants for the actual settlement under the name of Pennsyl- 
vania, to say something of the aborigines who were found in possession of the 
soil when first visited by Europeans, of the condition of the surface of the 
country, and of (he previous attempts at settlements before the coming of Penn. 

The surface of what is now known as Pennsylvania was, at the time of the 
coming of the white men, one vast forest of hemlock, and pine, and beech, 
and oak, unbi'oken, except by an occasional rocky barren upon the precipitous 
mountain side, or by a few patches of prairie, which had been reclaimed by 
annual burnings, and was used by the indolent and simple-minded natives for 
the culture of a little maize and a few vegetables. The soil, by the annual 



I 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 17 

accumulations of leaves and abundant growths of forest vegetation, was luxu- 
rious, and the trees stood close, and of gigantic size. The streams swarmed 
with fish, and the forest abounded with game. Where now are cities and 
hamlets filled with busy populations intent upon the accumulation of wealth, 
the mastery of knowledge, the pursuits of pleasure, the deer browsed and 
sipped at the water's edge, and the pheasant drummed his monotonous note. 
Where now is the glowing furnace from which day and night tongues of flame 
are bursting, and the busy water wheel sends the shuttle flashing through the 
loom, half-naked, dusky warriors fashioned their spears with rude implements 
of stone, and made themselves hooks out of the bones of animals for alluring 
the finny tribe. Where now are fertile fields, upon which the thrifty farmer 
turns his furrow, which his neighbor takes up and runs on until it reaches 
from one end of the broad State to the other, and where are flocks and herds, 
rejoicing in rich meadows, gladdeaed by abundant fountains, or reposing at the 
heated noontide beneath ample shade, not a blow had been struck against the 
giants of the forest, the soil rested in virgin purity, the streams glided on in 
majesty, un vexed by wheel and unchoked by device of man. 

Where now the long train rushes on with the speed of the wind over 
plain and mead, across streams and under mountains, awakening the echoes of 
the hills the long day through, and at the midnight hour screaming out its 
shrill whistle in fiery defiance, the wild native, with a fox skin wrapped about 
his loins and a few feathers stuck in his hair, issuing from his rude hut, trot- 
ted on in his forest path, followed by his squaw with her infant peering forth 
from the rough sling at her back, pointed his canoe, fashioned from the barks 
of the trees, across the deep river, knowing the progress of time only by the 
rising and setting sun, troubled by no meridians for its index, starting on his 
way when his nap was ended, and stopping for rest when a spot was reached 
that pleased his fancy. Where now a swarthy population toils'ceaselessly deep 
down in the bowels of the earth, shut out trom the light of day in cutting out 
the material that feeds the fires upon the forge, and gives genial warmth to the 
lovers as they chat merrily in the luxurious drawing room, not a mine had 
been opened, and the vast beds of the black diamond rested unsunned beneath 
the superincumbent mountains, where they had been fashioned by the Creator's 
hand. Rivers of oil seethed through the impatient and uneasy gases and vast 
pools and lakes of this pungent, parti -colored fluid, hidden away from the 
coveting eye of man, guarded well their own secrets. Not a derrick protruded 
its well-balanced form in the air. Not a drill, with its eager eating tooth de- 
scended into the flinty rock No pipe line diverted the oily tide in a silent, 
ceaseless current to the ocean's brink. The cities of iron tanks, filled to burst- 
ing, had no place amidst the forest solitudes. Oil exchanges, with their vex- 
ing puts and calls,. shorts aud longs, bulls and bears, had not yet come to dis- 
turb the equanimity of the red man, as he smoked the pipe of peace at the 
council fire. Had he once seen the smoke and soot of the new Birmingham of 
the West, or snuffed the odors of an oil refinery, he would vvillingly have for- 
feited his goodly heritage by the forest stream or the deep flowing river, and 
sought for himself new hunting grounds in less favored regions. 

It was an unfortunate circumstance that at the coming of Europeans the 
territory now known as Pennsylvania was occupied by some of the most bloody 
and revengeful of the savage ti'ibes. They were known as the Lenni Lenapes, 
and held sway from the Hudson to the Potomac. A tradition was preserved 
among them, that in a remote age their ancestors had emigrated eastward from 
beyond the Mississippi, exterminating as they came the more civilized and 
peaceful peoples, the Mound-Builders of Ohio and adjacent States, and who 



18 HISTORY OF TENNSYLVANIA. 

were held among the tribes by whom they were surrounded as the progenitors, 
the grandfathers or oldest people. They came to be known by Europeans as 
the Delawares, after the name of the river and its numerous branches along 
which they principally dwelt. The Monseys or Wolves, another tribe of the 
Lenapes, dwelt upon the Susquehanna and its tributaries, and, by their war- 
like disposition, won the credit of being the fiercest of their nation, and the 
guardians of the door to their council housp from the North. 

Occupying the greater part of the tei'itory now known as New York, were 
the five nations — the Senacas, the Mohawks, the Oneidas, the Cayugas, and 
the Onondagas. which, from their hearty union, acquired great strength and 
came to exercise a commanding influence. Obtaining firearms of the Dutch 
at Albany, they repelled the advances of the French from Canada, and by 
their superiority in numbers and organization, had overcome the Lenapes, 
and held them for awhile in vassalage. The Tuscaroras, a tribe which had 
been expelled from their home in North Carolina, were adopted by the Five Na- 
tions in 1712, and from this time forward these tribes were known to the English 
as the Six Nations, called by the I^enapes, Mingoes, and by the French, Iroquois. 
There was, therefore, properly a United States before the thirteen colonies 
achieved their independence. The person and character of these tribes were 
marked. They were above the ordinary stature, erect, bold, and commanding, 
of great decorum in council, and when aroused showing native eloquence. In 
warfare, they exhibited all the bloodthirsty, revengeful, cruel instincts of the 
savage, and for the attainment of their purposes were treacherous and crafty. 

The Indian character, as developed by intercourse with Europeans, exhibits 
some traits that are peculiar While coveting what they saw that pleased 
them, and thievish to the last degree, they were nevertheless generous. This 
may be accounted for by their habits. " They held that the game of the for- 
est, the fish of the rivers, and the grass of the field were a common heritage, 
and free to all who would take the trouble to gather them, and ridiculed the 
idea of fencing in a meadow." Bancroft sajs: " The hospitality of the Indian 
has rarely been questioned. The stranger enters his cabin, by day or by 
night, without asking leave, and is entertained as freely as a thrush or a 
blackbird, that regales himself on the luxuries of the fruitful grove. He 
will take his own rest abroad, that he may give up his own skin or mat of 
sedge to his guest. Nor is the traveler questioned as to the purpose of his 
visit. He chooses his own time freely to deliver his message." Penn, who, 
from frequent intercourse came to know them well, in his letter to the society 
of Free Traders, says of them: "In liberality they excel; nothing is too good 
for their friend. Give them a fine gun, coat or other thing, it may pass 
twenty hands before it sticks; light of heart, strong aflections, but soon spent. 
The most merry crt^atures that live; feast and dance perpetually. They never 
have much nor want much. Wealth circulateth like the blood. All parts 
partake; and though none shall want what another hath, yet exact observers 
of property. Some Kings have sold, others presented me with several parcels 
of land. The pay or presents I made them, were not hoarded by the particu- 
lar owners, but the neighboring Kings and clans being present when the 
goods were brought out. the parties chiefly concerned consulted what and to 
whom they should give them. To every King, then, by the hands of a per- 
son for that work appointed is a proportion sent, so sorted and folded, and 
with that gravity that is admirable. Then that King subdivideth it in like man- 
ner among his dependents, they hardly leaving themselves an equal share 
with one of their subjects, and be it on such occasions as festivals, or at their 
common meals, the Kings distribute, and to themselves last. They care for 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 19 

little because they want but little, and the reason is a little contents them. In 
this they are sufficiently revenged on us. They are also free from our pains. 
They are not disquieted with bills of lading and exchange, nor perplexed 
with chancery suits and exchequer reckonings. We sweat and toil to live; 
their pleasure feeds them; I mean their hunting, fishing and fowling, and 
this table is spread everywhere. They eat twice a day, morning and evening. 
Their Heats and table are the ground. Since the Europeans came into these 
parts they are grown great lovers of strong liquors, rum especially, and for it 
exchange the richest of their skins and furs. If they are heated with liquors, 
they are restless till they have enough to sleep. That is their cry, ' Some 
more and I will go to sleep; ' but when drunk one of the most wretched spec- 
tacles in the world." 

On the 28th of August, 1609, a little more than a century from the time 
of the first discovery of the New World by Columbus, Hendrick Hudson, an 
English navigator, then in the employ of the Dutch East India Company, hav- 
ing been sent out in search of a northwestern passage to the Indies, discovered 
the mouth of a great bay, since known as Delaware Bay, which he entered and 
partially explored. But finding the waters shallow, and being satisfied that 
this was only an arm of the sea which received the waters of a great river, 
and not a passage to the western ocean, he retired, and, turning the prow of 
his little craft northward, on the 2d of September, he discovered the river 
which bears his name, the Hudson, and gave several days to its examination. 
Not finding a passage to the West, which was the object of his search, he returned 
to Holland, bearing the evidences of his adventures, and made a full report of 
his discoveries in which he says, " Of all lands on which I ever set my foot, 
this is the best for tillage." 

A proposition had been made in the States General of Holland to form a 
West India Company with purposes similar to those of the East India Com- 
pany; but the conservative element in the Dutch Congress prevailed, and while 
the Government was unwilling to undertake the risks of an enterprise for 
which it would be responsible, it was not unwilling to foster private enter- 
prise, and on the 27th of March, 1614, an edict was passed, granting the 
privileges of trade, in any of its possessions in the New World, during four 
voyages, founding its right to the territory drained by the Delaware and 
Hudson upon the discoveries by Hudson. Five vessels were accordingly 
fitted by a company composed of enterprising merchants of the cities of Am- 
sterdam and Hoorn, which made speedy and prosperous voyages under com- 
mand of Cornells Jacobson Mey, bringing back with them fine furs and rich 
woods, which so excited cupidity that the States General was induced on the 
14th of October, 1614, to authorize exclusive trade, for four voyages, extend- 
ing through three years, in the newly acquired possessions, the edict designat- 
ing them as New Netherlands. 

One of the party of this first enterprise, Cornells Hendrickson, was left 
behind with a vessel called the Unrest, which had been built to supply the 
place of one accidentally burned, in which he proceeded to explore more fully 
the bay and river Delaware, of which he made report that was read before the 
States General on the 19th of August, 1616. This report is curious as dis- 
closing the opinions of the first actual explorer in an official capacity: '*He 
hath discovered for his aforesaid masters and directors certain lands, a bay, 
and three rivers, situate between thirty-eight and forty degrees, and did their 
trade with the inhabitants, said trade consisting of sables, furs, robes and 
other skins. He hath found the said country full of trees, to wit, oaks, hick- 
ory and pines, which trees were, in some places, covered with vines. He hath 



20 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

seen in said country bucks and does, tui'keys and partridges. He hath found 
the climate of said country very temperate, judging it to be as temperate as 
this country, Holland. He also traded for and bought from the inhabitants, 
the Minquas, three persons, being people belonging to this company, which 
three persons were employed in the service of the Mohawks and Machicans, 
giving for them kettles, beads, and merchandise." 

This second charter of privileges expired in January, 1618, and during its 
continuance the knowledge acquired of the country and its resources promised 
so much of success that the States General was ready to grant broader privi- 
leges, and on the 3d of June, 1621, the Dutch West India Company was in- 
corporated, to extend for a period of twenty-four years, with the right of 
renewal, the capital stock to be open to subscription by all nations, and 
"privileged to trade and plant coloaies in. Africa, from the tropic of Cancer 
to the Cape of Good Hope, and in America from the Straits of Magellan to the 
remotest north. " The past glories of Holland, though occupying but an in- 
significant patch of Europe, emboldened its Government to pass edicts for the 
colonizing and carrying on an exclusive trade with a full half of the entire 
world, an example of the biting off of more than could be well chewed. But 
the light of this enterprising people was beginning to pale before the rising 
glories of the stern race in their sea girt isle across the channel. Dissensions 
were arising among the able statesmen who had heretofore guided its affairs, 
and before the periods promised in the original charter of this colonizing com- 
pany had expired, its supremacy of the sea was successfully resisted, and its 
exclusive rights and privileges in the New World had to be relinquished. 

The principal object in establishing this West India Company was to 
secure a good dividend upon the capital stock, which was subscribed to by the 
rich old burgomasters. The fine furs and products of the forests, which had 
been taken back to Holland, had proved profitable. But it was seen that if 
this trade was to be permanently secured, in face of the active competition of 
other nations, and these commodities steadily depended upon, permanent set- 
tlements must bo provided for. Accordingly, in 1623, a colony of about forty 
families, embracing a party of Walloons, protestant fugitives from Belgium, 
sailed for the new province, under the leadership of Cornel is Jacobson Mey and 
Joriz Tienpont. Soon after their ai'rival, Mey, who had been invested with 
the power of Director General of all the territory claimed by the Dutch, see- 
ing, no doubt, the evidences of some permanence on the Hadson, determined 
to take these honest minded and devoted Walloons to the South River, or Del- 
aware, that he might also gain for his country a foothold there. The testi- 
mony of one of the women, Catalina Tricho, who was of the party, is 
curious, and sheds some light upon this point. " That she came to this prov- 
ince either in the year 1623 or 1624, and that four women came along wHh 
her in the same ship, in which Gov. Arien Jorissen came also over, which four 
women were married at sea, and that they and their husbands stayed about 
three weeks at this place (Manhattan) and then they with eight seamen more, 
went in a vessel by orders of the Dutch Governor to Delaware River, and 
there settled." Ascending the Delaware some fifty miles, Mey landed 
on the eastern shore near where now is the town of Gloucester, and built a 
fort which he called Nassau. Having duly installed his little colony, he re- 
turned to Manhattan; but beyond the building of the fort, which served as a 
trading post, this attempt to plant a colony was futile; for these religious 
zealots, tiring of the solitude in which they were left, after a few months 
abandoned it, and returned to their associates whom they had left upon the 
Hudson. Though not successful in establishing a permanent colony upon the 



HISTORY OP PENNSYLVANIA. 21 

Delaware, ships plied regularly between the fort and Manhattan, and this 
became the rallying point for the Indians, who bi'ought thither their commodi- 
ties for trade. At about this time, 1626, the island of Manhattan estimated 
to contain 22,000 acres, on which now stands the city of New York with its 
busy population, surrounded by its forests of masts, was bought for the insig- 
nificant sum of sixty guilders, about $24, what would now pay for scarcely a 
square inch of some of that very soil. As an evidence of the thrift which had 
begun to mark the progress of the colony, it may be stated that the good ship 
" The Arms of Amsterdam," which bore the intelligence of this fortunate pur- 
chase to the assembly of the XIX in Holland, bore also in the language of 
O'Calaghan, the historian of New Netherland, the " information that the col- 
ony was in a most prosperous state, and that the women and the soil were 
both fruitful. To prove the latter fact, samples of the recent harvest, consist- 
ing of wheat, rye, barley, oats, buckwheat, canary seed, were sent forward, 
together with 8,130 beaver skins, valued at over 45,000 guilders, or nearly 
$19,000," It is accorded by another historian that this same ship bore also 
" 853f otter skins, eighty-one mink skins, thirty-six wild cat skins and thirty-four 
rat skins, with a quantity of oak and hickory timber." From this it may be 
seen what the commodities were which formed the subjects of trade. Doubt- 
less of wharf rats Holland had enough at home, but the oak and hickory tim- 
ber came at a time when there was sore need of it. 

Finding that the charter of privileges, enacted in 1621, did not give suffi- 
cient encouragement and promise of security to actual settlers, further con- 
cessions were made in 1629, whereby " all such persons as shall appear and 
desire the same from the company, shall be acknowledged as Patroons [a sort 
of feudal lord] of New Netherland, who shall, within the space of four years 
next after they have given notice to any of the chambers of the company here, 
or to the Commander or Council there, undertake to plant a colony there of 
fifty souls, upward of fifteen years old; one fourth part within one year, and 
within three years after sending the first, making together four years, the re- 
mainder, to the full number of fifty persons, to be shipped from hence, on pain, 
in case of willful neglect, of being deprived of the privileges obtained." * * 
" The Patroons, by virtue of their power, shall be permitted, at such places as they 
shall settle their colonies, to extend their limits four miles along the shore, or 
two miles on each side of a river, and so far into the country as the situation 
of the occupiers will permit." 

Stimulated by these flattering promises, Goodyn and Bloemmaert, two 
wealthy and influential citizens, through their agents — Heyser and Coster — 
secured by purchase from the Indians a tract of iand on the western shore, 
at the mouth of the Delaware, sixteen miles in length along the bay front, and 
extending sixteen miles back into the country, giving a square of 256 miles. 
Goodyn immediately gave notice to the company of their intention to plant a 
colony on their newly acquired territory as patroons. They were joined by an 
experienced navigator, De Vries, and on the 12th of December, 1630, a vessel, 
the Walrus, under command of De Tries, was dispatched with a company of 
settlers and a stock of cattle and farm implements, which arrived safely in 
the Delaware. De Vries landed about three leagues within the capes, " near 
the entrance of a fine navigable stream, called the Hoai'kill," where he pro- 
ceeded to build a house, well surrounded with cedar palisades, which served 
the purpose of fort, lodging house, and trading post. The little settlement, 
which consisted of about thirty persons, was christened by the high sounding 
title of Zwanendal — Valley of Swans. In the spring they prepared their fields 
and planted them, and De Vries returned to Holland, to make report of his 
proceedings. 



22 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

But a sad fate awaited the little colony at Zwanendal. In accordance with 
the custom of European nations, the commandant, on taking possession of the 
new purchase, erected a post, and affixed thereto a piece of tin on which was 
traced the arms of Holland and a legend of occupancy. An Indian chieftain, 
passing that way, attracted by the shining metal, and not understanding the 
object of the inscription, and not having the fear of their high mightinesses, 
the States General of Holland before his eyes, tore it down and proceeded to 
make for himself a tobacco pipe, considering it valuable both by way of orna- 
ment and use. When this act of trespass was discovered, it was regarded by 
the doughty Dutchman as a direct insult to the great State of Holland, and 
so great an ado was raised over it that the simple minded natives became 
frightened, believing that their chief had committed a mortal offense, and in 
the strength and sincerity of their friendship immediately proceeded to dis- 
patch the offending chieftain, and brought the bloody emblems of their deed to 
the head of the colony. This act excited the anger of the relatives of the mur- 
dered man, and in accordance with Indian law, they awaited the chance to 
take revenge. O'Calaghan gives the following account of this bloody massa- 
cre which ensued: ''The colony at Zwanendal consisted at this time of thirty- 
four persons. Of these, thirty- two were one day at work in the fields, while 
Commissary Hosset remained in charge of the house, where another of the set- 
tlers lay sick abed. A large bull dog was chained out of doors. On pretence 
of selling some furs, three savages entered the house and murdered Hosset 
and the sick man. They found it not so easy to dispatch the mastiff. It was 
not until they had pierced him with at least twenty-five arrows that he was 
destroyed. The men in the fields were then set on, in an equally treacherous 
manner, under the guise of friendship, and every man of them slain." Thus 
was a worthless bit of tin the cause of the cutting off and utter extermination 
of the infant colony. 

De Vries was upon the point of returning to Zwanendal when he received 
intimation of disaster to the settlers. With a large vessel and a yacht, he set 
sail on the 24th of May, 1632, to carry succor, provided with the means of 
prosecuting the whale fishery which he had been led to believe might be made 
very profitable, and of pushing the production of grain and tobacco. Oq ar- 
riving in the Delaware, he fired a signal gun to give notice of his approach. 
The report echoed through the forest, but, alas! the ears which would have 
been gladened with the sound were heavy, and no answering salute came from 
the shore. On landing, he found his house destroyed, the palisades burned, 
and the skulls and bones of his murdered countrymen bestrewing the earth, 
sad relics of the little settlement, which had promised so fairly, and warning 
tokens of the barbarism of the natives. 

De Vries knew that he was in no position to attempt to punish the guilty 
parties, and hence determined to pui'sue an entirely pacific policy. At his 
invitation, the Indiana gathered in with their chief for a conference. Sitting 
down in a circle beneath the shadows of the somber forest, their Sachem in 
the centre, De Vries, without alluding to their previous acts of savagery, 
concluded with them a treaty of peace and friendship, and presented them in 
token of ratification, "some duffels, bullets, axes and Nuremburg trinkets." 

In place of finding his colony with plenty of provisions for the immediate 
needs of his party, he could get nothing, and began to be in want. He accord- 
ingly sailed up the river in quest of food. The natives were ready with 
their furs for barter, but they had no supplies of food with which they wished 
to part. Game, however, was plenty, and wild turkeys were brought in weigh- 
ing over thirty pounds. One morning after a frosty night, while the little 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 23 

-craft was up the stream, the party was astonished to find the waters frozen 
over, and their ship fast in the ice. Judging by the mild climate of their own 
country, Holland, they did not suppose this possible. For several weeks they 
were held fast without the power to move their floating home. Being in need 
of a better variety of food than he found it possible to obtain, De Vries sailed 
away with a part of his followers to Virginia, where he was hospitably enter- 
tained by the Governor, who sent a present of goats as a token of friendship to 
the Dutch Governor at Manhattan. Upon his return to the Delaware, De 
Vries found that the party he had left behind to prosecute the whale fishery 
had only taken a few small ones, and these so poor that the amount of oil ob- 
tained was insignificant. He had been inducefl to embark in the enterprise of 
a settlement here by the glittering prospect of prosecuting the whale fishery 
along the shore at a great profit. Judging by this experience that the hope 
of great gains from this source was groundless, and doubtless haunted by a 
superstitious dread of making their homes amid the relics of the settlers of the 
previous year, and of plowing fields enriched by their blood who had been 
so utterly cut off, and a horror of dwelling amongst a people so revengeful and 
savage, De Vries gathered all together, and taking his entire party with him 
sailed away to Manhattan and thence home to Holland, abandoning utterly the 
settlement. 

The Dutch still however sought to maintain a foothold upon the Dela- 
ware, and a fierce contention having sprung up between the powerful patroons 
and the Director General, and they having agreed to settle differences by 
the company authorizing the purchase of the claims of the patroons, those upon 
the Delaware were sold for 15,600 guilders. Fort Nassau was ac<!ordinglyre-oc- 
cupied and manned with a small military force, and when a party from Con- 
necticut Colony came, under one Holmes to make a settlement upon the Dela- 
ware, the Dutch at Nassau were found too strong to be subdued, and Holmes 
and his party were compelled to surrender, and were sent as prisoners of war 
to Manhattan. 



OHAPTEH II. 

Sir William Keipt, 1638-47— Peter Minuit, 1638-41— Peter Hollandaer, 1641-43— 
John Printz, 1648-58— Peter Stuyvesant, 1647-64— John Pappagoya, 1653-54 — 
John Claude Rysingh, 1654-55. 

AT this period, the throne of Sweden was occupied by Gustavus Adolphus, 
a monarch of the most enlightened views and heroic valor. Seeing the 
activity of surrounding nations in sending out colonies, he proposed to his 
people to found a commonwealth in the New World, not for the mere purpose 
of gain by trade, but to set up a refuge for the oppressed, a place of religious 
liberty and happy homes that should prove of advantage to " all oppressed 
Christendom." Accordingly, a company with ample privileges was incorpo- 
rated by the Swedish Government, to which the King himself pledged $400,000 
of the royal treasure, and men of every rank and nationality were invited to 
join in the enterprise. Gustavus desired not that his colony should depend 
upon serfs or slaves to do the rough work, " Slaves cost a great deal, labor 
with reluctance, and soon perish from hard usage. The Swedish nation is 
laborious and intelligent, and surely we shall gain more by a free people with 
wives and childi'en. " 



24 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

In the meantime, the fruits of the reformation in Germany were menaced^ 
and the Swedish monarch determined to unsheath his sword and lead his 
people to the aid of Protestant faith in the land where its standard had been 
successfully raised. At the battle of Liitzen, where for the cause which he had 
espoused, a signal victory was gained, the illustrious monarch, in the flower 
of life, received a mortal wound. Previous to the battle, and while engaged in 
active preparations for the great struggle, he remembered the interests of his 
contemplated colony in America, and in a most earnest manner commended 
the enterprise to the people of Germany. 

Oxenstiern, the minister of Gustavus, upon whom the weight of govern- 
ment devolved during the minority of the young daughter, Christina, declared 
that he was but the executor of the will of the fallen King, and exerted him- 
self to further the interests of a colony which he believed woiild be favorable to 
"all Christendom, to Europe, to the whole world." Four years however 
elapsed before the project was brought to a successful issue. Peter Minuit, 
who had for a time been Governor of New Netherlands, having been displaced, 
sought employment in the Swedish company, and was given the command of 
the first colony. Two vessels, the Key of Calmar and the Griffin, early in the 
year 1638, with a company of Swedes and Fins, made their way across the 
stormy Atlantic and arrived safely in the Delaware. They purchased of the 
Indians the lands from the ocean to the falls of Trenton, and at the mouth of 
Christina Creek erected a fort which they called Christina, after the name of 
the youthful Queen of Sweden. The soil was fruitful, the climate mild, and 
the scenery picturesque. Compared with many parts of Finland and Sweden, 
it was a Paradise, a name which had been given the point at the entrance of 
the bay. As tidings of the satisfaction of the first emigrants were borne back 
to the fatherland, the desire to seek a home in the new country spread rap- 
idly, and the ships sailing were unable to take the many families seeking pas- 
sage. 

The Dutch were in actual possession of Fort Nassau when the Swedes 
first arrived, and though they continued to hold it and to seek the trade of the 
Indians, yet the artful Minuit was more than a match for them in Indian bar- 
ter. William Keift, the Governor of New Netherland, entered a vigorous 
protest against the encroachments of the Swedes upon Dutch territory, in 
which he said " this has been our property for many years, occupied with 
forls and sealed by our blood, which also was done when thou wast in the 
service of New Netherland, and is therefore well known to thee. " But Minuit 
pushed forward the work upon his fort, regardless of protest, trusting to the 
respect which the flag of Sweden had inspired in the hands of Banner and 
Torstensen. For more than a year no tidings were had from Sweden, and no 
supplies from any source were obtained; and while the fruits of their labors 
were abundant there were many articles of diet, medicines and apparel, the 
lack of which they began to sorely feel. So pressing had the want become, 
that application had been made to the authorities at Manhattan for permission 
to remove thither with all their effects. But on the very day before that on 
which they were to embark, a ship from Sweden richly laden with provisions, 
cattle, seeds and merchandise for barter with the natives came joyfully to their 
relief, and this, the first permanent settlement on soil where now are the States 
of Delaware and Pennsylvania, was spared. The success and prosperity of the 
colony during the first few years of its existence was largely due to the skill 
and policy of Minuit, who preserved the friendship of the natives, avoided an 
open conflict with the Dutch, and so prosecuted trade that the Dutch Governor 
reported to his government that trade had fallen off 30,000 beavers. Minuit 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA 25 

was at the head of the colony for about three years, and died in the midst 
of the people whom he had led. tt n j t, u ;i 

Minuit was succeeded in the government by Peter Hollandaer, who had 
previously gone in charge of a company of emigrants, and who was now, in 
1641 commissioned. The goodly lands upon the Delaware were a constant 
attraction to the eye of the adventurer; a party from Connecticut, under the lead- 
ership of Robert Cogswell, came, and squatted without authority upon the site 
of the present town of Salem. N. J. Another company had proceeded up the 
river and, entering the Schuylkill, had planted themselves upon its banks. 
The settlement of the Swedes, backed as it was by one of the most powerful 
nations of Europe, the Governor of New Netherland was not disposed to 
iQolest- but when these irresponsible wandering adventurers came sailing past 
their forts and boldly planted themselves upon the most eligible sites and fer- 
tile lands in their territory, the Dutch determined to assume a hostile front, 
and to drive them away. Accordingly, Gen. Jan Jansen Van Ilpendam— his 
very name was enough to frighten away the emigrants— was sent with two 
vessels and a military force, who routed the party upon the Schuylkill, destroy- 
ino- their fort and giving them a taste of the punishment that was likely to be 
meted out to them, if this experiment of trespass was repeated. The Swedes 
joined the Dutch in breaking up the settlement at Salem and driving away the 
Isfew England intruders. 

In 1642, Hollandaer was succeeded in the government of the Swedish 
Colony by John Printz, whose instructions for the management of affairs were 
drawn with much care by the officers of the company in Stockholm. " He was. 
first of all, to maintain friendly relations with the Indians, and by the advan- 
tacre of low prices hold their Irade. His next care was to cultivate enough 
grain for the wants of the colonists, and when this was insured, turn his atten- 
tion lo the culture of tobacco, the raising of cattle and sheep of a good species, 
the culture of the grape, and the raising of silk worms. The manufacture of 
salt by evaporation, and the search for metals and minerals were to be prose- 
cuted and inquiry into the establishment of fisheries, with a view to profit, 
especially the whale fishery, was to be made." It will be seen from these in- 
structions that the far-sighted Swedish statesmen had formed an exalted con- 
ception of the resources of the new country, and had figured to themselves 
great possibilities from its future development. Visions of rich silk products, 
of the precious metals and gems from its mines, flocks upon a thousand hills 
that should rival in the softness of their downy fleeces the best products of the 
Indian looms, and the luscious clusters of the vine that could make glad the 
palate of the epicm-e filled their imaginations. ... 

With two vessels, the Stoork and Renown, Printz set sail, and arrived at 
Tort Christina on the 15th of February, 1643, He was bred to the profession 
of arms, and was doubtless selected with an eye to his ability to holding posses- 
sion of the land against the conflict that was likely to arise. He had been a 
Lieutenant of cavalry, and was withal a man of prodigious proportions who 
weighed," according to De Vries, "upward of 400 pounds, and drank three 
drinks at every meal." He entertained exalted notions of his dignity as Govern- 
or of the colony, and prepared to establish himself in his new dominions with 
some degree of magnificence. He brought with him from Sweden the bricks 
to be used for the construction of his royal dwelling. Upon an inspection of 
the settlement, he detected the inherent weakness of the location of tort 
Christina for commanding the navigation of the river, and selected the island 
of Tinacum for the site of anew fort, called New Gottenburg, which was 
speedily erected and made strong with huge hemlock logs. In the midst of 



26 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

the island, he built his royal residence, which was surrounded with trees and 
bhubbery. He erected another fort near the mouth of Salem Creek, 
called Elsinborg, which he mounted with eight brass twelve-pounders, 
and garrisoned. Here all ships ascending the river were brought to, 
and required to await a permit from the Governor before proceeding 
to their destination. Gen. Van Ilpendam, who had been sent to di'ive 
away the intruders from New England, had remained after executing 
his commission as commandant at Fort Nassau; but having incurred the dis- 
pleasure of Director Keift, he had been displaced, and was succeeded by An- 
dreas Hudde, a crafty and politic agent of the Dutch Governor, who had no 
sooner arrived and become settled in his place than a conflict of authority 
sprang up between himself and the Swedish Governor. Dutch settlers secured 
a grant of land on the west bank of Delaware, and obtained possession by pur- 
chase from the Indians. This procedure kindled the wrath of Printz, who 
tore down the ensign oi the company which had been erected in token of 
the power of Holland, and declared that he would have pulled down the 
colors of their High Mightinesses had they been erected on this the Swed- 
ish soil. That there might be no mistake about his claim to authority, the 
testy Governor issued a manifesto to his rival on thie opposite bank, in which 
were these explicit declarations: 

" Andreas Hudde! I remind you again, by this written warning, to discon- 
tinue the injuries of which you have been guilty against the Royal Majesty 
of Sweden, my most gracious Queen; against Her Royal Majesty's rights, pre- 
tensions, soil and land, without showing the least respect to the Royal Majes- 
ty's magnificence, reputation and dignity; and to do so no more, considering 
how little it would be becoming Her Royal Majesty to bear such gross violence, 
and what great disasters might originate from it, yea, might be expected. * 
* * All this I can freely bring forward in my own defense, to exculpate me 
from -all future calamities, of which we give you a warning, and place it at 
your account. Dated New Gothenburg, 3d September, stil, veteri 1640." 

It will be noted from the repetition of the high sounding epithets applied 
to the Queen, that Printz had a very exalted idea of his own position as the 
Vicegerent of the Swedish monarch. Hudde responded, saying in reply: " The 
place we possess we hold in just deed, perhaps before the name of South River 
was heard of in Sweden." This paper, itpon its presentation, Printz flung to 
the ground in contempt, and when the messenger, who bore it, demanded an 
answer, Printz unceremoniously threw him out doors, and seizing a gun would 
have dispatched the Dutchman had he not been arrested; and whenever any of 
Hudde's men visited Tinicum they were sure to be abused, and frequently came 
back " bloody and bruised. " Hudde urged rights acquired by prior posses- 
Bion, but Printz answered: " The devil was the oldest possessor in hell, yet he,, 
notwithstanding, would sometimes admit a younger one." A vessel which had 
come to the Delaware from Manhattan with goods to barter to the Indians, was 
brought to, and ordered away. In vain did Hudde plead the rights acquired 
by previous possession, and finally treaty obligations existing between the 
two nations. Printz was inexorable, and peremptorily ordered the skipper 
away, and as his ship was not provided with the means of fighting its way up 
past the frowning battlements oE Fort Elsinborg, his only alternative was to 
return to Manhattan and report the result to his employers. 

Peter Stuyvesant, a man of a good share of native talent and force of chcir- 
acter, succeeded to the chief authority over New Netherland in May, 1*U7. 
The affairs of his colony were not in an encouraging condition. The New 
England colonies were crowding upon him from the north and east, and the 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 2T 

Swedes upon the South River were occupying the territory which the Dutch 
for many years previous to the coming of Christina's colony had claimed. 
Amid the thickening complications, Stuyvesant had need of all his power of 
argument and. executive skill. He entered into negotiations with the New En- 
gland colonies for a peaceful settlement of their difficulties, getting the very- 
best terms ke could, without resorting to force; for, said his superiors, the 
officers of the company in Holland, who had an eye to dividends, " War can- 
not be for our advantage; the New England people are too powerful for us." 
A pacific policy was also preserved toward the Swedes. Hudde was retained 
at the head of Dutch affairs upon the Delaware, and he was required to make 
full reports of everything that was transpiring there in order that a clear in- 
sight might be gained of the policy likely to be pursued. Stuyvesant was en- 
tirely too shrewd a politician for the choleric Printz. He recommended to the 
company to plant a Dutch colony on the site of Zwanendal at the mouth of 
the river, another on the opposite bank, which, if effectually done, would com- 
mand its navigation; and a third on tho upper waters at Beversreede, which 
would intercept the intercourse of the native population. By this course of 
active colonizing, Stuyvesant rightly calculated that the Swedish power would 
be circumscribed, and finally, upon a favorable occasion, be crushed out. 

Stuyvesant, that he might ascertain the nature and extent of the Swedish 
claims to tho country, and examine into the complaints that were pouring in 
upon him of wrongs and indignities suffered by the Dutch at the hands of the 
Swedish power, in 1651 determined to visit the Delaware in his official capac- 
ity. He evidently went in some state, and Printz, who was doubtless impressed 
with the condecension of the Governor of all New Netherland in thus coming, 
was put upon his good behavior. Stuyvesant, by his address, got completely 
on the blind side of the Swedish chief, maintaining the garb of friendship 
and brotherly good- will, and insisting that the discussion of rights should be 
. carried on in a peaceful and friendly manner, for we are informed that they 
mutually promised " not to commit any hostile or vexatious acts against one 
another, but to maintain together all neighborly friendship and correspond- 
ence, as good friends and allies aro bound to do. ' ' Printz was thus, by this 
agreement, entirely disarmed and placed at a disadvantage; for the Dutch. 
Governor took advantage of the armistice to acquire lands below Fort Chris- 
tina, where he proceeded to erect a fort onl^' five miles away, which he named 
Fort Casimir. This gave the Dutch a foothold upon the south bank, and in 
nearer proximity to the ocean than Fort Christina. Fort Nassau was dis- 
mantled and destroyed, as being no longer of use. In a conference with the 
Swedish Governor, Stuj'vesant demanded to see documental proof of his right 
to exercise authority upon he Delaware, and the compass of the lands to 
which the Swedish Government laid claim. Printz prepared a statement in 
which he set out the "Swedish limits wide enough." But Stuyvesant de- 
manded the documents, under the seal of the company, and characterized this 
writing as a "subterfuge," maintaining by documentary evidence, on his part, 
the Dutch West India Company's right to the soil. 

Printz was great as a blusterer, and preserver of authority when personal 
abus,> and kicks and cuffs could be resorted to without the fear of retaliation; 
but no match in statecraft for the wily Stuyvesant. To the plea of pre-occu- 
pancy he had nothing to answer more than he had already done to Hudde's 
messenger respecting the government of Hades, and herein was the cause of 
the Swedes inherently weak. In numbers, too, the Swedes were feeble com- 
pared with the Dutch, who had ten times the population. But in diplomacy 
he had been entirely overreached. Fort Casimir, by its location, rendered 



28 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA 

the rival Fort Elainborg powerless, and under plea that the mosquitoes had be- 
come troublesome there, it was abandoned. Discovering, doubtless, that a cloud 
of complications was thickening over him, which he would be unable with the 
forces at his command to successfully withstand, he asked to be relieved, and, 
without awaiting an answer to his application, departed for Sweden, leaving 
his son-in-law, John Pappegoya, who had pi'eviously received marks of the 
royal favor, and been invested with the dignity of Lieutenant Governor, in 
supreme authority. 

The Swedish company had by this time, no doubt, discovered that forcible 
opposition to Swedish occupancy of the soil upon Delaware was destined soon 
to come, and accordingly, as a precautionary measure, in November, 1653, the 
College of Commerce sent John Amundson Besch, with the commission of 
Captain in the Navy, to superintend the construction of vessels. Upon his 
arrival, he acquii'ed lands suitable for the purpose of ship-building, and set 
about laying his keels. He was to have supreme authority over the naval force, 
and was to act in conjunction with the Governor in protecting the interests of 
the colony, but in such a manner that neither should decide anything without 
consulting tho other. 

On receiving the application of Printz to be relieved, the company ap- 
pointed John Claude Rysingh, then Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, 
as Vice Director of New Sweden. He was instructed to fortify and extend 
the Swedish possessions, but without interrupting the friendship existing 
with the English or Dutch. He was to use his power of persuasion in induc- 
ing the latter to give up Fort Casimir, which was regarded as an intrusion 
upon Swedish possessions, but without resorting to hostilities, as it was better 
to allow the Dutch to occupy it than to have it fall into the hands of tbe En- 
glish, "who are the more powerful, and, of course, the most dangerous in that 
country." Thus early was the prowess of England foreshadowed. Gov. 
Rysingh arrived in the Delaware, on the last day of May, 1654, and immediately 
-demanded the surrender of Fort Casimir. Adriaen Van Tienhoven, an aide- 
de-camp on the staff of the Dutch commandant of the fort, was sent on board 
the vessel to demand of Gov. Rysingh by what right he claimed to dis- 
possess the rightful occupants; but the Governor was not disposed to discuss 
the matter, and immediately landed a party and took possession without more 
opposition than wordy protests, the Dutch Governor saying, when called on to 
make defease, "What can I do? there is no powder." Rysingh, however, in 
justification of his course, stated to Teinhoven, after he had gained possession 
of the fort, that he was acting under orders from the crown of Sweden, whose 
embassador at the Dutch Court, when remonstrating against tbe action of Gov. 
Stuyvesant in erecting and manning Fort Casimir had been assured, by 
the State's General and the offices of the West India Company, that they had 
not authorized the erection of this fort on Swedish soil, saying, " if our people 
are in your Excellency's way, drive them off." "Thereupon the Swedish 
Governor slapped Van Teinhoven on the breast, and said, ' Go! tell your Gov- 
ernor that.'" As the capture was made on Trinity Sunday, the name was 
changed from Fort Casimir to Fort Trinity. 

Thus were the instructions of the new Governor, not to resort to force, but 
to secure possession of the fort by negotiation, complied with, but by a forced 
interpretation. For, although he had not actually come to battle, for the very 
good reason that the Dutch had no powder, and were not disposed to use 
their fists against fire arms, which the Swedes brandished freely, yet, in mak- 
ing his demand for the fort, he had put on the stern aspect of war. 

Stuyvesant, on learning of the loss of Fort Casimir, sent a messenger to the 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 29 

Delaware to invite Gov. Rysingh to come to Mant attan to hold friendly confer- 
ence upon the subject of their difficulties. This Rysingh refused to do, and the 
Dutch Governor, probably desiring instructions from the home Governmeiit be- 
fore proceeding to extremities, made a voyage to tbe West Indies for the purpose 
of arranging favorable regulations of trade with the colonies, though without 
the instructions, or even the knowledge of the States General. Cromwell, 
who was now at the head of the English nation, by the policy of his agents, 
rendered this embassy of Stuyvesant abortive. 

As soon as information of the conduct of Rysingh at Zwanendal was 
known in Holland, the company lost no time in disclaiming the representa- 
tions which he had made of its willingness to have the fort turned over to the 
Swedes, and immediately took measures for restoring it and wholly dispossess- 
ing the Swedes of lands upon the Delaware. On the 16th of November, 1655, 
the company ordered Stuyvesant "to exert every nerve to avenge the insult, 
by not only replacing matters on the Delaware in their former position, but 
by driving the Swedes from every side of the river," though they subsequent- 
ly modified this order in such manner as to allow the Swedes, after Fort Casi- 
mir had been taken, "to hold the land on which Fort Christina is built," with 
a garden to cultivate tobacco, because it appears that they had made the pur- 
chase with the previous knowledge of the compeny, thus manifesting a disin- 
clination to involve Holland in a war with Sweden. "Two armed «hips were 
forthwilh commissioned; 'the drum was beaten daily for volunteers ' in the 
streets of Amsterdam; authority was sent out to arm and equip, and if neces- 
sary to press into the company's service a sufficient number of ships for the 
expedition." In the meantime, Gov. Rysingh, who had inaugurated his 
reign by so bold a stroke of policy, determined to ingratiate himself into the 
favor of the Indians, who had been soured in disposition by the arbi- 
trary conduct of the passionate Printz. He accordingly sent out on all sides 
an invitation to the native tribes to assemble on a certain day, by their chiefs 
and principal men, at the seat of government on Tinicum Island, to brighten 
the chain of friendship and renew their pledges of faith and good neighbor- 
hood. 

On the morning of the appointed day, ten grand sachems with their at- 
tendants came, and with the formality characteristic of these native tribes, the 
council opened. Many and bitter were the complaints made against the Swedes 
for wrongs suffered at their hands, " chief among which was that many of 
their number had died, plainly pointing, though not explicitly saying it, to the 
giving of spirituous liquors as the cause." The new Governor had no answer 
to make to these complaints, being convinced, probably, that they were but too 
true. Without attempting to excuse or extenuate the past, Rysingh brought 
forward the numerous presents which he had taken with him from Sweden for 
the purpose. The sight of the piled up goods produced a prof ound impression 
upon the minds of the native chieftains. They sat apart for conference before 
making any expression of their feelings. Naaman, the fast friend of the white 
man, and the most consequential of the warriors, according to Campanius, 
spoke: " Look," said he, "and see what they have brought to us." So say- 
ing, he stroked himself three times down the arm, which, among the Indians, 
was a token of friendship; afterward he thanked the Swedes on behalf of his 
people for the presents tliey had received, and said that friendship should be 
observed more strictly between them than ever before; that the Sweden and 
the Indians in Gov. Printz's time were as one body and one heart, striking his 
breast as he spoke, and that thenceforward they should be as one head; in 
token of which he took hold of his head with both hands, and made a motion 



30 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

as if he were tying a knot, and then he made this comparison: " That, as the 
calabash was round, without any crack, so they should be a compact body with- 
out any fissure; and that if any should attempt to do any harm to the Indians, 
the Swedes should immediately inform them of it; and, on the other hand, the 
Indians would give immediate notice to the Christians, even if it were in the 
middle of the night." On this they were answered that that would be indeed 
a true and lasting friendship, if every one would agree to it; on which they 
gave a general shout in token of consent. Immediately on this the great guns 
were fired, which pleased them extremely, and they said, '■'Poo, hoo, Jioo; 
mokerick picon,^' that is to say "Hear and believe; the great guns are fired." 
Rysingh then produced all the treaties which had ever been concluded between 
them and the Swedes, which were again solemnly confirmed. " When those 
who had signed the deeds heard their names, they appeared to rejoice, but, 
when the names were read of those who were dead, they hung their heads in 
sorrow." 

After the first ebulition of feeling had subsided on the part of the Dutch 
Company at Amsterdam, the winter passed without anything further being 
done than issuing the order to Stuyvesant to proceed against the Swedes. In 
the spring, however, a thirty-six-gun brig was obtained from the burgomasters 
of Amsterdam, which, with four other crafts of varying sizes, was prepared for 
duty, and the little fleet set sail for New Netherland. Orders were given for 
immediate action, though Director General Stuyvesant had not returned from 
the West Indies. Upon the arrival of the vessels at Manhattan, it was an- 
nounced that " if any lovers of the prosperity and security of the province of 
New Netherland were inclined to volunteer, or to serve for reasonable wages, 
they should come forward," and whoever should lose a limb, or be maimed, was 
assured of a decent compensation. The merchantmen were ordered to furnish 
two of their crews, and the river boatmen were to be impressed. At this junct- 
ure a grave question arose: "Shall the Jews be enlisted?" It was decided 
in the negative; but in lieu of service, adult male Jews were taxed sixty five 
stivers a head per month, to be levied by execution in case of refusal. 

Stuyvesant had now arrived from his commercial trip, and made ready for 
opening the campaign in earnest. A day of prayer and thanksgiving was held 
to beseech the favor of Heaven upon the enterprise, and on the 5th of Septem- 
ber, 1655, with a fleet of seven vessels and some 600 men, Stuyvesant hoisted 
sail and steered for the Delaware. Arrived before Fort Trinity (Casimir), the 
Director sent Capt. Smith and a drummer to summon the fort, and ordered a 
flank movement by a party of fifty picked men to cut ofl" communication with 
Fort Christina and the headquarters of Gov. Rysingh. Swen Schute, the com- 
mandant of the garrison, asked permission to communicate with Rysingh, 
which was denied, and he was called on to prevent bloodshed. An interview 
in the valley midway between the fort and the Dutch batteries was held, when 
Schute asked to send an open letter to Rysingh. This was denied, and for a 
third time the fort was summoned. Impatient of delay, and in no temper for 
parley, the great guns were landed and the Dutch force ordered to advance. 
Schute again asked for a delay until morning, which was granted, as the day 
was now well spent and the Dutch would be unable to make the necessary 
preparations to open before morning. Early on the following day, Schute went 
on board the Dutch flag- ship, the j3alance, and agreed to terms of surrender 
very honorable to his flag. He was permitted to send to Sweden, by the first 
opportunity, the cannon, nine in number, belonging to the crown of Sweden, 
to march out of the fort with twelve men, as his body guard, fully accoutered, 
and colors flying; the common soldiers to wear their side arms. The com- 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 31 

mandant and other officers were to retain their private property, the muskets 
belonging to the crown were to be held until sent for, and finally the fort was 
to be surrendered, with all the cannon, ammunition, materials and other goods 
belono-ing to the West India Company. The Dutch entered the fort at noon 
with all the formality and glorious circumstance of war, and Dominie Megap- 
olensis, Chaplain of the expedition, preached a sermon of thanksgiving on the 
following Sunday in honor of the great triumph. 

While these signal events were transpiring at Casimir, Gov. Rysing, at his 
royal residence on Tinicum, was in utter ignorance that he was being despoiled 
of' his power. A detachment of nine men had been sent by the Governor to 
Casimir to re-enforce the garrison, which came unawares upon the Dutch lines, 
and after a brief skirmish all but two were captured. Upon learning that the 
fort was invested. Factor Ellswyck was sent with a flag to inquire of the in- 
vaders the purpose of their coming. The answer was returned "To recover 
and retain our property." Rysingh then communicated the hope that they 
would therewith rest content, and not encroach further upon Swedish territory, 
having, doubtless, ascertained by this time that the Dutch were too strong for 
him to make any effectual resistance. Stuyvesant returned an evasive answer, 
but made ready to march upon Fort Christina. It will be remembered that 
by the terms of the modified orders given for the reduction of the Swedes, 
Fort Christina was not to be disturbed. But the Dutch Governor's blood was 
now up, and he determined to make clean work while the means were in his 
hands. ' Discovering that the Dutch were advancing, Rysingh spent the whole 
night in strengthening the defenses and putting the garrison in position to 
make a stout resistance. Early on the following day the invaders made their 
appearance on the opposite bank of Christina Creek, where they threw up de- 
fenses and planted their cannon. Forces were landed above the fort, and the 
place was soon invested on all sides, the vessels, in the meantime, having been 
brought into the mouth of the creek, their cannon planted west of the fort and 
on Timber Island. Having thus securely shut up the Governor and his garri- 
son, Stuyvesant summmoned him to surrender. Rysingh could not in honor 
tamely submit, and at a council of war it was resolved to make a defense and 
" leave the consequence to be redressed by our gracious superiors." But their 
supply of powder barely sufficed for one round, and his force consisted of only 
thirty men. In the meantime, the Dutch soldiery made free with the property 
of the Swedes without the fort, killing their cattle and invading their tomes. 
"At length the Swedish garrison itself showed symptoms of mutiny. The 
men were harassed with constant watching, provisions began to fail, many 
were sick, several had deserted, and Stuyvesant threatened, that, if they held 
out much longer, to give no quarter." A conference was held which ended 
by the return of Rysingh to the fort more resolute than ever for defense. 
Finally Stuyvesant sent in his ultimatum and gave twenty-four hours for a 
final answer, the generous extent of time for consideration evincing the humane 
disposition of the commander of the invading army, or what is perhaps more 
probable his own lack of stomach for carnage. Before the expiration of the 
time allowed, the garrison capitulated, " after a siege of fourteen days, dur- 
ing which, very fortunately, there was a great deal more talking than cannon- 
ading, and no blood shed, except those of the goats, poultry and swme, which 
the Dutch troops laid their bands on. The twenty or thirty Swedes then 
marched out with their arms; colors flying, matches lighted, drums beating, 
and fifes playing, and the Dutch took possession of the fort, hauled down tne 
Swedish flag" and hoisted their own." ., , , • • m 

By the terms of capitulation, the Swedes, who wished to remain m the 



32 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

country, were permitted to do so, od taking the oath of allegiance, and righta 
of property were to be respected under the sway of Dutch law. Gov. Ry- 
singh, and all others who desired to return to Europe, were furnished passage, 
and by a secret provision, a loan of £300 Flemish was made to Rysingh, to be 
refunded on bis arrival in Sweden, the cannon and other property belonging 
to the crown remaining in the hands of the Dutch until the loan was paid. 
Before withdrawing Stuyvesant offered to deliver over Fort Christina and the 
lands immediately about it to Rysingh, but this offer was declined with dig- 
nity, as the matter had now passed for arbitrament to the courts of the two na- 
tions. 

The terms of the capitulation were honorable and liberal enough, but the 
Dutch authorities seem to have exercised little care in carrying out its provis- 
ions, or else the discipline in the service must have been very las. For Ry^ 
singh had no sooner arrived at Manhattan, than he entered most vigorous pro- 
tests against the violations of the provisions of the capitulation to Gov. Stuy- 
vesant. He asserted that tlje property belonging to the Swedish crown had 
been left without guard or protection from pillage, and that be himself had 
not been assigned quarters suited to his dignity. He accused the Dutch 
with having broken open the church, and taken away all the cordage and sails 
of a new vessel, with having plundered the villages, Tinnakong, Uplandt. Fin- 
land, Printzdorp and other places. " In Christina, the women were violently 
torn from their houses; whole buildings were destroyed; yea, oxen, cows, hogs 
and other creatures were butchered day after day; even tbe horses were not 
spared, but wantonly shot; the plantations destroyed, and the whole country 
so desolated that scarce any means were left for the subsistence of the inhab- 
itants." "Your men carried off even my own property, " said Rysingh, 
" with that of my family, and we were left like sheep doomed to the knife, 
without means of defense against the wild barbarians." 

Thus the colony of Swedes and Fins on the South River, which had been 
planned by and had been the object of solicitude to the great monarch himself, 
and had received tbe fostering care of the Swedish Government, came to an 
end after an existence of a little more than seventeen years — 1638-1655. But 
though it no longer existed as a colony under the government of the crown of 
Sweden, many of the colonists remained and became the most intelligent and 
law-abiding citizens, and constititted a vigorous element in the future growth 
of the State. Some of the best blood of Europe at this period flowed in the 
veins of the Swedes. "A love for Sweden," says Bancroft, "their dear 
mother country, the abiding sentiment of loyalty toward its sovereign, con- 
tinued to distinguish the little band. At Stockholm, they remained for a 
century the objects of disinterested and generous regard; affection united them 
in the New "World; and a part of their descendants still preserve their altar 
and their dwellings around the graves of their fathers." 

This campaign of Stuyvesant. for tbe dispossessing of the Swedes of terri- 
tory upon the Delaware, furnishes Washington Irving subject for some of the 
most inimitable chapters of broad humor, in his Knickerbocker's New York, to 
be found in the English language. And yet, in the midst of his side-splitting 
paragraphs, he indulges in a reflection which is worthy of remembrance. 
"He who reads attentively will discover the threads of gold which run 
throughout the web of history, and are invisible to the dull eye of ignorance. 
* * * By the treacherous surprisal of Fort Casimir, then, did the crafty 
Swedes enjoy a transient triumph, but drew upon their heads the vengeance 
of Peter Stuyvesant, who wrested all New Sweden from their hands. By the 
conquest of New Sweden, Peter Stuyvesant aroused the claims of Lord Balti- 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 33 

more who appealed to the cabinet of Great Britain, who subdued the whole 
province of New Netherlands. By this great achievement, the whole exten of 
North America, from Nova Scotia to the Floridas, was rendered one ent re 
dependency upon the British crown. But mark the consequence: The hith- 
S scatteJed^colonies being thus consolidated and ^^--^ ^ "^ /tc'om^ 
check or keep them in awe, waxed great and powerful ^^*^„^.f ^^^ ^^?°°""^^^f 
too stronsr for the mother country, were enabled to shake off is bonds. But 
the charn^of effects stopped not h^re; the successful revolution m America pro- 
duced the sanguinary revolution in France, which produced the puissant 
■Rnnnnavte who Di'oduced the French despotism. . -, xu 

TnMa^ch 16^6 the ship ''Mercury,'' with 130 emigrants arrived, the 
^overnSa'tSt^^^^^^^^ had no intimation of the Dutch conqiiest^ 

An attempt was made to prevent a landing, and the vpssel was ordered to 
fepor to Stuyvesant at Manhattan, but the order was disregarde^ and the co - 
Sb debarred and acquired lands. The ^J.^^-^^^.^l^ll^^^^ 
nosed to submit to these high-handed proceedings of the Dutch, and tne niin 
fstersof thetwo courts maintained a heated discussion of thear differences^ 
F ndini the Dutch disposed to hold by force their conquests, the government 
of S^J^den allowed the claim to rest until 1064. In that year vigorous meas- 
ures wertplanned to regain its claims upon the Delaware, and a Aeet bearing 
a military Yorce was dispatched for the purpose. But, having been obliged to 
puTbac7on account of stress of weather, the enterprise was abandoned. 



CHAPTEE III. 

T XT -P.TTT TAroTTET 1655-57-Jacob Alrichs, 1657-59-Goeran Van Dyck, 1657 
''""5rwrL?rrBE?4AN;i658-63-A D'HINOYOSSA. 1659-64. 

rr-^HF colonies upon the Delaware being now under exclusive control of the 
T Duteh Job^Paul Jaquet was appointed in November, If 5, as Vice 
Direc?;f D'erck Smid. ^^vgg ex-is^^^^ 

vesant. The --V-^f^f.^'^^%^^^ SdiaXmpany, which had been obliged 
Swedes was sorely felt by the \\ e%\^^j^™f Amsterdam In payment of 

Sicating with Stuyvesant upon the }*J^^^°*,^^"J3%"„o J,a^ee8 of the 
Swedes, after dnly <=™s'''''"°f "" ™^,^T?.,;^ ' ^^ not have been 

Swed„h f;ZT^'J^ZZf.^!tS:u::not SVad" adding as a paren. 
disp eased had ™^^ ^^ '""'"' '^r'f^,.^al " what is written is too long preserved, 
l':rdr ;S pX"d"S:n™:?dr.ed whe^as words not recorded are,in the 
lapse of time, forgotten, or may be explained away. 



34 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA 

Stuyvesant still remained in supreme control over both the colony of the 
city and the colony of the company, to the immediate governorship of the lat- 
ter of which, Goerau Van Dyck was appointed. But though settlements in 
the management of affairs were frequently made, they would not remain set- 
tled. There was conflict of authority between Alrichs and Van Dyck. The 
companies soon found that a grievous system of smuggling had sprung up. 
After a searching examination into the irregularities by Stuyvesant, who vis- 
ited the Delaware for the purpose, he recommended the appointment of one 
general agent who should have charge of all the revenues of both colonies, 
and "William Beekman was accordingly appointed. The company of the city 
seems not to have been watisfied with the profits of their investment, and ac- 
cordingly made new regulations to govern settlement, by which larger returns 
would accrue. This action created discontent among the settlers, and many 
who were meditating the purchase of lands and the acquisition of homes, de- 
termined to go over into Maryland where Lord Baltimore was offering far more 
liberal terms of settlement. To add to the discomforts of the settlers, " the 
miasms which the low alluvial soil and the rank and decomposed vegetation 
of a new country engenders, ' ' produced wasting sicknesses. When the planting 
was completed, and the new soil, for ages undisturbed, had been thoroughly 
stirred, the rains set in which descended almost continuously, producing fever 
and ague and dysentery. Scarcely a family escaped the epidemic. Six in 
the family of Director Alrichs were attacked, and his wife died. New colo- 
nists came without provisions, which only added to the distress. " Scarcity of 
provisions," says O'Calaghan, " naturally followed the failure of the crops; 
900 schepels of grain had been sown in the spring. They produced scarcely 
600 at harvest. Rye rose to three guilders the bushel; peas to eight guilders 
the sack; salt was twelve guilders the bushel at New Amsterdam; cheese and 
butter were not to be had, and when a man journeys he can get nothing but 
dry bread, or he must take a pot or kettle along with him to cook his victuals." 
" The place had now got so bad a name that the whole river could not wash it 
clean." The exactions of the city company upon its colony, not only did not 
bring increased revenue, but by dispersing the honest colonists, served to 
notify Lord Baltimore — who had laid claim to the lands upon Delaware, on 
account of original discovery by Lord De la War, from whom the river takes 
its name, and from subsequent charter of the British crown, covering territory 
from the 38th to the 40th degree of latitude — of the weakness of the colonies, 
and persuade him that now was a favorable opportunity to enforce his claims. 
Accordingly, Col. Utie, with a number of delegates, was dispatched to demand 
that the Dutch should quit the place, or declare themselves subjects of Lord 
Baltimore, adding, " that if they hesitated, they should be responsible for 
whatever innocent blood might be shed." 

Excited discussions ensued between the Dutch authorities and the agents 
of the Maryland government, and it was finally agreed to refer the matter to 
Gov. Stuyvesant, who immediately sent Commissioners to the Chesapeake to 
settle differences, and enter into treaty regulations for the mutual return of 
fugitives, and dispatched sixty soldiers to the Delaware to assist in preserving 
order, and resisting the English, should an attempt be made to dispossess the 
Dutch. 

Upon the death of Alrichs, which occurred in 1659, Alexander D'Hinoyossa 
was appointed Governor of the city colony. The new Governor was a man of 
good business capacity, and sought to administer the affairs of his colony for 
the best interests of the settlers, and for increasing the revenues of the com- 
pany. To further the general prosperity, the company negotiated a new loan 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 35 

^ith which to strengthen and improve its resources. This liberal policy had 
The dlired effect. ^The Swedesrwho had settled above o. tb^uver moved 
down, and acquired homes on the lands of the city colony^ The Fmsand dia- 
contented Dutch, who had gone to Maryland, retixrned and brought with them 
some of the English settlers. . , . , 

Discouraged by the harassing conflicts of authority which seemed mter^ 
minable, the^Yest'India Company transferred all its -^.--J^ ^ ^^^^^^^^^ 
of the river to the colony of the city, and upon the visit of D Hmoyossa to 
Holland in 1663, he secured for himself the entire and exclusive goverBm;^* 
of the colonies upon the Delaware, being no longer subject to the authority of 

^^Tncouraged by liberal terms of settlement, and there being now a prospect 
of stable government, emigrants were attracted thither. A Mennonite commu- 
^iv came in a body. " Clergymen were not allowed to ]oin them, nor any 
^Sracteblepeopleluch as those in communion with the Roman See, usurious 
Jews, Englis^h stiff-necked Quakers, Puritans, foolhardy believers m the mil- 
lennium, and obstinate modern pretenders to revelation.' " They were obliged 
to take an oath never to seek for an office; Magistrates were to receive no com- 
pensation, " not even a stiver. " The soil and climate were regarded as exce - 
Fent, and when sufficiently peopled, the country would be the " hnest on the 
face of the globe." 



OHAPTEE IT. 

■RTPTTAT^r, TTtohols 1664-67-Robert Needham, 1664-68-Francis Lovelace, 

^'^67 73-JOHN CArT i668-73-ANTHONY COLVE. 1673-74-PETER ALRICH9, 
1673-74. 

AFFAIRS were scarcely arranged upon the Delaware, and the dawning of 
a better day for the colonists ushered in, before new complications 
began to threaten the subversion of the whole Dutch power in America. The 
English had always claimed the entire Atlantic seaboard Under Cromwell 
the Navigation act was aimed at Dutch interests m the New W orld. Captain 
John Scott, who had been an officer in the army of Charles I having 
obtained some show of authority from the Governor of Connecticut, had visited 
the towns upon the west end of Long Island, where was ajxuxed population of 
Dutch and English, and where he claimed to have purchased large tracts of 
land, and had persuaded them to unite under his authority m setting up a 
government of their own. He visited England and "peti lonedthe King to be 
invested with the government of Long Island, or that the people thereof be 
allowed to choose yearly a Governor and Assistants " By his ^'^F^^^^tation 
an inquiry was instituted by the King's council, " as to his majesty s title to the 
premises; the intrusions of the Dutch; their deportment; management of the 
country; strength, trade and government; and lastly, of the means necessary 
to induce orfSrc^them to acknowledge the King, or ^^/^^^^^^^-^^.^^^^ 
them together from the country." The visit of Scott and his F'^yer to the 
Kino- for a grant of Long Island, was the occasion of inaugiiratmg ^ pohcj, 
which result^ed in the overthrow of Dutch rule in America. But the attent on 
of English statesmen had for some time been turned to ^^^ "^P°^i.^^^^^^^ °,^^^^ 
territory which the Dutch colonies had occupied, and a be lef thah Dutch txade 
in the New World was yielding great returns, stimulated inquiry James, 



36 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA 

Duke of York, brother of the King, who afterward himself became King, was 
probably at this time the power behind the throne that was urging on action 
looking to the dispossession of the Dutch. The motive which seemed to actuate 
him was the acquisition of personal wealth and power. He saw, as he 
thought, a company of merchants in Amsterdam accumulating great wealth out 
of these colonies, and he meditated the transfer of this wealth to himself. He 
was seconded in this project by the powerful influence of Sir George Downing, 
who had been Envoy at The Hague, under Cromwell, -and was now under Charles 
II. "Keen, bold, subtle, active, and observant, but imperious and unscrupulous, 
disliking and distrusting the Dutch," he had watched every movement of the 
company's granted privileges by the States General, and had reported every- 
thing to his superiors at home. "The whole bent," says O'Calaghan,'' of this 
man's mind was constantly to hold up before the eyes of his countrymen the 
growing power of Holland and her commercial companies, their immense 
wealth and ambition, and the danger to England of permitting these to pro- 
gress onward unchecked.'' 

After giving his testimony before the council, Scott returned to America 
with a letter from the King recommending his interests to the co-operation find 
protection of the New England colonies. On arriving in Connecticut, he was 
commissioned by the Governor of that colony to incorporate Long Island under 
Connecticut jurisdiction. But the Baptists, Quakers and Menuonites, who formed 
a considerable part of the population, " dreaded falling into the hands of the 
Puritans." In a quaint document commencing, ''In the behalf e of sum hun- 
dreds of English here planted on the west end of Long Island wee address," 
etc. , " they besought Scott to come and settle their difficulties. On his arrival 
he acquainted them with the fact, till then unknown, that King Charles had 
granted the island to the Duke of York, who would soon assert his rights. 
Whereupon the towns of Hemstede, Newwarke, Crafford, Hastings, Folestone 
and Gravesend, entered into a "combination" as they termed it, resolved to 
elect deputies to draw up laws, choose magistrates, and empowered Scott to 
act as their President; in short set up the first independent State in America. 
Scott immediately set out at the head of 150 men, horse and foot, to subdue 
the island. 

On the 22d of March, 1664, Charles II made a grant of the whole of Long 
Island, and all the adjoining country at the time in possession of tho Dutch, 
to the Duke of York. Borrowing four men-of-war of the king, James sent 
them in command of Col. Richard Nicholls, an old officer, with whom was as- 
sociated Sir Robert Carr, Sir George Cartwright, and Samuel Maverick, Esq., 
and a force of 450 men, to dispossess the Dutch. To insure the success of the 
expedition, letters were addressed to each of the Governors of the New England 
colonies, enjoining upon them to unite in giving aid by men and material to 
Nicholls, The fleet sailed directly for Boston, where it was expected, and 
whence, through one Lord, the Dutch were notified of its coming. The great- 
est consternation was aroused upon the receipt of this intelligence, and the 
most active preparations were making for defense. But in the midst of these 
preparations, notice was received from the Chambers at Amsterdam, doubtless 
inspired by the English, that " no apprehension of any public enemy or dan- 
ger from England need be entertained. That the King was only desirous to 
reduce the colonies to uniformity in church and state, and with this view was 
dispatching some Commissioners with two or three frigates to New England to 
introduce Episcopacy in that quarter." Thrown completely ofif his guard by 
this announcement, the Director General, Stuyvesant abandoned all preparations 
for resistance, and indulged in no anticipations of a hostile visitation. Thus 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 37 

were three full weeks lost in which the colonies might have been put in a very 
good state of defense. 

Nicholls on arriving in American waters, touched at Boston and Connecti- 
cut, where some aid was received, and then hastened foward to Manhattan. 
Stnyvesant had but a day or two before learned of the arrival, and of the hos- 
tile intent. Scarcely had he issued ordei-H for bringing out his forces and for 
fortifying before Nicholls scattered proclamations through the colony promis- 
ing to protect all who submitted to his Brittanic majesty in the undisturbed 
possession of their property, and made a formal summons upon Stuyvesant to 
surrender the country to the King of Great Britain. The Director found that 
he had an entirely different enemy to treat with from Rysingh, and a few half- 
armed Swedes and Fins upon the Delaware. Wordy war ensued between the 
Commissioners and the Director, and the English Governor finding that Stny- 
vesant not in the temper to yield, landed a body of his soldiers upon the lower end 
of the island, and ordered Hyde, the commander of the fleet, to lay the frigates 
broadside before the city. It was a critical moment. Stnyvesant was stand- 
ing on one of the points of the fort when he saw the frigates approaching. 
The gunner stood by with burning match, prepared to tire on the fleet, and 
Stnyvesant seemed on the point of giving the order. But he was restrained, 
and a further communication was sent to Nicholls, who would listen to nothing 
short of the full execution of his mission. Still Stnyvesant held out. The 
inhabiUnts implored, but rather than surrender " he would be carried a corpse 
to his grave." The town was, however, in qo condition to stand a siege. The 
powder at the fort would only suffice for one day of active operations. Pro- 
visions were scarce. The inhabitants were not disposed to be sacrificed, and 
the disaffection among them spread to the soldiers. They were overheard mut- 
tering, " Now we hope to pepper those devilish traders who have so long 
salted us; we know where booty is to be found, and where the young women 
live who wear gold chains. " 

The Rev. Jannes Myapoleuses seems to have been active in negotiations and 
opposed to the shedding of blood. A remonstrance drawn by him was finally 
adopted and signed by the principal men, and presented to the Director Gen- 
eral, in which the utter hopelessness of resistance was set forth, and Stnyve- 
sant finally consented to capitulate. Favorable terms were arranged, and 
Nicholls promised that if it should be finally agreed between the English and 
Dutch governments that the province should be given over to Dutch rule, he 
would peacefully yield his authority. Tims without a gun being fired, the En- 
glish made conquest of the Manhattoes. 

Sir Robert Carr, with two frigates and an ample force, was dispatched to 
the Delaware to reduce the settlements there to English rule. The planters, 
whether Dutch or Swedes, were to be insured in the peaceable possession of 
their property, and the magistrates were to be continued in office. 

Sailing past the fort, he disseminated among the settlers the news of the 
surrender of Stnyvesant, and the promises of protection which Nicholls had 
made use of. But Gov. D'Hinoyossa was not disposed to heed the demand 
for surrender without a struggle. Whereupon Carr landed his forces and 
stormed the place. After a fruitless but heroic resistance, in which ten were 
wounded and three were killed, the Governor was forced to surrender. Thus 
was the complete subversion of the State's General in America consummated, 
and the name of New Amsterdam gave place to that of New York, from the 
name of the English proprietor, James, Duke of York. 

The resistance offered by D'Hinoyossa formed a pretext for shameless 
plunder. Carr, in his report which shows him to have been a lawless fel- 



38 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

low, says, "Ye soldiers never stoping nntill they stormed ye fort, andsae con- 
sequGiitly to plundering; the seamen, noe less given to that sport, were quickly 
v^ithin, and have g "ton good store of booty." Carr seized the farm of 
D'Hinoyossa, hi; brc- i er, John Carr, that of Sheriff Sweringen, and Ensign 
Stock that of Peter Alrichs. The produce of the land for that year was seized, 
together with a cargo of goods that was unsold. " Even the inoffensive Men- 
nonists, though non-combatant from principle, did not escape the sack and 
plunder to which the whole river was subjected by Carr and his marauders. 
A boat was dispatched to tJieir settlement, which was stripped of everything, 
to a very naile." 

Nicholls, on hearing of the rapacious conduct of his subordinate, visited 
the Delaware, removed Carr. and placed Robert Needham in command. Pre- 
vious to dispatching his fleet to America, in June, 1664, the Du^ke of York had 
granted to John, Lord Berkeley, Baron of Stratton, and Sir George Carteret, 
of Saltrum in Devon, the territory of New Jersey, bounded substantially as the 
present State, and this, though but little settled by the Dutch, had been in- 
cluded in the terms of surrender secured by Nicholls. In many ways, he 
showed himself a man of ability and discretion. He drew up with signal 
success a body of laws, embracing most of the provisions which had been in 
force in the English colonies, which were desiguated the Duke's Laws. 

In May, 1667, Col. Fi*ancis Lovelace was appointed Governor in place of 
Nicholls, and soon after taking charge of affairs, drew up regulations for the 
government of the territory upon the Delaware, and dispatched Capt. John 
Carr to act there as his Deputy Governor. It was provided that whenever 
complaint duly sworn to was made, the Governor was to summon " the schout, 
Hans Block, Israel Helm. Peter Rambo, Peter Cock and Peter Alrichs, or any 
two of them, as counsellors, to advise him, and determine by the major vote 
what is just, equitable and necessary in the case in question." It was further 
provided that all men should be punished in an exemplary manner, though 
with moderation; that the laws should be frequently communicated to the 
counsellors, and that in cases of difficulty recourse should be had to the Gov- 
ernor and Council at New York. 

In 1668, two murders were perpetrated by Indians, which caused consider- 
able disturbance and alarm throughout the settlements. These capital crimes 
appear to have been committed while the guilty parties were maddened by 
liquor. So impressed were the sachems and leading warriors of the baneful 
effects of strong drink, that they appeared before the Council and besought its 
authority to utterly prohibit the sale of it to any of their tribes. These re- 
quests were repeated, and finally, upon the advice of Peter Alrichs, " the 
Governor (Lovelace) prohibited, on pain of death, the selling of powder, shot 
and strong liquors to the Indians, and writ to Carr on the occasion to use the 
utmost vigilance and caution." 

The native murderers were not apprehended, as it was difficult to trace 
them;, but the Indians themselves were determined to ferret them out. One 
was taken and shot to death, who was the chief offender, but the other escaped 
and was never after heard of. The chiefs summoned their young men, and in 
presence of the English warned them that such would be the fate of all offend- 
ers. Proud justly remarks: "This, at a time when the Indians were numer- 
ous and strong and the Europeans few and weak, was a memorable act of jus- 
tice, and a proof of true friendship to the English, greatly alleviating the 
fear, for which they had so much reason among savages, in this then wilder- 
ness country." 

In 1669, a reputed son of the distinguished Swedish General, Connings- 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 39 



marke, commonly called the Long Fin, with another of his nationality, Henry 
Coleman, a man of property, and familiar with the language and habits of the 
InS endeavored to incite an insurrection to throw off the English rule and 
establish the Swedish supremacy. The Long Fin was apprehended, and was 
condemned to die; but upon reconsideration his sentence was commuted to 
whipping and to branding with the letter B. He was brought m chams to 
New Yoil, where he was Incarcerated in the Sfcadt-house for a year, and was 
then transported to Barbadoes to be sold. Improvements in the modes of 
administer ng justice were from time to time introduced. New Castle was 
made a corpof-ation, to be governed by a Bailiff and six associates Dut.es on 
importations were laid, and Capt. Martin Pringer was appointed to collect and 
make due returns of them to Gov. Lovelace. ^ , , • + +1. xr^fi. 

In 1673 the French monarch, Louis XIV, declared war against the Neth. 
erlands, and with an army of over 200,000 men moved down upon that de- 
void country. In conjunction with the land force, the English with a power^ 
lu armament, descended upon the Dutch waters. The aged Du Ruyter and 
the youthful Van Tromp put boldly to sea to meet the ^i^^^^^^P- J^^^^SJ^f 
naval battles were fought upon the Dutch coast on the 7th and 14th of June 
and the 6th of Augustf in which the English forces were finally repulsed and 
driven from the coast. In the meantime, the inhabitants, abandoning their 
homes, cut the dikes which held back the sea. and invited inundation. Deem- 
ing this a favorable opportunity to regain their possessions wrenched from them 
ia the New World, the Dutch sent a small fleet under Commodores Cornelius 
Evertse and Jacobus Benkes, to New York, to demand the surreuder of all 
their previous possessions. Gov. Lovelace happened to be absent, and his 
representative, Capt. John Manning, surrendered with but brief resistance, 
and the magistrates from Albany, Esopus, East Jersey and Long Island on 
beino- summoned to New York, swore fealty to the returning Dutch powex. 
Anthony Colve, as Governor, was sent to Delaware, where the magistrates 
hastened to meet him and submit themselves to his authority. Praperty m 
the English Government was confiscated; Gov. Lovelace returned to England, 
and many of the soldiers were carried prisoners to Holland. Be ore their de- 
pa ture Commodores Evertse and Benkes, whostyledthemselves' The honora- 
ble and awful council of war, for their high mightinesses, the Staters Genera 
. o the United Netherlands, and his Serene Highness, t^^P^mce of Orange,'' 
commissioned Anthony Colve, a Captain of foot, on the 12th of August, lb. 3 
to be Governor Gene/al of "New Netherlands, with all its appendences, 
and on the 19th of September following, Peter Alrichs, who had manifested 
Ms sabserviency and his pleasure at the return of Dutch aBcendancy was ap- 
pointed by Colve Deputy Governor upon the Delaware. A body o laws was 
dr^wn up for his instruction, and three courts of justice were established at 
New Castle, Chester and Lewistown. Capt. Manning ^^ ^-/'^turn o En- 
Sand was charged with treachery for delivering up the fort at New York with- 
out rirsLnce and was sentenced by a court martial "to have his sword broken 
over his head in public, before the city hall, and himself rendered incapable 
Twearing a swJrd and of serving his Majesty for the future in any public 

%iuh^%tv'olX:which had been affected so easily was of short duration^ 
On the 9th of February, 1674, peace was concluded between England and 
Holland, and in the articles of' pacification it was provided '• that whatsoever 
fountrie;, islands, towns, ports, castles or forts, have or f ^^^ ^e Y^«^' ^^^^^^^ 
sides since the time that the late unhappy war broke out either m Europe, or 
^sewhZ, shall be restored to the former lord and proprietor, m the same con- 



40 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

dition they shall be in when the peace itself shall be proclaimed, after which 
time there shall be no spoil nor plunder of the inhabitants, no demolition 
of fortifications, nor cai'rying away of guns, powder, or other military stores 
which belonged to any castle or port at the time when it was taken." This 
left no room for controversy about possession. But that there might be no legal 
bar nor loophole for question of absolute right to his possessions, the Duke of 
York secured from the King on the 29th of June following, a new patent cov- 
ering the former grant, and two days thereafter sent Sir Edmund Andros, to 
possess and govern the country. He arrived at New York and took peaceable 
possession on the 31st of October, and two days thereafter it was resolved in 
council to reinstate all the officers upon Delaware as they were at the surrender 
to the Dutch, except Peter Alrichs, who for his forwardness in yielding his 
power was relieved. Capt. Edmund Cantwell and William Tom were sent to 
occupy the fort at New Castle, in the capacities of Deputy Governor and Sec- 
retary. In May, 3075, Gov. Andros visited the Delaware, and held court at 
New Castle " in which orders were made relative to the opening of roads, the 
regulation of church property and the support of pi'eaching, the prohibition 
of the sale of liquors to the Indians, and the distillation thereof by the inhab- 
itants." On the 23d of September, 1676, Cantwell was superseded by John 
Collier, as Vice Governor, when Ephraim Hermans became Secretary. 

As was previously observed, Gov. Nicholls, in 1664, made a complete di- 
gest of all the laws and usages in force in the English-speaking colonies in 
America, which were known as the Duke's Laws. That these might now be 
made the basis of judicature throughout the Duke's possessions, they were, on 
the 25th of September, 1676, formally proclaimed and published by Gov. 
Lovelace, with a suital)le ordinance introducing them. It may here be ob- 
served, that, in the administration of Gov. Hartranft, by act of the Legislature 
of June 12, 1878, the Duke's Laws were published in a handsome volume, to- 
gether with the Charter and Laws instituted by Penn, and historical notes 
covering the early history of the State, under the direction of John B. Linn, 
Secretary of the commonwealth, edited by Staughton George, Benjamin M. 
Nead, and Thomas McCaiaant, from an old copy preserved among the town rec- 
ords of Hempstead, Long Island, the seat of the independent State which 
had been set up there by John Scott before the coming of Nicholls. The num- 
ber of taxable male inhabitants between the ages of sixteen and sixty years, 
in 1677, for Uplandt and New Castle, was 443, which by the usual estimate of 
seven to one would give the population 3,101 for this district. Gov. Collier 
having exceeded his authority by exercising judicial functions, was deposed 
by Andros, and Capt. Christopher Billop was appointed to succeed him. But 
the change resulted in little benefit to the colony; for Billop was charged 
with many irregularities, " taking possession of the fort and turning it into 
a stable, and the court room above into a hay and fodder loft; debarring the 
court from sitting in its usual place in the fort, and making use of soldiers for 
his own private purposes. " 

The hand of the English Government bore heavily upon the denomination 
of Christians called Friends or Quakers, and the earnest-minded, conscientious 
worshipers, uncompromising in their faith, were eager for homes in a land 
where they should be absolutely free to worship the Supreme Being. Berke- 
ley and Carteret, who had bought New Jersey, were Friends, and the settle- 
ments made in their territory were largely of that faith. In 1675, Lord Ber- 
keley sold his undivided half of the province to John Fenwicke, in trust for 
Edward Byllinge, also Quakers, and Fenwicke sailed in the Griffith, with a 
company of Friends who settled at Salem, in West Jersey. Byllinge, having 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 41 

become involved in debt, made an assignment of his interest for the benefit of 
his creditors, and William Penn was induced to become trustee ]ointly with 
Gowen Lawrie and Nicholas Lucas. Penn was a devoted Quaker, and he was 
of that earnest nature that the interests of his friends and Christian devotees 
were like his own persoual interests. Hence he became zealous m promoting 
the welfare of the colony. For its orderly government, and that settlers might 
have assurance of stabilitv in the management of affairs, Penn drew up Con- 
cessions and agreements of the proprietors, freeholders and inhabitants of ^^ est 
New Jersev in America" in forty- four chapters. Foreseeing ^^difficulty from 
divided authority, Penn secured a division of the province by a line ot par- 
tition from the east side of Little Egg Harbor, straight north, through the 
country to the utmost branch of the Delaware River." Penn s half was called 
New West Jersey, along the Delaware side, Carteret's New East Jersey along the 
ocean shore. Penn's purposes and disposition toward the settlers, as the 
founder of a State, are disclosed by a letter which he wrote at this time to a 
Friend, Richard Hartshorn, then in America: "We lay a foundation tor 
after ages to understand their liberty, as men and Christians; that they may 
not be brought into bondage, but by their own consent; for we put the power 
in the people * * So every man is capable to choose or to be chosen ; no man 
to be arrested, condemned, or molested, in his estate, or liberty, but by twelve 
men of the neighborhood; no man to lie in prison for debt, but that his estate 
satisfy, as far as it will go, and he be set at liberty to work; no man to be 
called in question, or molested for his conscience." Lest any should be in- 
duced to leave home and embark in the enterprise of settlement unadvisedly, 
Penn wrote and published a letter of caution, "That in whomsoever a desire to 
be concerned in this intended plantation, such would weigh the thing before 
the Lord, and not headilv, or rashly, conclude on any such remove, and that 
they do not offer violence to the tender love of their near kindred and relations 
but soberly, and conscientiously endeavor to obtain their good wills; that 
whether they go or stay, it may be of good savor before the Lord and good 
people." 



OHAPTEE Y. 

Sir Edmund Andros, 1674-81-Edmund Cantwell, 1674-7C-John Collier, 1676- 
77_Christopher Billop, 1677-81. 

WILLIAM PENN, as Trustee, and finally as part owner of New Jersey, 
became much interested in the subject of colonization in America. 
Many of his people had gone thither, and he had given much prayerful study 
and meditation to the amelioration of their condition by seem- mg just laws for 
their government. His imagination pictured the fortunate condition of a 
State where the law-giver should alone study the happiness of his subjects, and 
his subjects should be chiefly intent on rendering implicit obedience to 
iust laws. From his experience in the management of the Jerseys, he had 
doubtless discovered that if he would carry out his ideas of government suc- 
cessfully, he must have a province where his voice woilld be potential and his 
will supreme. He accordingly cast about for the acquirement of such a land m 

the New World. .,.-,- , xi ^0+., o,, 

Penn had doubtless been stimulated m his desires by the very roseate ac- 
counts of the beauty and excellence of the country, its salubrity of climate, its 



■^2 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



balmy airs, the fertility of its soil, and the abundance of the native fish, flesh 

and fowh In 1680, one Malhon Stacy wrote a letter which was largely circu 

lated m England, in which he says: " It is a country that produceth all thino-s 

tor the support and furtherance of man, in a plentiful manner * * * I 

have seen orchards; laden with fruit to admiration; their very limbs torn to 

pieces with weight, most delicious to the taste, and lovelv to behold I have 

seen an apple tree from a pippin-kernel, yield a barrel of curious cider; and 

peaches in such plenty that some people took their carts a peach gatheriuir- I 

could not nut smile at the conceit of it; they are very delicious fruit, and hang 

almost like om^ onions, that are tied on ropes. I have seen and know this 

summer, forty bushels of bold wheat of one bushel sown. From May till 

Michaelmas, great store of very good wild fruits as strawberries, cranberries 

and hurtleberries, which are like oui" biJlberries in England, only far sweeter- 

the cranberries, much like cherries for color and bigness, which may be 

kept till trnit comes again; an excellent sauce is made of them for venison 

turkeys, and other great fowl, and they are better to make tarts of than either 

goosoDerries or cherries; we have them brought to our houses by the Indian^ 

in great plenty. My brother Eobert had as many cherries this year as would 

have loaded several carts. As for venison and fowls, we have great plenty 

we have brought home to our countries by the Indians, seven or eight fat bucks 

r % I' ^J^ '^""'f. !''*''' ^^"^ ""^^^'^ ^"^ ^"'^^^^ herrings after the Indian fashion. 
* A\e could have tilled a three-bushel sack of as good large herrino-s 
as ever I saw. And as to beef and pork, here is great plenty of it, and o-ood 
sheep. The common grass of this country fpeds beef very fat. Indeedrthe 
couQtry, take it as a wilderness, is a brave country." 

The father of William Penn had arisen to distinction m tne British Navy 
Me was sent m Cromwell's time, with a considerable sea and land force, to the 
West Indies, where he reduced the Island of Jamaica under English rule At 
the restoration, he gave in his adhesion to the royal cause. Under James, 
Duke of York, Admiral Penn commanded the English fleet which descended 
upon the Dutch coast, and gained a great victory over the combined naval 
forces led by Van Opdam. For this great service to his country, Penn was 
knighted, and became a favorite at court, the King and his brothor, the Duke 
holding him m cherished remembrance. At his death, there was due him 
from tbe crown the sum of £16,000, a portion of which he himself had ad 
vanced for the sea service. Filled with the romantic idea of colonization and 
enamored with the sacred cause of his people, the son, who had come to be re 
garded with favor for his great father's sake, petitioned King Charles II to 
grant him, m liquidation of this debt, " a tract of land in America, Ivin^ 
north of Maryland, bounded east by the Delaware Eiver, on the west limited 
as Maryhmd, and northward to extend as far as plantable." There were con- 
flicting interests at this time which were being warily watched at court The 
petition was submitted to the Privy Council, and afterward to the Lords of 
the committee of plantations. The Duke of York already held the counties of 
New Castle, Kent and Sussex. Lord Baltimore held a grant upon the south 
with an indefinite northern limit, and the agents of both these territories 
viewed with a jealous eye any new grant that should in any way trench upon 
their rights. These claims were fully debated and heard by the Lords and 
being a matter in which the King manifested special interest, the Lord Chief 
Justice, North, and the Attorney General, Sir William Jones, were consulted 
both as to the grant itself, and the form or manner of making it. Finallv 
after a careful study of the whole subject, it was determined by the highest 
authority in the Government to grant to Penn a larger tract than* he had asked 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA, ^^ 

for and the charter was drawn with unexampled liberality, in unequivocal 
terms of li?t and perpetuity of holding, and with remarkab e minuteness of 
detTn and that Penn should have the advantage of any double ^leanaug con- 
veyed in the instrument, the twenty-third and last section P^-^^^des: And 
[f Terchance hereafter any doubt ur question should arise concerning the tiue 
senCand melng^ an/word, clause or sentence contained in this our present 
charter w^will ordain and command that at all times and m all things such 
iSoretlti^n be made thereof, and allowed in any of our courts whatsoever 
as Sfbe adjudged most advantageous and favorable unto the said Wilham 

"^Tt wt atyfnf daTfor Penn when he finally reached the consummation of 
hiswirhes and saw himself invested with almost dictatorial power over a 
country as' lar^e as England itself, destined to become a populous ernpire 
But S exultation was tempered with the most devout Chris lan spint, feai-ful 
fest in thTexerc^^^ of his gl-eat power he might be led to do something that 
ihould be displeasing to God. To his dear friend, Robert Turner, he writes 
S a modest way: "Mvtrue love in the Lord salutes thee and dear fi'iends 
hat Tve the Lord's precious truth in those parts. Thine I have, and for my 
business hei^ know that after many waitings, watchmgs, sohcitmgs and dis- 
STn council, this day my country was confirmed to me under the great seal 
ffnMand with large powers and privileges, by the name of Pennsylvania a 
name the King would give it in honor of my father. I chose New Wales be- 
?nT as this a pretty hilly country; but Penn being Welsh for a head,asPen- 
^f;roi7ein WaL,^andVenrith in Cumberland, and Penn m Buckmgham- 
^'re the hthest l^nd ia England, called this Pennsylvama which is the high 
or head woodlands; for I proposed, when the Secretary, a Welshman refused 
Z have ilcalLd N;w Wales, Sylvania, and they added Penn to it; and though 
imiich opposed it, and weni to the King to have it struck out and altered, he 
Lfdit wast and would take it upon him; nor could twenty guineas move 
he Unrie:r;tary to vary the name; for I feared lest it ^^f^^'^^^^^^t^^^ 
as a vanity in me, and not as a. respect in the King, as it tiuly was to my 
father whom he iften mentions with praise. Thou mayest communicate my 
g'ant io Frfends, and expect shortly my proposals. It is ^ clear and just 
fh W and my God, that has given it me through many difficulties, will, I be- 
S'bless'nd make it the seed of anation. I shall have atender care to the 
p-overcment, that it be well laid at first." _ „„ +1,0+ r.f 

^ Pen" had asked that the western boundary should be t^^^/^-^-^^^l' 
Marvland- but the King made the width from east to west fave full degre^s^ 
The cS^r limits were " all that tract, or part, of land, m America, with the 
^^Ltth'eincttained as the same is bo-de\on the^as by De^^^^^^^^^ 
Biver, from twelve miles distance northwards of New Castle to^wn, unto tne 
flirAP and fortieth degree of northern latitude. .,-,,, +^i 

The .aM S to exLd westward five ^g^^V" 'T^^'"'''':, *^ n^ th7„orth 
from the said eastern bounds; and the said lauds to be bonBded ou the uorth 
bv the berfnuina- of the three and fortieth degree of northern lat™''^' ^"J?- 
on the south bf a circle drawn at twelve miles distance from New Cast e 
nortblrd and westward unto the beginning of ^e fortieth ^"ei-^-^'^^j'^Z 
latitude; and then by a straight line westward to the hm.ts of longitude above 

™°It™tiaent that tne royal secretaries did not -f ""^-f "'' 'i;^\gSn" 

s;ytent-'th'-»^^^^^^^ 

pTstrict of Columbia, and hence Baltimore, and the greater part of Maryland 



44 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

and a good slice of Virginia would have been included in the clear terms of 
the chartered limits of Pennsylvania. But the charters of Maryland and Vir- 
ginia antedated this of Pennsylvania. Still, the terms of the Penn charter 
were distinct, the beginning of the fortieth degree, whereas those of Maryland 
were ambiguous, the northern limit being fixed at the fortieth degree; but whether 
at the beginning or at the ending of the fortieth was not stated. Penn 
claimed three full degrees of latitude, and when it was found that a contro- 
versy was likely to ensue, the King, by the hand of his royal minister, Con- 
way, issued a fui-ther declaration, dated at Whitehall, April 2, 1681, in which 
the wording of the original chartered limits fixed for Pennsylvania were 
quoted verbatim, and his royal pleasure declared that these limits should be 
respected " as they tender his majesty's displeasure." This was supposed to 
settle the matter. But Lord Baltimore still pressed his claim, and the ques- 
tion of southern boundary remained an open one, causing much disquietude 
to Penn, requiring watchful care at court for more than half a century, and 
until after the proprietor's death. 

We gather from the terms of the charter itself that the King, in making 
the grant, was influenced "by the commendable desire of Penn to enlarge our 
British Empire, and promote such useful commodities as may be of benefit 
to us and our dominions, as also to reduce savage nations by just and gentle 
manners, to the love of civil society and Christian religion," and out of "re- 
gard to the memory and merits of his late father, in divers services, and par- 
ticularly to his conduct, courage and discretion, under our dearest brother, 
James, Duke of York, in the signal battle and victory, fought and obtained, 
against the Dutch fleet, commanded by the Herr Van Opdam in 1665.'' 

The motive for obtaining it on the part of Penn may be gathered from the 
following extract of a letter to a friend: " For my country I eyed the Lord in 
obtaining it; and more was I drawn inward to look to Him, and to owe it to His 
hand and power than to any other way. I have so obtained and desire to keep 
it, that I may be unworthy of His love, but do that which may answer His 
kind providence and people." 

The charter of King Charles II was dated April 2, 1681. Iiest any 
trouble might arise in the future from claims founded on the grant previously 
made to the Duke of York, of "Long Island and adjacent territories occupied 
by the Dutch," the prudent forethought of Penn induced him to obtain a deed, 
dated August 31, 1682, of the Duke, for Pennsylvania, substantially in the 
terms of the royal charter. But Penn was still not satisfied. He was cut off 
from the ocean except by the uncertain navigation of one narrow stream. He 
therefore obtained from the Duke a grant of New Castle and a district of 
twelve miles around it, dated on the 24th of August, 1682, and on the same 
day a further grant from the Duke of a tract extending to Cape Henlopen, 
embracing the two counties of Kent and Sussex, the two grants comprising 
what were known as the territories, or the three lower counties, which were 
for many years a part of Pennsylvania, but subsequently constituted the State 
of Delaware. 

Being now satisfied with his province, and that his titles were secure, Penn 
drew up such a description of the country as from his knowledge he was able 
to give, which, together with the royal charter and proclamation, terms of 
settlement, and other papers pertaining thereto, he published and spread 
broadcast through the kingdom, taking special pains doubtless to have the 
documents reach the Friends. The terms of sale of lands were 40 shillings for 
100 acres, and 1 shilling per acre rental. The question has been raised, why 
exact the annual payment of one shilling per acre. The terms of the grant by 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIi. 47 

the royal cbarter to Perm were made absolute on the " payraent therefor to us, 
our heirs and successors, two beaver skins, to be delivered at our castle in 
"Windsor, on the 1st day of January in every year," and contingent payment 
of one-fifth part of all gold and silver which shall from time to time happen 
to be found clear of all charges." Penn, therefore, held his title only upon 
the payment of quit-rents. He could consequently give a valid title only by 
the exacting of quit-rents. 

Having now a great province of his own to manage, Penn was obliged to 
relinquish his share in West New Jersey. He had given largely of his time and 
energies to its settlement: he had sent 1,400 emigrants, many of them people 
of high character; had seen farms reclaimed from the forest, the town of 
Burlington built, meeting houses erected in place of tents for worship, good 
Government established, and the savage Indians turned to peaceful ways. 
With satisfaction, therefore, he could now give himself to reclaiming and set- 
tling his own province. He had of course in his published account of the 
country made it appear a desirable place for habitation. But lest any should 
regret having gone thither when it was too late, he added to his description a 
caution, " to consider seriously the premises, as well the inconveniency as 
future ease and plenty; that so none may move rashly or from a fickle, but from 
a solid mind, having above ail things an eye to the providence of God in the 
disposing of themselves." Nothing more surely points to the goodness of 
heart of William Penn, the great founder of our State, than this extreme 
solicitude, lest he might induce any to go to the new country who should af- 
terward regret having gone. 

The publication of the royal charter and his description of the country 
attracted attention, and many purchases of land were made of Penn before 
leaving England. That these purchasers might have something binding to 
rely upon, Penn drew up what he termed " conditions or concessions " between 
himself as proprietor and purchasers in the province. These related to the 
settling the country, laying out towns, and especially to the treatment of the 
Indians, who were to have the same rights and privileges, and careful regard 
as the Europeans. And what is perhaps a remarkable instance of provident 
forethought, the eighteenth article provides " That, in clearing the ground, 
care be taken to leave one acre of trees for every five acres cleared, especially 
to preserve oak and mulberries, for silk and shipping." It could be desired 
that such a provision might have remained operative in the State for all 
time. 

Encouraged by the manner in which his proposals for settlement were 
received, Penn now drew up a frame of government, consisting of twenty- 
four articles and forty laws. These were drawn in a spirit of unexampled 
fairness and liberality, introduced by an elaborate essay on the just rights of 
government and governed, and with such conditions and concessions that it 
should never be in the power of an unjust Governor to take advantage of the 
people and practice injustice. " For the matter of liberty and privilege, I pur- 
pose that which is exti'aordinary, and leave myself and successors no power of 
doing mischief, that the will of one man may not hinder that of a whole coun- 
try. This frame gave impress to the character of the early government. It im- 
planted in the breasts of the people a deep sense of duty, of right, and of obli- 
gation in all public affairs, and the relations of man with man, and formed a 
framework for the future constitution. Penn himself had felt the heavy hand 
of government for religious opinions and practice' sake. He determined, for 
the matter of religion, to leave all free to hold such opinions as they might 
elect, and hence enacted for his State that all who " hold themselves obliged 

3 



48 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

in conscience, to live peaceably and justly in civil society, shall, in no ways. 
be molested, nor prejudiced, for their religioiis persuasion, or practice, in mat- 
ters of faith and worship, nor shall they be compelled, at any time, to fre- 
quent, or maintain, any religious worship, place, or ministry whatever. " At 
this period, such govermental liberality in matl"ers of religion was almost un- 
kaown, thoiigh Roger Williams m the colony of Rhode Island had previously, 
under similar circumstances, and having just escaped a like persecution, pro- 
claimed it, as had likewise Lord Baltimore in the Catholic colony of Mary- 
land 

The mind of Penn was constantly exercised upon the affairs of his settlement. 
Indeed, to plant a colony in a new country had been a thought of his boyhood, 
for he says in one of his letters: "I had an opening of joy as to these parts in 
the year 1651, at Oxford, twenty years since." Not being in readiness to go 
to his province during the first year, he dispatched three ship loads of set- 
tlers, and with them sent his cousin, William Markham, to take formal pos- 
session of the country and act as Deputy Governor Markham sailed for New 
York, and upon his arrival there exhibited his commission, bearing date March 
6, 1681, and the King's charter and proclamation. In the absence of Gov. An- 
dros, who, on having been called to account for some complaint made against 
him, had gone to England, Capt. Anthony Brockholls, Acting Governor, re- 
ceived Markham's papers, and gave him a letter addressed to the civil officers 
on the Delaware, informing them that Markham's authority as Governor had 
been examined, and an official record made of it at New York, thanking them 
for their fidelity, and requesting them to submit themselves to the new author- 
ity. Armed with this letter, which was dated June 21, 1681, Markham pro- 
ceeded to fhe Delaware, where, on exhibiting his papers, he was kindly re- 
ceived, and allegiance was cheerfully transferred to the new government. In- 
deed so frequently had the power changed hands that it had become quite a 
matter of habit to transfer obedience from one authority to another^ and they 
had scarcely laid their heads to rest at night but with the consciousness that 
the morning light might bring new codes and new officers. 

Markham was empowered to call a council of nine citizens to assist him in 
the government, and over whom he was to preside. He brought a letter ad- 
dressed to Lord Baltimore, touching the boundary between the two grants, and 
exhibiting the terms of the charter for Pennsylvania. On receipt of this let- 
ter, Lord Baltimore came to Upland to confer with Markham. An observation 
tixing the exact latitude of Upland showed that it was twelve miles south of 
the forty-first degree, to which Baltimore claimed, and that the beginning of 
the fortieth degree, which the royal charter explicitly fixed for the southern 
boundary of Pennsylvania, would include nearly the entire State of Maryland, 
and cut the limits of the present site of the city of Washington. "If this be 
allowed," was significantly asked by Baltimore, "where is my province?" 
He returned to his colony, and from this time forward an active contention 
was begun before the authorities in England for possession of the disputed 
territory, which required all the arts and diplomatic skill of Penn. 

Markham was accompanied to the province by four Commissioners sent 
out by Penn — William Crispin, John Bezer, William Haige and Nathaniel 
Allen. The first named had been designated as Surveyor General, but he 
having died on the passage, Thomas Holme was appointed to succeed him. 
These Commissioners, in conjunction with the Governor, had two chief duties 
assigned them. The first was to meet and preserve friendly relations with the 
Indians and acquire lands by actual purchase, and the second was to select the 
site of a great city and make the necessary surveys. That they might have a 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. '49 

suitable introduction to the natives from him, Penn addressed to them a dec- 
laration of his purposes, conceived in a spirit of brotherly love, and expressed 
in such simple terms that these children of the forest, unschooled in book 
learning, would have no difficulty in apprehending- his meaning. The refer- 
ring the source of all power to the Creator was fitted to produce a strong im- 
pression upon their naturally superstitious habits of thought. "There is a 
great God and power, that hath made the world, and all things therein, to 
whom you and I, and all people owe their being, and well being; and to \^hom 
you and I must one day give an account for all that we do in the world. This 
great God hath written His law in our hearts, by which we are taught and com- 
manded to love, and help, and do good to one another. NoW this great God hath 
been pleased to make me concerned in your part of the world, and the King 
of the country where I live hath given me a great province therein; but I de- 
sire to enjoy it with your love and consent, that we may always live together, 
as neighbors and friends; else what would the great God do to us^jseho hath 
made us, not to devour and destroy one another, but to live soberly and kindly 
together in the world ? Now I would have you well observe that I am very 
sensible of the unkindness and injustice that have been too much exercised 
toward you by the peo})le of these parts of the world, who have sought them- 
selves, and to make groat advantages by you, rather than to be examples of 
goodness and patience unto you, which I hear hath been a matter of trouble 
to you, and caused great grudging and animosities, sometimes to the shedding 
of blood, which hath made the great God angry. But I am not such a man, 
as is well known in my own country. I have great love and regard toward 
you, and desire to gain your love and friendship by a kind, just and peaceable 
life, and the people I send are of the same mind, and shall in all things be- 
have themselves accordingly; and if in anything any shall ofi'end you or 
your people, you shall have a full and speedy satisfaction for the same by an 
equal number of just mea on both sides that by no means you may have just 
occasion of being oflended against them. I shall shortly come to you myself, 
at which time we may more largely and frcjely confer and discourse of these 
matters. In the meantime, I have sent my Commissioners to treat with you 
about land, and form a league of peace. Let me desire you to be kind to 
them and their people, and receive these presents and tokens which I have sent 
you as a testimony of my good will to you, and my resolution to live justly, 
peaceably and friendly with you." 

In this plain but sublime statement is embraced the whole theory of Will 
iam Penn's treatment of the Indians. It was the doctrine which the Savior 
of mankind came upon earth to promulgate — the estimable worth of every 
human soul. And when Penn came to propose his laws, one was adopted 
which forbade private trade with the natives in which they might be overreached; 
but it was required that the valuable skins and furs they had to sell should be 
hung up in the market place where all could see them and enter into compe- 
tition for their purchase. Penn was offered £6,000 for a monopoly of trade. 
But he well knew the injustice to which this would subject the simple-minded 
natives, and he refused it saying: "As the Lord gave it me over all and 
great opposition, I would not abuse His love, nor act unworthy of His provi- 
dence, and so defile what came to me clean " — a sentiment worthy to be treas- 
ured with the best thoughts of the sages of old. And to his Commissioners lie 
gave a letter of instructions, in which he says: "Be impartially just to all; 
that is both pleasing to the Lord, and wise in itself. Be tender of offending 
the Indians, and let them know that you come to sit down lovingly among 
them. Let my letter and conditions be read in their tongue, that they may see 



50 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

we have their good in our eye. Be grave, they love not to be smiled on." 
Acting npon these wise and just considerations, the Commissioners had no diffi- 
culty in making large purchases of the Indians of lands on the right bank of 
the Delaware and above tlie mouth of the Schuylkill. 

But they found greater difficulty in settling the piace for the new city. 
Penn had given very minute instructions about this, and it was not easy 
to find a tract which answered all the conditions. For seven weeks they kept 
up their search. Penn had written, " be sure to make your choice wliere it is 
most navigable, high, dry and healthy; that is, where most ships may bestride, 
of deepest draught of water, if possible to load and unload at the bank or 
key's side without boating and lightening of it. It would do well if the river 
coming into that creek be navigable, at least for boats up into the country, 
and that the situation be high, at least dry and sound and not swampy, which 
is best known by digging up two or three earths and seeing the bottom." By 
his instructions, the site of the city was to be between two navigable streams, 
and embrace 10,000 acres in one block. " Be sure to settle the figure of the 
town so that the streets hereafter may be uniform down to the water from the 
countiy bounds. Let every house be placed, if the person pleases, in the 
middle of its plat, as to the bi-eadth way of it, that so there may be ground on 
each side for gardens or orchards or fields, that it may be a green country town, 
which will never be burnt and always wholesome." The soil was examined, 
the streams wei'e sounded, deep pits were dug that a location might be found 
which should gratify the desires of Penn. All the eligible sites were inspected 
from the ocean far up into the country. Penn himself had anticipated that 
Chester or Upland would be adopted from all that he could learn of it; but 
this was rejected, as was also the ground upon Poquessing Creek and that at 
Pennsbury Manor above Bristol which had been carefully considered, and the 
present site of Philadelphia was finally adopted as coming nearest to the 
requirements of the proprietor. It had not 10,000 acres in a solid square, but 
it was between two navigable streams, and the soil was high and dry, being for 
the most part a vast bed of gravel, excellent for drainage and likely to prove 
healthful. The streets were laid out regularly and crossed each other at 
right angles. As the ground was only gently rolling, the gi-ading was easily 
accomplished. One broad street. Market, extends from river to river through 
the midst of it, which is crossed at right angles at its middle point by Broad 
street of equal width. It is 120 miles from the ocean by the course of the 
river, and only sixty in a direct line, eighty-seven miles from New York, 
ninety-five from Baltimore, 136 from Washington, 100 from Harrisburg and 
800 from Pittsburgh, and lies in north latitude 39° 56' 54", and longitude 75° 
8' 45" west from Greenwich The name Philadelphia (brotherly love), was 
one that Penn had before selected, as this founding a city was a project which 
he had long dreamed of and contemplated with never-ceasing interest. 




HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 51 



CHAPTEE YL 

William Makkham, 1681-83— AVilliam Penn, 1682-84. 

HAVING now made necessary preparations and settled his affairs in En- 
gland, Penn embarked on board the ship Welcome, in August, 1682, in 
company with about a hundred planters, mostly from his native town of Sussex, 
and set his prow for the New World. Before leaving the Downs, he addressed 
a farewell letter to his friends whom ho left behind, and another to his wife 
and children, giving them much excellent advice, and sketching the way of 
life he wished them to lead. With remarkable care and minuteness, he points 
out the way in which he would have his children bred, and educated, married, 
and live. A single passage from this remarkable document will indicate its 
general tenor. " Be sure to observe," in educating his children, " their genius, 
and do not cross it as to learning ; let them not dwell too long on one thing ; 
but let their change be agreeable, and let all their diversions have some little 
bodily labor in them. When grown big, have most care for them ; for then 
there are more snares both within and without. When marriageable, see that 
they have worthy persons in their eye ; of good life and good fame for piety 
and understanding, I need no wealth but sufficiency ; and be sure their love 
be dear, fervent and mutual, that it may be happy for them." And to his 
children he said, " Betake yourselves to some honest, industrious course of 
life, and that not of sordid covetousness, but for example and to avoid idle- 
ness. ***** Love not money nor the world ; use them only, 
and they will serve you ; but if you love them you serve them, which will 
debase your spirits as well as offend the Lord. ***** Watch 
against anger, neither speak nor act in it ; for, like drunkenness, it makes a 
man a beast, and throws people into desperate inconveniences." The entire 
letters are so full of excellent counsel that they might with great profit be 
committed to memory, and treasured in the heart. 

The voyage of nearly six weeks was prosperous ; but they had not been 
long on the ocean before thfit loathed disease — the virulent small-pox — broke 
out, of which thirty died, nearly a third of the whole company. This, added 
to the usual discomforts and terrors of the ocean, to most of whom this was 
probably their first experience, made the voyage a dismal one. And here was 
seen the nobility of Penn. ""For his good conversation" says one of them, 
" was very advantageous to all the company. His singular care was manifested 
in contributing to the necessities of many who were sick with the small-pox 
then on board." 

His arrival upon 'the coast and passage up the river was hailed with dem- 
onstrations of joy by all classes, English, Dutch, Swedes, and especially by his 
own devoted followers. He landed at New Castle on the 24th of October, 1682, 
and on the following day summoned the people to the court house, where pos- 
session of the country was formally made over jO him, and he renewed the 
commissions of the magistrates, to whom and to the assembled people he an- 
nounced the design of his coming, explained the nature and end of truly good 
government, assuring them that their religious and civil rights should be re- 
spected, and recommended them to live in sobriety and peace. He then pro- 



52 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

ceeded to Upland, hencefoward known as Chester, where, on the 4th of Novem- 
ber, he called an assembly of the people, in which an equal number of votes 
was allowed to the province and the territories. Nicholas Moore, President of 
the Free Society of Traders, was chosen speaker. As at New Castle, Penn 
addressed the assembly, giving them assurances of his beneficent intentions, 
for which they returned their grateful acknowledgmen+s, the Swedes beiag 
especially demonstrative, deputing one of their number, Lacy Cock, to say 
" That they would love, serve and obey him with all they had, and that this 
was the best day they ever saw." We can well understand with what satisfac- 
tion the settlers upon the Delaware hailed the prospect of a stable government 
established in their own midst, after having been so long at the mercy of the 
government in New York, with allegience trembling between the courts of 
Sweden, Holland and Britain. 

The proceedings of this first assembly were conducted with great decorum, 
and after the usages of the English Parliament. On the 7th of December, 
1682, the three lower counties, what is now Delaware, which had previously 
been under the government of the Duke of ^ork, were formerly annexed to the 
province, and became an integral part of Pennsylvania. The frame of govern- 
ment, which had been drawn with much deliberation, was submitted to the 
assembly, and, after some alterations and amendments, was adopted, and be- 
came the fundamental law of the State. The assembly was in session only 
three days, but the work they accomplished, how vast and far-reaching in its 
influence! 

The Dutch, Swedes and other foreigners were then naturalized, and the 
government was launched in fair running order: That some idea may be had 
of its character, the subjects treated are here given: 1, Liberty of conscience; 
2, Qualification of officers; 3, Swearing by God, Christ or Jesus; 4, Swearing 
by any other thing or name; 5, Profanity; 6, Cursing; 7, Fornication; 8, In- 
cest; 9, Sodomy; 10, Rape; 11, Bigamy; 12, Drunkenness; 13, Suffering 
drunkenness; 14, Healths drinking; 15, Selling liquor to Indians; 16, Arson; 
17, Burglary; 18, Stolen goods; 19, Forcible entry; 20, Riots; 21, Assaulting 
parents: 22, Assaulting Magistrates; 23, Assaulting masters; 24, Assault and 
battery; 25, Duels; 26, Riotous sports, as plays; 27, Gambling and lotteries; 
28, Sedition; 29, Contempt; 30, Libel; 31, Common scolds; 32, Charities; 
33, Prices of beer and ale; 34, Weights and measures; 35, Names of > days and 
months; 36, Perjury; 37, Court proceedings in English; 38, Civil and crim- 
inal trials; 39, Fees, salaries, bribery and extortion; 40, Moderation of fines; 
41, Suits avoidable; 42, Foreign arrest; 43, Contracts; 44, Charters, gifts, 
grants, conveyances, bills, bonds an 1 deeds, when recorded; 45, Wills; 46, 
Wills of non compos mentis; 47, Registry of Wills; 48, Registry foi' servants; 
49, Factors; 50, DefacerS; corruptors and embezzlers of charters, conveyances 
and records; 51, Lands and goods to pay debts; 52, Bailable offenses; 53, 
Jails and jailers; 54, Prisons to be workhouses; 55, False imprisonment; 56, 
Magistrates may elect between fine or imprisonment; 57, Freemen; 58, Elec- 
tions; 59, No money levied but in pursuance of law; 60, Laws shall be printed 
and taught in schools; 61, All other things, not provided for nerein, ai'e re- 
ferred to the Governor and freemen from time to time. 

Very soon after his arrival in the colony, after the precept had been issued, 
but before the convening' of the Assembly, Penn, that he might not be wanting 
in respect to the Duke of York, made a visit to New York, where he was kind- 
ly received, and also after the adjournment of the Assembly, journeyed to Mary- 
land, where he was entertained by Lord Baltimore with great cere?nony. The 
settlement of the disputed boundaries was made the subject of formal confer- 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA 53 

ence. But after two days spent in fruitless discussion, the weather becoming 
sevei'ely cold, and thus precluding the possibility of taking observations or 
making the necessary surveys, it was agreed to adjourn fvirther consideration 
of the subject until the milder weather of the spring. We may imagine that 
the two Governors were taking the measure of each other, and of gaining all 
possible knowledge of each other's claims and rights, preparatory to that 
struggle for possession of this disputed fortieth degree of latitude, which was 
destined to come before the home government. 

With all his cares in founding a State and providing a government over a 
new people, Penn did not forget to preach the "blessed Gospel," and wherever 
he went he was intent upon his " Master's business." On his return from 
Maryland, Lord Baltimore accompanied him several miles to the house of 
William Richardson, and thence to Thomas Hooker's, where was a religious 
meeting, as was also one held at Choptauk. Penn himself says: "I have 
been also at New York, Long Island, East Jersey and Maryland, in which I 
have had good and eminent service for the Lord." And again he says; "As to 
outward things, we are satisfied — the land good, the air clear and sweet, tho 
springs plentiful, and provisions good and easy to come at, an innnmerablo 
quantity of wild fowl and tish; in line, here is what an Abraham, Isaac and 
Jacob would be well contented with, and service enough for God; for tho 
fields are here white for the harvest. O, how sweet is the quiet of these parts, 
freed from the anxious and troublesome solicitations, hurries and perplexities 
of woeful Europe! * * * Blessed be the Lord, that of twenty-three ships, 
none miscarried; only two or three had the small-pox; else healthy and swift 
passages, generally such as have not been known; some but twenty-eight days, 
and few longer than six weeks. Blessed be God for it; my soul fervently 
breathes that in His heavenly guiding wisdom, we may be kept, that we may 
serve Him in our day, and lay down our heads in peace." And then, as if re- 
proached for not having mentioned another subject of thankfulness, he adds in 
a postscript, "Many women, in divers of the ships, brought to bed; they and 
their children do well." 

Penn made it his first care to take formal possession of his province, and 
adopt a frame of government. When this was done, his chief concern was 
to look to the establishment of his proposed new city, the site of which had 
already been determined on by his Commissioners. Accordingly, early in 
November, at a season when, in this section, the days are golden, I'enn em- 
barked in an open barge with a number of his friends, and was wafted 
leisurely up the Delaware to the present site of the city of Philadel- 
phia, which the natives called Coaquannock. Along the river was a bold shore, 
fringed with lofty pines, which grew close down to the water's edge, so much 
so that when the first ship passing up with settlers for West Jersey had brushed 
against the branches, the passengers remarked that this would be a good place 
for a city. It was then in a wild state, the deer browsing along the shore and 
sipping the stream, and the coneys burrowing in the banks. The scattered 
settlers had gathered m to see and welcome the new Governor, and when he 
stepped upon the shore, they extended a helping hand in assisting him up the 
rugged bluff. Three Swedes had already taken up tracts within the limits of 
the block of land chosen for the city. But they were given lands in exchange, 
and readily relinquished their claims. The location was pleasing to Penn, and 
was adopted without further search, though little could be seen of this then 
forest-encumbered country, where now is the home of countless industries, the 
busy mart, the river bearing upon its bosom the commerce of many climes, 
and the abiding place of nearly a million of people. But Penn did not con- 



54 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

sider that he had as yet any just title to the soil, holding that the Indians 
were its only rightful possessors, and until it was fairly acquired by purchase 
froni them, his own title was entirely void. 

Hence, he sought an early opportunity to meet the chiefs of the tribes and 
cultivate friendly relations with them. Tradition fixes the first great treaty 
or conference at about this time, probably in November, and the place under 
the elm tree, known as the " Treaty Tree," at Kensington. It was at a sea- 
son when the leaves would still be upon the trees, and the assembly was called 
beneath the ample shade of the wide-sweeping branches, which was pleasing 
to the Indians, as it was their cui^tom to hold all their great deliberations and 
smoke the pipe of peace in the open air. The letter which Penn had sent had 
prepared the minds of these simple-hearted inhabitants of the forest to regard 
him with awe and reverence, little less than that inspired by a descended god. 
His coming had for a long time been awaited, and it is probable that it had 
been heralded and talked over by the wigwam tire throughout the remotest 
bounds of the tribes. And when at length the day came, the whole popula- 
tion far around had assembled. 

It is known that three tribes at least were represented — the Lenni Lenape, 
living along the Delaware; the Shawnees, a tribe that had come up from the 
South, and were seated along the Lower Susquehanna; and the Mingoes, 
sprung from the Six Nations, and inhabiting along the Conestoga. Penn was 
probably accompanied by the several officers of his Government and his most 
trusted friends. There were no implements of warfare, for peace was a cardi- 
nal feature of the Quaker creed. 

No veritable account of this, the great treaty, is known to have been made; 
but from the fact that Penn not long after, in an elaborate treatise upon the 
country, the inhabitants and the natives, has given the account of the manner 
in which the Indians demean themselves in conference, we may infer that he 
had this one in mind, and hence we may adopt it as his own description of the 
scene. 

" Their order is thus: The King sits in the middle of a half moon, and 
hath his council, the old and wise, on each hand; behind them, or at a little 
distance, sit the younger fry in the same figure. Having consulted and re- 
solved their business, the King ordered one of them to speak to me. He stood 
up, came to me, and, in the name of the King, saluted me; then took me by 
th-ii hand and told me he was ordered by the King to speak to me; and now it 
was not he, but the King that spoke, because what he would say was the 
King's mind. * * * * During the time that this person spoke, not 
a man of them was observed to whisper or smile; the old grave, the young 
reverant, in their deportment. They speak little, but fervently, and with ele- 
gance." 

In response to the salutation from the Indians, Penn makes a reply in 
suitable terms: "The Great Spirit, who made me and you, who rules the 
heavens and the earth, and who knows the innermost thoughts of men, knows 
that I and my friends have a hearty desire to live in peace and friendship 
with you, and to serve you to the uttermost of our power. It is not our custom 
to use hostile weapons against our fellow-creatures, for which reason we have 
come unarmed. Our object is not to do injury, and thus provoke the Great 
Spirit, but to do good. We are met on the broad pathway of good faith and 
good will, so that no advantage is to be takcm on either side; but all to be open- 
ness, brotherhood and love." Having unrolled his parchment, he explains to 
them through an interpreter, article by article, the nature of the business, and 
laying it upon the ground, observes that the ground shall be for the use of 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. . 55 

both people. " I will not do as the Marylanders did, call you children, or 
brothers only; for parents are apt to whip their children too severely, and 
brothers sometimes will di£fer; neither will I compare the friendship between 
us to a chain, for the rain may rust it, or a tree may fall and break it; but I 
will consider you as the same flesh and blood with the Christians, and the same 
as if one man's body were to be divided into two parts." Having ended his 
business, the speaker for the King comes forward and makes great promises 
" of kindness and good neighborhood, and that the Indians and English must 
live in love as long as the sun gave light." This ended, another Indian makes 
a speech to his own people, first to explain to them what had been agreed on, 
and then to exhort them "to love the Christians, and particularly live in peace 
with me and the people under my government, that many Governors had been 
in the river, but that no Governor had come himself to live and stay here be- 
fore, and having now such an one, that had treated them well, they should never 
do him nor his any wrong." At every sentence they shouted, as much as to 
say, amen. 

The Indians had no system of writing by which they could record their 
dealings, but their memory of events and agreements was almost miraculous. 
Heckewelder records that in after years, tlaey were accustomed, by means of 
strings, or belts of wampum, to preserve the recollection of their pleasant in- 
terviews with Penn, after he had departed for England. He says, " They fre- 
quently assembled together in the woods, in some shady spot, as nearly as pos- 
sible similar to those where they used to meet their brother Miquon (Penn), and 
there lay all his words and speeches, with those of his descendants, on a 
blanket, or clean piece of bark, and with great satisfaction go successively 
over the whole. This practice, which I have repeatedly witnessed, continued 
until the year 1780, when disturbances which took place put an end to it, 
probably forever." 

The memory of this, the "Great Treaty," was long preserved by the na- 
tives, and the novel spectacle was reproduced upon canvas by the genius of 
Benjamin West. In this picture, Penn is represented as a corpulent old man, 
whereas he was at this time but thirty-eight years of age, and in the very 
height of manly activity. The Treaty Tree was preserved and guarded from 
injury with an almost superstitious care. During the Revolution, when Phila- 
delphia was occupied by the British, and their parties were scouring the coun- 
try for firewood. Gen. Simcoe had a sentinel placed at this tree to proiect it 
from mutilation. It stood until 1810, when it was blown down, and it was 
ascertained by its annual concentric accretions to be 283 years old, and was, 
consequently, 155 at the time of making the treaty. The Penn Society erected 
a substantial monument on the spot where it stood. 

Penn drew up his deeds for lands in legal form, and had them duly exe- 
cuted and made of record, that, in the dispute possible to arise in after times, 
there might be proof definite and positive of the purchase. Of these purchases 
there are two deeds on record executed in 1683. One is for land near Nesha- 
miny Creek, and thence to Pen^'pack, and the other for lands lying between 
Schuylkill and Chester Rivers, the first bearing the signature of the great 
chieftain, Taminend. In one of these purchases it is provided that the tract 
" shall extend back as far as a man could walk in three days. " Tradition 
runs that Penn himself, with a number of his friends, walked out the half this 
purchase with the Indians, that no advantage should be taken of them by mak- 
ing a great walk, and to show his consideration for them, and that he was not 
above the toils and fatigues of such a duty." They began to walk out this 
land at the mouth of the Neshaminy, and walked up the Delaware; in one day 



56 HISTORY OF TENNSYLVANIA. 

and a half they got to a spruce tree near the month of Baker's Creek, when 
Penn, concluding that this would include as much land as he would want at 
present, a line was run and marked from the spruce tree to Neshaminy, and 
the remainder left to be walked when it should be wanted. They proceed- 
ed after the Indian manner, walking leisurely, sitting down sometimes to 
smoke their pipes, eat biscuit and cheese, and drink a bottle of wine. In the 
day and a half they walked a little less than thirty miles. The balance of the 
purchase was not walked until September 20, 17::58, when the then Governor of 
Pennsylvania offered a prize of 500 acres of land and £5 for the man who 
would walk the farthest. A distance of eighty-six miles was covered, in 
marked contrast with the kind consideration of Penn. 

During the first year, the country upon tiie Delaware, from the falls of 
Trenton as far as Chester, a distance of nearly sixty miles, was rapidly taken up 
and peopled. The large proportion of these were Quakers, and devotedly attached 
to their religion and its proper observances. They were, hence, morally, of the 
best classes, and though they were not generally of the aristocracy, yet many 
of them were in comfortable circumstances, had valuable properties, were of 
respectable families, educated, and had the resources within themselves to live 
contented and happy. They were provident, industrious, and had come hither 
with no fickle purpose. Many brought servants with them, and well supplied 
wardrobes, and all necessary articles which they wisely judged would be got 
in a new country with difficulty. 

Their religious principles were so peaceful and generous, and the govern- 
ment rested so lightly, that the fame of the colony and the desirableness of 
settlement therein spread rapidly, and the numbers coming hither were unpar- 
alleled in the history of colonization, especially when we consider that abroad 
ocean was to be crossed and a voyage of several weeks was to be endnred. In 
a brief period, ships with passengers came from London, Bristol, Ireland, 
Wales, Cheshire, Lancashire, Holland, Germany, to the number of about fifty. 
Among others came a company of German Quakers, from Krisheim, near 
Worms, in the Palatinate. These people regarded their lot as particularly 
fortunate, in which they recognized the direct interposition and hand of Provi- 
dence. For, not long afterward, the Palatinate was laid waste by the French 
army, and many of their kindred whom they had left behind were despoiled of 
their possessions and reduced to penury. There came also from Wales a com- 
pany of the stock of ancient Britons. 

So large an influx of population, coming in many cases without due pro- 
vision for variety of diet, caused a scarcity in many kinds of food, especially 
of meats. Time was required to bi'ing forward flocks and herds, more than 
for producing grains. But Providence seemed to have graciously considered 
their necessities, and have miraculously provided for them, as of old was pro 
vision made for the chosen people. For it is recorded that the "wild pigeons 
came in such great numbers that the sky was sometimes darkened by their 
flight, and, flying low, they were frequently knocked down as they flew, in 
great quantities, by those who had no other means to take them, whereby the}- 
supplied themselves, and, having salted those which they could not immedi- 
ately use, they preserved them, both for bread and meat." The Indians were 
kind, and often furnished them with game, for which they would receive no 
compensation. 

Their first care on landing was to bring their household goods to a place 
of safety, often to the simple protection of a tree. For some, this was their 
only shelter, lumber being scarce, and in many places impossible to obtain. 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 57 

Some made for themselves caves in the earth until better habitations could be 
secured. 

John Key, who was said to have been the first child born of English par- 
ents in Philadelphia, and that in i^ecognition of which William Penn gave 
him a lot of ground, died at Kennet, in Chester County, on July 5, 1768, 
in the eighty-fifth year of his age. He was born in one of these caves upon 
the river bank, long afterward known by the name of Penny-pot, near Sassa- 
fras street. About six years before his death, he walked from Kennet to the 
city, about thirty miles, in one day. In the latter part of his life he went 
under the name of I'irst Born. 

The contrasts between the comforts and conveniences of an old settled 
country and this, where the heavy forests must be cleared away and severe la- 
bors must be endured before the sun could be let in sufficiently to produce 
anything, must have been very marked, and caused repining. But they had 
generally come with meek and humble hearts, and they willingly endured 
hardship and privation, and labored on earnestly for the spiritual comfort 
which they enjoyed. Thomas Makin, in some Latin verses upon the early set- 
tlement, says (we quote the metrical translation): 

"Its fame to distant counti'ies far has spread, 
And some for peace, and some for protit led; 
Born in remotest climes, to settle here 
They leave their native soil and all that's dear. 
And still will flock from far, here to be free, 
Such powerful charms has lovely liberty." 

But for their many privations and sufferings there were some compensat- 
ing conditions. The soil was fertile, the air mostly clear and healthy, the 
streams of water were good and plentiful, wood for fire and building unlimit- 
ed, and at certain seasons of the year game in the forest was abuudant. Rich- 
ard Townsend, a settler at Germaatown, who came over in the ship with Penn, 
in writing to his friends in England of his first year in America, says: "I, 
with Joshua Tittery, made a net, and caught great quantities of fish, so that, 
notwithstanding it was thought near three thousand persons came in the first 
year, we were so providentially provided for that we could buy a deer for 
about two shillings, and a large turkey for about one shilling, and Indian corn 
for about two shillings sixpence a bushel." 

In the same letter, the writer mentions that a young deer came out of the 
forest into the meadow where he was mowing, and looked at him, and when 
he went toward it would retreat; and, as he resumed his mowing, would come 
back to gaze upon him, and finally ran forcibly against a tree, which so 
stunned it that he was able to overmaster it and bear it away to his home, and 
as this was at a time when he was suffering for the lack of meat, he believed 
it a direct interposition of Providence. 

In the spring of 1683, there was great activity throughout the colony, and 
especially in the new city, in selecting lands and erecting dwellings, the Sur- 
veyor General, Thomas Holme, laying out and marking the streets. In the 
center of the city was a public square of ten acres, and in each of the four 
quarters one of eight acres. A large mansion, which had been undertaken be- 
fore his arrival, was built for Penn, at a point twenty-six miles up the river, 
called Peunsbury Manor, where he sometimes resided, and where he often met 
the Indian sachems. At this time, Penn divided the colony into counties, 
three for the province (Bucks, Philadelphia and Chester) and three for the 
Territories (New Castle, Kent and Sussex). Having appointed Sherifis and 
other proper ofiicers, he issued writs for the election of members of a General 



58 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Assembly, three from each county for the Council or Upper House, and nine 
from each county for the Assembly or Lower House. * 

This Assembly convened and organized for business on the lOth of Jan- 
nary, 3683, at Philadelphia. One of the first subjects considered was the 
revising some provisions of the frame of government which was effected, re- 
ducing the number of members of both Houses, the Council to 18 the As- 
sembly to 36, and othersvise amending in unimportant particulars. In 
an assembly thus convened, and where few, if any, had had any experience in 
serving in a deliberative body, we may reasonably suppose that many crude 
and impracticable propositions would be presented. As an example of these 
the following may be cited as specimens: That young men should be obliged 
to marry at, or before, a certain age; that two sorts of clothes only shall be 
worn, one for winter and the other for summer. The session lasted twenty two 
days. 

The first grand jury in Pennsylvania was summoned for the 2d of Feb- 
ruary, 1683, to inquire into the cases of some persons accused of issuing 
counterfeit money. The Governor and Council sat as a court. One Picker- 
ing was convicted, and the sentence was significant of the kind and patriarchal 
nature of the government, "that he should make full satisfaction, in good 
and current pay, to every person who should, within the space of one month, 
bring in any of this false, base and counterfeit coin, and that the money 
brought in should be melted down before it was returned to him, and that he 
should pay a fine of forty pounds toward the building a court house, stand 
committed till the same was paid, and afterward find security for his good 
behavior." 

The Assembly and courts having now adjourned, Penn gave his attention 
to the grading and improving the streets of the new city, and the managing 
the affairs of his land ofiice, suddenly grown to great importance. For every 
section of land taken up in the wilderness, the purchaser was entitled to a 
certain plot in the new city. The Kiver Delaware at this time was nearly a 
mile broad opposite the city, and navigable for ships of the largest tonnage. 
The tide rises about six feet at this point, and flows back to the falls of 
Trenton, a distance of thirty miles. The tide in the Schuylkill flows only 
about five miles above its confluence with the Delaware. The river bank along 
the Delaware was intended by Penn as a common or public resort. But in 
his time the owners of lots above Front street pressed him to allow them to 
construct warehouses upon It, opposite their properties, which importunity in- 
duced him to make the followingr declaration concerninor jtt "The bank is a 
top common, from end to end; the rest next the water belongs to front- lot 
men no more than back-lot men. The way bounds them; they may build stairs, 
and the top of the bank a common exchange, or wall, and against the street, 
common wharfs may be built freely; but into the water, and the shore is no 
purchaser's." But in future time, this liberal desire of the founder was dis- 
regarded, and the bank has been covered with immense warehouses, 

*It may be a matter of curiosity to know the names of the members of this first regularly elected Legis- 
lature in Pennsylvania, and they are accordingly appended as given in official records: 

Council: William Markham, <"'hristopher'^Taylor, Thomas Holme. Lacy Cock, William Haige, .John Moll, 
Ralph Withers, .lohn Siiucock, Edward Cantwell, William Clayton, William Biles, James Harrison, William 
Clark, Francis Whitewell, ,Tohn Richardson, John Hillyard. 

Assembly: From Bucks, William Yardly, Samuel Darke, Robert Lucas, Nicholas Walne, John Wood, John 
Clowes, Thomas Fitzwater, Robert Hall, James Boyden ; from Philadelphia, John Longhurst, John Hart, Wal- 
ter King, Andros Binkson, John Moon, Thomas Wynne (Speaker), (iritlilh Jones, William Warner, Swan Swan- 
eon; from Chester, John Hoskins, Robert Wade, deorge Wood, John Blunston, Dennis Rochford, Thomas 
Bracy, John Bezer, John Harding, Joseph Phipps ; from New Castle, John Cann, John Darby, Valentine Holl- 
ingswojth, Gasparus Herman. John Dcho,aef, James Williams, William Guest, Peter Alrich, Henrick Williams; 
from Kent, John Biggs, Simon Irons, Thomas Hatfold John Curtis, Robert Bedwell, William Windsmore, John 
Brinkloe, Daniel Brown, Benony Bishop; from Sussex, Luke Watson, Alexander Draper, William Futcherv 
Henry Bowman, Alexander Moieston, John Hill, Robert Bracy, John Kipshaven, Cornelius Verhoof. 



HISTORY OF PENxNSYLVANlA. 



Seeing now his plans of government and settlement fairly in operation, as 

onorale in the same manner with Barnet and ^oitn ridii, uut 

Xlfde Iphia " He then treats at length of the four seasons of trees frmts, 

fK^t^^ Of heir cuXms and their children : " The children will go very young 

T wl %lf:frirX'w tb ^ ifSthe^arhS^ to hoe the ground, plant 
of a wite. The gills stay wiin ^^^ j.^. j^_. ^^^^^ t^ey 

weai somemiu^ u^wu marrv at. if women, is about 

n rrrsfe :i ;tlrCoV,sir"'^^^^^^ -Xath! i^/^ 
?sr:thffS^^^^^ 

their resemblance to the J«™-^,0^t'L\^^™ ^^S^ to trafaok. 

tied here when he came he says^ T!ieCt.ir'mostly inhabit those parts 



60 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

of the town itself; but this I will say, for the good providence of God, that 
of all the many places I have seen in the world, I remember not one better 
seated, so that it seems to me to have been appointed for a town, whether we 
regard the rivers or the convenieucy of the coves, docks, springs, the loftiness 
and soundness of the land and the air, held by the people of these parts to be 
very good. It is advanced within less than a year to about fourscore bouses 
and cottages, where merchants and handicrafts are following their vocations 
as fast as they can, while the countrymen are close at their farms. * * * I 
bless God I am fully satisfied with the country and entertainment I got in it; 
for I find that particular content, which hath always attended me, where God in 
His providence hath made it my place and service to reside." 

As we have seen, the visit of Penn to Lord Baltimore soon after his arrival 
in America, for the purpose of settling the boundaries of the two provinces, after 
a two days' conference, proved fruitless, and an adjournment was had for the 
winter, when the efforts for settlement were to be resumed. Early in the 
spring, an attempt was made on the part of Peun, but was prevented till May, 
when a meeting was held at New Castle. Penn proposed to confer by the aid 
of counselors and in writing. But to this Baltimore objected, and, complain- 
ing of the sultryness of the weather, the conference was broken up. In the 
meantime, it had come to the knowledge of Penn that Lord Baltimore had 
issued a proclamation offering settlers more land, and at cheaper rates than 
Penn had done, in portions of the lower counties which Penn had secured 
from the Duke of York, but which Baltimore now claimed. Besides, it was 
ascertained that an agent of his had taken an observation, and determined the 
latitude without the knowledge of Penn, and had secretly made an ex par^te 
statement of the case before the Lords of the Committee of Plantations in En- 
gland, and was pressing for arbitrament. This state of the case created much 
uneasiness in the mind of Penn, especially as the proclamation of Lord Balti- 
more was likely to bring the two governments into conflict; on territory mutu- 
ally claimed. But Lord Baltimore was not disposed to be content with diplo- 
macy. He determined to pursue an aggressive policy. He accordingly com- 
missioned his agent. Col. George Talbot, under date of September 17, 1683, 
to go to Schuylkill, at Delaware, and demand of William Penn " all that part 
of the land on the west side of the said river that lyeth to the southward of 
the fortieth degree." This bold demand would have embraced the entire colony, 
both the lower counties, and the three counties in the province, as the fortieth 
degree reaches a considerable distance above Philadelphia. Penn was absent 
at the time in New York, and Talbot made his demand upon Nicholas Moore, 
the deputy of Penn. Upon his return, the proprietor made a dignified but 
earnest rejoinder. While he felt that the demand could not be justly sus- 
tained, yet the fact that a controversy for the settlement of the boundary was 
likely to arise, gave him disquietude, and though he was gratified with the 
success of his plans for acquiring lands of the Indians and establishing friendly 
relations with them, the laying-out of his new city and settling it, the adop- 
tion of a stable government and putting it in successful operation, and, more 
than all, the di-awing thither the large number of settlers, chiefly of his own 
religious faith, and seeing them contented and happy in the new State, he 
plainly foresaw that his skill and tact would be taxed to the utmost to defend 
and hold his claim before ihe English court. If the demand of Lord Balti- 
more were to prevail, all that he had done would be lost, as his entire colony 
would be swallowed up by Maryland. 

The anxiety of Penn to hold from the beginning of the 40° of latitude was 
not to increase thereby his territory by so much, for two degrees which he 



HISTORY OF TENNSYLVANIA. ^1 



settled S welTas his own counties rapidly being peopled, and his new city of 
Phaddphra which he regarded as the apple of his eye So anxious was he 

We luy teier traagle o,e; it, he was willing to pay tor .t aga.n. But th.s 

''°l^nfupoTbl"gii*"mItters to a crisie, and to force possession of hi. 
claim eariyn the%fr ie84 a party from Maryland made torcble entry 
noon 'the Plantations in the lower counties and drove off the owners. The 
Governor and Council at Philadelphia sent thither a copy of the answer of 
?enn to Ba^Umore's demand for the land south of the Delaware, with orders 
to Wi Lm wTh, Sheriff at New Castle, to use hie influence to reinstate the 
awl Zers and issued a declaration succinctly stating the claim of Penn, 
trthe Durnose of preventing such unlawful incm-sions in future 
'"'TheSonoVned favor^ly for the continued V^fV^'f °12VS 
colony Agriculture was being prosecuted as never before G"»a)y ttocts 
and herds Maddened the eyes ot the settlers. An intelligent, moral and in- 
duliois feomanrywas springing into existence. Emigrants were pouring 
fJntZ Delaware from many lands. The Government was becoming settled 
nUsopem tons and popular with the people. The proprietor had leisure to 
lend tTtbe interests of his religious society, not only m his own domimons, 
but in the Jerseys and in New York. 



CHAPTER VII. 



T.^^r^ iflszuftfi -Ft VF Commissioners, 1686-88— John Black'vell, 1688 

^^^-Xth^'oTs 'ro'I^^S?p.L..AM MAKKBAM. .691-93-Bm,AMm 

Fletcher, 1693-95-WiLLiAM Markham, 1693-99. 

T3UT the indications, constantly thickening, that a ^^^^f.^^^^^^J^^^^^^^^^ 
Id to be precipitated before the crown for possession of the disputed terri 
W decTded Penn early in the summer to quit the colony and return to En- 
Jand to defend his in^periled interests. There is no doubt that he took this 
fteo w ?h imfeignrd reL^ as he was contented and happy in hxs new country, 
step witn unieignea J^^^^J ' , ^, however, other inducements 

By his friendship wfth James, and his acquaintance with the ^mg he might 
do something to soften the lot of these unfortunate victims of bigotry. 

He accordingly empowered the Provincial Council of which ^^o^^s 
Llofd was President, tJact in his steady commissioned Nichola. Moore ^^^^^^^^^ 
iam Welch, William Wood, Robert Turner and John EcLley, Piuvmcial 



62 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Judges for two years; appointed Thomas Lloyd, James Claypole and Robert 
Turner to sign land patents and warrants, and William Clark as Justice of 
the Peace for all the counties; and on the 6th of June, 1684, sailed for Europe. 
His feelings on leaving his colony are exnibited by a farewell address which 
he issued fi'om on board the vessel to his people, of which the following are 
brief extracts: "My love and my life is to you, and with you, and no water 
can quench it, nor distance wear it out, nor bring it to an end. I have been 
with you, cared over you and served over you with unfeigned love, and you 
are beloved of me, and near to me, bej^ond utterance. I bless you in the 
name and power of the Lord, and may God bless you with His righteousness, 
peace and plenty all the land over. * * * Oh! now are you come to a 
quiet land; provoke not the Lord to trouble it. And now liberty and author- 
ity are with .you, and in your hands. Let the government be upon His 
shoulders, in all your spirits, that you may rule for Him, under whom the 
princes of this world will, one day, esteem their honor to govern and serve in 
their places * * * And thou, Philadelphia, the virgin- settlement of 
this province, named before thou wert born, what love, what care, what serv- 
ice and what travail has there been, to bring thee forth, and preserve thee from 
such as would abuse and defile thee! * * * go, dear friends, my love 
again salutes you all, wishing that grace, mercy and peace, with all temporal 
blessings, may abound richly among you — so says, so prays, your friend and 
lover in the truth. William Penn." 

On the 6th of December of this same year, 1684, Charles II died, and was 
succeeded by his brother James, Duke of York, under the title of James II. 
James was a professed Catholic, and the people were greatly excited all over 
the kingdom lest the reign of Bloody Mary should be repeated, and that the 
Catholic should become the established religion. He had less ability than 
his brother, the deceased King, but great discipline and industry. Penn en- 
joyed the friendship and intimacy of the new King, and he determined to use 
his advantage for the relief of his suffering countrymen, not only of his sect, 
the Quakers, but of all, and especially for the furtherance of universal liberty. 
But there is no doubt that he at this time meditated a speedy return to his 
province, for he writes: "Keep up the peoples' hearts and loves; I hope to be 
with them next fall, if the Lord prevent not. I long to be with you. Nc 
temptations prevail to fix me here. The Lord send us a good meeting." By 
authority of Penn, dated 18th of January, 1685, William Markham, Penn's 
cousin, was commissioned Secretary of the province, and the proprietor's Sec- 
retary. 

That he might be fixed near to court for the furtherance of his private as 
well as public business, he secured lodgings for himself and family, in 1685, at 
Kensington, near London, and cultivated a daily intimac)? with the King, who, 
no doubt, found in the strong native sense of his Quaker friend, a valued ad- 
viser upon many questions of difficulty. His first and chief care was the set- 
tlement of his disagreement with Lord Baltimore touching the boundaries of 
their provinces. This was settled in November, 1685, by a compromise, by 
which the land lying between the Delaware and Chesepeake Bays was divided 
into two equal parts— that upon the Delaware was adjudged to Penn, and that 
upon the Chesapeake to Lord Baltimore. This settled the matter in theory; 
but when the attempt was made to run the lines according to the language of 
the Royal Act, it was found that the royal secretaries did not understand the 
geography of the country, and that the line which their language described was 
an impossible one. Consequently the boundary remained undetermined til'i 
1732, The account of its location will be given in its proper place. 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 63 

HaviBg secured this important decision to his satisfaction, Penn applied 
himself with renewed zeal, not only to secure the release of his people, who 
were languishing in prisons, but to procure for all Englishmen, everywhere, 
enlarged liberty and freedom of conscience. His relations with the King fa- 
vored his designs. The King had said to Penn before he ascended the throne 
that he was opposed to persecution for religion. On the first day of his reign, 
he made an address, in which he proclaimed himself opposed to all arbitrary 
principles in government, 'and promised protection to the Church of England, 
Early in the year 1686, in consequence of the King's proclamation for a gen- 
eral pardon, over thirteen hundred Quakers were set at liberty, and in April, 
1687, the King issued a declaration for entire liberty of conscience, and sus- 
pending the penal laws in matters ecclesiastical. This was a great step in ad- 
vance, and one that must ever throw a luster over the brief reign of this un- 
fortunate monarch. Penn, though holding no official position, doubtless did 
as much toward securing the issue of this liberal measure as any Englishman. 

Upon the issue of these edicts, the Quakers, at their next acnual meeting, 
presented an address of acknowledgment to the King, which opened in these 
words: " We cannot but bless anfl praise the name of Almighty God, who 
hath the hearts of princes in His hands, that He hath inclined the King to hear 
the cries of his suffering subjects for conscience' sake, and we rejoice that he 
hath given us so eminent an occasion to present him our thanks." This ad- 
, drepswas presented by Penn in a few well -chosen words, and the King re- 
pli* d in the following, though brief, yet most expressive, language: " Gentle- 
men — I thank you heartily for your address. Some of you know (I am sure 
you do Mr. Penn), that it was always my principle, that conscience ought not 
to be forced, and that all men ought to have the liberty of their consciences. 
And what I have promised in my declaration, I will continue to perform so 
long as I live. And I hope, before I die, to settle it so that after ages shall 
have no reason to alter it." 

It would have been supposed that such noble sentiments as these from a 
sovereign would have been hailed with delight by the English people. But 
they were not. The aristocracy of Britain at this time did not want liberty of 
conscience. They wanted comformity to the established church, and bitter 
persecution against all others, as in the reign of Charles, whiib filled the 
prisons with Quakers. The warm congratulations to James, and fervent prayers 
for his welfare, were regarded by them with an evil eye. Bitter reproaches 
were heaped upon Penn, who was looked upon as the power behind the throne 
that was moving the King to the enforcing of these principles. He was ac- 
cused of having been educated at St. Omer's, a Catholic college, a place which 
he never saw in his life, of having taken orders as a priest in the Catholic 
Church, of having obtained dispensation to marry, and of being not only a 
Catholic, but a Jesuit in disguise, all of which were pure fabrications. But in 
the excited state of the public mind they were believed, and caused him to be 
regarded with bitter hatred. The King, too, fell rapidly into disfavor, and so 
completely had the minds, of his people become alienated from him, that upon 
the coming of the Prince of Orange and his wife Mary, in 1688, James was 
obliged to flee to France for safety, and they were received as the rulers of 
Britain. 

But while the interests of the colony were thus prospering at court, they 
were not so cloudless in the new country. There was needed the strong hand 
of Penn to check abuses and guide the course of legislation in proper chan- 
nels. He had labored to place the government entirely in the hands of the 
people — an idea, in the abstract, most attractive, and one which, were the entire 



64 PIISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

population wise and just, would result fortunately ; yet, in practice, he found 
to his sorrow the results most vexatious. The proprietor had not long been 
gone before troubles arose between the two Houses of the Legislature relative 
to promulgatitig the laws as not being in accordance with the requirements of 
the charter Nicholas Moore, the Chief Justice, was impeached for irregular- 
ities in imposing fines and in other ways abusing his high trust. But though 
formally arraigned and directed to desist from exercising his functions, he suc- 
cessfully resisted the proceedings, and a final judgment was never obtained. 
Patrick Robinson, Clerk of the court, for refusing to produce the records in the 
trial of Moore, was voted a public enemy. These troubles in the government 
were the occasion of much grief to Penn, who wrote, naming a number of the 
most influential men in the colony, and beseeching them to unite in an endeavor 
to check further irregularities, declaring that they disgraced the province, 
" that their conduct had struck back hundreds, and was £10,000 out of his 
way, and £100,000 out of the country." 

In the latter part of the year 1686, seeing that the whole Council was too 
unwieldy a body to exercise executive power, Penn determined to contract the 
number, and accordingly appointed Thomas Lloyd, Nicholas Moore, James 
Claypole, Robert Turner and John Eckley, any three of whom should consti- 
tute a quorum, to be Commissioners of State to act for the proprietor. In 
place of Moore and Claypole, Arthur Cook and John Simcock were appointed. 
They were to compel the attendance of the Council; see that the two Houses' 
admit of no parley; to abrogate nil laws except the fundamentals; to dismiss 
the Assembly and call a new one, and finally he solemnly admonishes them, 
"Be most just, as in the sight of the all-seeing, all-searching God." In a 
letter to these Commissiouers, he says: " Three things occur to me eminently: 
First, that you be watchful that none abuse the King, etc. ; secondly, that you 
get the custom act revived as being the equalest and least offensive way to 
support the government; thirdly, that you retrieve the dignity of courts and 
sessions." 

In a letter to James Harrison, his confidential agent at Pennsbury Manor, 
he unbosoms himself more freely respecting his employment in London than 
in any of his State papers or more public communications, and fi'ora it can be 
seen how important were his labors with the head of the English nation. " I 
am engaged in the public business of the nation and Friends, and those in au- 
thority would have me see the establishment of the liberty, that I was a small 
instrument to begin in the land. The Lord has given me great entrance and 
interest with the King, though not so much as is said; and I confess I should 
rejoice to see poor old England fixed, the penal laws repealed, that are now 
suspended, and if it goes well with England, it cannot go ill with Pennsyl- 
vania, as unkindly used as I am; and no poor slave in Turkey desires more 
earnestly, I believe, for deliverance, than I do to be with you." In the sum- 
mer of 1687, Penn was in company with the King in a progress through the 
counties of Berkshire, Grlocestershire, Worcestershire, Shropshire, Cheshire, 
Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire and Hampshire, during which he 
held several religious meetings with his people, in some of which the King ap- 
pears to have been present, particularly in Chester. 

Since the departure of Penn, Thomas Lloyd had acted as President of 
the Council, and later of the Commissioners of State. He had been in effect 
Governor, and held responsible for the success of the government, while pos- 
sessing only one voice in the disposing of affairs. Tiring of this anomalous 
position, Lloyd applied to be relieved. It was difficult to find a person of 
sufficient al'ility to fill the place; but Penn decided to relieve him, though- 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 65 

showing his entire confidence by notifying him that he intended soon to ap- 
point him absolute Governor. In his place, he indicated Samuel Carpenter, 
or if he was unwilling to serve, then Thomas Ellis, but not to be President, his 
will being that each should preside a mouth in turn, or that the oldest mem- 
ber should lie chosen. 

Pen 11 foresaw that the executive power, to be efficient, must be lodged in 
the hands of one man of ability, such as to command the respect of his people. 
Those whom he most trusted in the colony had been so mixed up in the wran- 
gles of the executive and legislative departments of the government that he 
deemed it advisable to appoint a person who had not before been in the col 
ony and not a Quaker. He accordingly commissioned John Blackwell, July 
27, 1688, to be Lieutenant Governor, who was at this time in New England, 
and who had the esteem and* confidence of Penn. With the commission, the 
proprietor sent full instructions, chiefly by way of caution, the last one being: 
" Rule the meek meekly; and those that will not be ruled, rule Avith authoi'ity." 
Though Lloyd had been relieved of power, he still remained in the Council, 
probably because neither of the persons designated were willing to serve. 
Having seen the evils of a many-headed executive, he had recommended the 
appointment of one person to exercise executive authority. It was in con 
formity with this advice that Blackwell was appointed. He met the Assembly 
in March, 1689; but either his conceptions of business were arbitrary and im- 
perious, or the Assembly had become accustomed to great latitude and lax 
discipline; for the business had not proceeded far before the several branches 
of the government were at variance. Lloyd refused to give up the great seal, 
alleging that it had been given him for life. The Governor, arbitra- 
rily and without warrant of law, imprisoned officers of high rank, denied the 
validity of all laws passed by the Assembly previous to his administration, and 
set on foot a project for organizing and equipping the militia, under the plea 
of threatened hostility of France. The Assembly attempted to arrest his 
proceedings, but he shrewdly evaded their intents by organizing a party 
among the members, who persistently absented themselves. His reign 
was short, for in January, 1690, he left the colony and sailed away for En- 
gland, whereupon the government again devolved upon the Council, Thomas 
Lloyd. President. Penn had a high estimation of the talents and integrity 
of Blackwell, and adds, " He is in England and Ireland of great repute for 
ability, integrity and virtue." 

Three forms of administering the executive department of the government 
had now been tried, by a Council consisting of eighteen members, a commission of 
live members, and a Lieutenant Governor. Desirous of leaving the government 
as far as possible in the hands of the people who Were the sources of all 
power, Penn left it to the Council to decide which form should be adopted. 
The majority decided for a Deputy Governor. This was opposed by the mem- 
bers from the provinces, who preferred a Council, and who, finding themselves 
outvoted, decided to withdraw, and determined for themselves to govern the 
lower counties until Penn should come. This obstinacy and falling out be- 
tween the councilors from the lower counties and those from the province 
was the beginning of a controversy which eventuated in a separation, and 
finally in the formation of Delaware as a separate commonwealth. A deputa- 
tion from the Council was sent to New Castle to induce the seceding members 
to retuim, but without success. They had never regarded with favor the re- 
moval of the sittings of the Council from New Castle, the first seat of gov- 
ernment, to Philadelphia, and they were now determined to set up a govern- 
ment for themselves. 



66 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

In 1689, the Friends Public School in Philadelphia was first incorporated, 
confirmed by a patent from Penn in 1701, and another in 1708, and finally, 
with greatly enlarged powers, from Penn personally, November 29, 1711. The 
preamble to the charter recites that as "the prosperity and welfare oE any 
people depend, in great measure, upon the good education of youth, and their 
early introduction in the principles of true religion and virtue, and qualifying 
them to serve their country and themselves, by breeding them in reading, 
writing, and learning of languages and useful arts and scieuces suitable to 
their sex, age and degree, which cannot be eifected in any manner so well as 
by erecting piiblic schools," etc. George Keith was employed as the first mas- 
ter of this school. He was a native of Aberdeen, Scotland, a man of learning, 
and had emigrated to East Jersey some years previous, where he was Surveyor 
General, and had surveyed and marked the line between East and West New 
Jersey. He only remained at the head of the school one year, when he was 
succeeded by his usher, Thomas Makin. This was a school of considerable 
merit and pretension, whei'e the higher mathematics and the ancient lan- 
guages were taught, and was the first of this high grade. A school of a pri- 
mary grade had been established as early as 1683, in Philadelphia, when 
Enoch Flower taught on the following terms: "To learn to read English, 
four shillings by the quarter; to write, sis shillings by ditto; to read, write and 
cast accounts, eight shillings by the quarter; boarding a scholar, that is to 
say, diet, lodging, washing and schooling, £10 for one whole year,'' from which 
it will be seen that although learning might be highly prized, its cost in 
hard cash was not exorbitant. 

Penn's favor at court during the reign of James II caused him to be sus- 
pected of disloyalty to the government, when William and Mary had come to 
the throne. Accordingly on the 10th of December, 1688, while walking in 
White Plall, he was summoned before the Lords of the Council, and though 
nothing was found against him, was compelled to give security for his appear- 
ance at the next term, to answer any charge that might be made. At the sec- 
ond sitting of the Council nothing having been found against him, he was 
cleared in open court. In 1690, he was again brought before the Lords on 
the charge of having been in correspondence with the late King. He ap- 
pealed to King William, who, after a hearing of two hours, was disposed to 
release him, but the Lords decided to hold him until the Trinity term^ when 
he was again discharged. A third time he was arraigned, and this time with 
eighteen others, charged with adhering to the kingdom's enemies, but was 
cleared by order of the King's Bench. Being now at liberty, and these vexa- 
tious suits ai)parently at an end, he set about ^pading a large party of settlers 
to his cherished Pennsylvania. Proposals were published, and the Govern- 
ment, regarding the enterprise of so much importance, had ordered an armed 
convoy, when he was again met by another accusation, and now, backed by 
the false oath of one William Fuller, whom the Pai'liament subsequently de- 
clared a "cheat and an iraposter." Seeing that he must prepare again for his 
defease, he abandoned his voyage to America, after having made expensive 
preparations, and convinced that his enemies were determined to prevent his 
attention to public or private affairs, whether in England or America, he with- 
drew himself during the ensuing two or three years from the public eye. 

But though not participating in business, which was calling loudly for his 
attention, his mind was busy, and several important treatises upon religious 
and civil matters were produced that had great influence upon the turn of 
public affairs, which would never have been written but for this forced i*etire- 
ment. In his address to the yearly meeting of Friends in London, he says: 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 67 

" My enemies are yours. My privacy is not because men have sworn truly, 
but falsely against me. " 

His personal grievances in England were the least which he suffered. For 
lack of guiding influence, bitter dissensions had sprung up in his colony, 
which threatened the loss of all. Desiring to secure peace, he had commis- 
sioned Thomas Lloyd Deputy Governor of the province, and William Mark- 
ham Deputy Governor of the lower counties. Penn's grief on account of this 
division is disclosed in a letter to a friencTin the province: "I left it to them, 
to choose either the government of the Council, five Commissioners or a deputy. 
What could be tenderer? Now I perceive Thomas Lloyd is chosen by the 
three upper but not the three lower counties, and sits down with this broken 
choice. This has grieved and wounded me and mine, I fear to the hazard of 
all! * * * for else the Governor of New York is like to have all, if he 
has it not already." 

But the troubles of Penn in America were not confined to civil affairs. 
His religious society was torn with dissension, George Keith, a man of con- 
siderable power in argumentation, but of overweaning self-conceit, attacked the 
Friends for the laxity of their discipline, and drew off some followers. So 
venomous did he become that on the 20th ol April, 1692, a testimony of de- 
nial was drawn up against him at a meeting of ministers, wherein he and his 
conduct were publicly disowned. This was confirmed at the nest yearly meet- 
ing. He drew off large numbers and set up an independent society, who 
termed themselves Christian Quakers. Keith appealed from this action of the 
American Church to the yearly meeting in London, but was so intemperate in 
speech that the action of the American Church was confirmed. Whereupon 
he became the bitter enemy of the Quakers, and, uniting with the Church of 
England, was ordained a Vicar by the Bishop of London. He afterward re- 
turned to America where he wrote against his former associates, but was final- 
ly fixed in a benefice in Sussex, England. On his death bed, he said, " I wish 
I had died when I was a Quaker, for then I am sure it would have been well 
with my soul." 

But Keith had not been satisfied with attacking the principles and prac- 
tices of his church. He mercilessly lampooned the Lieutenant Governor, say- 
ing that 'He was not tit to be a Governor, and his name would stink," and of 
the Council, that "He hoped'to God he should shortly see their power taken 
from them." On another occasion, he said of Thomas Lloyd, who was reputed 
a mild-tempeved man, and had befriended Keith, that he was " an impu- 
dent man and a pitiful Governor," and asked him "why he did not send him 
to jail," saying that "his back (Keith's) had long itched for a whipping, and 
that he would print and expose them all over America, if not over Europe." 
So abusive had he finally become that the Council was obliged to take notice 
of his conduct and to warn him to desist. 

Penn, as has been shown, was silenced and thrown into retirement in En- 
gland. It can be readily seen what an excellent opportunity these troubles 
in America, the separation in the government, and the schism in the ch\u'ch, 
gave his enemies to attack him. They represented that he had neglected his 
colony by remaining in England and meddling with matters in which he had 
no business; that the colony in consequence had fallen into great disorder, 
and that ho should be deprived of his proprietary rights. These complaints 
had so much weight with William and Mary, that, on the21st of October, 16V)2, 
they commissioned Benjamin Fletcher, Governor of New York, to take the 
province and territories under his government. There was another motive 
operating at this time, more potent than those mentioned above, to induce the 



08 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

King and Queen to put the government of Pennsylvania undor the Governor 
of New York. The French and Indians from the north were threatening the 
English. Already the expense for defense had become burdensome to New 
York. It was believed that to ask aid for the common defense from Penn, 
with his peace principles, would be fruitless, but that through the influence of 
Gov. Fletcher, as executive, an appropriation might be secured. 

Upon receiving his commission, Gov. Fletcher sent a note, dated April 19, 
1693, to Deputy Gov. Lloyd, informing him of the grant of the royal commis- 
sion and of his intention to visit the colony and assume authority on the 29th 
inst. He accordingly came with great pomp and splendor, attended by a 
numerous retinue, and soon after his arrival, submission to him having been 
accorded without question, summoned the Assembly. Some differences having 
arisen between the Governor and tbe Assembly about the manner of calling and 
electing the Representatives, certain members united in an address to the Gov- 
ernor, claiming that the constitution and laws were still in full force and 
must be administered until altered or repealed; that Pennsylvania had just as 
good a right to be governed according lo the usages of Pennsylvania as New 
York had to be governed according to the usages of that province. The Leg- 
islature being finally organized, Gov. Fletcher presented a letter from the 
Queen, setting forth that the expense for the preservation and defense of Albany 
against the French was intolerable to the inhabitants there, and that as this 
was a frontier to other colonies, it was thought but just that they should help 
bear the burden. The Legislature, in firm but respectful terms, maintained 
that the constitution and laws enacted under them were in full force, and 
when he, having flatly denied this, attempted to intimidate them by the threat 
of annexing Pennsylvania to New Y'ork, they mildly but firmly requested that 
if the Governor had objections to the bill which they had passed and would 
communicate them, they would try to remove them. The business was now 
amicably adjusted, and he in compliance with their wish dissolved the Assembly, 
and after appointing William Markham Lieutenant Governor, departed to his 
government in New York, doubtless well satisfied that a Quaker, though usu- 
ally mild mannered, is not easily frightened or coerced. 

Gov. Fletcher met the Assembly again in March, 1694, and during this 
session, having apparently failed in his previous endeavors to induce the Assem- 
bly to vote money for the common defense, sent a communication setting forth 
the dangers to be apprehended from the French and Indians, aud concluding in 
these words: "Thatheconsidered their principles; that they could not carry arms 
nor levy money to make war, though for their own defense, yet he hoped that 
they would not refuse to feed the hungry and clothe the naked; that was to 
supply the Indian nations with such necessaries as may influence their contin- 
ued friendship to their provinces." But notwithstanding the adroit sugar- 
coating of tbe pill, it was not acceptable and no money was voted. This and a 
brief session in September closed the Governorship of Pennsylvania by 
Fletcher. It would appear from a letter written by Penn, after hearing of 
the neglect of the Legislature to vote money for the purpose indicated, that 
he took an entirely diflTerent view of the subject from that which was antici- 
pated; for he blamed the colony for refusing to send money to New York for 
what he calls the common defense. 

Through the kind offices of Lords Rochestei , Ranelagh, Sidney and Somers, 
the Duke of Buckingham and Sir John Trenchard, the king was asked to 
h^ar the case of William Penn, against whom no charge was proven, and who 
would two years before have gone to his colony had he not supposed that he 
would have been thought to go in defiance of the government. King William 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



69 



answered that William Penn was his old acquaintance as well as theirs, that 
he mio-ht follow his business as freely as ever, and that he had nothing to say 
to him Penn was accordingly reinstated in his government by letters patent 
dated on the 20th of August, 1694, whereupon he commissioned William Mark- 
ham Lieutenant Governor. . . 

When Markham called the Assembly, he disregarded the provisions of the 
charter, assuming that the removal of Penn had annulled the grant. The 
Assembly made no objection to this action, as there were provisions in the old 
charter that they desired to have changed. Accordingly, when the appropria- 
tion bill was considered, a new constitution was attached to it and passed. 
This was approved by Markham and became the organic law, the third consti- 
tution adopted under the charter of King Charles. By the provisions of this 
instrument, the Council was composed of twelve members, and the Assembly 
of twentv-four. During the war between France and England, the ocean 
swarmed with the privateers of the former. When peace was declared, many of 
these crafts, which had richly profited by privateering, were disposed to con- 
tinue their irregular practices, which was now piracy. Judging that the peace 
principles of the Quakers would shield them from forcible seizure, they were 
accustomed to run into the Delaware for safe harbor. Complaints coming 
of the depredations of these parties, a proclamation was issued calling on 
magistrates and citizens to unite in breaking up practices so damaging to the 
good name of the colony. It was charged in England that evil-disposed per- 
sons in the province were privy to these practices, if not parties to it, and that 
the failure of the Government to break it up was a proof of its inefficiency, 
and of a radical defect of the principles on which it was based. Penn was 
much exercised by these charges, and in his letters to the Lieutenant Governor 
and to his friends in the Assembly, urged ceaseless vigilance to effect reform. 



CHAPTER YIIL 



William Penn, 1699-1701-Andrew Hamilton. noi-3-EDWARD Shippen 
1703-4-JoHN Evans, 1704-9— Charles Gookin, 1709-17. 

BEING free from harassing persecutions, and in favor at court, Penn de- 
termined to remove with his family to Pennsylvania, and now with the ex- 
pectation of living and dying h«re. Accordingly, in July, 1699, he set sail, 
and, on account of adverse winds, was three months tossed about upon the 
ocean. Just before his arrival in his colony, the yellow fever raged there with 
great virulence, having been brought thither from the West Indies, but had 
been checked by the biting frosts of autumn, and had now disappeared. An 
observant traveler, who witnessed the effects of this scourge, writes thus ot it 
in his iournal: "Great was the majesty and hand of the Lord. Great was 
the fear that fell upon all flesh. I saw no lofty nor airy countenance, nor 
heard any vain jesting to move men to laughter, nor witty repartee to raise 
mirth, nor extravagant feasting to excite the lusts and desires of the flesh 
above measure; but every face gathered paleness, and many hearts were hum- 
bled, and countenances fallen and sunk, as such that waited every moment to 
be summoned to the bar and numbered to the grave. " . ^ , - 

Great joy was everywhere manifested throughout the province at tHe arriv- 



70 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

al of the proprietor and his family, fondly believing that he had now como to 
stay. He met the Assembly soon after landing, but, it being an inclement 
season, he only detained them loQg enough to pass two measures aimed against 
piracy and illicit trade, exaggerated reports of which, having been spread 
broadcast through the kingdom, had caused him great uneasiness and vexation. 
At the first monthly meeting of Friends in 1700, he laid before them his 
concern, which was for the welfare of Indians and Negroes, and steps were 
taken to instruct them and provide stated meetings for them where they could 
hear the Word. It is more than probable that he had fears from the first that 
his enemies in England would interfere in his affairs to such a degree as to re- 
quire his early return, though he had declared to his friends there that he 
never expected to meet them again. His greatest solicitude, consequently, 
was to give a charter to his colony, and also one to his city, the very best that 
human ingenuity could devise. An experience of now nearly twenty years 
would be likely to develop the weaknesses and impracticable provisions of the 
first constitutions, so that a frame now drawn with all the light of the past, 
and by the aid and suggestion of the men who had been employed in admin- 
istering it, would be likely to be enduring, and though he might be called 
hence, or be removed by death, their work would live on from generation to 
generation and age to age, and exert a benign and preserving influence while 
the State should exist. 

In February, 1701, Penn met the most renowned and powerful of the In- 
dian chieftains, reaching out to the Potomac, the Susquehanna and to the Ononda- 
goes of the Five Nations, some forty in number, at Philadelphia, where he 
renewed with them pledges of peace and entered into a formal treaty of active 
friendship, binding them to disclose any hostile intent, confirm sale of lands, 
be governed by colonial law, all of which was confirmed on the part of the In- 
dians "by five parcels of skins;" and on the part of Penn by " several English 
goods and merchandises." 

Several sessions of the Legislature were held in which great harmony pre- 
vailed, and much attention was giving to revising and recomposing the consti- 
tution. But in the midst of their labors for the improvement of the organic 
law, intelligence was brought to Penn that a bill had been introduced in the 
House of Lords for reducing all the proprietary governments in America to 
regal ones, under pretence of advancing the prerogative of the crown, and 
the national advantage. Such of the owners of land in Pennsylvania as hap- 
pened to be in England, remonstrated against action upon the bill until Penn 
could return and be heard, and wrote to him urging his immediate coming 
hither. Though much to his disappointment and soitow, he determined to 
go immediately thither. He promptly called a session of the Assembly, and 
in his message to the two Houses said, "I cannot think of such a voyage 
without great rehictancy of mind, having promised myself the quietness of a 
wilderness. For my heart is among you, and no disapj)ointment shall ever be 
able to alter my love to the country, and resolution to return, and settle my 
family and posterity in it. * * Think therefore (since all men are mortal), 
of some suitable expedient and provision for youi' safety as well in your privi- 
leges as property. Review again your laws, propose new ones, and you will 
find me ready to comply with whatsoever may render us happy, by a nearer 
union of our interests." The Assembly returned a suitable response, and then 
proceeded to draw up twenty-one articles. The first related to tlie appoint- 
ment of a Lieutenant Grovernor. Penn proposed that the Assembly should 
choose one. But this they declined, preferring that he should appoint one. 
Little trouble was experienced in settling everything broached, except the 



HISTORY OF PENNSVLVANlA. 71 

union of the province and lower counties. Penn used his best endeavors to 
reconcile thfem to the union, but without avail. The new constitution was 
adopted on the 28th of October, 1701. The instrument provided for t\ie 
union, but in a supplementary article, evidently granted with great reluctance, 
it was provided that the province and the territories might be separated at any 
time within three years. As his last act before leaving, he presented the city 
of Philadelphia, now grown to be a considerable place, and always an object 
of his affectionate regard, with a charter of privileges. As his Deputy, he ap- 
pointed Andrew Hamilton, one of the proprietors of East New Jersey, and 
sometime Governor of both East and AVest Jersey, and for Secretary of the 
province and Clerk of the Council, he selected James Logan, a man of sin- 
gular urbanity and streugth of mind, and withal a scholar. 

Penn set sail for Europe on the 1st of November, 1701. Soon after his 
arrival, on the l8th of January, 1702, King AVilliam died, and Anne of Den- 
mark succeeded him. He now found himself in favor at court, and that he 
might be convenient to the royal residence, he again took lodgings at Kensing- 
toii! The bill which had been pending before Parliament, that had given him 
so much uneasiness, was at the succeeding session dropped entirely, and was 
never again called up. During his leisure hours, he now busied himself in 
writing °" several useful and excellent treatises on divers subjects." 

Gov. Hamilton's administration continued only till December, 1702, when 
he died. He was earnest in his endeavors to induce the territories to unite 
with the province, thev having as yet not accepted the new charter, alleging 
that they had three years in which to make their decision, but without success. 
He also organized a military force, of which George Lowther was commander, 
for the safety of the colony. . • i, -c n 

The executive authoritv now devolved upon the Council, of which Edwa,rd 
Shipper) was President. Conflict of authority, and contention over the due in- 
terpretation of some provisions of the new charter, preventea the accomplish- 
ment of much, bv way of legislation, in the Assembly which convened in 1703; 
though in this body it was finally determined that the lower counties should 
thereafter act separately in a legislative capacity. This separation proved 
final, the two bodies never again meeting in common. 

Though the bill to govern the American Colonies by regal authority tailed, 
yet the cTamor of those opposed to the proprietary Governors was so strong 
that an act was finally passed requiring the selection of deputies to have the 
royal assent. Hence, in choosing a successor to Hamilton, he was obliged to 
consider the Queen's wishes. John Evans, a man of parts, of Welsh extrac- 
tion, only twenty-six years old. a member of the Queen's household, and not a 
Quaker, nor even of exemplary morals, was appointed, who arrived in the col- 
ony in December, 1703. He was accompanied by William Penn, Jr., who was 
elected a member of the Council, the number having been increased by author- 
ity of the Governor, probably with a view to his election. 

The fii'st care of Evans was to unite the province and lower counties, 
though the final separation had been agreed to. He presented the matter so 
welUhat the lower counties, from which the difficulty had always come, were 
willing to return to a fii-m union. But now the provincial Assembly, having 
become impatient of the obstacles thrown in the way of legislation by the dele^ 
gates from these counties, was unwilling to receive them. They henceforward 
remained separate in a legislative capacity, though still a part of Pennsylvania, 
under the claim of Penn, and ruled by the same Governor, and thus they con- 
tinued until the 20th of September, 1776, when a constitution was adopted, 
and they were proclaimed a separate State under the name of Delaware. 



72 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

During two years of the government of Evans, there was ceaseless discord be- 
tween the Council, headed by the Governor and Secretary Logan, on the one 
side, and the Assembly led by David Lloyd, its Speaker, on the other, and 
little legislation was effected. 

Realizing the defenseless condition of the colony, Evans determined to 
organize the militia, and accordingly issued his proclamation. "In obedience 
to her Majesty's royal command, and to the end that the inhabitants of this 
government may be in a posture of defense and readiness to withstand and 
repel all acts of hostility, I do hereby strictly command and require all per- 
sons residing in this government, whose persuasions will, on any account, per- 
mit them to take up arms in their own defense, that forthwith they do pro- 
vide themselves with a good firelock and ammunition, in order to enlist them- 
selves in the militia, which I am now settling in this government. " The Gov- 
ernor evidently issued this proclamation in good faith, and with a pure pur- 
pose. The French and Indians had assumed a threatening aspect upon the north, 
and while the other colonies had assisted New York liberally, Pennsylvania had 
done little or nothing for the common defense. But his call fell stillborn. 
The " fire-locks'' were not brought out, and none enlisted. 

Disappointed at this lack of spirit, and embittered by the factious tempei" of 
the Assembly, Evans, who seems not to have had faith in the religious prin- 
ciples of the Quakers, and to have entirely mistook the natiu'e of their Christian 
zeal, formed a wild scheme to test their steadfastness under the pressure of 
threatened danger. In conjunction with his gay associates in revel, he agreed 
to have a false alarm spread of the approach of a hostile force in the river, 
whereupon he was to raise the alarm in the city. Accordingly, on the day of 
the fair in Philadelphia, 16th of March, 1700, a messenger came, post haste 
from New Castle, bringing the startling intelligence that an armed fleet of the 
enemy was already in the river, and making their way rapidly toward the city. 
Whereupon Evans acted his part to a nicety. He sent emissaries through the 
town proclaiming the dread tale, while he mounted his horse, and in an ex- 
cited manner, and with a drawn sword, rode through the streets, calling upon all 
good men and true to rush to arms for the defense of their homes, their wives 
and children, and all they held dear. The ruse was so well played that it 
had an immense effect. " The suddenness of the surprise,'' says Proud, " with 
the noise of precipitation consequent thereon, threw man)* of the people into 
very great fright and consternation, insomuch that it is said some threw their 
plate and most valuable effects down their wells and little houses; that others 
hid themselves, in the best manner they could, while many retired further up 
the river, with what they could most readily carry off; so that some of the 
creeks seemed full of boats and small craft; those of a larger size running as 
far as Burlington, and some higher up the river; several women are said to 
have miscarried by the fright and terror into which they were thrown, and 
much mischief ensued." 

The more thoughtful of the people are said to have understood the 

deceit from the first, and labored to allay the excitement; but the seeming 

earnestness of the Governor and the zeal of his emissaries so worked upon the 

more inconsidei-ate of the population that the consternation and commotion 

was almost past belief. In an almanac published at Philadelphia for the next 

year opposite this date was this distich: 

"Wise men wonder, good men grieve. 
Knaves invent and fools believe." 

Though this ruse was played upon all classes alike, yet it was generally 

believed to have been aimed chiefly at the Quakers, to try the force of their 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA, 73 

principles, and see if they would not rueh to arms when danger should really 
appear. But in this the Governor was disappointed. For it is said that only 
four out of the entire population of this i-eligious creed showed any disposition 
to falsify their faith, It was the day of their weekly meeting, and regardless 
of the dismay and consternation which were everywhere manifest about them, 
they assembled in their accustomed places of worship, and engaged in their 
devotions as though nothing unusual was transpiring without, manifesting 
such unshaken faith, as AVhittier has exemplified in verse by his Abraham 
Davenport, on the occasion of the Dark Day: 

', Meanwhile in the old State House, dim as ghosts. 
Sat the law-givers of Connecticut, 
Trembling beneath their legislative robes. 
'It is the Lord's great day! Let us adjourn,' 
Some said; and then, as witli one accord, 
All eyes were turned on Abraham Davenport. 
He rose, slow, cleaving with his steady voice 
The intolerable hush. ' This well may be 
The Day of Judgment which the world awaits; 
But be it so or not, I only know 
My present duty, and my Lord's command 
To occupy till He come. So at the post 
Where He hath set me in His Providence, 
I choose, for one, to meet Him face to face. 
No faithless servant frightened from my task. 
But ready when the Lord of the harvest calls; 
And therefore, with all reverence, I would say. 
Let God do His work, we will see to ours. 
Bring in the candles.' And they brought them in," 

In conjunction with the Legislature of the lower counties, Evans was in- 
strumental in having a law passed for the imposition of a tax on the tonnage 
of the river, and the erection of a fort near the town of New Castle for com- 
pelling obedience. This was in direct violation of the fundamental compact, 
and vexatious to commei'ce. It was at length forcibly resisted, and its impo- 
sition abandoned. His administration was anything but efficient or peaceful, 
a series of contentions, of chai'ges and counter-charges having been kept up 
between the leaders of the two factions, Lloyd and Logan, which he was pow- 
erless to properly direct or control. " He was relieved in 1709. Possessed of 
a good degree of learning and refinement, and accustomed to the gay society 
of the British metropolis, he found in the grave and serious habits of the 
Friends a type of life and character which he failed to comprehend, and with 
which he could, consequently, have little sympathy. How widely he mistook 
the Quaker character is seen in the result of his wild and hair-brained experi- 
ment to test their faith. His general tenor of life seems to have been of a 
piece with this. Watson says: 'The Indians of Connestoga complained of 
him when there as misbehaving to their women, and that, in 1709, Solomon 
Cresson, going his rounds at night, entered a tavern to suppress a riotous as- 
sembly, and found there John Evans, Esq. , the Governor, who fell to beat- 
ing Cresson.'" 

The youth and levity of Gov. Evans induced-the proprietor to seek for a 
successor of a more sober and sedate character. He had thought of proposing 
his son, but finally settled upon Col. Charles Gookin, who was reputed to be a 
man of wisdom and prudence, though as was afierward learned, to the sorrow 
of the colony, he was subject to fits of derangement, which toward the close of 
his term were exhibited in the most extravagant acts. He had scarcely ar- 
rived in the colony before charges were preferred against the late Governor, 
and he was asked to institute criminal proceedings, which he declined. This 



74 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

was the occasion of a renewal of contentions between the Governor and his 
Council and the Assembly, which continued during the greater pare of his ad- 
ministration. In the midst of them, Logan, who was at the head of the Coun- 
cil, having demanded a trial of the charges against him, and failed to secure 
one, sailed for Europe, where he presented the difficulties experienced in ad- 
ministering the government so sti'ongly, that Penn was seriously inclined to 
sell his interest in the colony. He had already greatly crippled his estate by 
expenses he had incurred in making costly presents to the natives, and in set- 
tling his colony, for which he had received small return. In the year 1707, 
he had become involved in a suit in chancery with the executors of his former 
steward, in the course of which he was conlined in the Old Baily during this 
and a part of the following year, when he was obliged to mortgage his colony 
in the sum of £6,600 to relieve himself. Foreseeing the great consequence 
it would be to the crown to buy the rights of the proprietors of the several 
English colonies in America before they would grow too powerful, negotia- 
tions had been entered into early in the reign of William and Mary for their 
purchase, especially the '' line province of Mr. Penn." Borne down by these 
troubles, and by debts and litigations at home, Penn sei'ionsly entertained the 
proposition to sell in 1712, and oftered it for £20,000. The sum of £12,000 
was offered on the part of the crown, which was agreed upon, but before the 
necessary papers were executed, he was stricken down with apoplexy, by which 
he was incapacitated for transacting any business, and a stay was put to fur- 
ther proceedings until the Queen should order an act of Parliament for con- 
summating the purchase. 

It is a mournful spectacle to behold the great mind and the great heart of 
Penn reduced now in his declining years, by the troubles of government and 
by debts incurred in the bettering of his colony, to this enfeebled condition. 
He was at the moment writing to Logan on public affairs, when his hand was 
suddenly seized by lethargy in the beginning of a sentence, which he never 
finished. His mind was touched by the disease, which he never recovered, 
and after lingering for six years, he died on the 30th of May, 1718, in the 
seventy- fourth year of hh age. With great power of intellect, and a religious 
devotion scarcely matched in all Christendom, he gave himself to the welfare 
of mankind, by securing civil and religious liberty through the operations of 
organic law. Though not a lawyer by profession, he drew frames of govern- 
ment and bodies of laws which have been the admiration of succeeding gener- 
ations, and are destined to exert a benign influence in all future time, and by 
his discussions with Lord Baltimore and before the Lords in Council, he 
showed himself familiar with the abstruse principles of law. Though but a 
private person and of a despised sect, he was received as the friend and confi- 
dential advisee of the ruling sovereigns of England, and some of the princi- 
ples which give luster to British law were engrafted there through the influ- 
ence of the powerful intellect and benignant heart of Penn. He sought to 
know no philosophy but that promulgated by Christ and His disciples, and 
this he had sounded to its depths, and in it were anchored his ideas of public 
law and private and social living. The untamed savage of the forest bowed in 
meek and loving simplicity to his mild and resistless sway, and the members 
of the Society of Friends all over Europe fiocked to his City of Brotherly Love. 
His prayers for the welfare of his people are the beginning and ending of all 
his public and private correspondence, and who will say that they have not 
been answered in the blessings which have attended the commonwealth of his 
founding? And will not the day of its greatness be when the inhabitants 
throughout all its borders shall retium to the peaceful and loving spirit of 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 75 

Penn ? In the midst of a licentious court, and with every prospect of advance- 
ment in its sunshine and favor, inheriting a great name and an independeot 
patrimony, he tui'ned aside from this brilliant track to make common lot with 
a poor sect under the ban of Government; endured stripes and imprisonment 
and loss of property; banished himself to the wilds of the American continent 
that he might secure to his people those devotions which seemed to them re- 
quired by their Maker, and has won for himself a name by the simple deeds of 
love and humble obedience to Christian mandates which shall never perish. 
Many have won renown by deeds of blood, but fadeless glory has come to 
William Penn by charity. 



CHAPTER IX. 



Sir William Keith, 1717-2 >— Patrick Gordon, 17-36-36— James Logan, 1736-38 
—George Thomas, 1738-47— Anthony Palmer, 1747-48— James Hamilton, 

1748-54. 

IN 1712, Penn had made a will, by which he devised to his only surviving 
sou, AVilliam, by his first marriage, all his estates in England, amounting 
to some twenty thousand pounds. By his first wife, Gulielma Maria Springett, 
he had issue of three sons — William, Springett and William, and four daugh- 
tei's — Gulielma, Margaret, Gulielma and Letitia; and by his second wife, 
Hannah Callowhill, of four sons— John. Thomas, Richard and Dennis. To 
his wife Hannah, who survived him, and whom he made the sole executrix of 
his will, he gave, for the equal benefit of herself and her children, all his 
personal estate in Pennsylvania and elsewhere, after paying all debts, and 
allotiug ten thousand acres of land in the Province to his daughter Letitia, by 
his first marriage, and each of the three children of his son William. 

Doubts having arisen as to the force of the provisions of this will, it was 
finally determined to institute a suit in chancery for its determination. Before 
a decision was reached, in March, 1720, William Penn, Jr., died, and while 
still pending, his son Springett died also. During the long pendency of this 
litigation for nine years, Hannah Penn, as executrix of the will, assumed the 
proprietary powers, issued instructions to her Lieutenant Governors, heard 
complaints and settled difficulties with the skill and the assurance of a veteran 
diplomatist. In 1727, a decision was reached that, upon the death of William 
Penn, Jr., and his son Springett, the proprietary rights in Pennsylvania de- 
scended to the three surviving sons — John, Thomas and Richard — issue by the 
second marriage; and that the proprietors bargain to sell his province to the 
crown for twelve thousand pounds, made in 1712, and on which one thousand 
pounds had been paid at the confirmation of the sale, was void. Whereupon 
the three sons became the joint proprietors. 

A year before the death of Penn, the lunacy of Gov. Gookin having be- 
come troublesome, he was succeeded in the Government by Sir William Keith, 
a Scotchman who had served as Surveyor of Customs to the English Govern 
ment, m which capacity he had visited Pennsylvania previously, and knew 
f^-^inething of its condition. He was a man of dignified and coramandini', 
bearing, endowed with cunning, of an accommdating policy, full of faithful 
promises, and usually found upon the stronger side. Hence, upon his 
arrival in the colony, he did not summon the Assembly immediately, 



76 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

assigning as a reason in his first message that he did not wish to inconvenience 
the country members by calling them in harvest time. The disposition thus 
manifested to favor the people, and his advocacy of popular rights on several 
occasions in opposition to the claims of the proprietor, gave greai satisfaction 
to the popular branch of the Legislature which manifested its appreciation of 
his conduct by voting him liberal salaries, which had often been withheld from 
his less accommodating predecessors. i3y his artful and insinuating policy, 
he induced the Assembly to pass two acts which had previously met with un- 
compromising opposition — one to establish a Court of Equity, with himself as 
Chancellor, the want of which had been seriously felt; and another, for organ- 
izing the militia. Though the soil was fruitful and produce was plentiful, 
yet, for lack of good markets, and on account of the meagerness of the cir- 
culating medium, prices were very low, the toil and sweat of the husbandman 
being little rewarded, and the taxes and payments on land were met with great 
difficulty. Accordingly, arrangements were made for the appointment of in- 
spectors of provisions, who, from a conscientious discharge of duty, soon 
caused the Pennsylvania brands of best products to be much sought for, and 
to command ready sale at highest prices in the West Indies, whither most of 
the surplus prodiice was exported. A provision was also made for the issue <;f 
a limited amount of paper money, on the establishment of ample securities, 
which tended to raise the value of the products of the soil and of manufact- 
ures, and encourage industry. 

By the repeated notices of the Governors in their messages to the Legis- 
lature previous to this time, it is evident that Indian hostilities had for some- 
time been threatened. The Potomac was the dividing line between the 
Northern and Southern Indians. But the young men on either side, when out 
in pui'suit of game, often crossed the line of the river into the territory of the 
other, when fierce altercations ensued. This trouble had become so 
violent in 1719 as to threaten a great Indian war, in which the pow- 
erful confederation, known as the Five Nations, would take a hand. 
To avert this danger, which it was foreseen would inevitably involve 
the defenseless familes upon the frontier, and perhaps the entire colony, 
Gov. Keith determined to use his best exertions. He accordingly made 
a toilsome journey in the spring of 1721 to confer with the Govei-nor of 
Virginia and endeavor to employ by concert of action such means as would 
allay further cause of contention. His policy was well devised, and enlisted 
the favor of the Governor. Soon after his return, he summoned a council of 
Indian Chieftains to meet him at Conestoga, a point about seventy miles west 
of Philadelphia. He went in considerable pomp, attended by some seventy 
or eighty horsemen, gaily caparisoned, and many of them armed, arriving 
about noon, on the 4th of July, not then a day of more note than other days. 
He went immediately to Capt. Civility's cabin, where were assembled four 
deputies of the Five Nations and representatives of other tribes. The Gov- 
ernor said that he had come a long distance from home to see and speak to 
representatives of the Five Nations, who had never met the Governor of Penn- 
sylvania. They said in reply that they had heard much of the Governor, and 
would have come sooner to pay him their respects, but that the wild conduct of 
some of their young men had made them ashamed to show their faces. In the 
formal meeting in the morning, Ghesaont, chief of the Senecas, spoke for all 
the Five Nations. He said that they now felt that they were speaking to the 
same effect that they would were William Penn before them, that they had not 
forgotten Penn, nor the treaties made with him, and the good advice he gave 
them; that though they oould not write as do the English, yet they could keep 



HISTORY OP PENNSYLVANIA. 77 

all these transactions fresh in their memories. After laying down a belt of 
wampum upon the table as if by way of emphasis, he began again, declaring 
that "all their disorders arose from the ase of rum and strong spirits, which 
took away their sense and memory, that they had no such liquors," and desired 
that no more be sent among them. Here he produced a bundle of dressed 
skins, by which he would say, "you see how much in earnest we are upon this 
matter of furnishing fiery liquors to us." Then he proceeds, declaring that 
the Five Nations remember all their ancient treaties, and they now desire that 
the chain of friendship may be made so strong that none of the links may 
ever be broken. This may have been a hint that they wanted high piled 
and valuable presents; for the Quakers had made a reputation of brightening 
and strengthening the chain of friendship by valuable presents which had 
reached so far away as the Five Nations. He then produces a bundle of raw 
skins, and observes "thai a chain may contract rust with laying and become 
weaker; wherefore, he desires it may now be so well cleaned as to remain 
brighter and stronger than ever it was before." Here he presents another par- 
cel of skins, and continues, "that as in the firmament, all clouds and dark- 
ness are removed from the face of the sun, so they desire that all misunder- 
standings may be fully done away, so that when they, who are now here, shall 
be dead and gone, their whole people, with their children and posterity, ma^- en- 
joy the clear sunshine with us forever." Presenting another bundle of skins, 
he says, "that, looking upon the Governor as if William Penn were present, 
they desire, that, in case any disorders should hereafter happen between their 
young people and ours, we would not be too hasty in resenting any such acci- 
dent, until their Council and ours can have some opportunity to treat amicably 
upon it, and so to adjust all matters, as that the friendship between us may 
still be inviolably preserved." Hei'e he produces a small parcel of di'essed 
skins, and concludes by saying "that we may now be together as one people, 
treating one another's children kindly and affectionately, that they are fully 
empowered to speak for the Five Nations, and they look upon the Governor as 
the representative of the (Jreat King of England, and therefore they expect 
that everything now stipulated will be made absolutely firm and good on both 
sides." And now he pi'esents a different style of present and pulls out a 
bundle of bear skins, and proceeds to put in an item of complaint, that ' ' they 
get too little for their skins and furs, so that they cannot live by hunting ; 
they desire us, therefore, to take compassion on them, and contrive some way^ 
to help them in that particular. Then producing a few furs, he speaks only 
for himself, "to acquaint the Governor, that the Five Nations having heard 
that the Governor of Virginia wanted to speak with them, he himself, with 
some of his company intended to proceed to Virginia, but do not know the 
way how to get safe thither." 

To this formal and adroitly conceived speech of the Seneca chief, Gov. 
Keith, after having brought in the present of stroud match coats, gunpowder, 
lead, biscuit, pipes and tobacco, adjourned the council till the following day, 
when, being assembled at Conestoga, he answered at length the items of the 
chieftain's speech. His most earnest appeal, however, was made in favor of 
peace. " I bave persuaded all my [Indian] brethren, in these parts, to con- 
sider what is for their good, and not to go out any more to war ; but your 
young men [Five Nations] as they come this way, endeavor to force them ; 
and, because they incline to the counsels of peace, and iho good advice of their 
true friends, your people use them ill, and often prevail with them to go out 
to their own destruction. Thus it was that their town of Conestoga lost their 
good king not long ago. Their young children are left without parents ;. 



78 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

their wives ■without husbands ; the old men, contrary to the course of nature, 
mourn the death of their young ; the people decay and grow weak ; wo lose 
our dear friends and are afflicted. Surely yoii cannot propose to get either 
riches, or possessions, by going thus out to war ; for when you kill a deer, you 
have the flesh to eat, and the skin to sell ; but when you return from war, you 
bring nothing liome, but the scalp of a dead man, who perhaps was husband 
to a kind wife, and father to tender children, who never wronged you, though, 
by losing him, yon have I'obbed them of their help and protection, and at the 
same time got nothing by it. If I were not your friend, I would not take the 
trouble to say all these things to you." When the Governor had concluded 
his address, he called the Senaca chieftain (Ghesaont) to him, and presented a 
gold coronation medal of King George I, which he requested should be taken 
to the monarch of the Five Nations, " Kannygooah," to be laid up and kept as 
a token to our children's children, that an entire and lasting friendship is now 
established forever between the English in this coilutry and the great Five 
Nations." Upon the return of the Governor, he was met at the upper ferry of 
the Schuylkill, by the Mayor and Aldermen of the city, with about two hun- 
dred horse, and conducted through the streets after the manner of a conqueror 
of old returning from the scenes of his triumphs. 

Gov. Keith gave diligent study to the subject of finance, regulating the 
currency in such a way that the planter should have it in his power to dis- 
charge promptly his indebtedness to the merchant, that their mutual interests 
might thus be subserved. He even proposed to establish a considerable settle- 
ment on his own account in the colony, in order to carry on manufactures, and 
thus consume the grain, of which there was at this time abundance, and no 
profitable market abroad. 

In the spring of 1722, an ludian was barbarously murdered within the 
limits of the colony, which gave the Governor great concern. After having 
cautioned red men so strongly about keeping the peace, he felt that the honor 
of himself and all his people was compromised by this vile act. He immedi- 
ately commissioned James Logan and John French to go to the scene of the 
murder above Conestoga, and inquire into the facts of the case, quickly appre- 
hended the supposed murderers, sent a fast ludian runner (Satcheecho), to 
acquaint the Five Nations with his sorrow for the act, and of his determination 
to bring the guilty parties to justice, and himself set out with three of his 
Council (Hill, Norris and Hamilton), for Albany, where he had been invited 
by the Indians for a conference with the Governors of all the colonies, and 
where he met the chiefs of the Five Nations, and treated with them iipon the 
subject of the mxirder, besides making presents to the Indians. It was on this 
occasion that the grand sachem of this great confederacy made that noble, 
and generous, and touching response, so different from the spirit of revenge 
generally attributed to the Indian character. It is a notable example of love 
that begets love, and of the mild answer that turneth av^ay wrath. He said : 
" The great king of the Five Nations is sorry for the death of the Indian 
that was killed, for he was of his own flesh and blood. He believes that the 
Governor is also sorry ; but, now that it is done, there is no help for it, and 
he desires that Cartlidge [the murderer] may not be put to death, nor that he 
should be spared for a timo, and afterward executed ; one life is enough to be 
lost ; there should not two die. The King's heart is good to the Governor and 
all the English.'^ 

Though Gov. Keith, during the early part of his term, pursued a pacific 
policy, yet the interminable quarrels which had been kept up between the As- 
«embly and Council during previous administrations, at length broke out with 





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'L^ 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 81 

more virulence than ever, and he who in the first flush of powep had declared 
"That he should pass no laws, nor transact anything of moment relating to 
the public affairs without the advice and approbation of the Council," took it 
upon himself finally to act independently of the Council, and even went so 
far as to dismiss the able and trusted representative of the proprietary inter- 
ests, James Logan, President of the Council and Secretary of the Province, 
from the duties of his high office, and even refused the request of Hannah 
Penn, the real Governor of the province, to re- instate him. This unwarranta- 
ble conduct cost him his dismissal from office in July, 1726. Why he should 
have assumed so headstrong and unwarrantable a course, who had promised at 
the first so mild and considerate a policy, it is difficult to understand, unless it 
be the fact that he found that the Council was blocking, by its obstinacy, 
wholesome legislation, which he considered of vital impoi'tance to the pros- 
perity of the colony, and if, as he alleges, he found that the new constitution 
only gave the Council advisory and not a voice in executive power. 

The administration of Gov. Keith was eminently successful, as he did not 
hesitate to grapple with important questions of judicature, finance, trade, 
commerce, and the many vexing relations with the native tribes, and right 
manfully, and judiciously did he effect their solution. It was at a time when 
the colony was filling up rapidly, and the laws and regulations which had been 
found ample for the management of a few hundred families struggling for a 
foothold in the forest, and when the only traffic was a few skins, were entirely 
inadequate for securing protection and prosperity to a seething and jostling 
population intent on trade and commerce, and the conflicting interests which 
required wise legislation and prudent management. InIo colony on the Ameri- 
can coast made such progress in numbers and improvement as did Pennsylvania 
during the nine years in which William Keith exercised the Gubernatorial 
office. Though not himself a Quaker, he had secured the passage of an act of 
Assembly, and its royal affir-mation for allowing the members of the Quaker 
sect to wear their hats in court, and give testimony under affirmation instead 
of oath, which in the beginning of the reign of Queen Anne had been with- 
held from them. After the expiration of his term of office, he was immedi- 
ately elected a member of the Assembly, and was intent on being elected 
Speakei', " and had his support out- doors in a cavalcade of eighty mounted 
horsemen and the resounding of many guns fired;" yet David Lloyd was 
elected with only three dissenting voices, the out- door business having perhaps 
been overdone. 

Upon the recommendation of Springett Penn, who was now the prospective 
heir to Pennsylvania, Patrick Gordon was appointed and confirmed Lieutenant 
Governor in place of Keith, and arrived in the colony and assumed authority 
in July, 1726. He had served in the army, and in his first address to the 
Assembly, which he met in August, he said that as he had been a soldier, he 
knew nothing of the crooked ways of professed politicians, and must rely on a 
straightforward manner of transacting the duties devolving upon him. George 
I died in June, 1727, and the Assembly at its meeting in October prepared 
and forwarded a congratulatory address to his successor, George II. By the 
decision of the Court of Chancery in 1727, Hannah Penn's authority over the 
colony was at an end, the proprietary interests having descended to John, 
Richard and Thomas Penn, the only surviving sons of William Penn, Sr. 
This period, from the death of Penn in 1718 to 1727, one of the most pros- 
perous in the history of the colony, was familiarly known as the " Reign of 
Hannah and the Boys." 

Gov. Gordon found the Indian troubles claiming a considerable part of his 

5 



82 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

attention. In 1728, worthless bands, who had sti-ayed away from their proper 
tribes, incited by strong drink, had become implicated in disgraceful broils, in 
which sevei'al were killed and wounded. The guilty parties were apprehended, 
but it was found difficult to punish Indian oifenders without incurring the 
wrath of their relatives. Treaties were frequently renewed, on which occa- 
sions the chiefs expected that the chain of friendship would be polished " with 
English blankets, broadcloths and metals." The Indians foiind that this 
"brightening the chain" was a profitable business, which some have been un- 
charitable enough to believe was the moving cause of many of the Indian diflj. 
culties. 

As early as 1732, the French, who were claiming all the territory drained 
by the SEississippi and its tributaries, on the ground of priority of discovery 
of its mouth and exploration of its channel, commenced erecting trading posts 
in Pennsylvania, along the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers, and invited the Indians 
living on these streams to a council for concluding treaties with them at Mon- 
treal, Canada. To neutralize the influence of the French, these Indians were 
summoned to meet in council at Philadelphia, to renew treaties of friendship, 
and they were invited to remove farther east But this they were un vvill- 
ing to do. A treaty was also concluded with the Six Nations, in which they 
pledged lasting friendship for the English. 

Hannah Penn died in 1733, when the Assembly, supposing that the pro- 
prietary power was still in her hands, refused to recognize the power of Gov. Gor- 
don. But the three sons, to whom the proprietary possessions had descended, 
in 1727, upon the decision of the Chancery case, joined in issuing a new com- 
mission to Gordon. In approving this commission the King directed a clause 
to be inserted, expressly reserving to himself the government of the lower 
counties This act of the King was the beginning of those series of encroach- 
ments which finally culminated in the independence of the States of America. 
The Judiciary act of 1727 was annulled, and this was followed by an attempt 
to pass an act requiring the laws of all the colonies to be submitted to the 
Crown for approval before they should become valid, and that a copy of all 
laws previously enacted should be submitted for approval or veto. The agent 
of the Assembly, Mr. Paris, with the agents of other colonies, made so vigor- 
ous a defense, that action was for the time stayed. 

In 1732, Thomas Penn, the youngest son, and two years later, John Penn, 
the eldest, and the only American born, arrived in the Province, and were re- 
ceived with every mark of respect and satisfaction. Soon after the arrival of 
the latter, news was brought that Lord Baltimore had made application to have 
the Provinces transferred to his colony. A vigorous protest was made against 
this by Quakers in England, headed by Bichard Penn; but lest this protest 
might prove ineffectual, John Penn very soon went to England to defend the 
proprietary rights at cou.rt, and never again returned, he having died a bach- 
elor in 174G. In August, 1736, Gov. Gordon died, deeply lamented, as an 
honest, upright and straightforward executive, a character which he expressed 
the hope he would be able to maintain when he assumed authority. His term 
hacL been one of prosperity, and the colony had grown rapidly in numbers, 
trade, commerce and manufactui-es, ship-building especially having assumed ex- 
tensive proportions. 

James Logan was President of the Council and in effect Governor, during 
the two years which elapsed between the death of Gordon and the arrival of 
his successor. The Legislature met regularly, but no laws were passed for 
lack of an executive. It was during this period that serious trouble broke out 
near tho Maryland border, west of the Susquehanna, then Lancaster, now 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 83 

■\ork County. A number of settlers, in order to evade the payment of taxes, 
had secured titles to their lands from Maryland, and afterward sought to be 
reinstated in their rights under Pennsylvania authority, and plead protection 
from the latter. The Sheriif of the adjoining Maryland County, with 300 
followers, advanced tc drive these settlers from their homes. On hearing of 
this movement, Samuel Smith, Sheriff of Lancaster County, with a hastily sum- 
moned posse, advanced to protect the citizens in their rights. Without a con- 
flict, an agreement was entered into by both parties to retire. Soon afterward, 
however, a band of fifty Marylanders again entered the State with the design 
of driving out the settlers and each securing for himself 200 acres of land. 
They were led by one Cressap. The settlers made resistance, and in an en- 
counter, one of them by the name of Knowles was killed. The Sheriff of 
Lancaster again advanced with a posse, and in a skirmish which ensued one 
of the invaders was killed, and the leader Cressap was wounded and taken 
prisoner. The Governor of Maryland sent a commission to Philadelphia to 
demand the release of the prisoner. Not succeeding in this, he seized four of 
the settlers and incarcerated them in the jail at Baltimore. Still determined 
to effect their purpose, a party of Mary landers, under the leadership of one 
Higginbotham, advanced into Pennsylvania and began a warfare upon the 
settlers. Again the Sheriff of Lancaster appeared upon the scene, and drove 
out the invaders. So stubbornly were these invasions pushed and resented 
that the season passed without planting or securing the usual crops. Finally 
a party of sixteen Marylanders, led by Richard Lowden, broke into the Lan- 
caster jail and liberated the Maryland prisoners. Learning of these disturb- 
ances, the King in Council issued an order restraining both parties from fur- 
ther acts of violence, and afterward adopted a plan of settlement of the vexed 
boundary question. 

Though not legally Governor, Logan managed the affairs of the colony 
with great prudence and judgment, as he had done and continued to do for a 
period of nearly a half century. He was a scholar well vei'sed in the ancient 
languages and the sciences, and published several learned works in the Latin 
tongue. His Experimenta Melcfemata de plantarum generatione, wTitten in 
Latin, Vv^as published at Leyden in 1739, and afterward, in 1747, republished 
in London, with an English version on the opposite page by Dr. J. Fothergill. 
Another work of his in Latin was also published at Leyden, entitled, Canonum 
pro inveniendis refractionum, tarn simpUcium turn in lentibus duplicum focis, 
demonstrationis geometricae. After retiring from public business, he lived at 
his country seat at Stenton, near Germantown, where he spent his time among 
his books and in correspondence with the literati of Europe. In his old age 
he made an English translation of Cicero's De Senectute, which was printed at 
Philadelphia in 1744 with a preface by Benjamin Franklin, then rising into 
notice. Logan was a Quaker, of Scotch descent, though born in Ireland, and 
came to America in the ship with William Penn, in his second visit in 1699, 
when about twenty-five years old, and died at seventy- seven. He had held the 
oflBces of Chief Commissioner of propei'ty. Agent for the purchase and sale of 
lands, Receiver General, Member of Council, President of Council and Chief 
Justice. He was the Confidential Agent of Penn, having charge of all his vast 
estates, making sales of lands, executing conveyances, and making collections. 
Amidst all the great cares of business so pressing as to make him exclaim, " I 
know not what any of the comforts of life are," he found time to devote to the 
delights of learning, and collected a large library of standard works, which he 
bequeathed, at his death, to the people of Pennsylvania, and is known as the 
Loganian Library. 



84 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

George Thomas, a planter from the West Indies, was appointed Governor 
in 1737, but did not arrive in the colony till the following year. His lirst care 
was to settle tne disorders in the Cumberland Valley, and it was finally agreed 
that settlers from either col<:»ny should owe allegiance to the Governor t)f that 
colony wherever settled, until the division line which had been provided for 
was sui'veyed and marked. War was declared on the 23d of October, 1739, 
between Great Britain and Spain. Seeing that his colony was liable to be 
encroached upon by the enemies of his government, he endeavored to organ- 
ize the militia, but the majoi'ity of the Assembly was of the peace element, and 
it could not be induced to vote money. Finally he was ordered by the home 
government to call for volunteei-s. and eight companies were quickly formed, 
and sent down for the coast defense. Many of these proved to be servants for 
whom pay was demanded and finally obtained. In 1740, the great evangelist, 
Whitefield, visited the colony, and created a deep religious interest among all 
denominations. In his first intercourse with the Assembly, Gov. Thomas en- 
deavored to coerce it to his views. But a more stubborn set of men never met 
in a deliberative body than were gathered in this Assembly at this time. 
Finding that he could not compel action to his mind, he yielded and con- 
sulted their views and decisions. The Assembly, not to be outdone in mag- 
nanimity, voted him £1.500 aiTearages of salary, which had been withheld be- 
cause he would not approve their legislation, asserting that public acts should 
take precedence of appropriations for their own pay. In March, 1744, war 
was declared between Great Britain and France. Volunteers were called 
for, and 10,000 men were rapidly enlisted and armed at their own expense. 
Franklin, recognizing the defenseless condition of the colony, issued a pamph- 
let entitled Plain Truth, in which he cogently ui'ged the necessity of organ- 
ized preparation for defense. Franklin was elected Colonel of one of the 
regriments. but resigned in favor of Alderman Lawrence. On the oth of Mav. 
l/4i, the Governor communicated intelligence of the death of John Fenn. the 
eldest of the proprietors, to the Assembly, and his own intention to retire from 
the duties of his office on account of declining health. 

Anthony Palmer was President of the Council at the time of the with- 
drawal of Gordon, and became the Acting Governor. The peace party in the As- 
sembly held that it was the duty of the crown of England to protect the colony, 
and that for the colony to call out vohmteers and become responsible for their 
payment was biu'dening the people with an expense which did not belong to 
them, and which the crown was willing to assume. The French were now 
deeply intent on securing firm possession of the Mississippi Valley and the en- 
tire basin, even to the summits of the Alleghanies in Pennsylvania, and were 
busy establishing trading posts along the Ohio and Allegheny Rivers. They 
employed the most artful means to win the simple natives to their interests, 
giving showy presents and laboring to convince them of their great value. 
Pennsylvania had won a reputation among the Indians of making presents of 
substantial worth. Not knowing the difi'erence between steel and iron, the 
French distributed immense numbers of worthless iron hatchets, which the 
natives supposed were the equal of the best English steel axes. The Indians, 
however, soon came to distinguish between the good and the valueless. Un- 
derstandins: the Pennsylvania methods of secnring peace and friendship, the 
the natives became very artful in drawing out " well piled up " presents. Ttie 
government at this time was alive to the dangers which threatened fi'om the 
insinuating methods of the French. A trusty messenger, Conrad Weiser, was 
sent among the Indians in the western pai't of the province to observe the 
plans of the French, ascertain the temper of the natives, and especially to 



HISTORY OF PEN.NSVLVANIA. 85 

magnify the power of the English, and the disposition of Pennsylvania to give 
great presents. This latter policy had the desired effect, and worthless and 
wandering bands, which had no right to speak for the tribe, came teeming in, 
desirous of scoui'ing the chain of friendship, intimating that the Fi'ench were 
making great offers, in order to induce the government to large liberality, 
until this "brightening the chain," became an intolerable nuisance. At a sin- 
gle council held at Albany, in 1747, Pennsylvania distributed goods to the 
value of £1,000, and of such a character as should be most serviceable to the 
recipients, not worthless gew-gaws, but such as would contribute to their last- 
ing comfort and well being, a protection to the person against the bitter frosts 
of winter, and sustenance that should minister to the steady wants of the 
body and alleviation of pain in time of sickness. The treaty of Aix-la-Cha- 
pelle, which was concluded on the 1st of October, 1748, secured peace between 
Great Britain and France, and should have put an end to all hostile encoun- 
ters between their representatives on the American continent. Palmer re- 
mained at the head of the government for a little more than two years. He 
was a retired merchant from the West Indies, a man of wealth, and had come 
into the colony in 1708. He lived in a style suited to a gentleman, kept a 
coach and a pleasure barge. 

On the 23d of November, 1748, James Hamilton arrived in the colony from 
England, bearing the commission of Lieutenant Governor. He was born in. 
America, son of Andrew Hamilton, who had for many years been Speaker of 
the Assembly. The Indians west of the Susquehanna had complained that set- 
tlers had come upon their best lands, and were acquiring titles to them, where- 
as the proprietors had never purchased these lands of them, and had no claim 
to them. The first care of Hamilton was to settle these disputes, and allay the 
rising excitement of the natives. Richard Peters, Secretary of the colony, a 
man of great prudence and ability, was sent in company with the Indian in- 
terpreter, Conrad Weiser, to remove the intruders. It was firmly and fear- 
lessly done, the settlers giving up their tracts and the cabins which they had 
built, and accepting lands on the east side of the river. The hardship was in 
many cases great, but when they were in actual need, the Secretary gave 
money and placed them upon lands of his own, having secured a tract of 
2,000,000 of acres. 

But these troubles were of small consequence compared with those that 
were threatening from the West. Though the treaty of Aix was supposed to 
have settled all difiiculties between the two courts, the French were determined 
to occupy the whole territory di-ained by the Mississippi, which they claimed 
by priority of discovery by La Salle. The British Ambassador at Paris entered 
complaints before the French Court that encroachments were being made by 
the French upon English soil in America, which were politely heard, and 
promises made of restraining the French in Canada from encroaching upon 
English territory. Formal orders were sent out from the home government to 
this effect; but at the same time secret intimations were conveyed to them that 
their conduct in endeavoring to secure and hold the territory in dispute was 
not displeasing to the government, and that disobedience of these orders would 
not incur its displeasure. The French deemed it necessary, in order to estab- 
lish a legal claim to the country, to take formal possession of it. Accordingly, 
the Marquis de la Galissoniere, who was at this time Governor General of 
Canada, dispatched Capt. Bienville de Celeron with a party of 215 French and 
fifty-five Indians, to publicly proclaim possession, and bury at prominent 
points plates of lead bearing inscriptions declaring occupation in the name of 
the French King. Coleron started on the 15th of June, 1749, from La Chine, 



86 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

following the southern shores of Lakes Ontario and Erie, until he reached a 
point opposite Lake Chautauqua, where the boats were drawn up and were taken 
bodily over the dividing ridge, a distance of ten miles, with all the impedimenta 
of the expedition, the pioneers haviu :' first opened a road. Following on down 
the lake and the Conewango Creek, they arrived at Warren near the confluence 
of the creek with the Allegheny River. Here the first plate was buried. 
These plates were eleven inches long, seven and a half wide, and one-eighth 
of an inch thick. The inscription was in French, and in the following terms, 
as fairly translated into English: "In the year 1749, of the reign of Louis 
XIV, King of France, We Celeron, commander of a detachment sent by 
Monsieur the Marquis de la Galissonitire, Governor General of New France, 
to re-establish tranquillity in some Indian villages of these cantons, have 
buried this plate of lead at the eontlaence of the Ohio with the Chautauqua, 
this 29th day of July, near the River Ohio, otherwise Belle Riviere, as a mon- 
ument of the renewal of the possession we have taken of the said River Ohio, 
and of all those which empty into it, and of all the lands on both sides as far 
as the sources of the said river, as <mjoyed or ought to have been enjoyed by 
the King of France preceding, and as they have there maintained themselves 
by arms and by treaties, especially those of Ryswick, Utrecht and Aix-la- 
Chapelle." The burying of this plate was attended with much form and cer- 
emony. All the men and officers of the expedition were drawn up in battle 
array, when the Commander, Celeron, proclaimed in a loud voice, '" Vive le 
Roi," and declared that possession of the country was now taken in the name 
of the King. A plate on which was inscribed the arms of France was affixed 
to the nearest tree. 

The same formality was observed in planting each of the other plates, the 
second at the rock known as the "Indian God," on which are ancient and un- 
known inscriptions, a few miles below Franklin, a third at the mouth oE 
Wheeling Ci'eek: a fourth at the mouth of the Muskingnm; a fifth at the mouth 
of the Great Kanawha, and the sixth and last at the mouth of the Great Miami. 
Toilsomely ascending the Miami to its head-waters, the party burned their 
canoes, and obtained ponies for the march across the portage to the head- waters 
of the Maumee, down which and by Lakes Erie and Ontario they returned 
to Fort Frontenac, arriving on the 6th of November. It appears that the In- 
dians through whose territoiy they passed viewed this planting of plates with 
great suspicion. 15y some means they got possession of one of them, gener- 
ally supposed to have been stolen from the party at the very commencement of 
their journey from the mouth of the Chautauqua Creek. 

Mr. O. H. Marshall, in an excellent monograph upon this expedition, made 
up from the original manuscript journal of Celeron and the diary of Father 
Bonnecamps, found in the Department de la Marine, in Paris, gives the fol- 
lowing account of this stolen plate: 

" The first of the leaden plates was brought to the attention of the public 
by Gov. (xeorge Clinton to the Lords of Trade in LondoD, dated New York, 
December 19, 1750, in which he states that he would send to their Lordships 
in two or three weeks a plate of lead full of writing, which some of the upper 
nations of Indians stole from Jean Coeur, the French interpreter at Niagara, 
on his way to the River Ohio, which river, and all the lands thereabouts, the 
French claim, as will appear by said writing. He further states 'that the lead 
plate gave the Indians so much uneasiness that they immediately dispatched 
some of the Cayuga chiefs to him with it, saying that their only reliance waa 
on him, and earnestly begged he would communicate the contents to them 
which he had done, much to their satisfaction and the interests of the English.' 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 87 

The Governor concludes by saying that ' the contents of the plate may be of 
great importance in clearing up the encroachments which the French have 
made on the British Empire in America.' The plate was delivered to Colonel, 
afterward Sir William Johnson, on the 4th of December, 1750, at his resi- 
dence on the Mohawk, by a Cayuga sachem, who accompanied it by the follow- 
ing speech: 

"' Brother Corlear and War-ragh-i-ya-ghey! I am sent here by the Five 
Nations with a piece of writing which the Senecas, our brethren, got by some 
artifice from Jean Coeur, earnestly beseeching you will let us know what it 
means, and as we put all our confidence in you, we hope you will explain it 
ingeniously to us.' 

" Col. Johnson replied to the sachem, and through him to the Five Na- 
tions, returning a belt of wampum, and explaining the inscription on the 
plate. He told them that 'it was a matter of the greatest consequence, involv- 
ing the possession of their lands and hunting grounds, and that Jean Coeur 
and the French ought immediately to be expelled from the Ohio and Niagara.' 
In reply, the sachem said that ' he had heard with great attention and surprise 
the substance of the "devilish writing " he had brought, and that Col. Johnson's 
remarks were fully approved.' He promised that belts from each of the Five 
Nations should be sent from the Seneca's castle to the Indians at the Ohio, to 
warn and strengthen them against the French encruachments in that direc- 
tion. " On the 29th of January, 1751, Clinton sent a copy of this inscription 
to Gov. Hamilton, of Pennsylvania. 

The French followed up this formal act of possession by laying out a line 
of military posts, on substantially the same line as that pursued by the Cele- 
ron expedition; but instead of crossing over to Lake Chautauqua, they kept 
on down to Presque Isle (now Erie), where was a good harbor, where a fort 
was established, and thence up to Le Boeuf (now Waterford), where another 
post was placed; thence down the Venango River (French Creek) to its month 
at Franklin, eetablishing Fort Venango there; thence by the Allegheny to 
Pittsburgh, where Fort Du Quesne was seated, and so on down the Ohio. 

To counteract this activity of the French, the Ohio Company was char- 
tered, and a half million of acres was granted by the crown, to be selected 
mainly on the south side of the Ohio, between the Monongalia and Kanawha 
Rivers, and the condition made that settlements (100 families within seven 
years), protected by a fort, should he made. The company consisted of a 
number of Virginia and Maryland gentlemen, of whom Lawrence Washington 
was one, and Thomas Hanbury, of London. 

In 1752, a treaty was entered into with the Indians, securing the right of 
occupancy, and twelve families, headed by Capt. Gist, established themselves 
upon the Monongalia, and subsequently commenced the erection of a fort, 
where the city of Pittsburgh now is. Apprised of this intrusion into the 
very heart of the territory which they were claiming, the French built a fort 
at Le Boeuf, and strengthened the post at Franklin. 

These proceedings having been promptly reported to Lieut. Gov. Dinwid- 
dle, of Virginia, where the greater number of the stockholders of the Ohio 
Company resided, he determined to send an official communication — protesting 
against the forcible interference with their chartered rights, granted by the 
crown of Britain, and pointing to the late treaties of peace entered into be- 
tween the English and French, whereby it was agreed that each should respect 
the colonial possessions of the other — to the Commandant of the French, who 
had his headquarters at Fort Le Boeuf, fifteen miles inland from the present 
site of the city of Erie. 



88 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

But who should be the messenger to execute this delicate and responsible 
duty? It was winter, and the distance to be traversed was some 500 miles, 
through an unbroken wilderness, cut by rugged mountain chains and deep and 
rapid streams. It was proposed to several, who declined, and was finally 
accepted by George Washington, a youth barely twenty-one years old. On 
the last day of November, 1753, he bade adieu to civilization, and pushing on 
through the forest to the settlements on the Monongalia, where he was joined 
by Capt. Gist, followed up the Allegheny to Fort Venango (now Franklin); 
thence up the Venango to its head-waters at Fort Le Boeuf, where he held 
formal conference with the French Commandant, St. Pierre. The French 
officer had been ordered to hold this territory on the score of the dis- 
covery of the Mississippi by La Salle, and he had no discretion but to execute 
his orders, and referred Washington to his superior, the Governor General of 
Canada. Making careful notes of the location and strength of the post and 
those encountered on the way, the young embassador returned, being twice 
fired at on his journey by hostile Indians, and near losing his life by being 
thrown into the freezing waters of the Allegheny. Upon his arrival, he made 
a full report of the embassage, which was widely published in this country 
and in England, and was doubtless the basis upon which action was predicted 
that eventuated in a long and sanguinary war, which finally resulted in the 
expulsion of the power of France from this continent. 

Satisfied that the French were determined to hold the territory upon the 
Ohio by force of arms, a body of 150 men, c! which Washington was second 
in command, was sent to the support of the settlers. But the French, having 
the Allegheny River at flood-tide on which to move, and Washington, without 
means of transportation, having a rugged and mountainous country to over- 
come, the former first reached the point of destination, Contracoeur, the 
French commander, with 1,000 men and field pieces on a fleet of sixty boats and 
300 canoes, dropped down the Allegheny and easily seized the fort then being 
constructed by the Ohio Company at its mouth, and proceeded to erect there 
an elaborate work which he called Fort Du Quesne, after the Governor Gen- 
eral. Informed of this proceeding, Washington pushed forward, and finding 
that a detachment of the French was in his immediate neighborhood, he made 
a forced march by night, and coming upon them unawares killed and captured 
the entire party save one. Ten of the French, including their commander, 
Jumonville, were killed, and twenty -one made prisoners. Col. Fry, the com- 
mander of the Americans, died at Will's Creek, where the command devolved 
on Washington. Though re -enforcements had been dispatched from the sev- 
eral colonies in response to the urgent appeals of Washington, none reached 
him but one company of 100 men under Capt. Maekay from South Carolina. 
Knowing that he was confronting a vastly superior force of the French, well 
supplied with artillery, he threw up works at a point called the Great 
Meadows, which he characterizes as a "charming field for an encounter," nam- 
ing his hastily built fortification Fort Necessity. Stung by the loss of their 
leader, the French came out in strong force and soon invested the place. Unfor- 
tunately onepartof Washington's position was easily commanded by the artil- 
lery of the French, which they were not slow in taking advantage of. The ac- 
tion opened on the 3d of July, and was continued till late at night, A capit- 
ulation was proposed by the French commander, which Washington reluctantly 
accepted, seeing all hope of re -enforcements reaching him, cut off, and on the 
4th of July marched out with honors of war and fell back to Fort Cumberland. 

Gov. Hamilton hud strongly recommended, before hostilities opened, that the 
Assembly should provide for defense and establish a line of block-houses along* 



HISTORY OF TENNSYLVANIA. 8^ 

the frontier. But the Assembly, while willing to vote money for buying peace 
from the Indians, and contributions to the British crown, from Avhich protec- 
tion was claimed, was unwilling to contribute directly for even defensive war- 
fare. In a single year, £8,000 were voted for Indian gratuities. The proprie- 
tors were appealed to to aid in bearing this burden. But while they were 
willing to contribute liberally for defense, they would give nothing for Indian 
gratuities. They sent 'to the colony cannon to the value of £400. 

In February, 1753, John Penn, grandson of the founder, son of Richard, 
arrived in the colony, and as a mark of respect was immediately chosen a mem- 
ber of the Council and made its President. In consequence of the defeat of 
Washington at Fort Necessity, Gov. Hamilton convened the Assembly in extra 
session on the 6th of August, at which money was freely voted; but owing to 
the instructions given by the proprietors to their Deputy Governor not to sign 
any money bill that did not place the whole of the interest at their disposal, 
this action of the Assembly was abortive. 

The English and French nations made strenuous exertions to strengtnen 
their forces in America for the campaigns sure to be undertaken in 1754. The 
French, by being under the supreme authority of one governing power, the 
Governor General of Canada, were able to concentrate and bring all their 
power of men and resources to bear at the threatened point with more celerity 
and certainty than the English, who were dependent upon colonies scattered 
along all the sea board, and upon Legislatures penny-wise in voting money. 
To remedy these inconveniences, the English Government recommended a con- 
gress of all the colonies, together with the Six Nations, for the purpose of con- 
certing plans for efficient defense. This Congress met on the 19th of June,. 
1754, the first ever convened in America. The Representatives from Pennsyl- 
vania were John Penn and Richard Peters for the Council, and Isaac Norris. 
and Benjamin Franklin for the Assembly. The influence of the powerful 
mind of Franklin was already beginning to be felt, he having been Clerk of 
the Pennsylvania Assembly since 1736, and since 1750 had been a member. 
Heartily sympathizing with the movers in the purposes of this Congress, he 
came to Albany with a scheme of union prepared, which, having been pre- 
sented and debated, was, on the lOth of July, adopted substantially as it came 
from his hands. It provided for the appointment of a President General by 
the Crown, and an Assembly of forty-eight members to be chosen by the sev- 
eral Colonial Assemblies, The plan was rejected by both parties in interest, 
the King considering the power vested in the representatives of the people too 
great, and every colony rejecting it because the President General was given 
" an influence greater than appeared to them proper in a plan of government 
intended for freemen." 



CHAPTEE X. 

Egbert H. Morris, 1754^56— William Denny, 1756-59— James Hamilton. 1759-63. 

FINDING himself in a false position by the repugnant instructions of the 
proprietors, Gov. Hamilton had given notice in 1753, that, at the end ot 
twelve months from its reception, he would resign. Accordingly in October, 
1754, he was succeeded by Robert Hunter Morris, son oi Lewis Morris, Chief 
Justice of New York and New Jersey, and Governor of New Jersey. The sod 



so HSTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

was bred a lawyer, and was for twenty-six years Councilor, and twenty Chief 
Justice of New Jersey. The Assembly, at its first session, voted a money bill, 
for £40,000, but not having the proviso required by the proprietors, it was 
vetoed. Determined to push military operations, the British Government had 
called early in the year for 8,000 volunteers from Pennsylvania, with subsis- 
tance, camp equipage and transportation, and had sent two regiments of the 
line, under Gen. Braddock, from Cork, Ireland. Landing at Alexandria, 
Va. , he marched to Fi'ederick, Md., where, finding no supplies of 
transportation, he halted. The Assembly of Pennsylvania had voted to borrow 
£5,000, on its own account, for the use of the crown in prosecuting the cam- 
paign, and had sent Franklin, who was then Postmaster General for the colo- 
nies, to Bi'addock to aid in prosecuting the expedition. Finding that the army 
was stopped for lack of transportation, Franklin returned into Pennsylvania, 
and by his commanding influence soon secured the necessary wagons and beasts 
of burden. 

Braddock had formed extravagant plans for his campaign. He would 
march forward and reduce Fort Du Quesne, thence proceed against Fort Ni- 
agara, which having conquered he would close a season of triumphs by the 
capture of Fort Frontignace. But this is not the first time in warfare that 
the result of a campaign has failed to realize the promises of the manifesto. 
The orders brought by Braddock giving precedence of officers of the line over 
provincials gave offense, and Washington among others threw up his commis- 
«ion; but enamored of the pi'ofession of arms, he accepted a position offered 
him by Braddock as Aide -de camp. Accustomed to the discipline of military 
establishments in old, long-settled countries, Braddock had little conception of 
making war in a wilderness with only Indian trails to move upon, and against 
wily savages. Washington had advised to push forward with pack horses, and, 
by rapidity of movement, forestall ample preparation. Biit Braddock had but 
one way of soldiering, and where roads did not exist for wagons he stopped to 
fell the forest and construct bridges over streams. The French, who were 
kept advised of every movement, made ample preparations to receive him. In 
the meantime, Washington fell sick; but intent on being up for the battle, he 
hastened forward as soon as sufficiently recovered, and onl}^ joined the army 
on the day before the fatal engagement. He had never seen much of the pride 
and circumstance of war, and when, on the morning of the 9th of July, the 
army of Braddock marched on across the Monongahela, with gay colors flying 
and martial music awakening the echoes of the forest, he was accustomed in 
after years to speak of it as the "most magnificent spectacle" that he had ever 
beheld. Bu.t the gay pageant was destined to be of short duration; for the 
army had only marched a little distance before it fell into an ambuscade skill- 
fully laid by the French and Indians, and the forest resounded with the un- 
earthly whoop of the Indians, and the continuous roar of musketry. The 
advance was checked and thrown into confusion by the French from their well- 
chosen position, and every tree upon the flanks of the long drawn out line con- 
cealed a murderous foe, who with unerring aim picked off the officers. A res- 
olute defense was made, and the battle raged with great fury for three hours; 
but the fire of tbe English was ineffectual because directed against an invisi- 
ble foe. Finally, the mounted officers having all fallen, killed or wounded, 
except Washington, being left without leaders, panic seized the survivors and 
"they ran," says Washington, "before the French and English like sheep be- 
fore dogs." Of 1,460, in Braddock's army, 456 were killed, and 421 wounded, 
a greater mortality, in proportion to the number engaged, than has ever oc- 
curred in the annals of modern warfare. Sir Peter Halkett was killed, and 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 91 

Braddock mortally wounded and brought ofif the field only with the greatest 
difficulty. When Orme and Morris, the other aids, fell, AVashington acted 
alone with the greatest gallantry. In writing to his brother, he said: "I have 
been protected beyond all human probability or expectation; for I had four 
bullets through my coat, and two horses shot under me; yet I escaped unhurt, 
though death was leveling my companions on every side." In after years, 
when Washington visited the Great Kanawha country, he was approached by 
an Indian chieftain who said that in this battle he had fired his rifle many 
times at W^ashington and had told his young men to do the same; but when he 
saw that his bullets had no apparent effect, he had bidden them to desist, be- 
lieving that the Great Spirit was protecting him. 

The panic among the survivors of the English carried them back upon the 
reserve, commanded by Gen. Dunbar, who seems himself to have been seized 
with it, and without attempting to renew the campaign and return to the en- 
counter, he joined in the flight which was not stayed until Fort Cumberland 
was reached. The French were anticipating a renewal of the struggle; but 
when they found that the English had fled leaving the frontier all unprotected, 
they left no stone unturned in whetting the minds of the savages for the 
work of plunder and blood, and in organizing relentless bands to range at 
will along all the wide frontier. The Indians could not be induced to pursue 
the retreating English, but fell to plundering the field. Nearly everything 
was lost, even to the camp chest of Braddock. The wounded General was 
taken back to the summit of Laurel Hill, where, four days after, he breathed 
his last. He was buried in the middle of the road, and the armj^ marched 
over his grave that it might not be discovered or molested by the natives. 
The eaoy victory, won chiefly by the savages, served to encourage them in 
their fell work, in which, when their passions were aroused, no known people 
on earth were less touched by pity. The unprotected settler in his wilder- 
ness home was the easy prey of the torch and the scalping knife, and the burn- 
ing cabin lit up the somber forests by their continuous blaze, and the shrieks 
of women and children resounded from the Hudson to the far Potomac Be- 
fore the defeat of Braddock, there were 3,000 men capable of bearing arms 
west of the Susquehanna. In six months after, there were scarcely 100. 

Gov. Morris made an earnest appeal to the Assembly for money to ward off 
the impending enemy and protect the settlers, in response to which the As- 
sembly voted £50,000; but having no exemption of the proprietor's estates, 
it Avas rejected by the Governor, in accordance with his original instructions. 
Expeditions undertaken against Nova Scotia and at Crown Point were more fortu- 
nate than that before Du Quesne, and the Assembly voted £ 1 5,000 in bills of credit 
to aid in defraying the expense. The proprietors sent £5,000 as a gratuity, 
not as any part of expense that could of right be claimed of them. 

In this hour of extremity, the Indians for the most part showed themselves 
ji treacherous race, ever ready to take up on the stronger side. Even the Shaw- 
anese and Delawares, who had been loudest in their protestations of friendship 
for the Encrlish and readiness to tisrht for them, no sooner saw the French vie- 
torious than they gave ready ear to their advice to strike for the recovery of 
the lands which they had sold to the English. 

In this pressing emergency, while the Governor and Assembly were waging 
:a fruitless war of words over money bills, the pen of Franklin was busy in in- 
fusing a wholesome sentiment in the minds of the people. In a pamphlet 
that he issued, which ho put in the familiar form of a dialogue, he answered the 
objections which had been ui'ged to a legalized militia, and willing to show 
his devotion by deeds as well as words, he accepted the command upon the 



92 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

frontier. By his exertions, a respectable force was raised, and though in the 
dead of -winter, he commenced the erection of a line of forts and block-houses 
along the whole range of the Kittatinny Hills, from the Delaware to the Po- 
tomac, and had them completed and garrisoned with a body sufficient to with- 
stand any force not provided with artillery. In the spring, he turned over the 
command to Col. Clapham, and returning to Philadelphia took his seat in the 
Assembly. The Governor now declared war against the Indians, who had es- 
tablished their headquarters thirty miles above Harris' Ferry, on the Susque- 
hanna, and were busy in their work of robbery and devastation, having se- 
cured the greater portion of the crops of the previous season of the settlers 
whom they had killed or driven out. The peace party strongly objected to the 
course of the Governor, and voluntarily going among the Indians induced 
them to .bury the hatchet. The Assembly which met in May, 1756, prepared a 
bill with the old clause for taxing the proprietors, as any other citizens, which 
the Governor was forbidden to approve by his instructions, "and the two 
parties were sharpening their wits for another wrangle over it," when Gov. 
Morris was superseded by William Denny, who arrived in the colony and as- 
sumed authority on the 20th of August, 1756. He was joyfully and cordially 
received, escorted through the streets by the regiments of Franklin and Duch^, 
and royally feasted at the State House. 

But the promise of efficient legislation was broken by an exhibition of the 
new Governor's instructions, which provided that every bill for the emission of 
money must place the proceeds at the joint disposal of the Governor and As- 
sembly; paper currency could not be issued in excess of £40,000, nor could ex- 
isting issues be confirmed unless proprietary rents were paid in sterling 
money ; proprietary lands were permitted to be taxed which had been actually 
leased, provided that the taxes were paid out of the rents, but the tax could 
not become a lien upon the land. In the first Assembly, the contention be- 
came as acrimonious as ever. 

Previous to the departure of Gov. Morris, as a retaliatory act he had 
issued a proclamation against the hostile Indians, providing for the payment 
of bounties: For every male Indian enemy above twelve years old, who shall 
be taken prisoner and delivered at any forts, garrisoned by troops in pay 
of this province, or to any of the county towns to the keej^ers of the common 
jails there, the sum of one hu.ndred and fifty Spanish dollars or pieces of eight; 
for the scalp of every male Indian above the age of twelve years, produced as 
evidence of their being killed, the sum of one hundred and thirty pieces of 
eight; for every female Indian taken prisoner and brought in as aforesaid, 
and for every male Indian under the age of twelve years, taken and brought 
in, one hundred and thirty pieces of eight; for the scalp of every Indian 
woman produced as evidence of their being killed, the sum of fifty pieces of 
eight." Liberal bounties were also offered for the delivering up of settlers who 
had been carried away captive. 

But the operation which had the most wholesome and pacifying effect upon 
the savages, and caused them to stop in their mad career and consider the 
chances of war and the punishment they were calling down upon their own 
heads, though executed under the rule of Gov. Denny, was planned and 
provided for, and was really a part of the aggressive and vigorous policy of 
Gov. Morris. In response to the act of Assembly, providing for the calling 
out and organizing the militia, twenty-five companies were recruited, and had 
been stationed along the line of posts that had been established for the defense 
of the frontiers. At Kittanning, on the Allegheny River, the Indians had one 
of the largest of their towns in the State, and was a recruiting station and 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 93 

rallying point for sending out their murderous bauds. The plan proposed and 
adopted by Gov. Morris, and approved and accepted by Gov. Denny, 
was to send*^ out a strong detachment from the militia for the reduction of this 
stronghold. Accordingly, in August, 1756, Col. Armstrong, with a force of 
three hundred men, made a forced march, and, arriving unperceived in the neigh- 
borhood of the town, sent the main body by a wide detour from above, to come 
in upon the river a few hundred yards below. At 3 o'clock on the morning of 
the 7th of September, the troops had gained their position undiscovered, and 
at dawn the attack was made. Shielded from view by the tall corn which cov- 
ered all the flats, the troops were able to reach in close proximity to the cabins 
urfobserved. Jacobs, the chief, soundod the war-whoop, and made a stout re- 
sistance, keeping up a rapid tire from It'i loop holes in his cabin. Not desir- 
ing to push his advantage to the issue of no quarter, Armstrong called on the 
savages to surrender: but this they refused to do, declaring that they were 
men and would never be prisoners. Finding that they would not yield, and 
that they were determined to sell their lives at the dearest rate, he gave orders 
to fire the huts, and the whole town was soon wrapt in flames. As the heat 
began to reach the warriors, some sung, while wrung with the death agonies; 
others broke for the river and were shot down as they fled. Jacobs, in attempt- 
ing to climb through a window, was killed. All calls for surrender were re- 
ceived with derision, one declaring that he did not care for death, and that he 
could kill four or five before he died. Gunpowder, small arms and valuable 
goods which had been distributed to them only the day before by the French, 
fell into the hands of the victors. The triumph was complete, few if any 
escaping to tell the sad tale. Col. Armstrong's celerity of movement and 
well conceived and executed plan of action were publicly acknowledged, and 
he was voted a medal and plate by the city of Philadelphia. 

The finances of the colony, on account of the repeated failures of the 
money bills, were in a deplorable condition. Military operations could not 
be carried on and vigorous campaigns prosecuted without ready money. Ac- 
cordingly, in the first meeting of the Assembly after the arrival of the new 
Governor, a bill was passed levying £100,000 on all property alike, real and 
personal, private and proprietary. This Gov. Denny vetoed. Seeing that 
money must be had, the Assembly finally passed a bill exempting the proprie- 
tary estates, but determined to lay their grievances before the Crown. To 
this end, two Commissioners were appointed, Isaac Norris and Benjamin 
Franklin, to proceed to England and beg the interference of the royal Gov- 
ernment in their behalf. Failing health and business engagements of Norris 
prevented his acceptance, and Franklin proceeded alone. He had so often de- 
fended the Assembly in public and in drawing remonstrances that the whole 
subject was at his fingers' ends. 

Military operations throughout the colonies, during the year 1757, con- 
ducted under the command of the Ear) of Loudoun were sluggish, and resulted 
only in disaster and disgrace. The Indians were active in Pennsylvania, and 
kept the settlers throughout nearly all the colonies in a continual fermeut, 
hostile bands stealing in upon the defenseless inhabitants as they went to 
their plantings and sowings, and gi'eatly interfering with or preventing alto- 
gether the raising of the ordinary crops. In 1758, Loudoun was recalled, 
and Gen. Abercrombie was given chief command, with Wolfe, Amherst and 
Forbes as his subordinates. It was determined to direct operations simul- 
taneously upon three points— Fort Du Quesne, Louisburg and the forts upon 
the great lakes. Gen. Forbes commanded the forces sent against Fort Du 
Quesne. With a detachment of royal troops, and militia from Pennsylvania 



94 HISTORl OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

and Virginia, under command of Cols. Bouquet and Washington, his cohimn 
moved in July, 1758, The French were well ordered for receiving the attack, 
and the battle in front of the fort raged with great fury, but they were finally 
driven, and the fort, with its munitions, fell into the hands of the victors, and 
was garrisoned by 400 Pennsylvanians. Returning, Forbes placed his remain- 
ing forces in barracks at Lancaster. 

Franklin, upon his arrival in England, presented the grievances before the 
proprietors, and, that he might get his case before the royal advisers and the 
British public, wrote frequent articles for the press, and issued a pamphlet 
entitled " Historical Review of the Constitution and Government of Pennsyl- 
vania." The dispute was adroitly managed by Franklin before the Privy 
Council, and was finally decided substantially in the interest of the Assem- 
bly. It was provided that the proprietors' estates should be taxed, but that 
their located uncultivated lands should be assessed as low as the lowest uncul- 
tivated lands of the settlers, that bills issued by the Assembly should be re- 
ceivable in payment of quit rents, and that the Deputy Governor should have 
a voice in disposing of the revenues. Thus was a vexed question of loog 
standing finally put to rest. So successfully had Franklin managed this con- 
troversy that the colonies of Massachusetts, Maryland and Georgia appointed 
him their agent in England. 

In October, 1759, James Hamilton was again appointed Governor, in place 
of Gov. Denny, who had by stress of circumstances transcended his instruc- 
tions. The British Government, considering that the colonies had borne more 
than their proportionate expense in carrying on the war against the French 
and Indians, voted £200,000 for five years, to be divided among the colonies, 
the share falling to Pennsylvania being £26,000. On the 25th of October, 
1760, George II died, and was succeeded by his grandson, George III. Early 
in 1762, war was declared between Great Britain and Spain, but was of short 
continuance, peace having been declared in November following, by which 
Spain and France relinquished to the English substantially the territory east 
of the Mississippi. The wise inen of the various Indian nations inhabiting 
this wide territory viewed with concern this sudden expansion of English 
power, fearing that they would eventually be pushed from their hunting 
grounds and pleasant haunts by the rapidly multiplying pale faces. The In- 
dians have ever been noted for proceeding against an enemy secretly and 
treacherously. Believing that by concerted action the English might be cut 
off and utterly exterminated, a secret league was entered into by the Shawa- 
nese and the tribes dwelling along the Ohio River, under the leadership of a 
powerful chieftain, Pontiac, by which swift destruction was everywhere to be 
meted out to the white man upon an hour of an appointed day. The plan was 
thoroughly understood by the red men, and heartily entered into. The day 
dawned and the blow fell in May, 1763, The forts at Presque Isle, Le Boeuf, 
Venango, La Ray, St, Joseph's, Miamis, Onaethtanon, Sandusky and Michili- 
mackinack, all fell before the unanticipated attacks of tho savages who were 
making protestations of friendship, and the garrisons were put to the slaugh- 
ter. Fort Pitt (Du Quesne), Niagara and Detroit alone, of all this line of 
forts, held out. Pontiac in person conducted the siege of Detroit, which he 
vigorously pushed from May until October, paying his warriors with promises 
written on bits of birch bark, whi(;h he subsequently religicmsly redeemed. It is 
an evidence of his gieat power that he could unite his people in so gen- 
eral and secretly kept a compact, and that in this siege of Detroit he was able 
to hold his warriors up to the work so long and so vigorously even after all hope 
of success must have reasonably been abandoned. The attack fell with great 



HISTORF OF PENNSYLVANIA. 95 

severity upon the PennsylvaBia settlers, and they continued to be driven in 
until Shippensbung, in Cumberland County, became the extreme outpost of 
civilization. The savages stole unawares upon the laborers in the fields, or 
came stealthily in at the midnight hour and spared neither trembling age nor 
helpless infancy, firing houses, barns, crops and everything combustible. 
The suffering of the frontiersmen in this fatal year can scarcely be conceived. 

Col. Armstrong with a hastily collected force advanced upon their towns 
and forts at Muncy and Great Island, which he destroyed; but the Indians 
escaped and withdrew before him. He sent a detachment under Col. Bouquet 
to the relief of Fort Pitt, which still held out, though closely invested by the 
dusky warriors. At Fort Ligonier, Bouquet halted and sent forward thirty 
men, who stealthily pushed past the Indians under cover of night, and reached 
the fort, carrying intelligence that succor was at hand. Discovering that a 
force was advancing upon them, the Indians turned upon the troops of Bou- 
quet, and before he was aware that an enemy was near, he found himself sur- 
rounded and all means of escape apparently cut ofif. By a skillfully laid 
ambuscade. Bouquet, sending a small detachment to steal away as if in retreat, 
induced the Indians to follow, and when stretched out in pursuit, the main 
body in concealment fell upon the unsuspecting savages, and routed them with 
immense slaughter, when he advanced to the relief oi the fort unchecked. 

As we have already seen, the boundary line between Maryland and Penn- 
sylvania had long been in dispute, and had occasioned serious disturbances 
among the settlers in the lifetime of Penn, and repeatedly since. It was not 
definitely settled till 1760, when a beginning was made of a final adjustment, 
though so intricate were the co»ditions that the work was prosecuted for seven 
years by a large force of surveyors, axmen and pioneers. The charter of Lord 
Baltimore made the northern boundary of Maryland the 40th degree of lati- 
tude; but whether the beginning or end of the 40th was not specified. The 
charter of Penn, which was subsequent, made his southern boundary the 
beginning of the 40th parallel. If, as Lord Baltimore claimed, his northern 
boundary was the end of the 40th, then the city of Philadelphia and all the 
settled parts of Pennsylvania would have been included in Maryland. If, as 
Penn claimed by express terms of his charter, his southern line was the begin- 
ning of the 40th, then the city of Baltimore, and even a part of the District of 
Columbia, including nearly the whole of ?*Iaryland would have been swal- 
lowed up by Pennsylvania. It was evident to the royal Council that neither 
claim could be rightfully allowed, and nence resort was had to compromise. 
Penn insisted upon retaining free communication with the open ocean by the 
Delaware Bay. Accordingly, it was decided that beginning at Cape Henlopen, 
which by mistake in marking the maps was fifteen miles below the present 
location, opposite Cape May, a line should be run due west to a point half way 
between this cape and the shore of Chesapeake Bay; from this point " a line 
was to be run northerly in such direction that it should be tangent on the west 
side to a circle with a radius of twelve miles, whose center was the center of 
the coui-t house at New Castle. From the exact tangent point, a line was to be 
run due north until it should reach a point fifteen miles south on the parallel 
of latitude of the most southern point in the boundary of the city of Phila- 
delphia, and this point when accurately found by horizontal measurement, was 
to be the corner bound between Maryland and Pennsylvania, and subsequently, 
when Delaware was set ofi" from Pennsylvania, was the boundary of the three 
States. From this bound a line was to be run due west five degrees of longi- 
tude from the Delaware, which was to be the western limit of Pennsylvania, 
and the line thus ascertained was to mark the division between Maryland and 



96 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Pennsylvania, and forevei' settle the vexed question. If the due north line 
should cut any part of the circle about New Castle, the slice so cut should be- 
long to New Castle. Such a segment was cut. This plan of settlement was 
entered into on the 10th of May, 1732, between Thomas and Richard, sons of 
William Penn, on the one part, and Charles, Lord Baltimore, great grandson 
of the patentee. But the actual marking of the boundaries was still deferred, 
and as the settlers were taking out patents for their lands, it was necessary 
that it should be definitely known in which State the lands lay. Accordingly, 
in 1739, in obedience to a decree in Council, a temporary line was run upon a 
new basis, which now often appears in litigations to plague the brain of the 
attorney. 

Commissioners were again appointed in 1751, who made a few of the 
measurements, but owing to objections raised on the part of Maryland, the 
work was abandoned. Fiually, the proprietors, Thomas and Kichard Penn, 
and Frederic, Lord Baltimore, entered into an agreement for the executing of 
the survey, and John Lukens and Archibald McLean on the part of the Penns, 
and Thomas Garnett and Jonathan Hall on the part of Lord Baltimore, were 
appointed with a suitable corps of assistants to lay off the lines. After these 
surveyors had been three years at work, the proprietors iu England, thinking 
that there was not enough energy and practical and scientific knowledge mani- 
fested by these sm'veyors, appointed Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, two 
mathematicians and surveyors, to proceed to America and take charge of the 
work. They brought with them the most perfect and best constructed instru- 
ments known to science, arriving in Philadelphia on the 15th of November, 
1763, and, assisted by some of the old surveyors, entered upon their work. By 
the 4th of June, 1700, they had reached the summit of the Little Allegheny, 
when the Indians began to be troublesome. They looked with an evil eye on 
the mathematical and astronomical instruments, and felt a secret dread and 
fear of the consequences of the frequent and long continued peering into the 
heavens. The Six Nations were understood to be inimical to the further prog- 
ress of the survey. But through the influence of Sir William Johnson a 
treaty was concluded, providing for the prosecution of the work unmolested, 
and a number of chieftains were sent to accompany the surveying party. 
Mason and Dixon now had with them thirty surveyors, fifteen axmen, and fif- 
teen Indians of consequence. Again the attitude of the Indians gave cause of 
fear, and on the 29th of September, twenty-six of the surveyors abandoned the 
expedition and returned to Philadelphia. Having reached a point 21-4 miles 
from the Delaware, and within thirty-six miles of the western limit of the 
State, in the bottom of a deep, dark valley, they came upon a well-worn 
Indian path, and here the Indians gave notice that it was the will of the Six 
Nations that this su-rvey proceed no further. There was no questioning this 
authority, and no means at command for resisting, and accordingly the party 
broke up and returned to Philadelphia. And this was the end of Uie labors of 
Mason and Dixon upon this boundary. From the fact that this was subse- 
quently the mark of division between the Free and Slave States, Mason and 
Dixon's line became familiar iai American politics. The line was marked by 
stones which were quarried and engraved in England, on one side having the 
arms of Penn, and on the opposite those of Lord Baltimore. These atones 
were firmly set every five miles. At the end of each intermediate mile a 
smaller stone was placed, having on one side engraved the letter P., and on the 
opposite side the letter M. The remainder of the line was finished and marked 
in 1782-84 by other surveyors. A vista was cut through the forest eight yards in 
width the whole distance, which seemed in looking back through it to come to a 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 97 

point at the distance of two miles. In 1849, the stone at the northeast corner 
of Maryland having been removed, a resurvey of the line was ordered, and 
suryeyors were appointed by the three States of Pennsylvania. Delaware and 
Maryland, who called to their aid Col. James D. Graham. Some few errors 
were discovered in the old survey, but in the main it was found to be accurate. 
John Penn, grandson of the founder, and son of Richard, had come to the 
colony in 1753, and, having acted as President of the Council, was, in 1763, 
commissioned Governor in place of Hamilton. The conspira'cy of Pontiac, 
though abortive in the results contemplated, left the minds of the, Indians in 
a most dangerous state. The more resolute, who had entered heartily into the 
views of their leader, still felt that his purposes were patriotic, and hence 
sought, by every means possible, to ravage and destroy the English settlements. 
The Moravian Indians at Nain and Wichetunk, though regarded as friendly, 
•were suspected of indirectly aiding in the savage warfare by trading firearms 
and ammunition. They were accordingly removed to Philadelphia that they 
might be out of the way of temptation. At the old Indian town of Conestoga 
there lived some score of natives. Many heartless murders had been com- 
mitted along the frontier, and the perpetrators had been traced to this Con- 
estoga town ; and while the Conestoga band were not known to be impli- 
cated in these outrages, their town was regarded as the lurking place of roving 
savages who were. For protection, the settlers in the neighboring districts of 
Paxton and Donegal, had organized a band known as the Paxton boys. Earnest 
requests were made by Rev. John Elder and John Harris to the Government 
to remove this band at Conestoga ; but as nothing was done, and fearful 
depredations and slaughter continued, a party of these Paxton rangers attacked 
the tuwn and put the savages to the sword. Some few escaped, among them a 
known bloodthirsty savage, who were taken into the jail at Lancaster for pro- 
tection ; but the rangers, following them, overpowered the jailer, and breaking 
into the jail murdered the fugitives. Intense excitement was occasioned by 
this outbreak, and Gov. Penn issued his proclamation offering rewards for the 
apprehension of the perpetrators. Some few were taken ; but so excellent was 
their character and standing, and such Avere the provocations, that no convic- 
tions followed. Apprehensions for the safety of the Moravian Indians induced 
the Government to remove them to Province Island, and, feeling insecure 
there, they asked to be sect to England. For safety, they were sent to New 
York, but the Governor of that province refused them permission to laud, as 
did also the Governor of New Jersey, and they were brought back to Philadel- 
phia and put in barracks under strong guard. The Paxton boys, in a consider- 
able body, were at that time at Germantown interceding for their brethren, 
who were then in durance and threatened with trial. Franklin was sent out 
to confer with them on the part of the Government. In defending their course, 
they said : " Whilst more than a thousand families, reduced to extreme dis- 
tress, during the last and present war, by the attacks of skulking parties of 
Indians upon the frontier, were destitute, and were sulTered by the public to 
depend on private charity, a hundred and twenty of the perpetrators of the 
most horrid barbarities were supported by the province, and protected from 
the fury of the brave relatives of the murdered." Influenced by the persua- 
sions of Franklin, they consented to return to their homes, leaving only 
Matthew Smith and James Gibson to represent them before the courts. 



98 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



OHAPTEE XI. 

John Penn, 1763-71 — James Hamilton, 1771— Richard Penn, 1771-73— John 

Penn, 1773-76. 

A DIFFERENCE having arisen between the Governor and Assembly on the 
vexed question of levying money, the Assembly passed a series of reso- 
lutions advocating that the " powers of government ought to be separated from 
the power attending the immense proprietary property, and lodged in the 
bands of the King. " After an interval of fifty days — that time for reflection 
and discussion might be given — the Assembly again convened, and adopted a 
petition praying the King to assume the direct government of the province, 
though this policy was strongly opposed by some of the ablest members, as 
Isaac Norris and John Dickinson. The Quaker element was generally in 
favor of the change. 

Indian barbarities still continuing along the frontier, Gov. Penn declared 
war against the Shawanese and Delawares in July, 1765, and sent Col. Bouquet 
with a body of Pennsylvania troops against them. By the 3d of October, he 
had come up to the Muskingum, in the heart of the most thickly peopled 
Indian territory. So rapid had been the movement of Bouquet that the savages 
had no intelligence of his advance until he was upon them with no preparations 
for defense. They sued for peace, and a treaty was entered into by which the 
savages agreed to abstain from further hostilities until a general treaty could 
be concluded with Sir William Johnson, the general agent for Indian affairs 
for all the coloaies, and to deliver up all English captives who had been carried 
away during the years of trouble. Two hundred and eight were quickly 
gathered up and brought in, and many others were to follow, who were now 
widely scattered. The relatives of many of these captives had proceeded with 
the train of Bouquet, intent on reclaiming those who had been dear to them. 
Some were joyfully received, while others who had been borne off in youth had 
become attached to their captors, and force was necessary to bring them away. 
" On the return of the army, some of the Indians obtained leave to accompany 
their former captives to Fort Pitt, and employed themselves in hunting and 
carrying provisions for them on the road." 

The groat struggle for ihe independence of the colonies of the British 
crown was now close at hand, and the first sounds of the controversy were be- 
ginning to be heard. Sir William Keith, that enterprising Governor whose 
head seemed to have been full of new projects, as early as 1739 had proposed 
to lay a uniform tax on stamped paper in all the colonies, to realize funds for 
the common defense. Acting upon this hint, Grenville, the British Minister, 
notified the colonists in 1763 of his purpose to impose such a tax. Against 
this they remonstrated. Instead of this, a tax on imports, to be paid in coin, 
was adopted. This was even more distasteful. The Assembly of Rhode 
Island, in October, 1765, submitted a paper to all the colonial assemblies, with 
a view to uniting in a common petition to the King against parliamentary 
taxation. This was favorably acted on by the Assembly of Pennsylvania, and 
Franklin was appointed agent to represent their caase before the British Par- 
liament. The Stamp Act had been passed on the 22d of March, 1765. Its 
passage excited b'tter opposition, and a resolution, asserting that the Colonial 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA 99 

Assemblies had the eschisivo right to levy taxes, was passed by the Virginia 
Assembly, and concurred in by all the others. The Massachusetts Assembly 
proposed a meeting of delegates in New York on the second Tuesday of October, 
1765, to confer upon the subject. The Pennsylvania Assembly adopted the 
suggestion, and appointed Messrs. Fox, Morton, Bryan and Dickensun as dele- 
gates. This Congress met according to the call and adopted a respectful pe- 
tition to the King, and a memorial to Parliament, which were signed by all 
the members and forwarded for presentation by the Colonial Agents m En- 
gland. The Stamp Act was to go into effect on the 1st of November. On the 
last day of October, the newspapers were dressed in mourning, and suspended 
publication. The publishers agreed not to use the stamped paper. The 
people, as with one mind, determined to dress in homespun, resolved not to 
use imported goods, and, to stimulate the production of wool the colonists cov- 
enanted not to eat lamb for the space of one year. The result of this policy 
was soon felt by British manufacturers who became clamorous for repeal of 
the obnoxious measures, and it was accordingly rejaealed on the 18th of March, 
1766. 

Determined in some form to draw a revenue from the colonies, an act was 
passed in 1767, to lay a duty on tea, paper, printers' colors, and glass. The As- 
sembly of Pennsylvania passed a resolution on the 20th of February, 1768, 
instructing its agent in London to urge its repeal, and at the session in May 
received and entered upon its minutes a circular letter from the Massachusetts 
Assembly, setting forth the grounds on which objection to the act should be 
urged. This circular occasioned hostile feeling among the ministry, and the 
Secretary for foreign affairs wrote to Gov. Penn to urge the Assembly to 
take no notice of it; but if they approved its sentiments, to prorogue their 
sittings. This letter was transmitted to the Assembly, and soon after one 
from the Virginia Assembly was presented, urging union of all the colonies 
in opposing the several schemes of taxation. This recommendation was 
adopted, and committees appointed to draw a petition to the King and to each 
of the Houses of Parliament. To lead public sentiment, and have it well 
grounded in the arguments used against taxation, John Dickinson, one of the 
ablest of the Pennsylvania legislators at this time, published a number of 
articles purporting to come from a plain farmer, under the title of ihe Fanner^s 
Letters, which became popular, the idea that they were the work of one in 
humble life, helping to swell the tide of popularity. They were republished 
in all the colonies, and exerted a commanding influence. Alarmed at the 
unanimity of feeling against the proposed schemes, and supposing that it was 
the amount of the tax that gave offense, Parliament reduced the rate in 1760 
to one sixth of the original sum, and in 1770 abolished it altogether, except 
three pence a pound on tea But it was the principle, and not the amount 
that was objected to, and at the next session of the Assembly in Pennsylvania, 
their agent in London was directed to urge its repeal altogether. 

It would seem incredible that the colony of Connecticut should lay claim 
to any part of the territory of Pennsylvania, but so it was. The New En- 
gland charters gave limitless extent westward even to the shores of the Pacific 
Ocean, and south to the northern limits of the tract ceded to Lord Baltimore — 
the territory between the 40th and 46th degrees of north latitude, and trom 
ocean to ocean. To encroach upon New York with its teaming popu- 
lation was not calculated to tempt the enterprise of the settler; but 
the rich virgin soil, and agreeable climate of the wide Wyoming Val- 
ley, as yet unappropriated, was likely to attract the eye of the explorer. 
Accordingly, at the general conference with the Indians held at Albany 



100 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA 

in 1754, the Connecticut delegates made a purchase of a large tract in 
this valley; a company, known as the Susquehanna Company, was formed in 
Connecticut to promote the settlement of these lands, and a considerable im- 
migration commenced. The ^proprietors of Pennsylvania had also made pur- 
chase of the Indians of these identical lands, and the royal charters of Charles 
and James covered this ground. But the Plymouth Charter antedated Penn's. 
Remonstrances were made to the Governor of Connecticut against encroach- 
ments upon the territory of Pennsylvania. The answer returned was under- 
stood to disclaim any control over the company by the Connecticut authorities; 
but it subsequently appeared that the Government was determined to defend 
the settlers in the possession of their lands. In 1768, the proprietors of Penn- 
sylvania entered into treaty stipulations with the Indians for all this tract cov- 
ered by the claim of the Susquehanna Company. Pennsylvania settlers, 
attracted by the beauty of the place, gradually acquired lands under Penn- 
sylvania patents, and the two parties began to infringe on each other's claims. 
Forts and block-houses were erected for the protection of either party, and a 
petty warfare was kept up, which resulted in some loss of life. Butler, the 
leader of the Connecticut party, proposed to settle their di£ferences by per- 
sonal combat of thirty picked men on each side. In order to assert more direct 
legal control over the settlers, a new county was formed which was called 
Northumberland, that embraced all the disputed lands. But the Sheriff, even 
with the aid of the militia, which he called to his assistance, was unable to 
execute his processes, and exercise legal control, the New Englanders, proving 
a resolute set, determined to hold the splendid farms which they had marked 
out for themselves, and were bringing rapidly under cultivation. To the re- 
monstrances of Gov. Penn, Gov. Trumbull responded that the Susquehanna Com- 
pany was proceeding in good faith under provisions secured by the charter of 
the Plymouth Colony, and proposed that the question be submitted to a com- 
petent tribunal for arbitrament. An ex pai'te statement was submitted to 
Council in London by the Connecticut party, aud an opinion was rendered 
favorable to its claims. In September, 1775, the matter was submitted to the 
Continental Congress, and a committee of that body, to whom it was referred, 
reported in favor of the Connecticut claim, apportioning a tract out of the 
very bowels of Pennsylvania nearly as large as the whole State of Connecticut. 
This action was promptly rejected by the Assembly of Pennsylvania, and a 
final decision was not reached until 1802, when Congress decided in favor of 
the integrity of the chartered rights of Penn. 

Richard Penn, son of the founder, died in 1771, whereupon Gov. John 
Penn returned to England, leaving the President of the Council, James Ham- 
ilton, at the head of the Government. John Penn, eldest son of Richard, suc- 
ceeded to the proprietary interests of his father, which he held in conjunction 
with his UDcle, Thomas, and in October of the same year, Richard, the second 
son, was commissioned Governor. He held the office but about two years, and 
in that time won the confidence and esteem of the people, and so much attached 
was he to the popular cause, that upon his return to England, in 1775, he was 
intrusted by Congress with the last petition of the colonies ever presented to 
the King. In August, 1773, John Penn returned with the commission of 
Governor, superseding his brother Richard. Soon after his arrival, the Gov- 
ernor of Virginia, Lord Dunmore, issued his proclamation, laying claim to a 
vast territory in the Monongalia Valley, including the site of the present 
city of Pittsburgh, and iipon the withdrawal of the British garrison, one Con- 
nolly had taken possession of it in the name of Virginia. Gov. Penn issued a 
counter-proclamation, calling on all good citizens within the borders of Penn- 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. lOl 

sylvania, to preserve their allegiance to liis Grovernmont, seized and imprisoned 
Connolly, and sent Commissioners to Virginia to efl'ectan amicable settlement. 
These, Dunmore refused to bear, and was preparing to assert his authority by 
force; but his Council refused to vote him money for this purpose. 

To encourage the sale of tea in the colonies, and establish the principle of 
taxation, the export duty was removed. The colonies took the alarm. At a 
public meeting called in Philadelphia to consider the subject, on the 18th of 
October, 1773, resolutions were adopted in wbich it was declared : " That the 
disposal of their own property is the inherent right of freemen; that there can 
be no property in that which another can, of right, take from us without our 
consent; that the claim of Parliament to tax America, is, in other words, a claim 
of right to levy contributions on us at pleasure.'' The East India Company 
now made prejjarations for sending lai'ge importations of tea into the colonies. 
The ships destined for Philadelphia and New York, on approaching port, and 
being advised of the exasperated state of public feeling, returned to England 
with their cargoes. Those sent to Boston came into the harbor; but at nigbt a 
party disguised as Mohawk Indians boarded the vessels, and breaking open 
the packages, emptied 300 chests into the sea. The ministry, on being apprised 
of this act, closed the port of Boston, and subverted the colonial charter. 
Early in the year, committees of correspondence had been established in all 
the colonies, by means of which the temper and feeling in each was well un- 
derstood by the others, and concert of action was secured. The hard condi- 
tions imposed on the town of Boston and the colony of Massachusetts Bay, 
aroused the sympathy of all ; for, they argued, we know not how soon the heavy 
hand of oppression may be felt by any of us. Philadelphia declared at a pub- 
lic meeting that the people of Pennsylvania would continue firmly to adhere 
to the cause of American liberty, and urged the calling of a Congress of dele- 
gates to consider the general interests. 

At a meetiug held in Philadelphia on the 18th of June, 1774, at which 
nearly 8,000 people were convened, it was decided that a Continental Congress 
ought to be held, and appointed a committee of correspondence to communi- 
cate with similar committees in the several counties of Pennsylvania and in the 
several colonies. On the 15th of July, 1774, delegates from all the counties, 
summoned by this committee, assembled in Philadelphia, and declared that 
there existed an absolute necessity for a Colonial Congress. They accordingly 
recommended that the Assembly appoint delegates to such a Congress to 
represent Pennsylvania, and Joseph Galloway, Samuel Rhoads, George Ross, 
Edward Biddle, John Dickinson, Charles Humphries and Thomas Mifflin were 
appointed. 

On the 4th of Septemoer, 1774, the first Continental Congress assembled m 
Philadelphia. Peyton Randolph, of Virginia, was called to preside, and 
Charles Thomson, of Pennsylvania, was appointed Secretary. It was resolved 
that no more goods be imported from England, and that unless a pacification 
was effected previously, no more Colonial produce of the soil be exported 
thither after September 10, 1775. A declaration of rights was adopted, and 
addresses to the King, the people of Great Britain, and of British America 
were agreed to, after which the Congress adjourned to meet again on the 10th 
of May, 1775. 

In January, 1775, another meeting of the county delegates was held in 
Philadelphia, at which the action of the Colonial Congress was approved, and 
while a restoration of harmony with the mother country was desired, yet if 
the arbitiary acts of Parliament were persisted in, they would at every hazard 
defend the "rights and liberties of America." The delegates appointed to 



102 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

represent the colony in the Second Congress were Mifflin, Humphries, Biddle, 
Dickinson, Morton, Franklin, Wilson and Willing. 

The government of Great Britain had determined with a strong hand to 
compel obedience to its behests. On the 19th of April, 1775, was fought the 
battle of Lexington, and the crimson fountain was opened. That blow was 
felt alike through all the colonies. The cause of one was the cause of all. 
A public meeting was held in Philadelphia, at which it was resolved to organize 
military companies in all the counties. The Assembly heartily seconded these 
views, and engaged to provide for the pay of the militia while in service. 
The Second Congress, which met in May, provided for organizing a continental 
army, fixing the quota for Pennsylvania at 4,300 men. The Assembly adopted 
the recommendation of Congress, provided for arming, disciplining and pay- 
ing the militia, recommended the organizing miuutemen for service in an 
emergency, made appropriations for the defense of the city, and oifered a pre- 
mium on the production of salt peCer. Complications hourly thickened. Ticon- 
deroga was captured on the 10th of May, and the battle of Bunker Hill was 
fought on the 17th of June. On the 15th of June, George Washington was 
appointed Commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, supported by four 
Major Generals and eight Brigadiers. 

The royal Governors were now an incumbrance greatly in the way of the 
popular movement, as were also the Assemblies where they refused to represent 
the popular will. Accordingly, Congress recommended that the several col- 
onies should adopt such government as should " best conduce to the happiness 
and safety of their constituents in particular and America in general." This 
meant that each colony should set up a government for itself independent of 
the Crown. Accordingly, a public meeting was held in Philadelphia, at 
which it was resolved that the present Assembly is " not competent to the preo- 
ent exigencies of affairs," and that a new foi'm of government ought to be 
adopted as recommended by Congress. The city committee of correspondence 
called on the county committees to secure the election of delegates to a colonial 
meeting for the purpose of considering this subject On the 18th of June, 
the meeting was held in Philadelphia, and was organized by electing Thomas 
McKean President. It resolved to call a convention to frame a new con- 
stitution, provided the legal forms to be observed, and issued an address to 
the people. 

Having thus by frequent argumentation grown familiar with the declara- 
tion of the inherent rights of every citizen, and with flatly declaring to the 
government of Great Britain that it had no right to pursue this policy or that, 
and the several States having been recommended to absolve themselves from 
allegience to the royal governments, and set up independent colonial govern- 
ments of their own, it was a natural inference, and but a step further, to de- 
clare the colonies entirely independent of the British Government, and to or- 
ganize for themselves a general continental government to hold the place of King 
and Parliament. The idea of independence had been seriously proposed, and 
several Colonial Assemblies had passed resolutions strongly recommending it. 
And yet there were those of age and experience who had supported independ- 
ent principles in the stages of argumentation, before action was demanded, 
when they approached the brink of the fatal chasm, and had to decide 
whether to take the leap, hesitated. There were those in the Assembly of 
Pennsylvania who were reluctant to advise independence; but the majority 
voted to recommend its delegates to unite with the other colonies for the com- 
mon good. The convention which had provided for holding a meeting of del- 
egates to frame a new constitution, voted in favor of independence, and au- 
thorized the raising of 6,000 militia. 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 103 

On the 7th of June, 1776, Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, introduced in 
Congress the proposition that, "the United Colonies are and of right ought to 
be f?ee and independent States, and that all political connection between 
th;mrnd the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be. totally dissolved 
It was impossible to mistake or misinterpret the meaning of J^^^ l!^°;.g\^g«- 
Thlissue was fairly made up. It was warmly discussed. John P;ckinson, 
one of the Pennsylvania delegates, and one who had been foremos. m speak- 
^nc and writing on the popular side, was not ready to cut olT all hope of rec^ 
onciliation, an'd depicted the disorganized condition m which the colonies 
would be left if the power and protection of Britain were thus suddenly re- 
moved. The vote upon the resolution was taken on the 2d of July, and re- 
^Ued in the affirmative vote of all the States except Pennsylvania and 
Delaware, the delegates from these States being divided. A committee con^ 
sistinc. of Adams, Franklin, Jefiferson, Livingston and Sherman had been, some 
t me previous, appointed to draw a formal statement of the declaration and 
the reasons "out of a decent respect to the opinions of mankind, which led 
to so important an act. The work wasintrusted to a sub-committee consisting of 
Adams and Jefferson, and its composition was the work of Mr. Jeffex;son, though 
man V of the ideas, and even the forms of expression, had been used again and 
a-ain in the previous resolutions and pronunciamentoes of the Colonial Assem- 
blies and public meetings. It had been reported on the 28th of June, and was 
sharplv considered in all its parts, many verbal alterations having been made m 
the committee of five; but after the passage of the preliminary reso ution, the 
result was a foregone conclusion, and on the 4th of July it was ^-^lly adopted 
and proclaimed to the world. Of the Pennsylvania delegation, Franklin, 
Wilson and Morton voted for it, and Willing and Humphrey against, Dickin- 
son being absent. The colonial convention of Pennsylvania being m session 
at the time, on receiving intelligence that a majority of its delegates in Con- 
gress had voted against the preliminary resolution, named a few delegation^ 
Emitting the names of Dickinson, Willing and Humphrey and adding othe^ 
which made it thus constituted-Franklin, Wilson, Morton, Morris, Clymer, 
Smith, Taylor and Ross. An engrossed copy of the Declaration was made 
which wa^ signed by all the members on the 2d of August following, on 
which are found the names from Pennsylvania above recited. 

The convention for framing a new constitution for the colony met on tne 
15th of July, and was organized by electing Franklin President, and on the 
28th of September completed its labors, having framed a new organic law 
and made all necessary provisions for putting it into operation. I^ ^"^^ J^^^, 
time the old proprietary Assembly adjourned on the 14th of June to the 26 h 
of August. But a quorum failed to appear, and an adjournment was had to 
the 23d of September, when some routine business was attended to, chietty 
providing for the payment of salaries and necessary bills, and on tne ^8th of 
September, after a%tor my existence of nearly a century t^^^^ Assembly^ the 
creature of Penn, adjourned never to meet again. With the ending of the As- 
sembly ended th^ power of Gov. Penn. It is a singular circumstance, much 
notedly the believer, in signs, that on the day of his arrival m America, 
which was Sunday, the earth in tHat locality was rocked by an earthquake 
which was intex'preted as an evil omen to his administration He married the 
daughter of William Allen, Chief Justice of the colony, and, though at times 
falling under suspicion of favoring the royal cause, yet, as was believed not 
with reason, he remained a quiet spectator of the great struggle, living at his 
country seat in Bucks County, where he died in February, 1 < J5^ 

The titles of the proprietors to landed estates were suspended by the action 



104 HISTORY OF PENxNSYLVANIA. 

of the convention, and on the 27th of November, 1779, the Legislature passed 
an act vesting these estates in the commonwealth, but paying the proprietors a 
gratuity of £130,000, " in remembrance of the enterprising spirit of the 
Founder." This act did not touch the private estates of the proprietors, nor 
the tenths of manors. The Britioh Government, in 1790, in consideration of 
the fact that it had been unable to vindicate its authority over the colony, and 
afford protection to the proprietors in the enjoyment of their chartered rights, 
voted an annuity of £4,000 to the heirs and descendants of Penn, This annuity 
has been regularly paid to the present time, 1884, 



CHAPTEK XIL 



Thomas Wharton, Jr., 1777-78— George Bryan, 1778— Joseph Reed, 1778-81— 
William Moore, 1781-82— John Dickinson, 1782-85— Benjamin Franklin, 

1785-88. 

THE convention which framed the constitution appointed a Committee of 
Safety, consisting of twenty-five members, to whom was intrusted the 
government of the colony until the proposed constitution should be framed and 
put in operation. Thomas Rittenhouse was chosen President of this body, 
who was consequently in effect Governor. The new constitution, which was 
unanimously adopted on the 28th of September, was to take effect from its 
passage. It provided for an Assembly to be elected annually; a Supreme Ex- 
ecutive Council of twelve members to be elected for a term of three years; As- 
semblymen to be eligible but four years out of seven, and Councilmen but 
one term in seven years. Members of Congress were chosen by the Assembly. 
The constitution could not be changed for seven years. It provided for the 
election of censors every seven years, who were to decide whether there was 
a demand for its revision. If so, they were to call a convention for the pur- 
pose. On the 6th of August, 1776, Thomas Wharton, Jr., was chosen Presi- 
dent of the Council of Safety. 

The struggle with the parent country was now fnlly inaugurated. The 
Britidh Parliament had declared the colonists rebels, had voted a force of 
55,000 men, and in addition had hired 17,000 Hessian soldiers, to subdue them. 
The Congress on its part had declared the objects for which arms had been 
taken up, and had issued bills of credit to the amount of $6,000,000. Par- 
liament had resolved upon a vigorous campaign, to strike heavy and rapid 
blows, and quickly end the war. The first campaign had been conducted in 
Massachusetts, and by the efficient conduct of Washington, Gen. Howe, the 
leader of the British, was compelled to capitulate and withdraw to Halifax in 
March, 1776. On the 28th of June, Sir Henry Clinton, with a strong detach- 
ment, in conjunction with Sir Peter Parker of the navy, made a combined 
land and naval attack upon the defenses of Charleston Harbor, where he was 
met by Gen. William Moultrie, with the Carolina Militia, and after a severe 
battle, in which the British fleet was roughly handled, Clinton ^rithdrew and 
returned to New York, whither the main body of the British Army, under Gen. 
Howe, had come, and where Admiral Lord Howe, with a large fleet directly 
from England, joined them. To this formidable power led by the best talent 
in the British Army, Washington could muster no adequate force to oppose, 
and he was obliged to withdraw from Long Island, from New York, from 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVAiNIA 105 

Harlem, from White Plains, to cross into New Jersey, and abandon position 
after position, until he had reached the right bank of the Delaware on Penn- 
sylvania soil. A heavy detachment under Cornwallis followed, and would 
have crossed the Delaware in pursuit, but advised to a cautious policy by 
Howe, he waited for ice to form on the waters of the Delaware before passing 
over. The fall of Philadelphia now seemed imminent. Washington had not 
sufficient force to face the whole power of the British A.rmy. On the 2d of 
December, the Supreme Council ordered all places of business in the cit}- to 
be closed, the schools to be dismissed, and advised preparation for removing 
the women and children and valuables. On the 12th, the Congress which was 
in session here adjourned to meet in Baltimore, taking with them all papers 
and public records, and leaving a committee, of which Robert Morris was 
Chairman, to act in conjunction with Washington for the safety of the place. 
Gen. Putnam was dispatched on the same day with a detachment of soldiers 
to take command in the city. 

In this emergency the Council issued a stirring address: "If you wish 
to live in freedom, and are determined to maintain that best boon of heaven, 
you have no time to deliberate. A manly resistance will secure every bless- 
ing, inactivity and sloth will bring horror and destruction. * * * May 
heaven, which has bestowed the blessings of liberty upon you, awaken you to 
a proper sense of your danger and arouse that manly spirit of virtuous resolu- 
tion which has ever bidden defiance to the efforts of tyranny. May you ever 
have the glorious prize of liberty in view, and bear with a becoming fortitude 
the fatigues and severities of a winter campaign. That, and that only, will 
entitle you to the superlative distinction of being deemed, under God, the 
deliverers of your country." Such were the arguments which our fathers 
made use of in conducting the struggle against the British Empire. 

Washington, who had, from the opening of the campaign before New 
York, been obliged for the most part to act upon the defensive, formed the 
plan to suddenly turn upon his pursuers and offer battle. Accordingly, on 
the night of the 25th of December, taking a picked body of men, he moved up 
several miles to Taylorsville, where he crossed the river, though at flood tide 
and filled with floating ice, and moving down to Trenton, where a detachment 
of the British Army was posted, made a bold and vigorous attack. Taken by 
surprise, though now after sunrise, the battle was soon decided in favor of 
the Americans. Some fifty of the enemy were slain and over a thousand 
taken prisoners, with quantities of arms, ammunition and stores captured. A 
triumphal entry was made at Philadelphia, when the prisoners and the spoils 
of war moved through the streets under guard of the victorious troops, and 
were marched away to the prison camp at Lancaster. Washington, who was 
smarting under a forced inactivity, by reason of paucity of numbers and lack 
of arms and material, and who had been forced constantly to retire before a 
defiant foe, now took courage. His name was upon every tongue, and foreign 
Governments were disposed to give the States a fair chance in their struggle 
for nationality. The lukewarm were encouraged to enlist under the banner of 
freedom. It had great strategic value. The British had intended to push 
forward and occupy Philadelphia at once, which, being now virtually the cap- 
ital of the new nation, had it been captured at this juncture, would have given 
them the occasion for claiming a triumphal ending of the war. But this ad.- 
vantage, though gained by a detachment email in numbers yet great in cour- 
age, caused the commander of a powerful and well appointed army to give up 
all intention of attempting to capture the Pennsylvania metropolis in this 
campaign, and retiring into winter cantonments upon the Karitan to await 



106 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

the settled weather of the spring for an entirely new cast of operations. 
Washington, emboldened by his success, led all his forces into New Jersey, 
and pushing past Trenton, where Cornwallis, the royal leader, had brought 
his main body by a forced march, under cover of darkness, attacked the 
British reserves at Princeton. But now the enemy had become wary and vig- 
ilant, and, summoned by the booming of cannon, Cornwallis hastened back to 
the relief of his hard pressed colum'ns. Washington, finding that the enemy's 
whole army was within easy call and knowing that he had no hope of success 
with his weak army, withdrew. Washington now went into winter quarters at 
Morristown, and by constant vigilance was able to gather marauding parties 
of the British who ventured far away from their works. 

Putnam commenced fortifications at a point below Philadelphia upon the 
Delaware, and at commanding positions upon the outskirts, and on being 
summoned to the army was succeeded by Gen. Irvine, and he by Gen. Gates. 
On the 4th of March, 1777, the two Houses of the Legislature, elected under 
the new constitution, assembled, and in joint convention chose Thomas 
Wharton, Jr., President, and George BryanVice President. Penn had expressed 
the idea that power was preserved the better by due formality and ceremony, 
and, accordingly, this event was celebrated with much pomp, the result being 
declared in a loud voice from the court house, amid the shouts of the gathered 
throngs and the booming of the captured cannon brought from the Held of 
Trenton. The title bestowed upon the new chief officer of the State was fitted 
by its length and high-sounding epithets to inspire the multitude with awe and 
reverence: "His Excellency, Thomas Wharton, Junior, Esquire, President of 
the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, Captain General, and Com- 
mander-in-chief in and over the same." 

While the enemy was disposed to be cautious after the New Jersey cam- 
paign so humiliating to the native pride of the Britain, yet he was determined 
to bring all available forces into the field for the campaign of 1777, and to 
strike a decisive blow. Early in April, great activity was observed among the 
shipping in New York Harbor, and Washington communicated to Congress his 
opinion that Philadelphia was the object against which the blow would be 
aimed. This announcement of probable peril indu.ced the Council to issue a 
proclamation urging enlistments, and Congress ordered the opening of a camp 
for drilling recruits in Pennsylvania, and Benedict Arnold, who was at this 
time a trusted General, was ordered to the command of it. So many new ves- 
sels and transports of all classes had been discovered to have come into New 
York Harbor, probably forwarded from England, that Washington sent Gen. 
Mifflin, on the 10th of June, to Congress, bearing a letter in which he ex- 
pressed the settled conviction that the enemy meditated. an immediate descent 
upon some part of Pennsylvania. Gen. Mifflin proceeded to examine the de- 
fensive works of the city which had been begun on the previous advance of 
the British, and recommended such changes and new works as seemed best 
adapted for its protection. The preparations for defense were vigorously pros- 
ecuted. The militia were called out and placed in two camps, one at Chester 
and the other at Downington. Fire ships were held in readiness to be used 
against vessels attempting the ascent of the river. 

Lord Howe, being determined not to move until ample preparations were 
completed, allowed the greater part of the summer to wear away before he 
advanced. Finally, having embarked a force of 19,500 men on a fleet of 300 
transports, he sailed southward. Washington px'omptly made a cori'esponding 
march overland, passing through Philadelphia on the 24th of August. Howe, 
suspecting that preparations would be made for impeding the passage of the 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 107 

Delaware, sailed past its mouth, and moving up the Chesapeake instead, de- 
barlced fifty-four miles from Philadelphia and commenced the march north- 
ward. Great activity was now manifested in the city. The water-spouts were 
melted to furnish bullets, fair hands were busied in rolling caitidges, power- 
ful chevaux-de-frise were planted to impede the navigation of the river, and 
the last division of the militia of the city, which had been divided into three 
classes, was called out. Washington, who had crossed the Brandywine, soon 
confronted the advance of Howe, and brisk skirmishing at once opened. See- 
ing that he was likely to have the right of his position at Red Clay Creek, 
where he had intended to give battle, turned by the largely superior force of 
the enemy, under cover of darkness on the night of the 8th of September, he 
withdi-ew' across the Brandywine at Chad's Ford, and posting Armstrong with 
the militia upon the left, at Pyle's Ford, where the banks were rugged and pre- 
cipitous, and Sullivan, who was second in command, upon the right at Brin- 
ton's Ford under cover of forest, he himself took post with three divisions, 
Sterling's, Stephens', and his own, in front of the main avenue of approach at 
Chad's. Howe, discovering that Washington was well posted, determined to 
flank him. Accordingly, on the 11th, sending Knyphausen with a division of 
Hessians to make vigorous demonstrations upoQ Washington's front at Chad's, 
he, with the corps of Cornwallis, in light marching order, moved up the Brandy- 
wine, far past the right flank of Washington, crossed the Brandywine at the 
fords of Trumbull and Jeffrey unopposed, and, moving down came upon 
Washington's right, held by Sullivan, all unsuspecting and unprepared to re- 
ceive him. Though Howe was favored by a dense fog which on that morning 
hung on all the valley, yet it had hardly been commenced before Washingtou 
discovered the move and divined its purpose. His resolution was instantly 
taken. He ordered Sullivan to cross the stream at Brinton's, and resolutely 
turn the left flank of Knyphausen, when he himself with the main body would 
move over and crush the British Army in detail. Is was a brilliant conception, 
was feasible, and promised the most complete success. But what chagrin and 
mortiti<;ation, to receive, at the moment when he expected to heai* the music of 
Sullivan's guns doubling up the left of the enemy, and giving notice to him 
to commence the passage, a message from that officer advising him that he had 
disobeyed his orders to cross, having received intelligence that the enemy were 
not moving northward, and that he was still in position at the ford. Thus 
balked, Washington had no alternative but to remain in position, and it was not 
long before the guns of Howe were heard moving in upon his all unguarded 
right flank. The best dispositions were made which time would permit. His 
main body with the force of Sullivan took position along the brow of the hill 
on which stands the Birmingham meeting house, and the battle opened and 
was pushed with vigor the whole day. Overborne by numbers, and weakened 
by losses, Washington was obliged to retire, leaving the enemy in possession 
of the tield. The young French nobleman, Lafayette, was wounded while gal- 
lantly serving in this tight. The wounded were carried into the Birmingham 
meeting house, where the blood stains are visible to this day, enterprising 
relic hunters for many generations having been busy in loosening small slivers 
with the points of their knives. 

The British now moved cautiously toward Philadelphia. On the 16th of 
September, at a point some twenty miles west of Philadelphia, Washington 
again made a stand, and a battle opened with brisk skirmishing, but a heavy 
rain storm coming on the powder of the patriot soldiers was completely rained on 
account of their defective cartridge boxes. On the night of the '20th, Gen. 
Anthony Wayne, who had been hanging on the rear of the enemy with his 



108 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

detachment, was surprised by Gen. Gray with a heavy column, who fell sud- 
denly upon the Americans in bivouac and put them to the sword, giving no 
quarter. This disgraceful slaughter which brought a stigma and an indelible 
stain upon the British arms is known as the Paoli Massacre. Fifty-three of 
the victims of the black flag were buried in one grave. A neat monument 
of white marble was erected forty years afterward over their moldering 
remains by the Republican Artillerists of Chesteij County, which vandal hands 
have not spared in their mania for relics. 

Congress remained in Philadelphia while these military operations were 
going on at its very doors; but on the 18th of September adjourned to meet 
at Lancaster, though subsequently, on the 30th, removed across the Susque- 
hanna to York, where it remained in session till after the evacuation in 
the following summer. The Council remained until two days before the fall 
of the city, when having dispatched the records of the loan office and the more 
valuable papers to Easton, it adjourned to Lancaster. On the 26th, the British 
Army entered the city. Deborah Logan in her memoir says: " The army 
marched in and took possession in the city in the morning. We were up-stairs 
and saw them pass the State House. They looked well, clean and well clad, 
and the contrast between them and our own poor, bare-footed, ragged troops 
was very great and caused a feeling of despair. * * * * Early 

in the "afternoon, Lord Cornwallis' suite arrived and took possession of 
my mother's house." But though now holding undisputed possession of the 
American capital, Howe-found his position an uncomfortable one, for his fleet 
was in the Chesapeake, and the Delaware and all its defenses were in posses- 
sion of the Americans, and Washington had manned the forts with some of 
his most resolute troops. Varnum's brigade, led by Cols. Angell and Greene, 
Rhode Island troops, were at Fort Mercer, at Red Bank, and this the enemy 
determined to attack. On the 21st of October, with a force of 2,500 men, led 
by Count Donop, the attack was made. In two colums they moved as to an 
easy victory. But the steady tire of the defenders when come in easy range, 
swept them down with deadly etfect, and, retiring with a loss of over 400 and 
their leader mortally wounded, they did not renew the tight. Its reduction was 
of prime importance, and powerful works were built and equipped to bear upon 
the devoted fort on all sides, and the heavy guns of the fleet were brought up 
to aid in overpowering it. For six long days the greatest weight of metal was 
poured upon it from the land and the naval force, but without effect, the 
sides of the fort successfully withstanding the plunging of their powerful 
missiles. As a last resort, the great vessels were run suddenly in close under 
the walls, and manning the yard-arms with sharp-shooters, so effectually 
silenced and drove away the gunners that the fort fell easily into the Brit- 
ish hands and the river was opened to navigation. The army of Washing- 
ton, after being recruited and put in light marching order, was led to German- 
town where, on the morning of the 8d of October the enemy was met. A 
heavy fog that morning had obscured friend and foe alike, occasioning con- 
fusion in the ranks, and though the opening promised well, and some progress 
.was made, yet the enemy was too strong to be moved, and the American leader 
was forced to retire to his camp at White Marsh. Though the river had now 
been opened and the city was thoroughly fortified for resisting attack, yet 
Howe felt not quite easy in having the American Army quartered in so close 
striking distance, and accordingly, on the 4th of December, with nearly his 
entire army, moved out, intending to take Washington at White Marsh, sixteen 
miles away, by surprise, and by rapidity of action gain an easy victory. But 
by the heroism and fidelity of Lydia Darrah, who, as she had often done before 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 109 

passed the guard? to go to the mill for flour, the news of the coming of Howe 
waF communicated to Washington, who was prepared to receive him. Finding 
that he could effect nothing. Howe returned to the city, having had th,e weari- 
some march at this wintry season without effect. 

Washington now crossed the Schuylkill and went into winter quarters at 
Valley Forge. The cold of that winter was intense; the troops, half clad and 
indifferently fed, suffered severely, the prints of their naked feet in frost and 
snow being often tinted with patriot blood. Grown impatient of the small 
results from the immensely expensive campaigns carried ou across the ocean, 
the Ministry relieved Lord Howe, and appointed Sir Henry Clinton to the 
chief command. 

The Commissioners whom Congress had sent to France early in the fall of 
1776 — Franklin, Dean and Lee had been busy m making interest for the 
united colonies at the French Court, and so successful were they, that arms and 
ammunition and loans of money were procured from time to time. Indeed, so 
persuasive had they become that it was a saying cuiTent at court that, "It was 
fortunate for the King that Franklin did not take it into his head to ask to 
have the palace at Versailles stripped of its furniture to send to his dear 
Americans, for his majesty would have been unable to deny him." Finally, 
a convention was concluded, by which France agreed to use the royal army and 
navy as faithful allies of the Americans against the English. Accordingly, a 
fleet of four powerful frigates, and twelve ships were dispatched under com- 
mand of the Count D'Estaing to shut up the British fleet in the Delaware. The 
plan was ingenious, particularly worthy of the long head of Franklin. But 
by some means, intelligence of the sailing of the French fleet reached Che 
English cabinet, who immediately ordered the evacuation of the Delaware, 
whereupon the Admiral weighed anchor and sailed away with his entire fleet to 
New York, and D'Estaing, upon his arrival at the mouth of the Delaware, found 
that the bird had flown. 

Clinton evacuated Philadelphia and moved across New Jersey in the direc- 
tion of New York. Washington closely followed and came up with the enemy 
on the plains of Monmouth, on the 28th of June, 1778, where a sanguin- 
ary battle was fought which lasted th3 whole day, resulting in the triumph of 
the American arms, and Pennsylvania was rid of British troops. 

The enemy was no sooner well away from the city than Congress returned 
from York and resumed its sittings in its former quarters, June 24, 1778, and 
on the following day, the Colonial Legislature returned from Lancaster. Gen 
Arnold, who was disabled by a wound received at Saratoga, from tield duty, 
was given command in the city and marched in with a regiment on the day 
following the evacuation. On the 23d of May, 1778, President Wharton died 
suddenly of quinsy, while in attendance upon the Council at Lancaster, when 
George Bryan, the Vice President, became the Acting President. Bryan was a 
philanthropist in deed as well as word. Up to this time, African slavery had 
been tolerated in the colony. In his message of the 9th of November, he said : 
* ' This or some better scheme, would tend to abrogate s. avery — the approbrium 
of America — from among us. * * * In divestiag the State of slaves, you 
will equally serve the cause of humanity and policy, ?ud offer to God one of 
the most proper and best returns of gratitude for His great deliverance of us 
and our posterity from thraldom; you will also se^" fimi character for justice 
and benevolence in the true point of view to Europe, who ate astonishe<i to see 
a people eager for liberty holding negroes in bondage." He perfected a bill 
for the extinguishment of claims to slaves which was passed by the Assembly, 
March 1, 1780, by a vote of thirty-four to eighteen, providing that no child 



110 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

of slave parents born after that date should be a slave, but a servant till the 
age of twenty-eight years, when all claim for service should end. Thus by a 
simple enactment resolutely pressed by Bryan, was slavery forever rooted out 
of Pennsylvania. 

In the summer of 1778, a force of savages and sour- faced tories to the num- 
ber of some 1,200, under the leadership of one Col. John Butler, a cruel and in- 
human wretch, descending from the north, broke into the Wyoming Valley on 
the 2d of July. The strong men were in the army of Washington, and the 
only defenders were old men, beardless boys and resolute women. These, to 
the number of about 400, under Zebu) on Butler, a brave soldier who had won 
distinction in the old French war, and who happened to be present, moved 
resolutely out to meet the invaders. Overborne by numbers, the inhabitants 
were beaten and put to the sword, the few who escaped retreating to Forty 
Fort, whither the helpless, up and down the valley, had sought safety. Here 
humane terms of surrender were agreed to, and the families returned to 
their homes, supposing all danger to be past. But the savages had 
tasted blood, and perhaps confiscated liquor, and were little mindful of capitu- 
lations. The night of the 5th was given to indiscriminate massacre. The 
cries of the helpless rang out upon the night air, and the heavens along all 
the valley were lighted up with the flames of burning cottages; " and when the 
moon arose, the terrified inhabitants were fleeing to the Wilkesbarre Mount- 
ains, and the dark morasses of the Pocono Mountain beyond. " Most of these 
were emigrants from Connecticut, and they made their way homeward as fast 
as their feet would carry them, many of them crossing the Hudson at Pough- 
keepsie, where they told their tales of woe. 

In February, 1778, Parliament, grown tired of this long and wasting war, 
abolished taxes of which the Americans had complained, and a committee, 
composed of Earl Carlisle, George Johnstone and William Eden, were sent 
empowered to forgive past offenses, and to conclude peace with the colonies, 
upon submission to the British crown. Congress would not listen to their 
proposals, maintaining that the people of America had done nothing that 
needed forgiveness, and that no conference could be accorded so long as the 
English Armies remained on American soil. Finding that negotiations could 
not be entered upon with the government, they sought to worm their way by 
base bribes. Johnstone proposed to Gen. Reed that if he would lend his aid 
to bring about terms of pacification, 10,000 guineas and the best office in the 
country should be his. The answer of the stern General was a type of the 
feeling which swayed every patriot: " My influence is but small, but wei'e it 
as great as Gov. Johntone would insinuate, the King of Great Britain has noth- 
ing in his gift that would tempt me." 

At the election held for President, the choice feH upon Joseph Reed, with 
George Bryan Yice President, subsequently Matthew Smith, and finally Will- 
iam Moore. Reed was an erudite lawyer, and had held the positions of Pri- 
vate Secretary to Washington, and subsequently Adjutant General of the 
army. He was inaugurated on the 1st of December, 1778. Upon the return 
of the patriots to Philadelphia, after the departure of the British, a bitter 
feeling existed between them and the tories who had remained at their homes, 
and had largely profited by the British occupancy. The soldiers became dem- 
onstrative, especially against those lawyers who had defended the tories in 
court. Some of those most obnoxious took refuge in the house of James Wil- 
son, a signer of the Declaration. Private soldiers, in jmssing, fired upon it, 
and shots were returned whereby one was killed and several wounded. The 
President on being informed of these proceedings, rode at the head of the 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. Ill 

city troop, and dispersed the assailants, captui'ing the leaders. The Academy 
and College of Philadelphia required by its charter an oath of allegiance to 
the King of Great Britain. An act was passed November 27, 1779, abrogating 
the former charter, and vesting its property in a new board. An endowment 
from confiscated estates was settled ni)on it of £15,000 annually. The name 
of the institution was changed to the " University of the State of Pennsyl- 
vania." 

France was now aiding the American cause with money and large land 
and naval forces. While some of the patriots remained steadfast and were 
disposed to sacrifice and endure all for the success of the struggle, many, who 
should have been in the ranks rallying around Washington, had grown luke- 
warm. The General was mortified that the French should come across the 
ocean and make great sacrifices to help us, and should find so much indiffer- 
ence prevailing among the citizens of many of the States, and so few coming 
forward to fill up the decimated ranks. At the request of Washington, Presi- 
dent Eeed was invested with extraordinary powers, in 1780, which were used 
prudently but effectively. During the winter of this year, some of the veteran 
soldiers of the Pennsylvania line mutinied and commenced the march on 
Philadelphia with arms in their hands. Some of them had just cause. They 
had enlisted for "three years or the war," meaning for three years unless 
the war closed sooner. But the authorities had interpreted it to mean, thre© 
years, or as much longer as the war should last. President Reed immediately 
rode out to meet the mutineers, heard their cause, and pledged if all would re- 
turn to camp, to have those who had honorably served out the full term of 
three years discharged, which was agreed to. Before the arrival of the Presi- 
dent, two emissaries from the enemy who had heard of the disaffection, cam© 
into camp, offering strong inducements for them to continue the revolt. But 
the mutineers spurned the offer, and delivered them over to the officers, by 
whom they were tried and executed as spies. The soldiers who had so patriot- 
ically arrested and handed over these messengers were offered a reward of fifty 
guineas; but they refused it on the plea that they were acting under authority 
of the Board of Sergeants, under whose order the mutiny was being conducted. 
Accordingly, a hundred guineas were offered to this board for their fidelity. 
Their answer showed how conscientious even mutineers can be: "It was not 
for the sake, or through any expectation of reward; but for the love of our 
country, that we sent the spies immediately to Gen. Wayne; we therefore 
do not consider ourselves entitled to any other reward but the love of our 
coimtry, and do jointly agree to accept of no other." 

William Moore was elected President to succeed Joseph Reed, from No- 
vember 14, 1781, but held the office less than one year, the term of three years 
for which he had been a Councilman having expired, which was the limit of 
service. James Potter was chosen Vice President. On account of the hostile 
attitude of the Ohio Indians, it was decided to call out a body of voluTiteers, 
numbering some 400 from the counties of Washington and Westmoreland, 
where the outrages upon the settlers had been most sorely felt, who chose for 
their commander Col. William Crawfoi-d, of Westmoreland. The expedition 
met a most unfortunate fate. It was defeated and cut to pieces, and the 
leader taken captive and burned at the stake. Crawford County, which was 
settled very soon afterward, was named in honor of this unfortunate soldier. 
In the month of November, intelligence was communicated to the Legislature 
that Pennsylvania soldiers, confined as prisoners of war on board of the Jer- 
sey, an old hulk h ing in the New York Harbor, were in a starving condition, 
receiving at the hands of the enemy the most barbarous and inhuman treat- 



112 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

ment. Fifty barrels of flour and 300 bushels of potatoes were immediately 
sent to them. 

In the State election of 1782, contested with great violence, John Dickin- 
son was chosen President, and James Ewing Vice President. On the 12th of 
March, 1788, intelligence was first received of the signing of the preliminary 
treaty in which independence was acknowledged, and on the 11th of April 
Congress sent forth the joyful proclamation ordering a cessation of hostilities. 
The soldiers of Burgoyne, who had been confined in the prison camp at Lan- 
caster, were put upon the march for New York, passing through Philadelphia 
on the way. Everywhere was joy unspeakable. The obstructions were re- 
moved from the Delaware, and the white wings of commerce again came flut- 
tering on every breeze. In June, Pennsylvania soldiers, exasperated by delay 
in receiving their pay and their discharge, and impatient to return to their 
homes, to a considerable number marched from their camp at Lancaster, and 
arriving at Philadelphia sent a committee with arms in their hands to the 
State House door with a remonstrance asking permission to elect officers to 
command them for the redress of their grievances, their own having left them, 
and employing threats in case of refusal. These demands the Council rejected. 
The President of Congress, hearing of these proceedings, called a special ses- 
sion, which resolved to demand that the militia of the State should be called 
out to quell the insurgents. The Council refused to resort to this extreme 
measure, when Congress, watchful of its dignity and of its supposed supreme 
authority, left Philadelphia and established itself in Princeton, N. J., and 
though invited to return at its next session, it refused, and met at Annapolis. 

In October, 1784, the last treaty was concluded with the Indians at Fort 
Stanwix. The Commissioners at this conference purchased from the natives 
all the land to the north of the Ohio River, and the line of Pine Creek, which 
completed the entire limits of the State with the exception of the triangle at 
Erie, which was acquired from the United States in 1792. This purchase 
was confirmed by the Wyandots and Delawares at Fort Mcintosh January 21, 
178"), and the grant was made secure. 

In September, 1785, after a long absence in the service of his country 
abroad, perfecting treaties, and otherwise establishing just relations with other 
nations, the venerable Benjamin Franklin, then nearly eighty years old, feel- 
ing the infirmities of age coming upon him, asked to be relieved of the duties 
of Minister at the Court of France, and returned to Philadelphia. Soon after 
his arrival, he was elected President of the Council. Charles Biddle was 
elected Vice President. It was at this period that a citizen of Pennsylvania, 
John Fitch, secured a patent on his invention for propelling boats by steam. 
In May, 1787, the convention to frame a constitution for the United States 
met iu Philadelphia. The delegation from Pennsylvania was Benjamin Frank- 
lin, Robert Morris, Thomas Mifflin, George Clymer, Thomas Fitzsimons, Jared 
Ingeraoll, James Wilson and Gouverneur Morris. Upon the completion of 
their work, the instrument was submitted to the several States for adoption. A 
convention was called in Pennsylvania, which met on the 21st of November, and 
though encountering resolute opposition, it was finally adopted on the 12th of De- 
cember. On the following day, the convention, the Supreme Council and ofii- 
cers of the State and city government, moved in procession to the old court 
house, where the adoption of the constitution was formally proclaimed amidst 
the booming of cannon and the ringing of bells. 

On the 5th of November, 1788, Thomas Mifflin was elected President, and 
George Ross Vice President. The constitution of the State, framed in and 
adapted to the exigencies of an emergency, was ill suited to the needs of State 



114 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

in its relations to the new nation. Accoi'dingly, a convention assembled for 
the pvirpose of preparing a new constitution in November, 1789, which was 
finally adopted on September 2, 1790. By the provisions of this instrument, 
the Executive Council was abolished, and the executive duties were vested in 
the hands of a Governor. Legislation was intrusted to an Assembly and a 
Senate. The judicial system was continued, the terms of the Judges extend- 
ing through good behavior. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



Thomas Mifflin, 1788-99— Thomas McKean, 1799-1808— Simon Snyder, 1808-17— 
William Findlay, 1817-20— Joseph Heisteu, 1820-23— John A. Shulze, 1823 
-29— George Wolfe, 1829-35— Joseph Ritner, 1835-39. 

THE first election under the new Constitution resulted in the choice of 
Thomas Mifflin, who was re-elected for three successive terms, giving him 
the distinction of having been longer in the executive chair than any other 
person, a period of eleven years. A system of internal improvements was now 
commenced, by which vast water communications were undertaken, and a moun- 
tain of debt was accumulated, a portion of which hangs over the State to this 
day. In 1793, the Bank of Pennsylvania was chartered, one-third of the cap- 
ital stock of which was subscribed for by the State. Branches were established 
at Lancaster, Harrisburg, Reading, Easton and Pittsburgh. The branches 
were discontinued in 1810; in 1843, the stock held by the State was sold, and 
in 1857, it ceased to exist. In 1793, the yellow fever visited Phila- 
delphia. It was deadly in its effects and produced a panic unparalleled. 
Gov. Mifflin, and Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the United States Treasury, 
were attacked. " Men of affluent fortunes, who gave daily employment and 
subsistence to hundreds, were abandoned to the care of a negro after their 
wives, children, friends, clerks and servants had fled away and left them to 
their fate. In some cases, at the commencement of the disorder, no money 
could procure proper attendance. Many of the poor perished without a hu- 
man being to hand them a drink of water, to administer medicines, or to per- 
form any charitable office for them. Nearly 5,000 perished bv this wasting 
pestilence. " 

The whisky insurrection in some of the western counties of the State, 
which occurred in 1794, excited, by its lawlessness and wide extent, general 
interest. An act of Congress, of March 3, 1791, laid a tax on distilled spirits 
of four pence per gallon. The then counties of Washington, Westmoreland, 
Allegheny and Fayette, comprising the southwestern quarter of the State, 
were almost exclusively engaged in the production of grain. Being far re- 
moved from any market, the product of their farms brought them scarcely any 
returns. The consequence was that a large proportion of the surplus grain 
was turned into distilled spirits, and nearly every other farmer was a distiller. 
This tax was seen to bear heavily upon them, from which a non- producer of 
spirits was relieved. A rash determination was formed to resist its collection, 
and a belief entertained, if all were united in resisting, it would be taken ofi:. 
Frequent altercations occurred between the persons appointed United States 
Collectors and these resisting citizens. As an example, on the 5th of Septem- 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 115 

ber, 1791, a party in disguise set upon Robert Johnson, a Collector fur Alle- 
gheny and Washington, tarred and feathered him, cut o£f his hair, took away 
his horse, and left him in this plight to proceed. Writs for the arrest of the 
perpetrators were issued, but none dared to venture into the territory to serve 
them. On May 8, 1792, the law was modified, and the tax reduced. In Septem- 
ber, 1792, President Washington issued his proclamation commanding all per- 
sons to submit to the law, and to forbear from further opposition. But these meas- 
ures had no effect, and the insurgents began to organize for forcible resist- 
ance. One Maj. Macfarlane, who in command of a party of insurrectionists, 
was killed in an encounter with United States soldiers at the house of Gen. 
Neville. The feeling now ran very high, and it was hardly safe for any per- 
son to breathe a whisper against the insurgents throughout all this district. 
" A breath," says Brackenridge, " in favor of the law, was sufficient to ruin 
any man. A clergyman was not thought orthodox in the pulpit unless against 
the law. A physician was not capable of administering medicine, unless his 
principles were right in this respect. A lawyer could get no practice, nor 
a merchant at a country store get custom if for the law. On the contrary, to 
talk against the law was the way to office and emolument. To go to the 
Legislature or to Congress you must make a noise against it. It was the Shib- 
boleth of safety and the ladder of ambition " One Bradford had, of his own 
notion, issued a circular letter to the Colonels of regiments to assemble with 
their commands at Braddock's field on the Ist of August, where they appoint- 
ed officers and moved on to Pittsburgh. After having burned a barn, and 
made some noisy demonstrations, they were induced by some cool heads to re- 
turn. These turbulent proceedings coming to the ears of the State and Na- 
tional authorities at Philadelphia, measures were concerted to promptly and 
effectually check them. Gov. Mifflin appointed Chief Justice McKean, and 
Gen. William Irvine to proceed to the disaffected district, ascertain the facts, 
and try to bring the leaders to justice. President Washington issued a proc- 
lamation commanding all persons in arms to disperse to their homes on or be- 
fore the 1st of September, proximo, and called out the railitia'of four States 
— Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia — to the number of 13,000 
men, to enforce his commands. The quota of Pennsylvania was 4,500 infan- 
try, 500 cavalry, 200 artillery, and Gov. Mifflin took command in person. 
Gov. Richard Howell, of New Jersey, Gov. Thomas S. Lee, of Maryland, and 
Gen. Daniel Morgan, of Virginia, commanded the forces from their States, 
and Gov. Henry Lee, of Virginia, was placed in chief command. President 
Washington, accompanied by Gen. Knox, Secretary of War, Alexander Hamil- 
ton, Secretary of the Treasury, and Richard Peters, of the United States Dis- 
trict Court, set out on the Ist of October, for the seat of the disturbance. On 
Friday, the President reached Harrisburg, and on Saturday Carlisle, whither 
the army had preceded him. In the meantime a committee, consisting of 
James Ross, Jasper Yeates and William Bradford, was appointed by President 
Washington to proceed to the disaffected district, and endeavor to persuade 
misguided citizens to return to their allegiance. 

A meeting of 260 delegates from the four counties was held at Parkinson's 
Ferry on the 14th of August, at which the state of their cause was considered, 
resolutions adopted, and a committee of sixty, one from each county, was ap- 
pointed, and a sub-committee of twelve was named to confer with the United 
States Commissioners, McKean and Irvine. These conferences with the State 
and National Committees were successful in arranging preliminary conditions 
of settlement. On the 2d of October, the Committee of Safety of the insur- 
gents, met at Parkinson's Ferry, and having now learned that a well-organized 



116 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

army, with Washington at its head, was marching westward for enforcing 
obedience to the laws, appointed a committee of two, William Findley and 
David Reddick, to meet the President, and assure bim that the disaffected were 
disposed to return to their duty. They met Washington at Carlisle, and sev- 
eral conferences were held, and assurances given of implicit obedience; but 
the President said that as the troops had been called out, the orders for the 
march would not be countermanded. The President proceeded forward on the 
11th of October to Chambersburg, reached Williamsport on the 13th and Fort 
Cumberland on the 14th, where he reviewed the Virginia and Maryland forces, 
and arrived at Bedford on the 19th. Remaining a few days, and being satis- 
fied that the sentiment of the people had changed, he returned to Philadel- 
phia, arriving on the 28th, leaving Gen. Lee to meet the Commissioners and 
make such conditions of pacification as should seem just. Another meeting of 
the Committee of Safety was held at Parkinson's Ferry on the 24th, at which 
assurances of abandonment of opposition to the laws were received, and the 
same committee, with the addition of Thomas Morton and Ephriam Douglass, 
was directed to return to headquarters and give assurance of this disposition. 
They did not reach Bedford until after the departure of Washington. But at 
Uniontown they met Gen. Lee, with whom it was agreed that the citizens 
of these four counties should subscribe to an oath to support the Constitution 
and obey the laws. Justices of the Peace issued notices that books were op-^ned 
for subscribing to the oath, and Gen. Lee issued a judicious address urging 
ready obedience. Seeing that all requirments were being faithfully carried 
out, an order was issued on the 17th of November for the return of the army 
and its disbandment. A number of arrests were made and trials and convic- 
tions were had, but all were ultimately pardoned. 

With the exception of a slight ebulition at the prospect of a war with France 
in 1797, and a resistance to the operation of the " Homestead Tax " in Lehigh, 
Berks and Northampton Counties, when tiie militia was called out, the I'e- 
mainder of the term of Gov. Mifflin passed in comparative quiet. By an act 
of the Legislature of the 8d of April, 1799, the capital of the State was re- 
moved to Lancaster, and soon after the capital of the United States to Wash- 
ington, the house on Ninth street, which had been built for the residence of the 
President of the United States, passing to the use of the University of Pennsyl- 
vania. 

During the administrations of Thomas McKean, who was elected Governor 
in 1799, and Simon Snyder in 1808, little beyond heated political contests 
marked the even tenor of the government, until the breaking-out of the troiib- 
les which eventuated in the war of 1812. The blockade of the coast of France 
in 1806, and the retaliatory measures of Napoleon in his Berlin decree, swept 
American commerce, which had hitherto preserved a neutral attitude and prof- 
ited by European wars, from the seas. The haughty conduct of Great Britain 
in boarding American vessels for suspected deserters from the British Navy, 
under cover of which the grossest outrages were committed, American seaman 
being dragged from the decks of their vessels and impressed into the English 
service, induced President Jefferson, in July, 1807, to issue his proclamation 
ordering all British armed vessels to leave the waters of the United States, and 
forbidding any to enter, until satisfaction for the past and security for the 
future should be provided for. Upon the meeting of Congress in December, 
an embargo was laid, detaining all vessels, American and foreign, then in 
American waters, and ordering home all vessels abroad. Negotiations were 
conducted between the two countries, but no definite results were reached, and 
in the meantime causes of irritation multiplied until 1812, when President 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 117 

Madison declared war against Great Britain, known as the war of 1812. 
Pennsylvania promptly seconded the National Government, +he message of 
Gov. Snyder on the occasion ringing like a silver clarion. The national call 
for 100,000 men required 14,000 from this State, but so great was the enthu- 
siasm, that several times this number tendered their services. The State force 
was organized in two divisions, to the command of the first of which Maj 
Gen. Isaac Morrell was appointed, and to the second Maj. Gen. AdamsonTan- 
nehill. Gunboats and privateers were built in the harbor of Erie and on the 
Delaware, and the defenses upon the latter were piit in order and suitable 
armaments provided. At Tippecanoe, at Detroit, at Queenstown Heights, at 
the River Raisin, at Fort Stephenson, and at the River Thames, the war was 
waged with varying success. Upon the water, Commodores Decatur, Hull, 
Jones, Perry, Lawrence, Porter and McDonough made a bright chapter in 
American history, as was to be wished, inasmuch as the war had been under- 
taken to vindicate the honor and integrity of that branch of the service. Napo- 
leon, having met with disaster, and his power having been broken, 14,000 of 
Wellington's veterans were sent to Canada, and the campaign of the next year 
was opened with vigor. But at the battles of Oswego, Chippewa, Lundy's 
Lane, Fort Erie and Plattsburg, the tide was turned against the enemy, and 
the country saved from invasion. The act which created most alarm to 
Pennsylvania was one of vandalism scarcely matched in the annals of war- 
fare. In August, 1814, Gen. Ross, with 6,000 men in a flotilla of sixty sails, 
moved up Chesapeake Bay, fired the capitol, President's house and the various 
oflfices of cabinet ministers, and these costly and substantial buildings, the nation- 
al library and all the records of the Government from its foundation were utterly 
destroyed. Shortly afterward, Ross appeared before Baltimore with the design 
of multiplying his barbarisms, but he was met by a force hastily collected under 
Gen. Samuel Smith, a Pennsylvania veteran of the Revolution, and in the brief 
engagement which ensued Ross was killed. In the severe battle with the 
corps of Gen Strieker, the British lost some 300 men. The fleet in the mean- 
time opened a fierce bombardment of Fort McHenry, and during the day and 
ensuing night 1,500 bombshells were thrown, but all to no purpose, the gal- 
lant defense of Maj. Armistead proving; successful. It was during this awful 
night that IkTaj. Key, who was a prisoner on board the fleet, wrote the song of 
the Star Spangled Banner, which became the national lyric. It was in the ad- 
ministration of Gov. Snydei in February, 1810, that an act was passed making 
Harrisburg the seat of government, and a commission raised for erecting public 
buildings, the sessions of the Legislature being held in the court house at Har- 
risburg from 1812 to 1821. 

The administrations of William Findley, elected in 1817, Joseph Heister, 
in 1820, and John Andrew Schulz in 1823, followed without marked events. 
Parties became very warm in their discussions and in their management of po- 
litical campaigns. The charters for the forty banks which had been passed in 
a fit of frenzy over the veto of Gov. Snyder set a flood of paper money afloat. 
The public improvements, principally in openiag lines of canal, were prose- 
cuted, and vast debts incurred. These lines of conveyances were vitally need- 
ful to move the immense products and vast resources of the State 

Previous to the year 1820, little use was made of stone coal. Judge 
Obediah Gore, a blacksmith, used it upon his forge as early as 1769, and 
found the heat stronger and more enduring than that produced by charcoal. 
In 1791, Phillip Giuter, of Carbon County, a hunter by profession, having on 
one occasion been out all day without discovering any game, was returning at 
night discouraged and worn out, across the Mauch Chunk Mountain, when, in 









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HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



119 



TABLE SHOWING AMOUNT OF ANTHRACITE COAL PRODUCED IN 
EACH REGION SINCE 1820. 



1820. . . 
1821... 
1822... 
1823... 
1824. . . 
1825... 
1826. . . 
1827... 
1828. . . 
1829. . . 
1830... 
1831... 
1832. . . 
1833. . , 
1834. . , 
1835... 
1836. . 
1837. . 
1838.. 
1889.. 
1840.. 
1841. . 
1842. . 
1843. . 
1844. . 
1845.. 
1846. . 
1847. . 
1848.. 
1849. . 
1850. . 
1851. . 
1852. . 
1853. . 
1854.. 
1855. . 

1856.. 

1857. . 

1858.. 

1859. . 

1860. . 

1861.. 

1862.. 

1863.. 

1864. . 

1865. . 

1866.. 

1867. , 

1868. , 

1869., 

1870.. 

1871. 

1872. 

1873. 

1874. 

1875. 

1876. 

1877. 

1878. 

1879. 

1880. 

1881. 

1882. 

1883. 



Lehigh, 
Tons. 



Schuylkill. 
Tons. 



Wyoming, 
Tons. 



Lyken's 

Valley, 

Shamokin, ] Total Tons. 

etc., 

Tons. 



365 

1,073 

2,240 

5,823 

9,541 

28,393 

31,280 

32,074 

30,232 

25,110 

41,750 

40,966 

70,000 

123,001 

106,244 

131.250 

148,211 

223,902 

213,615 

221,025 

225,313 

143,037 

272,540 

267.793 

377,002 

429,453 

517,116 

633,507 

670,331 

781,656 

690,456 

964,224 

1,072,136 

1,054,309 

1,207,186 

1,284,113 

1,351,970 

1,318,541 

1,380,030 

1,628,311 

1,821,674 

1,738.377 

1,351,054 

1,894,713 

2,054,669 

2,040,913 

2,179,364 

2, .502, 054 

2,507.582 

1,929,523 

3,172,916 

2,285,707 

3,873,339 

3,705,596 

3,773,836 

2,834,605 

3,854.919 

4,332,760 

3,237,449 

4,595,567 

4,463,221 

5,294.676 

5.689.437 

6,113,809 



1,480 

1,128 

1,567 

6,500 

16,767 

31,360 

47,284 

79,973 

89,934 

81,854 

209,271 

252,971 

226,692 

339,508 

432,045 

530,152 

446,875 

463,147 

475,091 

603,003 

573,273 

700,200 

874,850 

1,121,724 

1,295,928 

1,650,831 

1,714,365 

1,683,425 

1,782,936 

2,229,426 

2,517,493 

2,551,603 

2,957,670 

3,318,5.55 

3,289,585 

2,985,541 

2,902,821' 

3,004,953 

3,270,516 

2,697,439 

2,890,593 

3,433,265 

3,642,218 

3,755,802 

4,957,180 

4,334,820 

4,414,356 

4,821,253 

3,853,016 

6,552,772 

6,694,890 

7,212,601 

6,866,877 

6,281,712 

6 221,934 

8,195,042 

6,282,226 

8,960,329 

7,554.742 

9,253,958 

9.459,288 

10,074,726 



7,000 

43,000 

54,000 

84,000 

111,777 

43,700 

90,000 

103,861 

115,387 

78,207 

122,300 

148,470 

192,270 

252,599 

285,605 

365,911 

451,836 

518,389 

583,067 

685,196 

732,910 

827,823 

1.156,167 

1,284,500 

1,475,732 

1,603,473 

1,771,511 

1,972,581 

1,952,603 

2,186,094 

2,731,236 

2,941,817 

3,055,140 

3,145,770 

3,759,610 

3,960,836 

3,254.519 

4,736,616 

5,325,000 

5.990,813 

6.068,369 

7,825,128 

6,911,242 

9,101,549 

10,309,755 

9,504,408 

10,596,155 

8,424,158 

8,300.377 

8,085,587 

12,586,298 

11,419,279 

13,9.51.383 

13.971.371 

15,604,492 



11,930 

15,505 
21,463 
10,000 
10,000 
13,087 
10,000 
12,572 
14,904 
19,356 
45,075 
57,684 
99,099 
119,342 
113,507 
234,090 
234,388 
313,444 
388,256 
370,424 
443,755 
479,116 
463,308 
481,990 
478,418 
519,752 
621,157 
830,722 
826,851 
921,381 
903,885 
998,839 



365 

1,073 

3,720 

6,951 

11,108 

34,893 

48,047 

63,434 

77,516 

112,083 

174,734 

176,820 

363,871 

487,748 

376,636 

560,758 

684,117 

879,441 

738,697 

818,403 

864,384 

959,973 

1,108,418 

1,263,598 

1,630,850 

2,013,013 

2,344,005 

2,882,309 

3,089,238 

3,242,966 

3,358,899 

4,448,916 

4,993,471 

5,195,151 

6,002,334 

6.608,517 

6, 927, .580 

6,664,941 

6,759.369 

7,808,255 

8,513,123 

7,954,314 

7,875,412 

9,566,006 

10,177,475 

9,652,391 

12,703,882 

12.991,725 

13,834,132 

13,723,030 

15,849,899 

15,699,721 

19,669,778 

21,227,953 

20,145,131 

19,712,473 

18,501,011 

20,828,179 

17,605,262 

26,142,689 

23,437,242 

28,500,016 

29.120,096 

31,793,029 



120 HISTORY O? PENNSYLVANIA, 

the gathering shades he stumbled upon something which seemed to have a 
glistening appearance, that he was induced to pick up and carry home. This 
specimen was takea to Philadelphia, where an analysis showed it to be a good 
quality of anthracite coal. But, though coal was known to exist, no one knew 
how to use it. In 1812, Col. George Shoemaker, of Schuylkill County, took 
nine wagon loads to Philadelphia. But he was looked upon as an imposter 
for attempting to sell worthless stone for coal. He finally sold two loads for 
the cost of transportation, the remaining seven proving a complete loss. In 
1812, While & Hazard, manufacturers of wire at the Falls of Schuylkill, in- 
duced an application to be made to the Legislature to incorporate a com- 
pany for the improvement of the Schuylkill, urging as an inducement the im- 
portance it would have for transporting coal; whereupon, the Senator from 
that district, in his place, with an air of knowledge, asserted "that there was 
no coal there, that there was a kind of black stone which was called coal, but 
that it would not burn." 

White & Hazard procured a cart load of Lehigh coal that cost them $1 a 
bushel, which was all wasted in a vain attempt to make it ignite. Another 
cart load was obtained, and a whole night spent in endeavoring to make a fire 
in the furnace, when the hands shut the furnace door and left the mill in de- 
spair. "Fortunately one of them left his jacket in the mill, and returning for 
it in about half an hour, noticed that the door was red hot, and upon opening 
it, was surprised at finding the whole furnace at a glowing white heat. The 
other hands were summoned, and four separate parcels of iron were heated 
and rolled by the same fire before it required renewing. The furnace was 
replenished, and as letting it alone had succeeded so well, it was concluded to 
try it again, and the experiment was repeated with the same result. The 
Lehigh Navigation Company and the Lehigh Coal Company were incorporated 
in 1818, which companies became the basis of the Lehigh Coal and Naviga- 
tion Company, incorporated in 1822. In 1820, coal was sent to Philadelphia 
by artificial navigation, but 365 tons glutted the market." In 1825, there 
were brought by the Schuylkill 5,378 tons. In 1826, by the Schuylkill, 
16,265 tons, and by the Lehigh 31,280 tons. The stage of water being in- 
sufficient, dams and sluices were constructed near Mauch Chunk, in 1819, by 
which the navigation was improved. The coal boats used were great square 
arks, 16 to 18 feet wide, and 20 to 25 feet long. At first, two of these were 
joined together by hinges, to allow them to yield up and down in passing over 
the dams. Finally, as the boatmen became skilled in the navigation, several 
were joined, attaining a length of 180 feet. Machinery was used for jointing 
the planks, and so expert had the men become that five would build an ark 
and launch it in forty-five minutes. After reaching Philadelphia, these boats 
were taken to pieces, the plank sold, and the hinges sent back for constructing 
others. Such were the crude methods adopted in the early days for bringing 
coal to a market. In 1827, a railroad was commenced, which was completed 
in three months, nine miles in length. This, with the exception of one at 
Quincy, Mass., of four miles, built in 1826, was the fii'st constructed in the 
United States. The descent was 100 feet per mile, and the coal descended by 
gravity in a half hour, and the cars were drawn back by mules, which rode 
down with the coal. "The mules cut a most grotesque figure, standing three 
or four together, in their cars, with their feeding troughs before them, appar- 
ently surveying with delight the scenery of the mountain; and though they 
preserve the most profound gravity, it is utterly impossible for the spectator 
to maintain his. It is said that the mules, having once experienced the com- 
fort of riding down, regard it as a right, and neither mild nor severe measures 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 121 

will induce them to descend in any other way." Bituminous coal was discov- 
ered and its qualities utilized not much earlier than the anthracite. A tract 
of coal land was taken up in Clearfield County in 1785, by Mr. S. Boyd, and 
in 1804 he sent an ark down the Susquehanna to Columbia, which caused 
much surprise to the inhabitants that " an article with which they were wholly 
unacquainted should be brought to their own doors." 

During the administrations of George Wolf, elected in 1829, and Joseph 
Ritner, elected in 1835, a measure of great beneficence to the State was passed 
and brought into a good degree of successful operation — nothing less than a 
broad system of public education. Schools had been early established in 
Philadelphia, and parochial schools in the more populous portions of the 
State from the time of early settlement. In 1749, through the influence of 
Dr. Franklin, a charter was obtained for a ' ' college, academy, and charity 
school of Pennsylvania," and fi'om this time to the beginning of the present 
century, the friends of education were earnest in establishing colleges, the 
Colonial Government, and afterward the Legislature, making liberal grants 
from the revenues accruing from the sale of lands for their support, the uni- 
versity of Pennsylvania being chartered in 1752, Dickinson College in 1783, 
Franklin and Marshall College in 1787, and Jefferson College in 1802. Com- 
mencing near the beginning of this century, and continuing for over a period 
of thirty years, vigorous exertions were put forth to establish county acad- 
emies. Charters were granted for these institutions at the county seats of 
forty-one counties, and appropriations were made of money, varying from 
$2,000 to $6,000, and in several instances of quite extensive land grants. In 
1809, an act was passed for the education of the "poor, gratis." The Asses- 
sors in their annual rounds were to make a record of all such as were indi- 
gent, and pay for their education in the most convenient schools. But few 
were found among the spirited inhabitants of the commonwealth willing to 
admit that they were so poor as to be objects of charity. 

By the act of April 1, 1834, a general system of education by common 
schools was established. Unfortunately it was complex and unwieldy. At the 
next session an attempt was made to repeal it, and substitute the old law of 
1809 for educating the " poor, gratis," the repeal having been carried in the 
Senate. But through the appeals of Thaddeus Stevens, a man alwa^ys in the 
van in every movement for the elevation of mankind, this was defeated. At 
the next session, 1836, an entirely new bill, discarding the objectionable feat- 
ures of the old one, was prepared by Dr. George Smith, of Delaware County, 
and adopted, and from this time forward has been in efficient operation. It may 
seem strange that so long a time should have elapsed before a general system of 
education should have been secured. But the diversity of origin and lan- 
guage, the antagonism of religious seats, the very great sparseness of popula- 
tion in many parts, made it impossible at an earlier day to establish schools. 
In 1854, the system was improved by engrafting upon it the feature of th& 
County Superintendency, and in 1859 by providing for the establishment of 
twelve Normal Schools, in as many districts into which the State was divided, 
for the professional training of teachers. 



122 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



OHAPTEE XIY. 

David R. Porter, 1839-45— Francis R. Shunk, 1845-48— William F. Johnstone 
1848-53— William Bigler, 1852-55— James Pollock, 1855-58— William F. 
Packer, 1858-61— Andrew G. Curtin, 1861-67— John W. Geary, 1867-73— 
John F. Hartranft, 1873-78— Henry F. Hoyt, 1878-82— Robert E. Pat- 
TISON, 1882. 

IN 1837, a convention assembled in Harrisburg, and subsequently in Philadel- 
phia, for revising the constitution, which revision was adopted by a vote of 
the people. One of the chief objects of the change was the breaking up of 
what was known as "omnibus legislation." each bill being required to have 
but one distinct subject, to be definitely stated in the title. Much of the pat- 
ronage of the Governor was taken from him, and he was allowed but two terms 
of three years in any nine years. The Senator's term was fixed at three years. 
The terms of Supreme Court Judges were limited to fifteen years. Common 
Pleas Judges to ten, and Associate Judges to five. A step backward was taken 
in limiting suffrage to ivhite male citizens twenty-one years old, it having pre- 
viously been extended to citizens irrespective of color. Amendments could be 
proposed once in five years, and if adopted by two successive Legislatures, 
and approved by a vote of the people, they became a part of the organic law. 
At the opening of the gubernatorial term of David R. Porter, who was 
chosen in October, 1838, a civil commotion occurred known as the Buckshot 
War, which at one time threatened a sanguinary result. By the returns, 
Porter had some 5,000 majority over Ritnex', but the latter, who was the in- 
cumbent, alleged frauds, and proposed an investigation and revision of the 
returns. Thomas H. Burrows was Secretary of State, and Chairman of the 
State Committee of the Anti-Masonic party, and in an elaborate address to the 
people setting forth the grievance, he closed with the expression '' let us treat 
the election as if we had not been defeated." This expression gave great 
offense to the opposing party, the Democratic, and public feeling ran high 
before the meeting of the Legislature. Whether an investigation could be had 
would depend upon the political complexion of that body. The Senate was 
clearly Anti-Masonic, and the House would depend upon the Representatives of 
a certain district in Philadelphia, which embraced the Northern Liberties. 
The returning board of this district had a majority of Democrats, who pro- 
ceeded to throw out the entire vote of Northern Liberties, for some alleged 
irregularities, and gave the certificate to Democrats. Whereupon, the minor- 
ity of the board assembled, and counted the votes of the Northern Liberties, 
which gave the election to the Anti-Masonic candidates, and sent certificates 
accordino-ly. By right and justice, there is no doubt that the Anti-Masons 
were fairly elected. But the majority of a returning board alone have 
authority to make returns, and the Democrats had the certificates which bore 
prima facie evidence of being correct, and should have been received and 
transmitted to the House, where alone rested the authority to go behind the 
returns and investigate their correctness. But upon the meeting oE the House 
the Secretary of the Commonwealth sent in the certificates of the minority of 
the returnino- board of the Northern Liberties district, which gave the major- 
ity to the Anti -Masons. But the Democrats were not disposed to submit, and 



HISTORY OF PENx\SYLVANIA. 123 

the consequence was that two delegations from the disputed district appeared, 
demanding seats, and upon the organization, two Speakers were elected and 
took the platform — Thomas S. Cunningham for the Anti- Masons, and Will- 
iam Hopkins for the Democrats. At this stage of the game, an infuriated 
lobby, collected from Philadelphia and surrounding cities, broke into the 
two Houses, and, interrupting all business, threatened the lives of members, 
and compelled them to seek safety in flight, when they took uncontrolled pos- 
session of the chambers and indulged in noisy and impassioned harangues. 
From the capitol, the mob proceeded to the court house, where a "committee 
of safety" was appointed. For several days the members dared not enter 
either House, and when one of the parties of the House attempted to assemble, 
the person who had been appointed to act as Speaker was forcibly ejected. All 
business was at an end, and the Executive and State Departments were closed. 
At this juncture, Gov. Ritner ordered out the militia, and at the same time 
called on the United States authorities for help. The militia, under Gens. 
Pattison and Alexander, came promptly to the rescue, but the President refused 
to furnish the National troops, thovigh the United States storekeeper at the 
Frankford Arsenal turned over a liberal supply of ball and 6mcA;s/io^ cartridges. 
The arrival of the militia only served to fire the spirit of the lobby, and they 
immediately commenced drilling and organizing, supplying themselves with 
arms and fixed ammunition. The militia authorities were, however, able to 
clear the capitol, when the two Houses assembled, and the Senate signified the 
willingness to recognize that branch of the House presided over by Mr. Hop- 
kins. This ended the difficulty, and Gov. Porter was duly inaugurated. 

Francis R. Shunk was chosen Governor in 1845, and during his term of 
office the war with Mexico occurred. Two volunteer regiments, one under 
command of Col. Wynkoop, and the other under Col. Roberts, subsequently 
Col. John W. Geary, were sent to the field, while the services of a much 
larger number were offered, but could not be received. Toward the close of 
his first term, having been reduced by sickness, and feeling his end approach- 
ing, Gov. Shunk resigned, and was succeeded by the Speaker of the Senate, 
William F. Johnston, who was duly chosen at the next annual election. Dur- 
ing the administrations of William Bigler, elected in 1851, James Pollock in 
1854, and William F. Packer in 1857, little beyond the ordinary coiu'se of 
events marked the history of the State. The lines of public works undertaken 
at the expense of the State were completed. Their cost had been enormous, 
and a debt was piled up against it of over $40,000,000. These works, vastly 
expensive, were still to operate and keep in repair, and the revenues therefrom 
failing to meet expectations, it was determined in the administration of Gov. 
Pollock to sell them to the highest bidder, the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- 
pany purchasing them for the sum of $7,500,000. 

In the administration of Gov. Packer, petroleum was first discovered in 
quantities in this country by boring into the bowels of the earth. From the 
earliest settlement of the country it was known to exist. As early as July 18, 
1627, a French missionary, Joseph Delaroche Daillon, of the order of Recol- 
lets, described it in a letter published in 1G32, in Segard's L'Histoire du 
Canada, and this description is confirmed by the journal of Charlevois, 1721. 
Fathers Dollier and Galinee, missionaries of Ifhe order of St. Sulpice, made a 
map of this section of country, which they sent to Jean Talon, Intendent of 
Canada, on the 10th of November, 1670, on which was marked at about the 
point where is now the town of Cuba, N. Y. , "Fontaine de Bitume." The 
Earl of Belmont, Governor of New York, instructed his chief engineer, 
Wolfgang W. Romer, on September 8, 1700, in his visit to the Six Nations, 



124 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

" To go and view a well or spring which is eight miles beyond the Seneks' 
farthest castle, which they have told me blazes up in a flame, when a lighted 
coale or firebrand is put into it; you will do well to taste the said water, and 
give me your opinion thereof, and bring with you some of it." Thomas Cha- 
bert de Joncaire, who died in September, 1740, is raentiooed in the journal of 
Charlevoix of 1721 as authority for the existence of oil at the place mentioned 
above, and at points further south, probably on Oil Creek. The following 
account of an event occurring during the occupancy of this part of the State 
by the French is given as an example of the religious uses made of oil by the 
Indians, as these fire dances are understood to have been annually celebrated: 
"While descending the Allegheny, fifteen leagues below the mouth of the 
Connewango (Warren) and three above Fort Venango (Oil City), we were 
invited by the chief of the Seneeas to attend a religious ceremony of his tribe. 
We landed and drew up our canoes on a point where a small stream entered 
the river. The tribe appeared unusually solemn. We marched up the stream 
about a half a league, where the company, a large band it appeared, had 
arrived some days before us. Gigantic hills begirt us on every side. The 
scene was really sublime. The great chief then recited the conquests and 
heroisms of their ancestors. The surface of the stream was covered with a 
thick scum, which burst into a complete conflagration. The oil had been 
gathered and lighted with a torch. At sight of the flames, the Indians gave 
forth a triumphant shout, and made the hills and valley re-echo again." 

In nearly all geographies and notes of travel published during the early 
period of settlement, this oil is referred to, and on several maps the word petro- 
leum appears opposite the mouth of Oil Creek. Gen. Washington, in his will, 
in speaking of his lands on the Great Kanawha, says: " The tract of which the 

125 acres is a moiety, was taken up by Gen. Andrew Lewis and myself, for and 
on account of a bituminous spring which it contains of so inflammable a nat- 
ure as to burn as freely as spirits, and is as nearly difficult to extinguish. " 
Mr. Jefferson, in his Notes on Virginia, also gives an account of a burning 
spring on the lower grounds of the Great Kanawha. This oil not only seems 
to have been known, but to have been systematically gathered in very early 
times. Upon the flats a mile or so below the city of Titusville are many acres 
of cradle holes dug out and lined with split logs, evidently constructed for 
the purpose of gathering it. The fact that the earliest inhabitants could 
never discover any stumps from which these logs were cut, and tho further fact 
that trees are growing of giant size in the midst of these cradles, are evidences 
that they must have been operated long ago. It could not have been the work 
of any of the nomadic Indian tribes found here at the coming of the white 
man, for they were never known to undertake any enterprise involving so 
much labor, and what could they do with the oil when obtained. 

The French could hardly have done the work, for we have no account of 
the oil having been obtained in quantities, or of its being transported to 
France. May this not have been the work of the Mound- Builders, or of colo- 
nies from Central America? When the writer first visited these pits, in 1855, 
he found a spring some distance below Titusville, on Oil Creek, where the 
water was conducted into a trough, from which, daily, the oil, floating on its 
surface, was taken off" by throwing a woolen blanket upon it, and then wring- 
ing it into a tub, the clean wool absorbing the oil and rejecting the water, and 
in this way a considerable quantity was obtained. 

In 1859, Mr. E. L. Drake, at first representing a company in New York, 
commenced drilling near the spot where this tub was located, and when the 
company would give him no more money, straining his own resources, and his 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 125 

credit with his friends almost to the breaking point, and when about to give 
up in despair, finally struck a powerful current of pure oil. From this time 
forward, the territory down the valley of Oil Creek and up all its tributaries 
was rapidly acquired and developed for oil land. In some places, the oil was 
sent up with immense force, at the rate of thousands of barrels each day, and 
great trouble was experienced in bringing it under control and storing it. In 
some cases, the force of the gas was so powerful on being accidentally fired, 
as to defy all approach for many days, and lighted up the forests at night 
with billows of light. 

The oil has been found in paying quantities in McKean, Warren, Forest, 
■Crawford, Venango, Clarion, Butler and Armstrong Counties, chiefly along 
the upper waters of the Allegheny River and its tributary, the Oil Creek. It 
was first transported in barrels, and teams were kept busy from the first dawn 
until far into the night. As soon as practicable, lines of railway were con- 
structed from nearly all the trunk lines. Finally barrels gave place to im- 
mense iron tanks riveted upon cars, provided for the escape of the gases, and 
later great pipe lines were extended from the wells to the seaboard, and to the 
Great Lakes, through which the fluid is forced by steam to its distant destina- 
tions Its principal uses are for iilimaination and lubricating, though many 
of its products are employed in the mechanic arts, notably for dyeing, mixing 
of paints, and in the practice of medicine. Its production has grown to be 
enormous, and seems as yet to show no sign of diminution. We give an ex- 
hibit of the annual production since its discovery, compiled for this work by 
William H. Siviter, editor of the Oil City Derrick, which is the acknowledged 
authority on oil matters: 

Production of the Pennsylvania Oil Fields, compiled from the Derrick^s 
Hand-book, December, 1883: 

Barrels. Barrels. 

1859 82,000 1873 9,849,508 

1860 500,000 1874 ...11,102,114 

1861 2,113,000 1875 8,948,749 

1862 3,056,606 1876 9,142,940 

1863 2,611,399 1877 13,052,713 

1864 2.116,182 1878 15,011,425 

1865 3.497,712 1879 20.085,716 



3,597,512 1880 24,788,950 

1867 3,347,306 1881 29,674,458 

1868 3, 715, 741 1882 31, 789, 190 

1869 4,186,475 1883 24,385,966 



1870 5,308,046 

1871 5,278,076 A grand total of 243,749,558 

1872 6,505,774 

In the fall of 1860, Andrew G. Curtin was elected Governor of Pennsyl- 
vania, and Abraham Lincoln President of the United States. An organized 
rebellion, under the specious name of secession, was thereupon undertaken, 
embracing parts of fifteen States, commonly designated the Slave States, and 
a government established under the name of the Confederate States of America, 
with an Executive and Congress, which commenced the raising of troops for 
defense. 

On the 12th of April, an attack was made upon a small garrison of United 
States troops shut up in Fort Sumter. This was rightly interpreted as the 
first act in a great drama. On the 15th, the President summoned 75,000 vol- 
unteers to vindicate the national authority, calling for sixteen regiments from 
Pennsylvania, and urging that two be sent forward immediately, as the capital 
was without defenders. 

The people of the State, having no idea that war could be possible, had no 



120 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

preparation for the event, There chanced at the time to be five companies in 
a tolerable state of organization. These were the Ringold Light Artillery, 
Capt. McKnight, of Reading; the Logan Guards, Capt. Selheimer, of Lewis- 
town; the Washington Artillery, Capt. Wren, and the National Light Infan- 
try, Capt. McDonald, of Pottsville; and the Allen Rifles, Capt. Yeager, of 
Allentown. 

On the 18th, in conjunction with a company of fifty regulars, on their way 
from the West to Fort McHenry, under command of Capt. Pemberton, after- 
ward Lieut. Gen. Pemberton. of the rebel army, these troops moved by rail 
for Washington. At Baltimore, they were obliged to march two miles through 
a jeering and insulting crowd. At the center of the city, the regulars tiled 
off toward Fort McHenry, leaving the volunteers to pursue their way alone, 
when the crowd of maddened people were excited to redoubled insults. In the 
whole battalion there was not a charge of powder; but a member of the Logan 
Guards, who chanced to have a box of percussion caps in his pocket, had dis- 
tributed them to his comrades, who carried their pieces capped and half 
cocked, creating the impression that they were loaded and ready for service. 
This ruse undoubtedly saved the battalion from the murderous assault made 
upon the Massachusetts Sixth on the following day. Before leaving, they were 
pelted with stones and billets of wood while boarding the cars; but, fortu- 
nately, none were seriously injured, and the train tinally moved away and 
reached Washington in safety, the first troops to come to the unguarded and 
imperiled capital. 

Instead of sixteen, twenty-five regiments were organized for the three months' 
service from Pennsylvania. Judging from the threatening attitude assumed 
by the rebels across the Potomac that the southern frontier would be con- 
stantly menaced, Gov. Curtin sought permission to organize a select corps^ 
to consist of thirteen regiments of infantry, one of cavalry, and one of artillery,, 
and to be known as the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, which the Legislature, in 
special session, granted. This corps of 15,000 men was speedily raised, and the 
intention of the State authorities was to keep this body permamently within 
the limits of the Commonwealth for defense. But at the time of the First 
Bull Run disaster in July, 1861, the National Government found itself with- 
out troops to even defend the capital, the time of the three months' men being 
now about to expire, and at its urgent call this fine body was sent forward and 
never again returned for the execution of the duty for which it was formed, 
having borne the brunt of the fighting on many a hard- fought field during the 
three years of its service. 

In addition to the volunteer troops furnished in response to the several 
calls of the President, upon the occasion of the rebel invasion of Maryland in 
September, 1862, Gov. Curtin called 50,000 men for the emergency, and 
though the time was very brief, 25,000 came, were organized under command 
of Gen. John F. Reynolds, and were marched to the border. But the battle of 
Antietam, fought on the 17th of September, caused the enemy to beat a hasty 
retreat, and the border was relieved when the emergency troops were dis- 
banded and returned to their homes. On the 19th of October, Gen. J. E. B. 
Stewart, of the rebel army, with 1,800 horsemen under command of Hampton, 
Lee and Jones, crossed the Potomac and made directly for Chambersburg, 
arriving after dark. Not waiting for morning to attack, he sent in a flag of 
truce demanding the surrender of the town. There were 275 Union soldiers in 
hospital, whom he paroled. During the night, the troopers were busy picking 
up horses — swapping horses perhaps it should be called — and the morning saw 
them early on the move. The rear guard gave notice before leaving to re- 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 12T 

move all families from the neighborhood of the public buildings, as they in- 
tended to fire them. There was a large amount of fixed ammunition in them, 
which had been captured from Longstreet's train, besides Government stores 
of shoes, clothing and muskets. At 11 o'clock the station house, round house, 
railroad machine shops and warehouses were fired and consigned to 
destruction. The fire department was promptly out; but it was dangerous to 
approach the burning buildings on account of the ammunition, and all 
perished. 

The year 1862 was one of intense excitement and activity. From about tha 
1st of May, 1861, to the end of 1862, there were recruited in the State of Penn- 
sylvania, one hundred and eleven regiments, including eleven of cavalry and 
three of artillery, for three years' service; twenty-five regiments for three months; 
seventeen for nine months; fifteen of drafted militia; and twenty-five called out 
for the emergency, an aggregate of one hundred and ninety-three regiments — a 
grand total of over 200,000 men — a great army in itself. 

In June, 1863, Gen. ttobert E. Lee, with his entire army of Northern Vir- 
ginia, invaded Pennsylvania. The Army of the Potomac, under Gen. Joseph 
Hooker, follo\ved. The latter was superseded on the 28th of June by Gen. George 
G. Meade. The vanguards of the army met a mile or so out of Gettysburg on the 
Chambersburg pike on the morning of the 1st of July. Hill's corps of the 
rebel army was held in check by the sturdy fighting of a small division of 
cavalry under Gen. Buford until 10 o'clock, when Gen. Reynolds came to his 
relief with the First Corps. While bringing his forces into action, Reynolds 
was killed, and the command devolved on Gen. Abner Doubleday, and the 
fighting became terrible, the Union forces being greatly outnumbered. At 2 
o'clock in the afternoon, the Eleventh Corps, Gen. O. O. Howard, came to the 
support of the First. But now the corps of Ewell had joined hands with Hill,, 
and a full two-thirds of the entire rebel army was on the field, opposed by 
only the two weak Union corps, in an inferior position. A sturdy fight was 
however maintained until 5 o'clock, when the Union forces withdrew through 
the town, and took position upon rising ground covering the Baltimore pike. 
During the night the entire Union army came up, with the exception of the 
Sixth Corps, and took position, and at 2 o'clock in the morning Gen. Meade 
and staff came on the field. During the morning hours, and until 4 o'clock in 
the afternoon, the two armies were getting into position for the desperate 
struggle. The Third Corps, Gen. Sickles, occupied the extreme left, his corps 
abutting on the Little Round Top at the Devil's Den, and reaching, en echelon, 
through the rugged ground to the Peach Orchard, and thence along the Em- 
mettsburg pike, where it joined the Second Corps, Gen. Hancock, reaching 
over Cemetery Hill, the Eleventh Corps, Gen. Howai'd, the First, Gen. Double- 
day, and the Twelfth, Gen. Slocum, reaching across Culp's Hill — the whole 
crescent shape. To this formation the rebel army conformed, Longstreet op- 
posite the Union left, Hill opposite the center, and Ewell opposite the Union 
right. At 4 P. M. the battle was opened by Longstreet, on the extreme left of 
Sickles, and the fighting became terrific, the rebels making strenuous efforts 
to gain Little Round Top. But at the opportune moment a part of the Fifth 
Corps, Gen. Sykes, was brought upon that key position, and it was saved to 
the Union side. The slaughter in front of Round Top at the wheat- field and 
the Peach Orchard was fearful. The Third Corps was driven back from its 
advanced position, and its commander. Gen. Sickles, was wounded, losing a 
leg. In a more contracted position, the Union line was made secure, where it 
rested for the night. Just at dusk, the Louisiana Tigers, some 1,800 men, 
made a desperate charge on Cemetery Hill, emerging suddenly from a hillock 



128 HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

just back of the town. The struggle was desperate, but the Tigers being 
weakened by the fire of the artillery, and by the infantry crouching behind the 
stone wall, the onset was checked, and Carroll's brigade, of the Second Corps, 
coming to the rescue, they were finally beaten back, terribly decimated. At 
about the same time, a portion of E well's corps made an advance on the ex- 
treme Union right, at a point where the troops had been withdrawn to send to 
the support of Sickles, and unopposed, gained the extremity of Culp's Hill, 
pushing through nearly to the Baltimore pike, in dangerous proximity to the 
reserve artillery and trains, and even the headquarters of the Union com- 
mander. But in their attempt to roll up the Union right they were met by 
Green's brigade of the Twelfth Corps, and by desperate fighting their further 
progress was stayed. Thus ended the battle of the second day. The Union left 
and right had been sorely jammed and pushed back. 

At 4 o'clock on the morning of the 3d of July, Gen. Geary, who had been 
ordered away to the support of Sickles, having returned during the night and 
taken position on the right of Green, opened the battle for the recovery of his 
lost breastworks on the right of Culp's Hill. Until 10 o'clock, the battle raged 
with unabated fury. The heat was intolerable, and the sulphurous vapor 
liung like a pall over the combatants, shutting out the light of day. The 
fighting was in the midst of the forest, and the echoes resounded with fearful 
distinctness. The Twelfth Corps was supported by portions of the Sixth, 
which had now come up. At length the enemy, weakened and finding them- 
selves ovei'borne on all sides, gave way, and the Union breastworks were re- 
occupied and the Union right made entirely secure. Comparative quiet now 
reigned on either side until 2 o'clock in the aftei'noon, in the meantime both 
sides bringing up fresh troops and repairing damages. The rebel leader hav- 
ing brought his best available artillery in upon his right center, suddenly 
opened with 150 pieces a concentric fire upon the devoted Union left center, 
where stood the troops of Hancock and Doubleday and Sickles. The shock 
was terrible. Rarely has such a cannonade been known on any field. For 
nearly two hours it was continued. Thinking that the Union line had been 
broken and demoralized by this fire, Longstreet brought out a fresh corps of 
some 18,000 men, under Pickett, and charged full upon the point which had 
been the mark for the cannonade. As soon as this charging column came into 
view, the Union artillery opened upon it from right and left and center, and 
rent it with fearful effect. When come within musket range, the Union 
troops, who had been crouching behind slight pits and a low stone wall, 
poured in a most murderous tire. Still the rebels pushed forward with a bold 
face, and actually crossed the Union lines and had their hands on the Union 
guns. But the slaughter was too terrible to withstand. The killed and 
wounded lay scattered over all the plain. Many were gathered in as prisoners. 
Finally, the remnant staggered back, and the battle of Gettysburg was at an 
end. 

Gathering all in upon bis fortified line, the rebel chieftain fell to strength- 
ening it, which he held with a firm hand. At night-fall, he put his trains 
with the wounded upon the retreat. During the 4th, great activity in build- 
ing works was manifest, and a heavy skirmish line was kept well out, which 
resolutely met any advance of Union forces. The entire fighting force of the 
rebel army j'emained in position b'^hind their breastworks on Oak Ridge, until 
nightfall of the 4th, when, under cover of darkness, it was withdrawn, and 
before morning was well on its way to Williamsport. The losses on the Union 
side were 2,834 killed. 13,709 wounded, and 6,643 missing, an aggregate of 
23,186. Of the losses of the enemy, no adequate returns were made. Meade 



HlSi'ORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 129 

reports 13,621 prisoners taken, and the losses by killed and wounded must 
have l)een greater than on the Union side. On the rebel side, Maj. Gens. 
Hood, Pender, Trimble and Heth were wounded, Pender mortally. Brig. 
Gens. Barksdale and Garnett were killed, anl Semms mortally wounded. 
Brig. Gens. Kemper, Armistead, Scales, G, T. Anderson, Hampton, J. M. 
Jones and Jenkins were wounded; Archer was taken prisoner and Pettigrew 
was wounded and subsequently killed at Falling Waters. In the Union army 
Maj. Gen. Reynolds and Brig. Gens. Vincent, Weed, Willard and Zook were 
killed. Maj. Gens. Sickles, Hancock, Doubleday. Gibbon, Barlow, Warren 
and Buttertield, and Brig. Gens. Graham, Paul, Stone, Barnes and Brooke 
were wounded. A National Cemetery was secured on the center of the field, 
where, as soon as the weather would permit, the dead were gathered and care- 
fully interied. Of the enl.ire number interred, 3,512, Maine had 10-1; New 
Hampshire, 49; Vermont, 61; Massachusetts, 159; Rhode Island, 12; Con- 
necticut, 22; New York, 867; New Jersey, 78; Pennsylvania, 534; Delaware, 
15; Maryland, 22; West Virginia, 11; Ohio, 131; Indiana, 80; Illinois, 6; 
Michigan, 171; Wisconsin, 73; Minnesota, 52; United States Regulars, 138; 
unknown, 979. In the center of the field, a noble monument has been erect- 
ed, and on the 19th of November, 1864, the ground was formally dedicated, 
when the eminent orator, Edward Everett, delivered an oration, and President 
Lincoln delivered the following dedicatory address: 

" Fourscore and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth upon this conti- 
nent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that 
all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing^ 
whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long en- 
dure. We are met on a great battle field of that war. We are met to dedi- 
cate a portion of it as the final resting place of those who h^re gave their 
3ives that this nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we 
should do this. But in a larger sense we cannot dedicate, we cannot conse- 
crate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who 
struggled here have consecrated it far above our power to add or detract. 
The world will little note nor long rememlwr what we say here, but it carts 
never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather to be dedi- 
cated here to the unfinished work that they have thus far so nobly carried on> 
It is ruther for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — 
that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to the cause for which- 
they here gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve 
that the dead shall not have died in vain; that the nation shall, under God, 
have a new birth of freedom, and that the government of the people, by the 
people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth.' 

So soon as indications pointed to a possible invasion of Ihe North by the 
rebel army under Gen. Lee, the State of Pennsylvania was organized in two' 
military departments, that of the Sasquohanna, to the command of whick 
Darius N. Couch was assigned, with headquarters at Harri-sburg, and that of 
the Monongahela, under W. T. H. Brooks, with headquarters at Pittsburgh. 
Urgent calls for the militia were made, and large numbers in regiments, in 
companies, in squadrons came promptly at the call to the number of over 36,- 
000 men, who were organized for a period of ninety days. Fortifications- 
were thrown up to cover Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, and the troops were movedi 
to threatened points. But before they could be brought into action, the great 
decisive conflict had been fought, and <he enemy driven from northern soil. 
Four regiments under Gen. Brooks were moved into Ohio to aid in arresting a 
raid undertaken by John Morgan, who, with 2,000 horse and four guns, had 
crossed the Ohio River for a diversion in favor of Lee. s 



-laO HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

In the beginning of July, 18G4, Gen. Early invaded Maryland, and made 
his way to the threshold of Washington. Fearing another invasion of the 
State, Gov. Curtin called for volunteers to serve for 100 days. Gen. Couch 
was still at the head of the department of the Susquehanna, and six regiments 
and six companies were organized, but as fast as organized they were called to 
the front, the last regiment leaving the State on the 29th of July. On the 
evening of this day, Gens. McCa'usland, Bradley Johnson and Harry Gilmore, 
with 3,000 mounted men and six guns, crossed the Potomac, and made their 
way to Chambersburg. Another column of 3, (X)0, under Vaughn and Jackson 
advanced to Hagerstown, and a third to Leitersburg. Averell, with a small 
force, was at Hagerstown, but finding himself over-matched withdrew through 
Greencastle to Mount Hope. Lieat. McLean, with fifty men in front of Mc- 
Causland, gallantly kept his face to the foe, and checked the advance at every 
favorable point. On being apprised of their coming, the public stores at Cham- 
bersburg were moved northward. At six A. M., McCausland opened his bat- 
teries upon the town, but, finding it unprotected, took possession. Ringing the 
court house bell to call the people together, Capt. Fitzhugh read an order to 
the assembly, signed by Gen. Jubal Early, directing the command to proceed 
to Chambersburg and demand $100,000 in gold, or $500,000 in greenbacks, 
and, if not paid, to burn the t(>wn. While this parley was in progress, hats, 
caps, boots, watches, clothing and valuables were unceremoniously appropriated, 
and purses demanded at the point of the bayonet. As money was not in hand 
to meet so unexpected a draft, the torch was lighted. In less than a quarter 
of an hour from the time the first match was applied, the whole busisess part 
of the town was in flames. No notice was given for removing the women and 
children and sick. Burning parties were sent into each quarter of the town, 
which made thorough work. With the exception of a few houses upon the 
outskirts, the whole was laid in ruins. Retiring rapidly, the entire rebel 
command recrossed the Potomac before any adequate force could be gathered 
to check its progress. 

The whole number of soldiers recruited under the various calls for troops 
from the State of Pennsylvania was 366,000. By authority of the common- 
wealth, in 1866, the commencement was made of the publication of a history 
of these volunteer organizations, embracing a brief historical account of the 
part taken by each regiment and independent body in every battle in which it 
was engaged, with the name, rank, date of muster, period for which he en- 
listed, casualties, and fate of every officer and private. This work was com- 
pleted in 1872, in five imperial octavo volumes of over 1,400 pages each. 

In May, 1861, the Society of the Cincinnati of Pennsylvania, an organiza- 
tion of the officers of the Revolutionary war and their descendants, donated 
^500 toward arming and equipping troops. By order of the Legislature, 
this sum was devoted to procuring flags for the regiments, and each organiza- 
tion that went forth, was provided with one emblazoned with the arms of the 
commonwealth. These flags, seamed and battle stained, were returned at the 
close of the war, and are now preserved in a room devoted to the purpose in 
the State capitol — precious emblems of the daring and suffering of that great 
army that went forth to uphold and maintain the integrity of the nation. 

When the war was over, the State undertook the charge of providing for 
all soldiers' orphans in schools located in different parts of its territory, fur- 
nishing food, clothing, instruction and care, until they should be grown to 
manhood and womanhood. The number thus gathered and cared for has been 
«ome 7,500 annually, for a period of nineteen years, at an average annual ex 
pense of some $600,000. 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 131 

At the election in 1866, John W. Geary, a veteran General of the late war. 
was chosen Governor. During his administration, settlements wei*e made with 
the General Government, extraordinary debts iDcurred dmnng the war were 
paid, and a large reduction of the old debt of $40,000,000 inherited from the 
construction of the canals, was made, A convention for a revision of the con- 
stitution was ordered by act of April 11, 1872. This convention assembled in 
Harrisburg November 13, and adjourned to meet in Philadelphia, where it 
convened on the 7th of January, 1873, and the instrument framed was adopted 
on the 18th of December, 1873. By its provisions, the number of Senators 
was increased from thirty-three to fifty, and Representatives from 100 to 201, 
subject to further increase in proportion to increase of population; biennial, 
in place of annual sessions; making the term of Supreme Court Judges twenty- 
one in place of fifteen years; remanding a large class of legislation to the ac- 
tion of the courts; making the term of Governor four years in place of three, 
and prohibiting special legislation, were some of the changes provided for. 

In January, 1873, John F. Hartranft became Governor, and at the election 
in 1878, Henry F. Hoyt was chosen Governor, both soldiers of the late war. 
In the summer of 1877, by concert of action of the employes on the several 
lines of railway in the State, trains were stopped and travel and traffic were in- 
terrupted for several days together. At Pittsburgh, conflicts occurred between 
the railroad men and the militia, and a vast amount of property was destroyed. 
The opposition to the local military was too powerful to be controlled, and 
the National Government was appealed to for aid. A force of regulars was 
promptly ordered out, and the rioters finally quelled. Unfortunately, Gov. 
Hartranft was absent from the State at the time of the troubles. 

At the election in 1882 Robert E, Pattison was chosen governor. The Legis- 
lature, which met at the opening of 1883, having adjourned after a session of 
156 days, without passing a Congressional apportionment bill, as was required, 
was immediately reconvened in extra session by the governor, and remained 
in session until near the close of the year, from June 1 to December 5, without 
coming to an agreement upon a bill, and finally adjourned without having 
passed one. This protracted sitting is in marked contrast to the session of that 
early Assembly in which an entire constitution and laws of the province were 
framed and adopted in the space of three days. 

November 2, 1886, James A. Beaver was elected governor. 



132 



HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



TABLE SHOWING THE VOTE FOR GOVERNORS OF PENNSYLVANIA SINCE THE ORGAN- 
IZATION OF THE STATE. 



1790. 



182!). 



Thomas Mifflin 27,725 George Wolf 78,219 

Artiiur St. Clair 2,802 Joseph Kitiier 51,776 

George E. Bauiu 6 

1793. Frauk R. Williams 3 



Thomas Mifflin 18,590 

F. A. Muhlenberg 10,706 

1796. 

Thomas Mifflin 30,020 

F. A. Muhlenberg 1,011 

1799. 

Thomas McKean 38,036 

James Ross 32,641 

1802. 

Thomas McKean 47,879 

James Ross, of Pittsburgh 9,499 

James Ross 7,538 

1808. 

Simon Snyder 157,975 

James R'>ss :!9,575 

John Spayd 4,006 

W. Shields 2 

Charles Nice j 

Jack Ross 2 

W. Tilghman 1 

1811. 

Simon Snyder 52,319 

William Tighlman 3,609 

Scatt'ring.no record for whom 1,675 

1814. 

Simon Snyder 51,099 

Isaac Wayne 29,566 

G. Lattimer 910 

J. R. Rust 4 

1817. 

William Findlay 66,331 

Joseph Hiester 59,272 

Moses Palmer ) 

Aaron Hanson 1 

John Seller 1 

Seth Thomas 1 

Nicholas Wiseman 3 

Benjamin R. Morgan 2 

William Tilghman 1 

Andrew Gregg 1 

,"* 1820. 

Joseph Hiester 67,905 

William Findlay 66,300 

Scattering (no record) 21 

1833. 

J. Andrew Shulze 81,751 

Andrew Gregg 64,151 

Andrew Shulze 112 

John Andrew Shulze 7,311 

Andrew Gragg 53 

Andrew Greg 1 

John A. Shulze 754 

Nathaniel B. Boileau 3 

Capt. Glosseader 3 

John Gassender 1 

Isaac Wayne 1 

George Bryan 1 

1826. 

J. Andrew Shulze 72,710 

John Sergeant 1,175 

Scattering (no record) 1,174 



1832. 

George Wolf 91,335 

Joseph Ritner 88,165 

1835. 

Joseph Ritner 94,023 

Goorge Wolf. 65,804 

Henry A. Muhlenberg 40,586 

1838. 

David R. Porter 127,827 

Joseph Ritner 1-J'_',::;21 

1841. 

David R. Porter 130 .■")04 

.John Banks 113,473 

T.J. Lemoyne 763 

George F. Horton 18 

Samuel L. Carpenter 4 

Ellis Lewis 1 

1844. 

Francis R. Shunk 160,322 

Joseph Markle 156,040 

Julius J. Lemoyne 10 

John Haney 2 

James Page 1 

1847. 

Francis R. Shunk 146,081 

.James Irvin 128,148 

Emanuel C. Reigart 11,247 

F. J. Lemoyne 1,861 

George M. Keim 1 

Abijah Morrison 3 

1848. 

William F. Johnston 168,522 

Morris Longstreth 168,225 

E. B. Gazzam 48 

Scattering (no record) 24 

1851. 

William Bigler 186,489 

William F. Johnston 178,034 

Kimber Cleaver 1,850 

1854. 

James Pollock 203,822 

William Bigler 166,991 

B. Rush Bradford 2,194 

" 1857. 

William F. Packer 188,846 

David Wilmot 149,139 

Isaac Hazlehurst 28,168 

James Pollock 1 

George R. Barret 1 

William Steel 1 

F. P. Swartz 1 

Samuel McFarland 1 

George F. Horton 7 

1860. 

Andrew G. Curtin 262,346 

Henry D. Foster 230,239 

1863. 

A. G. Curtin 269,506 

George W. Woodward 254,171 

John Hickman 1 

Thomas M.Howe 1 



1806. 

John W. Geary 307,274 

Hiester Clymer 290,097 

Giles Lewis 7 

i8(iy. 

John W. Geary 290,552 

Asa Packer 285,956 

W. D. Kelly 1 

W. J. Robinson 1 

1872. 

John F. Hartrault 353,387 

Charles R. Buckalen 317,760 

S. B.Chase 1,197 

William P. Schell 12 

1875. 

John F. Hartranft 304,175 

Cyrus L. Pershing 292,145 

R. Audley Brown 13,244 

James S. Negley 1 

Phillip Wendle 1 

J. W. Brown \ 

G. F. Reinhard 1 

G. D.Coleman 1 

James Staples 1 

Richard Vaux 1 

Craig Piddle 1 

Francis W. Hughes 1 

Henrv C. Tvler ■ 1 

W. D.' Brown I 

George V. Lawrence 1 

A. L.Brown 1 

1878. 

H. M. Hoyt 319,490 

Andrew H. Dill 297,137 

Samuel R. Mason 81,758 

Franklin H. Lane 3,753 

S. Matson 2 

John McKee 1 

D. Kirk 1 

R. L. Miller 1 

J. H. Hopkins 1 

A. G. Williams 1 

Samuel H. Lane 1 

John Fertig 1 

James Musgrove 1 

Silas M.Baily 1 

A. S. Post 9 

C. A. Cornen 3 

Seth Yocum 1 

Edward E. Orvis 1 

1882. 

Robert E. Pattison 355,791 

James A. Beaver 315,589 

John Stewart 43,743 

Thomas A. Armstrong 23,996 

Alfred C. Pettit 5,196 

Scattering 36 

1886. 

James A. Beaver 412,285 

Chauncey F. Black 3 9 r.34 

CharlesS. Wolfe 32,458 

Robert J. Houston 4,835 

Scattering dfi 



PAET II. 



History of Columbia County, 



X 




A\^ -J 



^^I'^J^. 




^ 



History of Columbia County 



CHAPTER I. 

GENEEAL TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY. 

1 TOPOGRAPHICALLY, the state of Pennsylvania may be generally divided 
. into three great divisions — the southeastern section, a region of broad, fer- 
tile valleys and scattered hills; the middle belt, some fifty miles wide and 
two hundred and thirty miles long, consisting of peculiarly symmetrical moun- 
tain ranges and narrow valleys; and a high western plateau deeply seamed 
by various water- courses. 

It is with the middle belt that these pages are especially concerned. This 
region is separated fi'om the earlier settled jjortion of the state by the Kitta- 
tinny range, through which the Delaware and Susquehanna rivers force their 
way along fertile valleys and rugged peaks to find their outlet to the sea. On 
the north and west the limit of this middle belt is defined by the Allegheny 
range, extending in a broad westward curve from the point where the lines of 
New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania converge to the Maryland line in 
Somerset county, where it passes out of the state. 

The region thus defined may be readily divided into four distinct districts: 
the Pocono wilderness, properly a part of the Catskill range, in the east; the- 
anthracite coal region; the open country of the middle course of the Susque- 
hanna; and the Juniata country. The mountain plateau on the western side of 
the Delaware is clearly identified with the Catskill range, and while it loses- 
something of the high altitude of that range at the Hudson, it still retains its- 
rugged characteristics. It is still a mountain wilderness, where deep recesses 
afford a safe retreat for wild animals, and laurel-fringed lakes supply the head- 
springs of the Lehigh. Between the Delaware and Lehigh rivers this range 
passes under the varying names of Poco, Pocono or Pohopoco, ending at the 
last named river in the Nesquehoning mountain. 

The anthracite region is a labyrinth of mountains, rising to elevations 
ranging from eight hundred to one thousand feet from their bases, and dividing 
this section into four generally recognized subdivisions. These are known as 
the Pottsville and Mine-Hill basins; the Shamokin and Mahanoy basins; the- 
Beaver-Meadow mountain basins, and the Wilkesbarre and Scranton basins, or 
Wyoming valley. In this region the coal measures are generally found in sharp, 
rocky-sided ridges, which rise from the valleys to an elevation of some four 
hundred or five hundred feet, though three well marked exceptions are found in 
the small plateaus of Broad mountain, five miles wide and fifteen miles long, 
which separates the Pottsville and Mahanoy basins; the Beaver-Meadow moun 



4 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTV. 

tain, eight miles wide and fifteen to twenty miles long, on top of which lie the 
numerous little Lehigh coal basins, side by side; and the Nescopec mountain, 
where it is crossed by the Lehigh valley railroads, and merges itself toward the 
east in the Pocono plateau. Each coal basin is found encircled by a great wall 
of conglomerate, outside of which is found a trough or vale of red shale, out- 
side of which again runs a second and still higher mass of white sandstone, 
the outside flank of which is always fxirnished with a terrace of red sandstone. 

The mountains of this region are still covered with the original forests, which 
promise an abundant supply of timber for mining purposes so long as there 
shall be any need of it. The red shale valleys are slowly coming under culti- 
vation, though, secluded as they are by their peculiar situation, their develop- 
ment must necessarily be slow. Here and there, however, they expand broadly 
and are mf)re generally cultivated, as Lyken' s, Deep and Mahanoy valleys, which 
together encircle the coal basins on the Susquehanna side — Laurel valley, 
drained by the Little Schuylkill; Catawissa valley, between the Mahanoy and 
Beaver-Meadow coal regions; and Conyngham valley, watered by the Nescopec 
creek. " No scenery can excel these earthly paradises, when, from the sum- 
mits of the coal-bearing rocks, the spectator looks down upon the broad ex- 
panse of field, meadow and woodland, dotted with farm houses and barns; the 
deep red of the newly turned soil in strong contrast with the verdure of grow- 
ing crops and groves, and the whole landscape bounded by the outside moun- 
tain wall, rosy in June with the rhododendron in full bloom, far as the eye can 
Teach. ' ' 

Columbia county is thus found to lie wholly within the anthracite region 
of the middle belt, though workable coal deposits have been developed within 
its limits only in the Conynghanj valley. Above the ' ' North Branch ' ' the ter- 
ritory of this county falls within the limits of what was originally called the 
Wyoming valley. In its present restricted signification the name is usually 
applied to a valley on the ' ' North Branch, ' ' some twenty miles in length and 
from three to four miles in width. In its broader application, it is used to 
designate that part of the middle belt embraced within the forty-second degree 
of north latitude, originally claimed and partly settled by Connecticut. The 
name is a corrui^tion of Manghu-auwama, an Indian term of the Delaware 
dialect signifying " large plains,'^ and is a fair characterization of the locality 
to which it was ajiplied. For, though the valley is greatly diversified by hill 
and dale, by upland and intervale, the broad river bottoms, extending in places 
to a distance of two or three miles from the river, justify the Indian title. 
Beginning where the Susquehanna emerges from a deep canon in the Alle- 
gheny range, the inclosing mountains recede, leaving broad spaces of fertile 
bottom lands on either side extending toward the southeast, until the river and 
valley of the Lackawanna is reached, when, turning somewhat abruptly to the 
southwest, the course of the river continues uninterrupted until the hills close 
in upon its course some twenty miles below Pittston. Through Columbia and 
Northumberland counties the valley again widens, but with less regularity 
than in Luzerne, until the united branches reach the open country below. 

Columbia county partakes of the broken character of the whole middle belt. 
Few of its elevations, however, reach the grade of mountain altitudes, though 
many of its hills afford a view of broad expanses of picturesque landscape. The 
Catawissa mountain, rising in places to the height of one thousand five hundred 
ieet, extends in a northwest direction from the Luzerne county line, separating 
the townships of Beaver and Roaringcreek, to the village of Catawissa, where the 
Susquehanna forces its way through a chasm probably formed by a convulsion 
of nature. North of the river the range takes a more westerly coui-se and grad- 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 5 

iially loses its mountainous character in Montour county. Dividing Locust and 
Conyngham townships is Little mountain with a parallel ridge south of it, 
beyond which the Schuylkill region is reached. On the eastern side of the 
county the Susquehanna valley is defined on the south by the Nescopec mount- 
ain, the estention of which follows the general direction of the river through 
Luzerne. At Mainville, the Catawissa riverfinds a passage way through this 
range, beyond which the elevation is associated with the Catawissa mountain. 
South of Nescopec, Scotch run forms the dividing line between it and Mc- 
Cauley mountain which, in turn, is separated by Beaver run from Buck 
mountain in the soiatheast part of Beaver township. North of the river the 
more important elevation takes its rise in Orange township and is known as 
Knob or Nob mountain. Extending -■ eastwardly the range divides, and 
passes out of the county under the names of Huntingdon and Lee, forming 
the northern limit of the river valley. In Luzerne county, Huntingdon takes 
the name of Shickshinny where it closely borders the Susquehanna, and is 
pierced by the river at Charlestown just before it turns on its southwesterly 
course. Lee mountain is pierced by the river in Salem township, of Luzerne 
county, and is known farther eastward as Wyoming mountain. Along the 
northern boundary of Sugar] oaf is the main ridge of the Alleghenys, which 
here throws off a spur called Bald mountain. 

Elsewhere in the county the surface is greatly broken by a succession of 
hills of varying height and character, while winding about at their bases are 
numerous runs, the fertile slopes of which are cultivated by the industrious 
people who have planted here their homes. Fishing creek, with its numerous 
tributaries, is the sole di-ainage way of the county north of the river. It takes 
its origin in two branches, one of which enters the county from Lycoming at 
the northern point of J ackson township, and the other through a gap in the 
mountains from Sullivan into Sugarloaf township, where they unite. A little 
south of this point it receives Coles creek, and flowing southward receives 
West creek in Benton. Continuing its course with little deflection it receives 
Huntingdon creek, which rushes along the base of the mountain bearing the 
same name. Turning westward from this point it passes through the central 
portion of Orange, receiving the waters of Green creek at this point, from 
whence it follows an irregular course, forming the boundary line, in part sepa- 
rating Mount Pleasant and Orange, Bloom and Hemlock, and Montour and 
Bloom, and at last finding its outlet into the Susquehanna at Rupert. Little 
Fishing creek enters the county from Lycoming, and, forming the separating 
line of Jackson and Pine, Greenwood and Pine, Madison and Greenwood and 
Mount Pleasant, and Hemlock and Mount Pleasant, joins the main creek at the 
point where the lines of Hemlock, Bloom and Mount Pleasant converge. In 
its course. Little Fishing receives the waters of several mountain runs, such as 
Black, Late, Lick, Shingle, Spruce, Bear and Spring. To complete the enum- 
eration of the tributaries of Big Fishing, mention should be made of Painter's 
run in Sugarloaf, Raven' s in Benton and Fishingcreek townships, Spencer in 
Benton, Stony brook in Orange, and Hemlock in Madison. Beside the Fishing, 
the county north of the river is locally drained by several minor streams, which 
find their outlet in the Susquehanna, Briar (called by the Indians, Kaicani- 
shoning) creek, one branch rising in Center and the other in the township 
bearing the same name, which unite near the village of Berwick and join the 
river about two miles lower down; Cabin run, rising in Center and flowing a 
direct covirse to the river, and Kinney's run, which empties at the foot of 
Market street in Bloomsburg, which early served raftsmen as a designation for 
the early settlement in Bloom. 



6 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

Soiitih of the Susqiieliauna, the region embraced within Columbia county is 
drained by the Catawissa, Roaring creek and the Ten Mile run. The first 
named takes its rise in Schuylkill county, passes through the towhships of Bea- 
ver, Maine and Catawissa, reaching its outlet on the western line of the latter 
township. Its principal tributaries are Beaver and Scotch runs, which form 
the dividing lines south and north, of McCauley mountain in Beaver township. 
Roaring creek takes its rise in the township:) of the same name, meanders back 
and forth across the line dividing Locust and Roaringcreek townships, and 
taking a westerly course through Catawissa and Franklin, turns northward, 
forming the western limit of the county for a short distance, and falling into 
the river about three miles below the Catawissa. Its principal branches are 
the South Branch, which rises in Conyngham township, and after running 
through its entire length, turns northward to form the western boundary of Lo- 
cust, and joins the main stream six miles from its mouth; Mugser's run, rising 
in Locust township and running westwardly, falls into the South Branch near 
the Franklin line, and Mill creek, rising in Roaring creek township and empty- 
ing into the South Branch near Cherington's. 

The general topography of the county is found closely connected with its 
geological structure, its higher elevations being found where the Focono or 
Pottsville conglomerates occur, low hills over the Catskill and Chemung area, 
and valleys wherever the Hamilton, Lower Helderberg or Salina extend, while 
the outcrop of the Oriskany and Clinton usually takes the form of ridges. 
The rock exposure in Columbia is thus found to include only No. 5, and up- 
ward, of the Older Secondary system. The geological structure of the state, 
however, is marked by great complication of form and variety of quality and 
age. The Lawrentian system, the oldest known to geologists, is represented 
in the South mountain, the Welsh mountain, and the Durham or Eastern hills. 
The Huronian system, following next in age, has not been recognized in 
Pennsylvania, but the Paleozoic or Older Secondary system — beginning with 
No. 1, the Potsdam sandstone, and terminating with No. 18, the Coal 
Measures — is magnificently developed through the entire state. The Mesozoie 
or Middle Secondary system, which spreads itself thinly over the last, is found 
in a belt of country embracing parts of Berks, Bucks, Lebanon, Lancaster, 
York and Adams counties. The Kainozoic, or Tertiary system, lies outside of 
the state, east of the Delaware river, in New Jersey, and forms the Atlantic 
seaboard, while the Drift terraces of the Beaver and other rivers in the north- 
west quarter of the state must be assigned to the quaternary age, or the age 
in which man appeared on the earth. 

At least three notable changes in the relative levels of land and sea have con- 
tributed to the characterization of the geological structure of the state. Dur- 
ing the Protozoic ages — Laicrentian and Huronian — there was land and sea, 
as the conglomerates, sandstones, mudrocks and limestones — all more or less 
converted by pressure, moisture, heat and chemical action into gneiss and 
granite, slate and marble — abundantly testify. Where the sea spread itself and 
received its washings from the land is apparent; but where the land stood, 
which bordered on, or rose from the depths of that s^a, is not discoverable. It 
"^as in this period that the first of these great changes took place, preparatory 
to the deposit of the Potsdam limestone. The existing formations were upturned, 
eroded by the rivers, and deposited in the sea to be overlaid by the Paleo- 
zoic series. The subterranean floor of Pennsylvania, like that of most of the 
entire area of the United States, is formed of granite, gneiss, mica slate, and 
marble, laying at various depths beneath the siarface, from one to twenty 
thousand feet. Beneath the Anthracite coal basins, and the Broad Top coal 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 7 

basins, wells might be sunk to the depth of more than seven miles before 
reaching this subterranean floor. At this distance would be reached the rocks 
which form the Adirondack mountains of New York, the mountains of Labrador 
and Canada, the hill country of Lake Superior, etc. These rocks are every- 
where characterized by the presence of immense beds of magnetic and specular 
iron ore and, no doubt, vast deposits of iron ore, exactly like those of lakes 
Superior and Champlain, exist beneath every county of Pennsylvania, but at 
depths which render them inaccessible. It is equally certain that the range of 
these rocks which still shows itself above the surface fi*om Easton to Reading, 
and from Carlisle to Harper's Ferry, was, in that early day, a range of moun- 
tains as high as the Alps or Andes are now. The porosity of silica in these 
rocks, however, and abundance of feldspar made th«ir erosion easy and rapid; 
their peaks were tumbled piecemeal into the ravines; the ravines were deep- 
ened and widened into valleys, until nothing now remains of what was then 
above the water level save what the explorer now discovers in these remains. 
Standing like islands in a general ocean, their fragments were rolled by rivers 
into the watery deep, forming the conglomerates and coarser sandstones of the 
Paleozoic system along their shores, while their finer mud was floated far out to 
sea. Other agencies doubtless contributed to this result, such as earthquakes of 
greater or less intensity, the great ocean bottom gradually subsiding as it re- 
ceived successive formations from the beginning to the end of the long Paleo- 
zoic era, which closed with the carboniferous bogs at the sea- level. 

The second great change then took place. The ocean no longer deepened, 
but the continent gradually rose into the air. All further deposits became im- 
possible, and the coal-beds, which were formed at the sea level, were lifted, in 
some parts of middle Pennsylvania, to a height equal to the thickness of the 
whole Paleozoic system — that is, 35,000 feet, higher than the highest sum- 
mits of the Himalayas. In this movement the wet masses of the Paleozoic 
strata were thrown into waves; di-ainage in various directions was established; 
erosion began, hydi'ostatic pressure forced the sea-water to issue in innumer- 
able springs, and with frost above, and the undermining floods below, began a 
rapid work of destruction, which has lasted ever since. Nearly the whole area 
of the state, east of the Alleghenies, lost not only all its coal measures, but a 
vast majority of all the mineral strata underneath them. For scores of miles 
the entire Paleozoic system was excavated and planed down to the limestone 
(No. 11) at the base of the series, and along the center lines of some of the 
valleys, the old Laicrentian surface cannot be more than a thousand feet be- 
low the present surface. The destruction was greatest where the elevation 
was greatest, along the middle belt of the Appalachian range, though western 
Pennsylvania suffered somewhat in this general destruction. 

Out of this general disintegration of Paleozoic formations were created 
New Jersey and the tide- water country of Maryland and Virginia; and on the 
western side, the lower half of Alabama and nearly the whole of Mississippi 
and Louisiana. So that it appears that the Protozoic mountains were wasted 
to form the Paleozoic rocks of the interior, and they, in turn, have been 
wasted to form the Tertiary formations of the seabord. 

Whether the elevation of the continent took place suddenly at the close of 
the coal era, or somewhat before, and somewhat after that point of time, is not 
known; but that the uprise was local over large areas is evident, as it left ex- 
tensive regions of the western half of the American continent still under water. 
In southeastern Pennsylvania an arm of the sea, with one cape at New York 
and the other at Trenton, stretched itsolf np into the land across what are now 
Berks, Bucks, Lebanon, Lancaster, Y'ork and Adams counties, penetrated to the- 



8 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

heart of Virginia and North Carolina, reaching the confines of Georgia. On 
the southeast side of this long salt-water bay ran the still lofty hill country of 
the Philadelphia-Baltimore-Raleigh gold-bearing rocks; and on the other rose 
the loftier range of the South mountain and Blue ridge. Into this depression 
were drained vast quantities of river sand and mud, charged with iron, form- 
ing the well-known brown building-stone of Newark and Norristown. 

The third principal change in the relative level of land and sea was occa- 
sioned by the additional rise of the eastern borders of the American continent, 
which drained this new red estuary, and elevated its brown beds to an un- 
known height in the air. At present, in spite of the destructive wear and tear 
which their upper beds have suffered since this movement took place, some of 
the rounded hill-tops stand as much as six hundred feet above the present 
tide-level. This waste of the New Red has furnished material for the deposit of 
Cretaceous and Tertiary formations of the seaboard, though the amount of ero- 
sion cannot be even estimated. 

Beside the enormous amount of wear and tear of the elements, similar to 
what may be observed in progress at the present time, the physical features of 
the country owe their character very considerably to another powerful agency, 
which, some forty years ago, was scarcely credited even by the well-informed. 
This was the great northern glacier, extending hundreds of thousands of 
square miles in area, and several thousand feet in thickness. The region of 
Hudson's bay has been suggested as the possible point of radiation, from 
which the different glacial streams proceeded upon their southerly course, and, 
from this or some other central point, a continu.ous ice- sheet advanced from 
the north across the Laurentians, the Adirondacks, the Catskills, and the suc- 
cessive mountain ranges of Pennsylvania. Another lobe of the same ice-sheet 
crossed Lake Erie, advancing into the western parts of the state, while the 
main body probably covered the entire northeastern part of the continent. 
The principal phenomena which afford a practical demonstration of this theory 
are the scratched and polished rock surfaces over which the glacier passed, the 
sha])ing and scratching of the fragments which were moved, and the trans- 
portation of boulders, which finally formed the moraines, now found regularly 
deposited through the region of the glaciated district. These phenomena 
were first observed and studied among the Swiss glaciers, and the facts thus 
obtained were found to be in general agreement with certain indications found 
in the rocks of the American continent. Other theories were, for a time, en- 
tertained, but one after another was found insufficient to account for the con- 
ditions presented, so that now, save a few who still cling to the floating ice- 
berg theory, all scientists assent to the theory of a great northern glacier. 

Many topographical changes were effected by this agency; valleys were filled 
up, terraces were formed, rocks that were barren were covered with soil, min- 
eral resources were buried, and the lines of drainage re-established. By such 
means the economic character of the country was greatly changed, the glaciated 
region being rendered favorable to the farmer, and unfavorable to the miner. 
The general topography of the two regions, however, is very much alike, and 
the dividing line is only to be discovered by a close observation of the surface 
deposit. 

These deposits may be generally divided into two classes, those occurring 
in the glaciated area, and those lying south of that area. The deposits of the 
first class may be again divided into those made by ice and those made by 
water ; and the deposits of the second class may be divided into those of a 
fluviatile and those of oceanic origin. In both classes of deposits the rela- 
tive elevation above tide is a notable feature, serving, in many cases, to mark 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 9 

important distinctions, both as to age and origin. The two classes of sur- 
face deposits meet one another in such river valleys as pass from the glaciated 
into the non-glaciated region; and it is in such valleys that the relation of the 
two classes of deposits to one another may be most satisfactorily studied. 

The great Norihern Drift, as it has long been called by geologists, is a 
scattered deposit of stones and clay, which, unlike the stratified gravels and 
clays of the river valleys, is a confused mixtui-e irregularly dumped over the 
ground, thick in some places and thin in others, and often unstratified and 
unsorted by water. It is an impure clay, filled with stones of all sizes and 
shapes, generally rounded more or less, yet often sharp. They lie at all 
angles, confusedly mixed together, and upon close examination many of them 
show fine striations. the majority of which are longitudinal. Large boulders 
are scattered through and upon this deposit, and are often many feet in diam- 
eter. Stratified gravelly deposits are also present in large quantity. 

This unstratified deposit has been called by the Swiss geologists till, a term 
which is used in the Pennsylvania reports to distinguish this unstratified stony 
clay from various other diluvial and di-ift deposits, which occur in the region 
covered by the Northern Drift, and which all overlie the till. The term drift 
is used to designate all detrital deposits which have been moved, by whatever 
agent, from their original occurrence, including, among other kinds, glacial 
drift river drift and frost drift, the latter term here designating such angular 
drift as creeps down any declivity through the successive freezing and thawing 
of the loose mass, aided by gravity. The Northern Drift designates those de- 
trital deposits which, in the northeastern parts of America and northwestern 
parts of Europe, have generally been drifted in a southerly direction. The 
modified drift of some geologists is a general term, including such portions of 
the Northern Drift as have been assoi-ted by water- action. 

The till varies in depth from a mere sprinkling of boulders, by which it is 
sometimes represented, to a depth of a hundred feet or more. In northwest- 
ern Pennsylvania it is in many places two hundred feet deep. In more western 
states it is still deeper, a depth of three hundred feet having been reported in 
certain parts of Indiana. In eastern Pennsylvania, perhaps on account of the 
inequality of the surface and the numerous mountain ranges, it is seldom 
deep, and on many mountain sides is completely absent. It is usually abundant 
in this section, however, at the heads of valleys and in other slight depres- 
sions, and is more abundant in valleys on the north side of a mountain rano-e 
than on the south side. "Where a deep cut exposes a fine section of till, the 
lower portion is seen to be much more compact than the upper part, and of a 
bluish color. This is probably the original condition of the deposit before 
being loosened and oxidized by atmospheric agencies. 

The origin of the till has been explained in several ways, some holding 
that it is a ground moraine, formed underneath the glaciers by its grinding 
and abrasive action; some believing that large portions of it were dropped 
from the end of the glacier as it melted; and others that it was formed of ma- 
terial beneath the glacier, but deposited mainly near its margin, where the ice 
was less deep. The last view is probably more con-ect, for the upper portions 
of the till, especially in the western states, fi-equently show water-action. 
This deposit is in great part composed of local material, varying in composi- 
tion with the geological character of the region. The far transported boulders 
lie, very fi-equently, at or near the surface of the till, as though dropped upon 
it from the upper ice. From the fact that the high summits in Pennsylvania 
are rarely capped by till, but, on the other hand, often hold far- transported 
boulders, it is inferred that the upper portions of the glacier were clean, bear- 



10 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

ing only occasional boulders derived from a distance, while the bottom of the 
ice-sheet was continually grinding up the underlying rock, and filling it up 
with the debris. The origin of the Philadelphia brick-clays may be found, 
perhaps, in the muddy water which issued from the grinding base of the gla- 
cier. When the glacier sent out lobes across a low country, or when it crossed 
a great river valley, the till gives the strongest evidence of sub-glacial water- 
action. The stratified drift deposits of the great Mississippi valley, and the 
sub- aqueous till of the St. Lawrence valley, indicate the presence of quanti- 
ties of water circulating beneath the ice in those regions; but it cannot be 
too strongly insisted upon that the till occurring in the mountainous districts 
of Pennsylvania is unstratified and destitute of any trace of aqueous action. 

Another and more conclusive evidence to the former presence of a conti- 
nental glacier is found in the terminal moraine. Every modern glacier pushes 
up at its foot a ridge of detritus, composed of rounded, angular and striated frag- 
ments of rock, which the ice has taken up at various points along its course and 
carried partly on top, partly below, to the point where the glacier comes to an 
end. It thus forms a terminal moraine, which may vary in elevation with the 
foot of the glacier, and on high ground may show no signs of water-action. 
Such a line is radically different from the level shore line of a body of water 
whose beach, even if non-fossiliferous and covered by iceberg-borne boulders, is 
mainly composed of stratified water-worn pebbles, and has terrace-like fea- 
tures quite unlike the rounded hummocks and interlaced ridges of a true 
moraine. 

Large terminal moraines may be seen in several parts of the Rocky moun- 
tains, and these,, sometimes several hundred feet high, furnish undisputable 
proofs of ancient glaciers. Moraines, sometimes three hundred and fifty feet 
in height, made up of angular debris and extending several miles out from the 
base of the mountains, occur along the Sierra Nevada. The moraines in the re- 
gions of South Park, Colorado, are very striking glacial features, and are even 
more conclusive than strial or scratched boulders. In fact, a terminal moraine 
may be regarded as the one decisive proof of glaciation. By the discovery, there- 
fore, in Pennsylvania and in other portions of America of an immense terminal 
moraine, which, as a nearly continuous ridge of unstratified and glaciated ma- 
terial, crosses alike mountains and valleys, and forms everywhere on high land 
the boundary between the drift-covered and the driftless regions, the theory 
that the Northern Drift was deposited by a glacier of immense extent is entirely 
confirmed. 

In the study of the Swiss glaciers, it has been found that these great bod- 
ies of ice flow with a motion resembling that of a viscous body, the central 
portion flowing more rapidly than the sides, and the upper layers faster than 
the lower. The laws of this motion have been discovered, and theories of its 
cause enunciated by the great scientists, to the inestimable advantage of all 
students of similar phenomena. By reason of this onward and downward flow 
of a Swiss glacier, any rock fragments which fall on its surface, or, which 
are broken off by being frozen into the ice, are transported to the point in the 
valley where the glacier comes to an end. In this way a heap of detritus is 
gradually dumped down at the terminus of the glacier forming a ridge of un- 
stratified glaciated material at right angles to the motion of the glacier. This 
ridge of debris has been called a terminal moraine. The mass of debris accum- 
ulated under the glacier is the ground moraine, while the lines of waste at the 
sides of the ice stream are its lateral moraines. When two glacial streams, 
each having lateral moraines, meet, as is often the case in Switzerland, a med- 
ial moraine is produced, and extends from the junction of the two lateral mo- 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 11 

raines along the middle of the glacier in a line parallel to its motion. When a 
glacier retreats, these moraines, more especially the terminal moraine, may 
be left to mark its former extension. 

In dealing with a glacier of the size indicated by the remains of the great 
ice-sheet of America, and where projecting or bordering cliffs were probably 
wholly wanting, save, in its growth and decline, some representative of the 
ground and terminal moraines only are to be sought. Of the former, the till 
fulfills all the conditions, while of the latter, the conditions are fulfilled by 
the lines of di'ift hills, which constitute the terminal moraine in Pennsylvania. 
The peculiar topography characterizing these hills is unlike that produced 
either by wave-action, or by aerial erosion; while, on the other hand, it is iden- 
tical with that characterizing: the moraines of modern Swiss glaciers. 

The great moraine shows itself at the heel of Cape Cod; makes the Eliza- 
beth islands and Block island; runs through Long island from end to end; 
crosses Staten island; bends north at Amboy, and makes a wide curve through 
New Jersey to Eelvidere. In Pennsylvania beginning a mile below Belvidere, 
latitude 40° 49', it appears through the stratified drift as low gravel hills. 
These, winding up over the slate hills to the west, are soon developed into an 
accumulation of typical till, holding kettle-holes and filled with l^oulders. 
Bending in a great curve, first westward and then northward, it reaches the 
base of the Kittatinny mountain, three miles east of Wind-Gap. Ascending to 
the top of the Kittatinny mountain (1,600 feet A. T.); the moraine crosses over 
it, being well shown upon the very summit and, entering Monroe county, 
crosses the great valley between the Kittatinny and the Pocono, inclosing in 
its course several moraine lakes. Having crossed this valley and reached the 
base of the Pocono escarpment, it swings sharply back and around Pocono 
knob. Immediately afterward it ascends the steep face of the mountain to the 
wide plateau on top, two thousand one hundi-ed feet above the sea. 

Crossing the center of Kidder township. Carbon county, it reaches the 
gorge of the Lehigh river about ten miles north of Mauch Chunk, which it 
crosses at Hickory run. Without swerving fi'om its general northwestern 
course, it crosses Hell-Kitchen mountain, Cunningham valley and Nescopec 
mountain, in Luzerne county, and descends to the valley of the east branch 
of the Susquehanna river, which it crosses at Beach Haven. Here heaps of 
di'ift have been washed down the river into terraces. 

In Columbia county, after following awhile the base of Lee's mountain, 
it ascends to the summit (1,350 feet A. T.), crosses the high red shale valley 
and crest of Huntingdon mountain, and then descends the north slope of that 
mountain to the broad, undulating valley of Fishing creek. Taking a north- 
erly course, it follows up the east bank of Fishing creek to the North or Alle- 
gheny mountains. 

From this point the moraine crosses Sullivan and Lycoming counties 
westward to Ralston, and Potter county to Olean. At Little valley, in the 
state of New York, it turns at a right angle and runs southwest to Beaver 
county. Across the state of Ohio it describes a great curve to the Ohio river 
above Cincinnati. After an excursion into Kentucky, it recrosses the Ohio 
river below Cincinnati, traverses Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and 
Manitoba, and is lost in the unexplored country west of Bafiin's bay. 

The length of the line traced through Pennsylvania is about four hundi-ed 
miles, and, where undisturbed, the moraine is a ridge of loose rocks, sand and 
clay, a hundred feet high and several hundred yards broad at its base, its ma- 
terials being fragments of all the surface formations collected and carried 
southward by the great ice- sheet in its movement fi'om Canada across the state 



12 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTr. 

of New York and the northern counties of Pennsylvania, and left standing in 
a disorderly heap along the line at which the ice -front melted away. But lit- 
tle of it, however, is left undisturbed, and, where typically developed, this ac- 
cumulation is characterized by peculiar contours of its own — a series of hum- 
mocks, or low, conical hills, alternate short straight ridges, and inclosed, 
shallow, basin-shaped depressions, which, like inverted hummocks in shape, are 
known as kettle-holes — and has an average width of about a mile. When less 
typically developed, the moraine is distinguished from the glacial drift back of 
it by the greater size and number of its boulders, the more distant source of 
such boulders, and the more frequent striation of their surfaces. 

With the exception of a narrow district, which has been denominated the 
fringe, * the line of drift hills which crosses Pennsylvania lies at the precise 
edge of the di-ift- covered district. Lying sometimes on an ascending slope, 
sometimes on a descending one, sometimes crossing a narrow mountain ridge 
and sometimes forming an embankment across a valley, it rests against no bar- 
rier and represents no possible shore line. The absence of stratification, the 
absence of drift wood or aqueous fossils, the angularity and striated surfaces 
of its enclosed stones, together with its topographical jDOsition and its peculiar 
contours, preclude any hypothesis of aqueous origin; while the fact — jjroved 
by the stricB — that its course is at right angles to the glacial movement, taken 
in connection with the remarkable deflections — large and small — in its course, 
make it a true terminal moraine. 

The moraine enters Columbia county at about the center of the north and 
soiith line of Briarcreek township. It is tolerably well defined on the county 
line where it crosses a road leading northeast from Foundryville, about a mile 
and a half from that village. The line trends somewhat south of west, keep- 
ing along the base of Lee's mountain. It passes about a mile and a quarter 
north of the village, and is recognized by its boulders and striated fragments 
at each road it crosses. Northwest of Foundryville the line may be traced 
just above the Methodist grave-yard; across a small creek at the cross-roads, 
a mile farther west; and thence westward into Center township, just above the 
road which runs nearest to the mountains. 

Throughout its coui'se in Briarcreek township the moraine can be recog- 
nized by the occurrence of boulders and striated pebbles, but not by any 
special topography of its own. No ridges of di'ift, no kettle-holes or stratified 
kames appear, and the till is thin, and boulders scarce. North of the moraine, 
moreover, and from there to the mountain back of it, the rocks are so bare, and 
the covering of till or boulders so intrequent and fragmentary, that the explorer 
will of ten find it difficult to determine whether he is in front or behind the line. 
Its feeble development here illustrates the general rule that in front of a mount- 
ain the moraine is small and the ground iincovered by till. On the northern 
side of such a mountain large accumulations of drift material, such as would 
have formed the moraine, are almost invariably found, but only such boulders 
as were carried over the mountain by the top ice were dropped where a 
terminal moraine would otherwise have been accii.mulated. 

In Center township the moraine runs south of west along the base of Lee's 
mountain, being easily recognized on the upper road to Orangeville. There is 
a sudden transition from the soil made up of broken shale, upon which no 
boulders are seen, to that made of an impure yellow clay filled with boulders 
and striated fragments. Near the Orange township line, on the upper road 
to Orangeville, the fields are completely covered by boulders, many of which 
are over four feet in length. At this point the moraine comes to an end and 

♦ Found in Pennsylvania, ouly in ilie western couuiies. 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 1^ 

appears to turn back on its course in ascending the mountain; the heavy for-- 
ests, however, renders it impossible to trace it closely. All that can be confi- 
dently said of it is, that it crosses the combined Lee' s and Huntingdon mountain 
and finds its way into the Fishing creek country beyond. From independent 
observations, it is rendered probable that Lee's and Huntingdon mountains, 
diverging from their union in Knob mountain, projected two long sharp head- 
lands eastward into the sea of ice, while an arm of the latter, ending in a nar- 
row point, extended between the two headlands several miles west from theijr 
extremities. 

In its course across the wide valley between Huntingdon mountain and tli^s ■ 
Allegheny mountain the moraine can be traced with great precision. A gar- 
ter mile west of Asbury it turns northward toward Benton. It keeps oq the» 
east side of Fishing creek as far as Cole's mills, where, in crossing it, the 
moraine forms a great ridge extending obliquely across the valley of the creek. 
It then passes across Jackson township in a northwest direction to the comer- 
made by Lycoming and Sullivan counties. Throughout the whole of this-- 
coiirse the moraine is wonderfully well shown and has characteristic topoo-- 
raphy. It leaves the base of the mountain at a schoolhouse one mile S. S. E.' 
of Asbury at the meeting of roads from Asbury and Jonestowi It here forms 
a distinct ridge, stretching diagonally across the valley of Huntingdon creek. 
Here deep masses of stratified drift rest against the western edge of the- 
moraine and continue down the valley of the creek, becomin • more shallow 
the farther it is from the moraine. Near the moraine this plain of stratified: 
drift, composed of water- worn pebbles— at least thirty feet deep — has its sur- 
face molded into shallow ridges and depressions, all of which are parallel to- 
the creek and evidently made by water action. 

The moraine now trends to a point an eighth of a mile west of Asbury, 
where its edge is very sharply defined upon the road by the sudden change in 
the color of the soil. The yellow till gives place to a red soil, formed' by the 
decomposition of Catskill shales. Above Asbury the moraine turns somewhat 
east of north, passing not quite two miles west of Bendertown, as high drift 
hills covered by large boulders and sharply defined on its edge. On the next 
road north of Asbury its limit is well marked near the forks of the road, about 
a half-mile east of Fishing creek. It is a curious fact, that although the mo- 
raine from Asbury to the Benton line runs so near Fishing creek, no drift what- 
ever, stratified or unstratified, occurs in the valley of that creek. The slates 
and shales of No. VIII are exposed on both banks of the creek, and the sandy 
alluvium forming the fertile bottom land is perfectly local. The edgeof t he 
glacier must have been drained backward. g 

The moraine enters Benton township near the point where Raven' ere k 
crosses the township line, and then approaches within a mile of Fishing 
creek. It forms drift hills, covered by boulders of sandstone and conglomerate 
brought from the Allegheny mountain. Approaching Fishing creek still more 
closely, and bending somewhat east of north, the moraine passes along the 
western side of a hill which slopes toward the creek, a mile below Benton, and 
fi-om thence to the top of a high hill which forms the bank of the creek 'east of 
Benton. As in Fishingcreek township, the moraine has been drained backward 
into some of the valleys farther east ; these back valleys are in fact now filled 
by drift accumulations. A mile below Benton the moraine ends abruptly on 
the edge of a hill descending toward the creek, a fact at variance with any 
other hypothesis than that of a glacier as the cause of the moraine. The pres- 
ence of strice and of transported boulders upon the summit of the Allegheny 
mountain to the north precludes also the idea of local glaciers. It seems probV 



16 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

able, therefore, that the continental glacier stopped just where it did simply 
because the inei'tia or moving force of the glacier, from whatever cause derived, 
became exhausted at this point. Increased temperature was the only 
barrier. 

In Sugarloaf township, at Cole's -creek postoflfice, Cole's creek joins Fish- 
ing. The moraine here forms fine conical hills in the center of the valley. At 
the bridge, north of this, the glaciated region back of the moraine is reached, 
and a fine view can be obtained of the back of the moraine, which appears 
steeper, more regular and better defined than the front. The moraine, stretch- 
ing conspicuously across the valley from Cole's creek to Fishing creek, and 
ending abruptly near the bridge, can be seen for a mile or more from up the 
creek. Hence to the base of the Allegheny mountain the valley is nearly flat, 
and contains no drift hills. Crossing Fishing creek the moraine continues in a 
northwest direction across the southwest corner of Sugarloaf township, passing 
near a school-house on a creek about two miles northeast of Polkville. In 
some places the boulders are so large and numerous as to render the soil unfit 
for cultivation. 

In Jackson township, as the moraine approaches the base of Bald mountain, 
it is less finely developed. It crosses the upper part of the township near the 
base of the mountain. The till here is very thin and often absent east of the 
moraine; but the occasional striated boulders prove the region to have been 
glaciated. As already stated no drift occurs in fi'ont of the moraine, except in 
the vicinity of streams. In the valleys of Green, Little Fishing and other 
creeks running southward, there occur boulders and sharp fragments of Pocono 
sandstone and boulders of Pottsville conglomerate. Although they often lie 
on high ground, such ground is always near a depression down which a great 
flood of water might have come, and they were probably brovTght to their loca- 
tion by floating ice. Near Orangeville, where Huntingdon and Fishing creeks 
join, there is a plain of stratified river gravel nearly a mile in width. It forms 
a terrace twenty feet high at Orangeville and is composed of smoothed, often 
flattened pebbles, overlaid by sand. It was evidently deposited by a glacial 
stream, which flowed along the valley of Huntingdon creek. From this point 
the line of demarcation just touches the lower corner of Sullivan county and 
passes into Lycoming. 

It appears, therefore, that what is popularly known as soil is due, in the 
upper portion of the state, to the grinding process of this immense glacier, 
supplemented by the action of frost and rain, and the vast deposits of humus. 
Its original distribution was manifestly variable, in some places forty or fifty 
feet deep, in others only a thin coating. But this condition has been greatly 
modified by the never-ceasing action of the elements, so that in many places 
extensive erosion has taken place, and the eroded mass gradually distributed 
beyond the glaciated area as well as within it. The valleys of the streams are 
now the main receptacles of the original Drift, since the slopes have largely 
shed the deposit left on them. 

It is supposed that the glacier was succeeded by an epoch of flooded rivers. 
A geoeral rise of temperature took place all over the world ; the winter of the 
ice-age gave place to summer; unimaginable floods poured southward spread- 
ing their burdens of moraine stones, rounded and smoothed by attrition, and 
finer detritus over the lowlands; the mountains again appeared and valleys were 
re-excavated. When quieter times came, the Susquehanna and its tributary 
streams cut down through these post-glacial deposits marking their progress by 
the terraces which border their banks. 

Great heaps of rounded and polished boulders are found over a large por- 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 17 

tion of Columbia county below the region marked by the moraine as the limit 
of glaciatiou. They occur alike in valleys, and on the summits of hills, which 
do not exceed an altitude of nine hundred and fifty feet above tide level, and are 
especially abundant over the low country which stretches from I'ishing creek 
westward to the "West Branch," along the line of the Milton and Watsontou-n 
anticlines. The majority of these transported boulders belong to the Pocono 
sandstones (No. X.), though all the rocks of this region are represented among 
them, from the conglomerates of No. XII down to the sandstones of the Clinton 
{No. V). 

The highest point at which these boulders have been observed is nine hun- 
dred and fifty feet above tide level, and this occurs two miles south from Cata- 
wissa, where they cover the summit of a ridge between Koaring creek and the 
Susquehanna river. It is supposed, therefore, that these boulders were trans- 
ported by floating ice and other means in a great lake-like river, which flowed 
westward from the terminal moraine during the flooded river period, when hills, 
now rising eight or nine hundred feet above tide level, were submerged. 

Whatever were the means by which vast quantities of debris have been 
spread so widely over the surfaces of moderate elevation in localities lying out- 
side of the region of glaciation, there is still another class of deposits that were 
certainly transported by the ' 'flooded rivers' ' which carried off the water from 
the melting and retreating glacier. These deposits are now found in great 
heaps of commingled sand, gravel and boulders of almost every size, fi'om four 
inches up to four and five feet, at many points along the Susquehanna, but are 
especially prominent at the junction of this river and its principal tributaries. 

Berwick is built upon a great boulder terrace, which extends a mile back 
from the river, at an elevation of fifty feet* above it. It forms a level-topped 
bluff* of that height on the river bank, and while it diminishes in height below 
Berwick, becomes gradually higher above the town, until it meets the moraine 
two miles above, in Luzerne county. Briar creek debouches at Berwick, and 
appears to have brought in much of this boulder trash, but it is suggested by 
independent observers that a much greater flood offered a more effective agency. 
It is believed that when the great change of temperature occurred, the tongue 
of the glacier, which occupied the wedge-shaped valley between Huntingdon 
and Lee's mountain, yielded a flood which finally broke the lower barrier on 
the south and cut two gaps in the latter mountain (225 and 270 feet deep) 
through which the pent-up floods escaped to the lowlands, depositing the pla- 
teau on which the borough now stands. 

At Bloomsbiirg, Fishing-creek valley unites with that of the "North Branch, " 
and a wide stretch of plain is covered by boulder trash about their junction. 
Three terraces may be easily observed; the first, twenty feet above the 
river (470' A. T.); the second, forty feet above the river (490' A. T.), and the 
third, thirty feet above the last (520' A. T.) On the Fishing creek side, the 
second terrace is wanting, and there is an abrupt descent of fifty feet from the 
top of the third to the top of the first. The third terrace is covered with a de- 
posit of clean reddish grey sand, fifteen to twenty feet deep, below which come 
gravel and rounded boiilders. The main portion of Bloomsburg is built on 
this third terrace, while the station of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western 
railroad is on the second terrace. No terraces higher than the third, above in- 
dicated, are seen at this point, but two miles below, very thick gravel beds are 
seen extending to an elevation of one hundred and seventy-five feet above the 

*The state authorities seem to conflict upon this point. In Volume Z, of the geological reports. Prof. Lew- 
is, gives the height as in tha text, and the elevation above tide-level as n6(i feet. In Volume G, G", Prof. White 
places the height of the terrace from the bed of the river at one hundred feet, and the elevation above tide- 
level at 575 feet. 



18 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

Susquehanna. This same gravel deposit is frequently seen in the old vallev 
which leads from Rupert westward to Danville along the line of the Catawissa 
& Williamsport (Reading) railroad, and its top is generally found at about six 
hundred and twenty-five to six hundred and thirty feet above tide-level. 

The Paleozoic system, which underlies these surface deposits, is divided 
by Pennsylvania geologists into thirteen formations, which are indicated by the 
numbers from I to XIII. The series begins with the Potsdam White Sand- 
stone No. I and follows in regular order; the limestone of No. II, with its brown 
hematite iron ores, lead, zinc, and barytes; the slates of No. Ill, which sup- 
plies the roofing slate quarries on the Lehigh; the sandstone of No. IV, form- 
ing Kittatinny, Buffalo, Montour's Ridge among many other mountains; the 
red shale of No. V, with its fossil ore beds; the limestone of No. VI., with 
brown hematite iron ore pockets, and lead; the sandstone of No. VII, usually 
forming a rocky ridge, but in Juniata and Perry counties rising to the dignity 
of a small mountain; the olive shales and soft green sandstones of No. VIII, 
with hydi-aulic lime rocks, fictitious coal-beds, occasionally valuable deposits of 
brown hematite, and in the northwest part of the state, reservoirs of saltwater 
and petroleum; the red sandstone of No. IX, forming terraces on the white 
sandstone mountains of No. X, such as the Catskill, Pocono, Mahonoy, Little, 
Catawissa, Long, Nescopec, Wyoming, Knob and other mountains; the red 
shale of No. XI, the white sandstone or conglomerate of No. XII, surround- 
ing and supporting the coal basins, and forming Beaver-Meadow, Sugarloaf, 
Bu-ck and McCauley mountains in the anthracite region, the crest of the Alle- 
gheny mountain, and other coal-bearing mountains; and finally No. XIII. 
constituting a subordinate system of itself, and known as the coal measures. 
In this series, numbers I, IV, VII, IX, X, and XII, are massive sand- 
rocks; III, V, VIII and XI are slate or shale formations; II and VI are 
chiefly limestone strata. The red members of the series are numbers V, IX 
and XI, and all mountains in the state, save South mountain and the moun- 
tains which hold the coal are merely outcrops of numbers IV and X. 

This nomenclature is not invariable throughout the country, nor in this 
state alone. In the final report of the first geological survey of Pennsylvania, 
latin terms, signifying the course of the sun during a single day, were substi- 
tuted for the numbers; in New York, the English nomenclature has been 
adopted; and in the W^est, owing to the confusion of the strata there, the 
whole series, from the Coal Measures down to No. VIII, is classed as the Car- 
boniferous system. The real harmony existing between these different nomen- 
clatures, and an approximate section, set forth by Prof. J. P. Leslie, is as 
follows : 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 



19 



Thick- 
ness in 
Penn'a 

Feet. 



Nomenclature 
1st Geological Beport. 



3,000 
1,200 
3,000 
2,500 

600 
3,200 
1,700 

700 
1,100 

800 

300 



500 
600 
350 



2,600 

1,800 

1,200 
400 

550 

5,500 

250 



Coal measures 

Serai conglomerete 

Umbral red shale 

Vespertine sandstone 

Ponent red sandstone 

Vergent olive shales 

Vergent gray sandstones. . 
Cadent upper black slate. . 

Cadeut olive shales 

Cadent lower black shale. . 
Post-meridian limestone.. . 
Wanting in Pennsylvania. 
Wanting in Pennsylvania. 

Meridian sandstone 

Pre-meridian limestone . . . 

Scalent limestone 

Wanting in Pennsylvania. 
Wanting in Pennsylvania. 
Surgent red shales 

I Levant vrbite sandstone. 

-; Levant red sandstone. . . . 

( Levant gray sandstone. . 

Matinal blue slates 

Matinal black slates 



6— 



New York 
Nomenclature 



I Thick- 
ness in 

N. Y, 
I Feet. 



4,000 
32,850 



Matinal limestone ) 

Auroral magnesian limestone v 
Aurora calc. sandstone ) 



j Pri 
(Pri 



mal sandstone, 
mal slates 



XIII. 
XII. 
XI. 
X. 

IX. 



VIII. 



VII. 
VL 



Eroded from New York 

Millstone Grit (eroded fr. N.Y.). 



Old red. (Catskill group). 



O f Chemung group. 

% I: 



V. 

iv.' 
III. 

II. 



Portage group 

§ ' Genesee slates 

^' ^ Hamilton slates 

? 1 Marcellus shales 

I Upper Helderberg limestone 

Schoharie grit 

Cauda galli grit 

I [Oriskany sandstone 



d r Lower Helderberg limestone. 



Onondaga salt group 

Niagara limestone 

^ Clinlon group 

4 Medina sandstone 

I -j Shawnyunk gi'it 

L ( Oneida conglomerate. . . 

f j Hudson slates 

\ Utica slates 

I ^ ( Black River limestone. ) 

i a ^ Birdseye limestone [ 

i o f Chazy limestone 

I ? 

I Calciferous sand-rock 

[^Potsdam sandstone 



2,500 

1,500 
1,200 

2,001 



400 

50 

200 

1,000 
250 
200 
400 
500 
100 

1,000 



300 



50 



10,850 



In giving the thickness of these formations, it must be understood that 
they vary greatly in different parts of the area occupied by the two states. But 
the table illustrates the great thickness of the mechanical deposits toward the 
southeast, in contrast with their thinness in the northwest. 

The geological structure of Columbia county is found considerably more 
broken than that of the region farther north. In Wyoming and Sullivan 
counties, the rocks are practically horizontal, but as the latitude of Luzerne, 
Columbia and Northumberland is reached, the rocks are found thrown into arch- 
es so high as to expose the upper part of No. IV, in the latter county, and 
into troughs deep enoiigh to preserve nearly the highest coal measvires. The 
first of these flexures, noticed in passing into the county fi'om the north, are 
the White Deer and Milton anticlinals. These are the declining ends of the six 
anticlinals of the Buffalo mountains, which split up the Kisicoquilis valley, and 
of the "Seven mountains," north of that valley. A great fold comes east- 
ward across the "West Branch," in the vicinity of Watsontown, which is 
locally designated as the AVatsontown anticlinal. It declines rapidly eastward 
and ends in the upper part of Northumberland county where it spreads the 
Salina beds over a considerable area. 

Four miles south of Watsontown, at Milton, another of the great Buffalo 
mountain anticlinals crosses the river eastward, passes through Northumber- 
land and Montour counties, and enters Columbia in Madison township, passing 
eastward nearly through the center of the township. Here it brings uj) the 
Hamilton rocks in a valley two or three miles at the west, but which contracts 
toward the east, until near Little Fishing creek it is not more than a mile 



20 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

and a half wide. Chemung rocks make ridges on the north and south from 
three to five hundred feet high. Crossing the Little Fishing, the Milton axis 
crosses the southeastern corner of Pine, in the vicinity of Millville, the Big 
Fishing just south of Stillwater, and enters Luzerne county near the northeast 
corner of Fishingcreek township. The dip of the rocks on the south side of 
this anticlinal is everywhere steeper than on the northwest, since it seldom ex- 
ceeds twenty degrees on the north, but is often forty-five or fifty degrees 
on the south. This great difference does not appear near the crest of the 
arch, however, but begins to be noticed at some distance southeast from it. 

The Lackawanna synclinal, the name used to designate a great downward 
fold of the rocks, which, proceeding from the northeastern corner of Lackawanna 
county as a naiTow, shallow trough, gradually deepens and broadens toward 
the southwest, until in the vicinity of Wilkesbarre it retains the entire Coal Meas- 
ure series, and possibly a small cap of the Pernio -carboniferous. From this 
point it begins to shallow and narrow up westward, so that at Shickshinny, 
fifteen miles southwest, the Coal Measures remain only in a narrow, triangular 
area west of the river. Westward from Shickshinny the axis of the trough 
runs along the center of the old drift-filled valley of West Shickshinny creek, 
with a mountain of Pocono sandstone both north and south. But the Pocono 
trough gradually narrows and shallows westward, until its two rims come to- 
gether at Oi'angeville, and then the Pocono beds vanish in air, leaving the 
Catskill rocks to occupy the trough westward through the center of Mount 
Pleasant township, and along the northern border of Hemlock, which, in 
turn, tail oiit at the eastern edge of Montour county. 

The next fold in the rocks is found about four miles south from the last, 
and is much the greatest in this region. The axis of this anticlinal crosses the 
' * North Branch ' ' in Luzerne, about half way between the Big and Little 
Wapwallopen creeks, and passes under the town of Berwick, from which it 
takes its name. The Lower Helderberg limestone is elevated to the surface 
a short distance west fi-om Berwick, and it very probably first emerges near the 
eastern line of the borough, but has been eroded and its oiitcz'op deeply bur- 
ied by the terrace deposits, which cover up all the rocks to a great depth in 
that vicinity. The Salina beds are brought up, one mile west fi'om Berwick, and 
then a low ridge begins along the crest of the arch, which gradually increases 
in elevation westward through the southern half of Center and Scott townships, 
becoming still higher across Bloomsburg township, where the Clinton rocks 
come to the surface. 

The axis crosses Fishing creek one-half mile north fi'om the town of Blooms- 
burg, and about three hundred yai'ds north fi'om the Bloomsburg Iron Com- 
pany's furnace. Fishing and Hemlock creeks trench squarely across this axis 
in the vicinity of Bloomsburg, through large gaps in Montour's ridge, but 
westward from Hemlock creek the very hard Clinton iron sandstones and un- 
derlying siliceous shales arching over the crest of the fold, carry Montour's 
ridge up to about eleven hundred feet above tide-level. This conspicuous ele- 
vation along the crest of the Berwick axis is known as Montour' s ridge, westward 
from Bloomsbui-g, and is rendered all the more prominent from the fact that 
it is bordered on each side by the soft beds of the Salina and Hamilton, which 
weathering away into broad, low valleys along both the north and south slopes 
of the ridge, seem to increase the height of the latter by contrast. This axis is 
of great economical importance to this region, since it brings to the surface two 
belts of Loiver Helderberg limestone entirely across the county, and also those 
valuable iron-ore deposits of the Clinton, which have rendered Bloomsburg 
and Danville famous for their iron industries. 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 21 

The Northumberland synclinal is a term used to designate the downward 
fold of rocks, which forms a great trough, about four miles and a half south of 
the Berwick anticlinal. This is one of the most i"^markable basins which tia- 
verses Pennsylvania, extending, as it does, through Huntington, Juniata, Sny- 
der, Northumberland, Columbia and Luzerne counties, nearly to the Lehigh 
river, a total length of about two hundred and fifty miles. Through most of 
its course in middle Pennsylvania it is regular as to width and depth, but much 
complicated by subordinate folds. As it approaches the Susquehanna from 
the west, it begins to widen and deepen gradually. Crossing the river at the 
forks, it not only deepens, but becomes complicated going east, and widens in 
Columbia county into a group of basins separated by anticlinals. 

The two deepest of these basins (which taken together may be considered 
as representing the axis or bottom of the great trough,) hold the two projecting 
spurs of the Catawissa mountain. The other spurs of the mountain farther 
south represent other subordinate basins on the southern side of the great 
trough. In the Catawissa valley, the great trough is made up of numerous 
subordinate basins, in one of which stands McCauley' s movintain, and in others 
lie the anthracite basins of Black Creek, Hazleton, etc. 

A very strong anticlinal arch crosses the Susquehanna eastward, two miles 
above Selinsgrove. This fold rapidly declines east of the river, where the 
Lower Helderberg is soon covered by the Oriskany sandstone, and that in turn 
by the Hamilton beds. Traced eastward, the axis is found passing under the 
town of Elysburg, and thence in a direct line to New Media, in Locust town- 
ship. At Roaring creek the Genesee beds are the lowest rocks appearing above 
water-level, and east of the creek these are covered^ by Chemung. At New 
Media the Catskill beds cover the lower formation, and this is covered in 
turn by the Pocono before the axis reaches the eastern line of Colambia county 
in the southern part of Roaringcreek township. 

Southward from this axis the dip increases, the Chemnng, Catskill, Pocono, 
Mauch Chunk and PottsviUe formations coming down, one after another, dip- 
ping from forty- five to fifty degrees, to the Coal Measures of the great Sham- 
okin anthracite coal basin. 

The Devonian rocks are alone found in the upper part of Columbia, and 
cover more than three- fourths of its whole area. Of these are found the Catskill, 
Chemung, Hamilton, and perhaps the Portage, but so poorly defined that it is 
included under the Chemung in the reports. The thickness of this system 
gradually increases southward and probably reaches a depth of eight or nine 
thousand feet. Unfortunately for the economic advantage of the county, how- 
ever, these rocks contain no valuable minerals of any description, in paying 
quantities, and all search for lead, silver or copper, of each of which there are 
traces, will undoubtedly prove fi'uitless. In their decomposition they subserve 
a valuable, if less attractive purpose, in furnishing the pi'incipal portion of the 
farming lands. 

The Catskill rocks (No. IX) are rather sharply separated at top from 
the Pocono-Catskill beds by the occurrence of red shales of considerable thick- 
ness, and a type of greenish gray sandstone; but while the top of this forma- 
tion can nearly always be definitely determined, it is not so with its base in 
this region, as there comes in at the bottom a series of rocks having such a 
mixture of characteristics belonging to both of the joining formations, that it 
is difiicult to determine the exact line of demarcation. To bridge this diffi- 
culty, the report classifies these transition beds as an intermediate Catskill- 
Chemung group. The character of the rocks'is very changeable. In one sec- 
tion, more than two-thirds of the whole series may be massive-looking, greenish 



22 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

isandstone, with, only thin beds of red shale interstratified, while only a few 
aniles distant the green sandstones disappear and in their stead are found very 
«&ick red beds. A general section compiled from the vicinity of Catawissa exhib- 
iting so far as exposures could be obtained, may be found on page 57, of vol- 
Tume G", of the second state report. The depth here is estimated at 4,330 
ifeet. 

Save a narrow belt of Pocono, which caps the summit of North mountain, 
Ifche red Catskill covers the whole area of Sugarloaf township and a mile-wide ' 
.•strip of the northern part of Benton. The southern line of this red border 
ipasses regularly westward through Jackson and Pine townships, though from 
Jbhe line of Polkville southward the rocks belong rather to the Catskill- 
'.CJiemung. A narrowing belt of Catskill enters the eastern side of the county, 
.the middle line of which is marked by the axis of the Lackawanna synclinal. 
The Pocono mountain, called Knob, covers the central portion to Orangeville, 
from whence it tapers to a point just west of the Mahoning creek. A band of 
Ahe Catskill borders the northern slope of the Nescopec mountain, and, follow- 
ing the trend of the Catawissa range, occupies the broad angle formed by its 
union with Little mountain, covering the larger portion of Franklin, Cata- 
wissa, Locust and Roaringcreek townships, and the southern half of Maine 
and Mifflin townships. The Catskill beds, when shaly aUd weathered down 
,into a rolling topography, make a very good soil, which produces excellent 
■crops of oats, grass, corn and, when enriched with lime, very fair crops of 
^wheat. When the beds become very sandy, however, and massive green 
■sandstones predominate, the country is barren. 

The rock next to the Catskill in extent of exposure in the county is the 
'iJJiemung formation. The transitional beds which lie between these formations 
are well exposed abou.t half way between Rupert and Catawissa, a section of 
which may be found on page 03 of the report already referred to. The depth 
;at this point is eptimated at 1,007 feet. In the coloring of the geological 
maps, however, these beds are included in the Catskill formation. The top of 
the Chemung has been fixed, for this county, by Prof. White, at the base of the 
lowest red bed, and all rocks below this to the top of the Hamilton are so classed. 
_ A section of this formation is exhibited on page 68 of his report, where he es- 
timates its thickness at 2,443 feet. The Chemung rocks are finely exposed 
along the Little Fishing creek, in Hemlock township, about a mile above the 
junction of that stream with the Big Fishing, and there the following su.cces- 

sion is shown: 

Feet. 

1. Red sbale, base of Catskill- Chemnng group. 

TT-pT>"p>"R ■ 

2. Soft olive shales 50 

3. Conglomerate, gray sandstone, with flat (juartz pebbles 10 

4. Olive shales, rather soft 200 

5. Hard, greenish, sandy, flaggy beds 150 

6. Stony Brook beds, very fossiliferons olive-green sandv shales 75 

Lower: 

7. Very hard, gray, bluish, and dark olive sandy beds 1,875 

8. Genesee shales. 

Total thickness of Chemuvg 2,360 

In this section appears a type of the Chemung that is found at nearly every 
point in this region where these beds are exposed — two series of rocks quite 
different from each other in lithological character, taking the base of the Stony 
Brook beds as the dividing plane. 

The Upifer Chemung is from five to six hundred feet thick, and consists 
Ijargely of olive-green shale, which readily breaks down when exposed to at- 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 25 

mospheric influences, cnimbling into small chips and splinters, whicli soon de- 
compose. The conglomerate is not a constant member of the series, but yet it 
occurs in a great many localities at thirty to fifty feet below the top of the 
Chemung, being usually a grayish white rock, with small, somewhat flat peb- 
bles of quartz scattered through it. All rocks below the Stony Brook horizon 
may be classed together, so far as their lithological characters are concerned, 
since these are practically the same throughout the eighteen or nineteen hun- 
di-ed feet which complete them. They are simply a monotonous succession of 
dark gray, and dark olive -green and brown sandstones, and sandy beds half 
way between shale and sandstone, yet so hard as to make high ridges, 
and a succession of ragged cliffs wherever cut by the streams. In weath- 
ering they are usually broken into irregular and rather thick, si)linter- 
like fi-agments, four to six inches long. The base of this series rises suddenly 
and sharply from the valley of Hamilton beds, which always border it, and 
usually makes a high ridge of rocky, baiTen land overlooking the Hamilton 
valley fi-om a height of three to four hundred feet. 

There is a total and abrupt change in lithology at the base of the Chemung 
series, the hard, sandy beds of which give place to dark blue and blackish 
Hamilton shales and slate. This series varies so much in passing across this 
region from north to south, as to call for three entirely separate descriptions. 
The northern type is found in Columbia county north of the river, and is fully 
exposed on Little Fishing creek, in Hemlock township, two miles north from 
Bloomsburg. The following section, observed at this point, may be taken as 
typical of the character of this formation above the Berwick axis : 

Feet. 

1. Genesee slate, dark blue and blackish shales and slates, sometimes 

slightly sandy, afld when weathered often bleaching gray or 
even whitish 375 

2. TuUy limestone, a series of dull gray and bluish gray impure lime- 

stones, weathering with a huffish tint, and often presenting a 
slaty appearance 50 

3. Hamilton brown, gray and bluish gray sand shales and slates 400 

4. Marcellus shales, black and dark blue fissile slates and shales, some- 

» times getting gray at base 410 

Total thickness of Hamilton 1,135 

The Tully limestone of this series is never pure enough to bui-n, usually be- 
ing quite earthy, breaking with a dull, irregular fracture, and often weather- 
ing to a light ashen, or even butfish gray color. This series, as displayed 
north of the Susquehanna, is eminently a valley maker, since all of its com- 
ponents readily Ireak down and disintegrate into soil, the quality of which is 
excellent, some of the best farms in the county being situated on the Hamilton 
rocks. The river flows in a valley of these rocks from Hick' s ferry nearly to 
Rupert, a distance of nearly twenty miles, and they may fi-equently be seen 
extending in low ledges nearly across the bed of the river, notably at Berwick 
and Bloomsburg. South of the Berwick axis the Hamilton seems to greatly in- 
crease in thickness, and, if any reliance can be placed on the constancy of dip, 
this series must reach a thickness of two thousand to twenty-five hundred feet 
at Bloomsburg. South of the river the Hamilton retains the above typical 
character, save that in gaining in thickness several new members have been 
intercalated. 

It is not certain that there is any representative of the Cauda galli beds in 
this county or in the region, but on Big Fishing creek, about two and a half 
miles above Bloomsburg, there occur some beds down near the base of No. 



26 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

VIII, which so exactly resemble the lithological appearance of the Cauda 
gain that their identity with that formation seems not improbable. 

A band of Chemung, spreading from near Waterville to Asbury, enters the 
county from Luzerne, and, widening as it passes south westward, covers Green- 
wood, Madison, and parts of Pine, Orange and Mount Pleasant. The Milton 
axis, which passes through the center of this bend, brings up an area of Ham- 
ilton rocks, which beginning in a point at Fishing creek, gradually widens to- 
ward the west, attaining a breadth of two or three miles in Greenwood and 
Madison townships. A narrow band of Chemung bordered by a similar band 
of Hamilton is found on the lower slopes of the Berwick anticlinal, and a 
wedge-shaped area of the former is found also in Locust township, along the 
axis of the Selinsgrove anticlinal, the corresponding Hamilton being found to 
the west in Northumberland. 

Along the line of the Berwick axis is developed that part of the Silurian 
system consisting of the Oriskany sandstone (No. VII), the Lower Helderherg 
limestones (No. VI), the Salina, Bloomsburg red shale and Clinton shales (No. 
V). The rocks which constitute the Oriskany series were not deposited every- 
where over this region, there being no representation whatever of them on Big 
Fishing creek. They appear to be absent also from both sides of the Berwick 
axis all along its course between Berwick and Bloomsburg; at least, not a single 
outcrop or fragment of the rock is to be seen between the two localities. The 
most eastern k cality at which this rock has been observed is the slate quarry 
on Little Fishing creek. Near this a quarry in the Lower Helderherg lime- 
stone reveals four to six feet of cherty, brown sandy beds, overlain by the blu- 
ish black beds of the MarceUus, and underlaid hy a few feet of Stormville 
shale, which rapidly thins out to a knife edge and lets the Oriskany down in 
contact with the massive limestones of the Lower Helderherg. 

On the south side of the Berwick arch, the Oriskany blocks first make their 
appearance in the soil just west from Fishing creek, growing more abundant 
westward toward the Montour county line, where a tunnel has been driven 
through the Oriskany to reach the Lower Helderherg limestone. Here a large 
amount of Oriskayiy rock has been taken from the tunnel and now lies on the 
dump. It consists of cherty, rotten, dirty yellow beds containing some lime, 
and is quite rich in fossils. 

A ribbon-like band of the Lower Helderherg may be traced from the river 
at Berwick, whence, taking a slight curve northward to the latitude of Light- 
street, it passes in a nearly direct line westward to the west branch of the 
Susquehanna. A similar band begins at the same point and follows the bank 
of the river to a point nearly opposite Mifflinville, where the river in bending 
north severs it. Beginning again at the point of the river's deflection, it fol- 
lows a direct course to Bloomsburg, crossing the river at Danville. A sum- 
marized section of this series, obtained in Cooper township at the eastern line 
of Montour county, is as follows: 

Feet. 

1. Stormville shale 100 

2. Stormville conglomerate 44 

3. Stormville limestone. ... Ill 

4. Stormville cement bed, etc 34 

5. Bos.sardville limestone 105 

Total.. 384 

The Stormville shale, as usually developed, consists of ashen gray shales, 
and a considerable thickness of dark brown or nearly black beds, the latter oc- 
casionally making up nearly the entire thickness. Interstratified with these^ 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 27 

are often seen thin beds of impure, shaly limestone, and occasionally some 
layers of chert. As shown in the above section the average thickness of this 
formation generally is not far from one hundred feet thick. At one locality on 
Little Fishing creek, about two miles north of Bloomsburg, it is seen thin- 
ning rapidly fi'om fifteen to only two feet. This shale seems to stand to the 
Oriskany sandstone above, and to the Lower Helderberg limestones below, in 
the relation of a transition series, connecting Nos. VI and VII, without prop- 
erly belonging to either. 

The Stormville conglomerate is a very siliceous, calcareous sand-rock, and 
occurs at the base of the Stormville shale. It is called the ' ' sand block' ' by 
the quarry men, and is reported to be "as hard as granite." The beds imme- 
diately under the shale are often quite sandy, but only in the vicinity of 
Grove's quarry, for a mile or two on either side of the Columbia- Montour 
county line, do they look anything like a sandstone, though in one or two sec- 
tions sometimes cherty and usually massive. On weathered surfaces, where the 
calcareous matter has leached out, some of this formation has the appearance 
of a coarse, porous sandstone; in other portions it looks more like chert or 
quartzite. 

The Stormville limestone is frequently shaly in its upper half, and occasion- 
ally cherty near the top. When massive, this is often too impure to burn into 
lime or use successfully as a flux for iron, except when largely mixed with the 
purer limestone from the Bossardville group below. In fact there are only two 
or three quarries for a wide region where any beds above the Stromatopora 
horizon have ever been quarried for any pu.rpose. 

The latter bed, which generally comes near the center of the Stormville 
limestone, is designated from the number of Stromatopora concentrica which 
it contains, being in fact simply a fossil reef of these sponge-like masses. The 
bed in which they are so numerous is usually about ten feet thick and never 
more than fifteen, being nearly always quite massive, and standing out from 
the quarries as a cliff, in which the Stromatoporce are brought into relief by 
weathering, and occur in masses of every size, fi'om that of a saucer up to two 
feet in diameter. This bed is usually rather siliceous, or at least is seldom 
pure enough to warrant quarrying for burning into lime or for any other 
purpose. 

The portion of the Stormville limestone below this fossil bed often contains 
some very good limestone, and is largely quarried in Columbia county. 

The Bastard limestone is a term in use at nearly all the quarries in Colum- 
bia county to distinguish a light gray or buflSsh blue, very tough, impure 
limestone, which separates the good limestone found at the base of the Storm- 
ville beds from the still better limestones of the Bossardville horizon below. 
On account of its position between the two valuable portions of the Lower 
Helderberg series, its presence very often largely increases the cost of quarry- 
ing, since it must be broken up and removed as waste, or else either the upper 
or lower beds must be worked out in a long trench before the other can be 
reached by cutting through the wall of ' ' Bastard limestone, ' ' which then 
remains as a great overhanging ledge directly through the center of the quaiTy. 
At the Lime ridge quarries it is broken up and removed entire, some of it 
being used for building the piers of bridges and other rough work. 

The Bossardville limestone comes next below the Bastard horizon. The 
thickness of the whole mass does not usually vary much from 100 feet, and is 
the only stone from which the white lime for plastering purposes can be pro- 
cured. But not all of this is good limestone, for there is often a band of 
impure layers, from twenty to thirty feet thick, or even more, near the center. 



28 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

This valuable deposit is not exposed along the whole line of its upheaval, 
but is well worth exploration to discover it. Its outcrop is often covered over 
by an uncertain* thickness of surface trash, and could certainly be found any- 
where between Berwick and the " West Branch" by a systematic search along 
its line of outcrop. In many localities it is doubtless so deeply buried as to 
render any attempt to quarry it impracticable, but there are many others where 
it could be itncovered and profitably mined. 

Lead and zinc have been found in considerable quantity just above the base 
of the Bossardville limestone, along the river between Sunbury and Selinsgrove 
Junction. The mine is reported to have been first discovered about 1843, and 
some of the ores shipped east in barrels on the Pennsylvania canal, but as the 
results were kept secret, no one pursued the matter further. This same hori- 
zon has furnished indications of the same ores about half-way between Lime 
ridge and Espy, where a drift was once run into the hill, near the line between 
Scott and Center townships. It is reported that masses of Galena more than 
a foot in diameter were taken from the rocks at this locality, but the ore was 
not found in quantity sufficient to waiTant a continuance of the effort. 

The Salina and Clinton series (No. V) make only a single belt across the 
county, the latter forming the uppermost part of the Montour ridge, which 
mai'ks the line of the Berwick axis. The top of this series appears on the 
surface near the center of Scott township, while next in order down the slope, 
along its whole extent, comes the Salina. A complete exposure of this series, 
or nearly so, can be seen only in one locality in this county, and that is where 
the Fishing creek cuts squarely across this formation, along the " Shafer 
road" to Lightstreet. 

The section here observed suggests the division of the Salina series into three 
groups — the upper, middle and lower groups. The first is used to designate 
the succession of huffish, pale green limestones, and tinny shales which make 
their appearance immediately beneath the Bossardville beds. The base of 
this group is placed at the lowest red bed, and as thus limited has a thickness 
of three hundred and twenty-nine feet. G-ypsum has not been observed in this 
gi'oup, though it probably exists in small disseminated particles, as this division 
of the series is locally known as ' ' sulphur stone, ' ' fi-om the fact that in an at- 
tempt to burn the rocks into lime they gave off an intolerable odor of sul- 
phur. 

The middle group is used to designate that portion of tlie Salina which con- 
sists of alternating red and greenish shales, limestones, etc. , which also comes 
near the middle of the formation, and in the section observed has a thickness 
of four hundi'ed and seven feet. The lower group is a thick mass of red rocks, 
called in the state reports Bloomsburg red shale, and may be seen along the 
east bank of the Fishing creek in the cuts of the Bloomsburg Iron Company' s 
railroad, at the north line of the town of Bloomsburg. Nearly its full thick- 
ness may be seen in this locality, but the green shales at the base of the middle 
group are not quite exposed in the fonr hundred and forty feet of beds measured 
■ here, and hence the entire thickness is possibly ten to twenty feet more. 

The Bloomsburg red shale is usually sandy, and often stands up in steep 
bluffs and cliffs, especially where it is cut by streams. The color is generally 
a very deep or dull red, though occasionally some of the beds are rather 
bright. When well exposed to atmospheric action some thin layers of apple-green 
shale are always interlaminated with the red beds. Often for several feet no 
lamination whatever appears, but the whole mass weathers away by breaking 
across the bedding into small, irregular chips, which gives the cliffs a peculiar 
roughened aspect. 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 29 

The Salina rocks, as a whole, like the Hamilton, make valleys along the 
line of their strike. This is finely shown in the continuous valley on either 
side of Montour ridge from the eastern line of Columbia county westward 
to the ' ' West Branch. ' ' The soil made by these beds, especially the upper 
and middle groups, is the most fertile in the district. The topography is al- 
ways gentle, and a large quantity of lime, as well as other elements of fertility, 
are set free when the rocks decompose. 

The Clinton series, as has been noted, is brought to the surface in Columbia 
only on the arch of Montour ridge. This elevation is almost perfectly straight 
and of very regular form. Its highest and widest part is in the vicinity of 
Danville, but it maintains a nearly level summit for a great length, east and 
west, and declines at each end in a long gradual slope into the plain. Ita 
greatest height is about six hundi-ed feet, and its mean breadth perhaps three- 
fourths of a mile. From its east termination near Espytown to its west, at the 
Susquehanna, four miles above Northumberland, the whole length of the crest is 
very nearly twenty-seven miles. A low valley, generally less than half a mile 
in width, lies immediately at the foot of the mountain, bounding it on each 
side, as it were, by a broad fosse. 

The Fishing creek has cut its way through the ridge in the vicinity of 
Bloomsburg, and exposes the following section of the Clinton series: 

Feet. 
1. Olive brown shales, limey beds and flaggy sandstones — fossiliferous..l50 

iOre, big vein, 10 to 12 inches. ) 
Limy and sandy shale, 2 feet, > 3 
Ore, little vein, 3 to 4 inches. ) 

3. Concealed and olive sandy beds, together with some calcareous 

bands 150 

4. Iron sandstone: 

Feet, 
(a.) Very hard dark-red or reddish brown sandstone contain- 
ing 10 to 15 per cent of iron 10 

(5.) Shales, yellowish-green, with streaks of red 25 > 60 

(c.) Dark Ijrown sandstone, containing thin streaks of lean 

iron ore and some shales 25 

5. Pale yellowish green and olive shales to crest of Berwick axis, in 

the gap of Fishing creek 350 

Total thickess of Clinton (No. V.) exposed 713 

Sections exposed at Danville give this series a thickness of 953 and 1,038 
feet 8 inches, respectively. 

The Fossil iron ore of the above section has long been mined in the vicinity 
of Bloomsburg, on both sides of Montour ridge, and is still largely drawn on 
for the supply of the furnaces located here. The iron made from this ore is in 
high repute and has long been greatly valued in the composition of gun-metal 
and for the manufacture of car- wheels. Near the surface the ore usually oc- 
curs as a loose mud-like deposit, and is then called "soft" ore. When followed 
farther below the surface, the ' ' soft' ' ore gradually changes to a compact limy 
rock, filled with fossils and containing much carbonate of lime, and is then • 
known as ' ' hard' ' or " block' ' ore. If the beds be followed still deeper, the 
ore gradually grows poorer, in fact, an ordinary limestone containing ten to 
fifteen per cent of iron. The most of the ore from the fossilif erous horizon has 
been taken out in the vicinity of Bloomsbiu'g, except what may be mined 
from deep workings. 

The Iron sandstone does not seem to contain any valuable ores in the vicin- 
ity of Bloomsburg, east from Fishing creek. West fi*om Bloomsburg, in the 
'. icinity of Danville, however, this ore becomes quite valuable, and has long been 



30 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

extensively mined. This sandstone is dark, reddish brown in color, and is a very 
compact, hard "stone. It has been quarried on both sides of Montour ridge 
just above Bloomsburg, and also on the summit of the same near the western 
line of Scott township. It is excessively hard, and almost indestructible by 
atmospheric influences. This rock forms the summit of Montour ridge fi-om 
the western line of Scott westward to the Montour county line, beyond which 
the lower olive beds cover the rest of the mountain to the ' ' West Branch. ' ' 

In describing Montour ridge as a regular anticlinal wave in the strata, it 
is not intended to convey the idea that it is perfectly symmetrical in its struct- 
ure. It exhibits, on the contrary, important deviations from strict anticlinal 
symmetry. It is really constituted of two anticlinal crests, not precisely in a 
line with each other, one north of Bloomsburg declining toward the valley of 
Hemlock creek, and the other, and by far the longest, rising near this stream 
on the south flank of the first, and terminating near Northumberland. 

The j)ortion of the western division lying between the Mahoning and Hem- 
lock creeks, about one-half of which comes within the limits of Columbia, is 
much less valuable for mining purposes than at Danville. The anticlinal ris- 
ing to the east of the Danville gap has developed the lower strata upon the 
summit of the ridge, and the two parallel belts of Iron sandstone ore on its 
flanks are wider apart at their outcrops. It is found necessary in all this part 
of the outcrop, therefore, to pierce each base or slope of the mountain with 
tunnels, a necessity which essentially lessens the net proceeds of the mine, even 
if it should be found maintaining the richness and thickness which character- 
izes it at Danville. But it is practically determined that this important ore, 
which constitutes the main portion of the mineral wealth of the Danville lo- 
cality, becomes much reduced in thickness, and impoverished in its amount of 
oxide of iron. 

The eastern, or Fishing creek division, is a very regular and beautiful an- 
ticlinal, commencing a little west of Hemlock creek and terminating about 
three miles east of Bloomsburg. It is thus about five miles long; its breadth 
about three-fourths of a mile; and its height between four and five hundred 
feet. The only irregularity in its generally symmetrical oval form is along 
its north side, where a large segment has been scooped out of its base to form 
a part of the valley of Fishing creek. In their carving action the floods re- 
moved from this flank of the anticlinal a very considerable portion of the bed 
of fossiliferous iron ore, which elsewhere mantle the whole north slope of the 
ridge. 

The vertical iiplift of this division of the ridge is some four hundred and 
fifty feet less than the more favorable points in the western division, a fact that 
occasions several very important peculiarities in the condition of the ore. In 
the first place, the ore bed of the Surgent lower slate (Clinton) is altogether 
absent at the surface, and can only be made accessible by means of a vertical shaft 
sunk over the crown of the anticlinal arch in the middle of the gorge of Fish- 
ing creek. Such a shaft, starting near the water le^el, would descend between 
one hundred and one hundred and fifty feet through the slate before it would 
reach the layer of ore. To construct such a mine shaft would not involve 
a cost at all commensurate with the importance of a productive bed of iron ore 
of the quality which the land in question usually possesses, but in the existing 
uncertainty respecting the dimensions of the bed, there is but little to induce 
such an enterprise. 

The next bed of ore in the ascending series is that of the Iron sandstone 
formation. This band of rocks spans the mountain at Fishing creek to a 
great elevation, and is very nearly of the type which it presents at Danville. 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 31 

It agrees in all essential features, save in that which is of chief practical inter- 
est, with the bed of siliceous iron ore. The very stratum, answering to the ore 
bed, can be recognized as holding the exact position occupied by the layer at 
Danville, but it does not contain more than half its proper proportion of the 
oxide of iron requisite to constitute an iron ore. In other parts of the out- 
crop of the sandstone, a precisely similar deficiency is discernible in the layers 
holding the horizon of the ore, and it may therefore be regarded as a defi- 
nitely settled fact, that throughout all this portion of the belt the Iron sand- 
stone ore, as such, has no existence. 

It would thus appear that the only available ferruginous stratum is the fossil - 
iferous iron ore of the Clinton ore shales. Restricted, as this part of the chain 
would at first sight seem to be, as to its share of ore, it is, nevertheless, one of 
the most richly endowed of all these localities. ' ' Although the fossiliferous ore 
alone occurs above the water level, it is made, by the admirably balanced influ- 
ence of a particular degree of elevation of gentle ciirvatiu-e, and of denudation 
in the anticlinal wave, to hold just that position which is nearly the most favor- 
able that can be imagined for causing it to mantle the sides and ends of the 
ridge in an extensive sheet for producing the maximum amount of the soft or 
infiltrated ore, and for rendering its outcropping portion widely and cheaply 
accessible under a thin covering of loose superficial slate. In consequence of 
the oval form of the hill, connected with the gradual rising and expansion of 
the whole anticlinal, from Hemlock to Fishing creek, and its declension and 
contraction, thence to its termination, the ore laps broadly over both of its ex- 
tremities, but does not rise high upon its north and south slopes. This pro- 
duces, of course, a less amount of breast on the sides than at the ends. 

' ' But there is a further difference in the value of the ores found in these two 
positions, growing out of the very different extent to which the ore in its re- 
spective places has been deprived of its excess of calcareous matter, by expos- 
ure to surface percolation. Along both flanks of the ridge, the inclination of 
the strata, exceeding very considerably the slopes of the surface, there is 
a rapid increase in the thickness and compactness of the slate formation repos- 
ing upon the ore bed; and consequently the depth to which the superficial in- 
filtrations have had access is comparatively limited. 

' ' Thus it is that in these positions we usually find the change from the soft or 
dissolved part of the bed to the compact, to occur at a point from thirty to forty 
yards below the actual outcrop. 

' ' On the other hand, at the two extremities of the ridge, the ore bed man- 
tles over and around the long and gently declining terminations in a dip which 
is much more nearly co'incident with that of the surface above it; and therefore 
a far wider outcrop of it is thinly overlaid by the slate, and penetrated and al- 
tered by the atmospheric waters. This circumstance, and the mu.ch lono-er 
breast of ore spread out where the inclination is thus gentle, confers a greatly 
superior value upon these terminal portions of the ridge. In proof of this as- 
sertion, it may be stated, that while on the sides of the mountain, the soft ore 
occupies but a narrow line, it covers almost the entire east point of the ridge. 
Actual excavations for the furnaces, and numerous exploratory shafts, render 
it almost certain that the soft ore spreads across the end of the ridcre in a con- 
tinuous sheet, underlying, perhaps, some one hundred and fifty acres or more, 
at a depth below the soil in few places exceeding twenty feet. 

" The Bloomsbm-g Iron Company, owning two large furnaces in the gorge 
of Fishing creek, and using largely this soft variety of fossiliferous ore, pos- 
sess upon this extensive ore estate rather more than two and a half miles of the 
outcrop of the bed along the sides of the ridge, and in addition about forty- 



32 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

five acres continuously nnderlaid by the soft ore in the east end of the hill, be- 
tween two and three miles of Bloomsburg. 

' ' Each acre of the ore stratum contains, according to the most moderate 
calculation, not less than three thousand tons of ore, and the whole estate of 
the company has upon it between two hundred and two hundi-ed and fifty thou- 
sand tons of the soft outcrop ore; while it is estimated that the quantity of the 
hnrd or calcareous fossiliferous ore in readily accessible positions amounts to 
seventy or eighty thousand tons. When the admirable quality of the iron de- 
rived from a mixture of ores possessing a large proportion of the soft fossilifer- 
ous variety is considered, and the superior ease and economy with which it 
may be smelted, this whole east anticlinal district of Montoiu- ridge must be es- 
teemed as one of the most fortunately-conditioned ore localities in the United 
States. * 

Beside these ore deposits, and the limestone which supplies a considerable 
quantity of lime and a limited quantity of rough building stone, no other min- 
eral resources exist in Columbia county, north of the river. Farther south, as 
the rock exposures, already noted indicate, these resources are wanting, but 
their absence is amply compensated by the coal measures which have been pre- 
served in the southeastern portion of the county's area. Here the sub-carbon- 
iferous rocks form the surface, and coal is found in the McCauley mountain, 
and underlying the whole of Conyngham township, save a narrow belt along 
its northern line. 

This irregular area, including the McCauley, Big and Locust mountain 
basins is defined on the north and west by the elevations of Pocono sandstone, 
which, passing under the local names of Nescopec, Catawissa, Little and Line 
mountain, form a continuous rim, and the western limit of the ' ' Western Middle 
Coalfield. " This formation is pre eminently the mountain maker of this region. 
It usually begins at the top with a very hard grayish, or yellowish white sand- 
stone, in layers from one to three feet thick, which sometimes contains small 
pebbles. Beneath this uppermost sandstone lie gray and green sandstones, 
interstratified with occasional beds of shale, one of which is often red. It is 
terminated below by a massive gray and yellowish white very coarse conglom- 
erate, which, being usually quite different from anything to be found further 
down in the series, defines sharply the lower limit of the No. X rocks. This 
series is about six hundred feet thick in the Nescopec mountain, but southward 
from this point it increased to seven or eight hundred feet in Little mountain. 
This formation holds some thin streaks of coal, and thousands of dollars have 
been fi'uitlessly expended in the effort to find it here in paying quantities. 

Between the Pocono and Catskill is found a group of rocks to which the 
name of Pocono- Catskill has been applied. As a whole, this group is com- 
posed largely of green and greenish-gray sandstones, interstratified with which 
are often found thin beds of red shales, and a considerable bed of the latter 
often occurs at the top of the group. It appears to be a transition formation 
combining some of the characters of both Pocono and Catskill, and the geolo 
gist, unacquainted with its changing type, would at one time place them un- 
hesitatingly in the one, and at another would feel sure that it belonged to the 
other. 

* The above extract is taken from Prof. H D. Rogers' report in Vol. I of the Pennsylvania Geological Re- 
port.'published in IS5-. Thi'^is re-published in Vol G7 of the Second Geological Survey of Pennsylvania (188.3), 
by Prof. J. P. Leslie, with this comment: "In the early stages of the iron manufacture, the Danville-Blooins- 
burg outcrop of this ore was of greai importance; but as time went on and larger furnaces, fed with anthracite, 
called for richer ores, and in quantities which the small Clinton fossil beds were incapable of producing, its 
relative importance so diminished, and its cost of mining so increased, that Mr. Rogers' careful description of it 
is all those interested in it, whether capitalisis or geologists, can require. In fact, our knowledge of it wa» 
nearly as complete forty years ago as it is to-day." 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 35 

The relation of these beds to the Pocono is shown in the gap at Catawissa 
creek through Nescopec mountain, in Maine township, where the following sec- 
tion may be observed: 

Feet. Feet, 

1. Sandstone, coarse, gray, yellowish 30^ 

2. Concealed ^''j*^ I p m fi'^n 

3. Massive, grayish white conglomerates in | rocono Obu 

several beds 300 J 

4. Gray sandstone, shales, and concealed with ] 

massive gray sandstone at base 300 '^^p r t U'n ^"- 

5. Sandstone, graj^ above, passing down into |-rocono-L/alskill. 6io 

reddish beds at base 7,5 J 

6. Catskille red shale , . lOO 

In Little mountain, at Bear-Gap, the combined thickness of the Pocono and 
Pocono- Catskili beds is about twelve hundred feet, of which probably five hun- 
dred feet should be considered as belonging to the latter. 

The Mauch Chunk red shale (No. XI) beds extend westward in the narrow 
trough of the Wyoming basin, between Huntingdon and Lee mountains, until 
the latter come together near the eastern line of Columbia. This formation 
forms the Catawissa valley surrounding McCauley mountain, and has a thick- 
ness here of not less than two thousand feet. Between Little (No. X) and Big 
(No. XII) mountains, across the northern part of Conyngham township, the 
valley is formed by the Mauch Chunk red shale. 

The PotlwiUe conglomerate (No. XII), which underlies the coal measures, 
appears on the surface only on McCauley mountain, and in the valleys of the 
branches which unite to form the Little Catawissa creek. 

The Coal Measures of Pennsylvania, or carboniferous formation No. XIII 
of the Paleozoic system, are divisible into two series — a lower and upper, 
separated by from three to five hundred feet of barren measures, and covered 
by an unknown thickness of shales and thin limestones, forming the rolling 
table-land of Washington and Greene counties, in the southwest corner of the 
state, and the central hills of the Pottsville anthracite coal basin. The total 
original thickness of the whole carboniferous formation is unknown, for its 
uppermost deposits have been swept away. What is left may measure three 
thousand feet. 

The coal beds of the bituminous, the semi-bituminous and anthracite 
regions are the same, and the difference in the character of their products, as 
well as in the situation in which they are found, is due to the different degree 
of natural disturbance which affected the strata in the various parts of the 
state. In the slightly disturbed country west of the Alleghenies the coal beds 
are spread out in their original horizon; in the anthracite country these beds 
are contorted, broken, jammed together, turned over on their faces, and 
squeezed by enormous pressure, so as to disappear at one place, to swell out to 
three times their proper thickness at another, rendering mining operations 
most difficult and costly. They plunge to depths of two thousand feet below 
the water level, and suddenly rise again to hights more than a thousand feet 
above it, in a series of long and narrow basins, lying side by side, and ending 
invariably in two sharp points, one east and the other west, on the tops of 
mountains. 

It is apparent, therefore, that no general section can be constructed which 
will approximate the facts to be found in the several parts of the state, or even 
the varying conditions to be found in the different localities in the anthracite 
region. A section observed at Scranton will illustrate the general appearance 
of the series in the anthracite region. 

10 



■36 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

Feet. 

Shales 25 

Coal 1 5 

Shales 20 

CoalH 7 

Interval of saiulstoue and shales 90 

Coal G 12 

Interval of sandstone and shales 80 

CoalF 6 

Interval of sandstones chiefly 50 

Coal E 15 

Interval of sandstone. 40 

Coal D 8 

Interval of sandstone and top slate 60 

CoalC 6 

Interval of sandstone 50 

Coal B 5 

Interval of sandstone ajid slates 50 

Coal A .^ 3 

Conglomerate XII — 

At Pottsville the interval rocks are sometimes three hnadred feet thick. The 
harren measures are very thick and w^ell marked, and a great thickness of top-bar- 
ren measures overlie the upper coals. There are about fifteen workable beds in 
this basin, with about ten smaller beds one or two feet thick. They are 
known by numerous local names, such as the Gate, the Tracy, the Diamond, 
the Orchard, Primrose, Holmes, Seven Foot, Mammoth, Skidmore, Buck 
mountain, etc. The Sharp mountain beds were first tried and abandoned 
more than fifty years ago, because of their crushed condition and vertical pos- 
ture. The Gate, Tracy and other top -beds of the series were then mined, and 
almost always disastrously to the operators. 

The first extensive operations were upon the Diamond, Orchard and Prim- 
rose synclinals, a mile or two north of Pottsville, and on the center line of the 
basin. These beds were pretty well worked out. Meanwhile, the superior value 
of the gray and white ash beds of the lower series, leaning up against the side 
of Mine hill at gentle angles, was discovered, and all the great collieries of 
the Pottsville district have been established on these, and especially upon the 
Mammoth and Skidmore; the Mammoth being, in fact, three beds, which for 
several miles lie close enough to each other to be mined together, furnishing 
from thirty to fifty feet of coal. 

When the Mahanoy and Shamokin regions were opened up, the principal 
collieries were all located on the outcrops of these same beds. The Mammoth 
bed is the sole dependence of the Hazleton basin; it is also the great bed of 
the Wyoming valley; but in the country immediately north of Hazleton, the 
Buck mountain, or lowest notable bed of the series, is the great bed of the col- 
lieries, in thickness running from twenty to thirty feet, and in quality excell- 
incr all the other anthracites. Within a year or two a great bed, twelve to 
fourteen feet thick, has l^een discovered to exist near the bottom of the co7i- 
glomerate at the west end of the Pottsville basin; its outcrop has been followed 
for many miles along the outside of the mountain, and large collieries are now 
established on it in the red shale valley. This bed has been traced up the Ma- 
hanoy, some miles east of Ashland, and is suspected to exist in force at the 
west end of the Black- creek and Wilkesbarre basins. 

The reports of the survey of the anthracite coal region, now in progress, do 
not cover that part of the ' ' Western Middle Coalfield ' ' in which the mines of 
Columbia county are situated, and the compiler of these pages finds it impos- 
sible, with the data at hand, to present any adequate statement of the coal re- 
sources of the county. A brief general account of their development may be 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 



37 



found in the chapter on Conyngham township, and some idea of the relation 
of the coal beds in this region, with their average thickness, may be gained 
from the following typical section of the Shenandoah and Mahanoy basins: 



ROCK. 
Ft. In. 



1 

2 
3, 
4, 
5 
6. 
7. 
8. 
9. 

10. 

11. 

13. 

13. 

14. 

15. 

16. 

17. 

18. 

19. 

20. 

21. 

22. 

23. 

24. 

25. 

26. 

27. 

28. 

29. 

30. 

31. 

32. 

33. 

34. 

35. 

36. 

37. 

38. 

39: 

40. 

41. 

42. 

43. 

44. 

45. 

46. 

47. 



Slate 4 

Big Tracy coal bed 

Dark gray slate 32 

Siliceous rock 18 

Gray slate 3 

Diamond coal bed 

Dark gray slate 4 

Slate, with iron ore balls 38 

Light sandstone 14 

Dark gray slate 30 

Conglomerate 19 

Dark gray slate 10 

Little Orchard coal bed 

Dark gray slate 23 

Orchard coal bed 

Dark gray slate 78 

Dark sandstone 16 

Slate, with iron ore balls 57 

Primrose coal bed 

Dark gray slate, with iron ore balls . 100 

Holmes coal bed 

Slate 6 

Coal bed 

Slate 1 

Siliceous rock 62 

Slate 

Sandstone 56 

Slate 9 

Mammoth coal bed, top member. . . . 

Slate 39 

Miunuioth coal bed, middle member 

Slate 22 

Mammoth coal bed, bottom member 

Slate 6 

Conglomerate 8 

Slate 6 

Skidmore coal bed 

Slate 10 

Sandstone 11 

Slate 3 

Seven foot coal bed 

Slate 8 

Sandstone 3 

Slate 

Sandstone 8 

Conglomerate 42 

Slate 6 

Buck Mountain coal bed 



Total rock. 
" coal . 



r67 



10 
10 

8 

's 

9 

4 

"9 
4 



10 
6 
4 
6 
5 



11 
9 
8 

11 
9 
4 



coal 

Ft. 



beds. 
In. 



6 9 



10 



12 
"4 



12 

'7 

is 



10 
io 

'4 
ii 
'3 



11 



6 6 



total. 

Ft. In. 



4 
8 
41 
60 
64 
71 
75 
114 
128 
ir;8 
178 
188 
191 
215 
226 
304 
320 
377 
385 
486 
498 
505 
509 
511 
573 
573 
630 
639 
652 
691 
698 
720 
735 
743 
750 
756 
760 
770 
781 
784 
791 
800 
803 
804 
813 
856 
862 
874 



11 



5 
9 
9 
6 
10 



3 
3 

7 
11 

ii 

'3 
1 

7 
11 

5 
10 



11 

11 

11 

3 

3 

7 

4 



1| 
10 
6 
5 

3 



107 9 



' ' This section was compiled to accompany the map of the mines between 
Mahanoy City and Shenandoah, which is being published by the Geological 
Survey, and is supposed to be a typical section of the coal measui-es of that 
region. There are a great many changes between these two points in the 
thickness of the coal beds and the rocks which separate them. The section 
would represent more particularly the stratigi-aphy in the vicinity of the Ellan- 
gowan colliery. Although the Big Tracy bed is placed at the top of the sec- 



38 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

tion, there is, at least, 125 feet of strata on top of it." [2d Geol. Survey of 
Pa., Vol. AA, pp. 234-235.] 

[Note. The foregoing chapter is indebted to the various writings of J. P. Leslie, 

state geologist, Professors I. C. White, H. C. Lewis and C. A. Ashburaer, of the geolog- 
ical survey, not only for the facts, but also for much of the phraseology. Liberty has 
been taken' in making extracts from the reports, to adapt the language and selections ta 
the purposes of this work, and to such an extent that the usual quotation marks would 
have been misleading. This note, therefore, is intended to supply the place of such, 
marks. — Ed.] 



CHAPTER 11. 

THE PLANTING AND EXTENSION OF THE EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 

IT was some three-quarters of a century after the planting of the first per- 
manent colony on the continent that the tide of civilization reached the 
densely wooded country which has since developed into the commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania. The ' ' first colony to Virginia' ' was planted at Jamestown in 
1607; New Netherland was planted in 1615; the "Pilgrim Fathers" came in 
1620; Connecticut was foimded from 1630 to 1636; Delaware in 1638; in 1674 
New Jersey settlements began to line the eastern banks of the Delaware river, 
and in 1682 Penn's first colony settled on the site of Philadelphia. 

The settlers who thus made their way to the interior found here a vast for- 
est of hemlock, pine, beech, oak and maple, broken only by the craggy face 
of some precipitous mountain or the widely scattered planting spots, which 
the natives kept clear of the intruding forests by autumnal fires. Within its 
recesses the natives reared their lodges beside its sequestered streams, and 
little dreamed that the vague rumors which came to them from the seaboard, 
portended the humbling of their power and the extinction of their race. 

The earliest of the Jesuit missionaries found the possession of the region 
defined by the great lakes and the St. Lawrence on the north, and the Poto- 
mac and Chesapeake bay on the south, divided between the two leading fam- 
ilies of the Indian race. The Iroquois were the first to reach this region in 
the course of their traditional migration from the west, and settled in the lake 
reo-ion. Subsequently the Lenni Lenape, the great head of the Algonkin 
family found their way hither, and fixed upon the Delaware as their national 
center.' Three branches only of this nation appear to have crossed the Alle- 
ehenys, of which the Turtles and the Turkeys continued their migration to 
the sealDoard, where they planted their villages and remained until dispos- 
sessed by the whites. The Wolf branch, better known by their English name 
of "the Monseys," planted itself at the Minisink, on the Delaware, extending^ 
the line of their villages on the east to the Hudson, and to the Susquehanna 
on the west. From this latter branch were derived the difPerent tribes which 
occupy the foreground in the early annals of the state. 

For a time the two great families lived on terms of friendly intercourse, 
but hostilities eventually broke out between them, which, by means fair and 
foul resulted in the humbling of the Delawares, as they were named by the 
English. Of the latter family, the most formidable tribe in Pennsylvania 
were the Susquehannas. The river which perpetuates their name marks the- 
site of their villages, from which they pushed their forays, pursuing their vic- 
torious career to the seaboard, and inspiring terror in the hearts of even the- 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 39 

warlike Iroquois. Their successful career terminated, however, toward the 
close of the seventeenth century. Their numbers were greatly diminished by 
the terrible ravages of the small-pox, and in 1675, it is said, they were com- 
pletely overthrown by an unknown power, and di'iven from their ancient seats. 
They migrated thence to the Maryland line, where they came in contact with 
the Virginians. Here hostilities occurred, and were waged by the Susque- 
hannas with a persistence which resulted in their practical annihilation. Other 
kindred tribes occupied the places of the one driven out, though they appear 
to have done so only by permission or direction of the Iroquois. 

Dates in connection with the history of the North American Indians are of 
the most uncertain character. If the Susquehannas maintained their inde 
pendence so long as suggested, they must have been the last of the Lenni 
Lenape to do so, for it is generally accepted that long before this time the Iro- 
quois, by force of arms or artifice, had gained complete ascendency over the 
Delawares. How this was accomplished is differently related by the dominant 
and subject peoples. It appears, however, that the growing power of the 
Algonkins suggested the necessity of confederation, on the part of the Iro- 
quois, a measure which these astute natives were wise enough to accomplish. 
From this period their power began to increase among the Indian nations, and 
at the time of the whites' arrival exercised almost unquestioned authority over 
the aboriginal occupants of the country east of the Mississippi river. They 
claimed, as conquerors of the different tribes, the absolute ownership of this 
vast territory, and parceled it out to Eiiropeans and aboriginees at their sover- 
eign will and pleasure. 

The statecraft of these unlettered conquerors of the American forests finds a 
prototype in the policy of the Romans. Warlike tribes were divided and kept 
employed in further conquests or in reducing refractory nations, while all were 
placed under a close surveillance arid some form of tribute. When the whites 
established themselves upon the continent and demonstrated their power, many 
of the subject tribes were quick to perceive how they might profit by their 
friendship. Emboldened by such alliances, some of the Algonkin tribes re- 
sisted the boundless claims of the Iroquois, and much of the bloodshed and 
ravages of war inflicted upon the early settlements in all parts of the country 
resulted from a too general neglect of this change of attitude in the subject na- 
tions. Penn, fortunately wiser in this respect than many of his contempora- 
ries, not only extinguished the claims of the dominant nation, but repeatedly 
purchased the rights of the native occupants, and thus saved his colony from 
much of the harrassing experiences which fell to the lot of less favored 
provinces. 

William Penn was well fitted by his early education and experience to en- 
tertain the highest regard for the personal rights and liberties of those whom 
fortune might place in his power, and he accordingly announced to the colo- 
nists who had previously settled within the limits of the teiTitory ceded to him, 
"that it hath pleased God in his Providence to cast you within my Lott and 
Care. ' ' But he assured them that though the undertaking in which he had 
engaged was new to him, yet God had given him an understanding of his duty 
and an ' 'honest minde to doe it uprightly. ' ' He declared that they should be 
governed by laws of their own making, and live a free, and if so disposed, a 
sober and industrious people ; and his determination not to ' 'usiu-p the right of 
any, nor oppress his person. ' ' These sentiments he embodied in a letter to the 
colonists in his new possessions, which he transmitted by the hand of William 
Markham. 

Contrary to the practice which was then generally observed, Penn did not 



40 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

limit the operation of his principles of justice to the colonists, but "was influ- 
enced by a purer morality and a sounder policy. " In the language of Smith's 
Laws of Pennsylvania, ' 'His religious principles did not permit him to wrest 
the soil of Pennsylvania by force from the people to whom God and nature 
gave it, nor to establish his title in blood; but under the shade of the lofty trees 
of the forest, his right was fixed by treaties with the natives, and sanctified, as 
it were, by smoking fi-om the calumet of peace. ' ' 

WhenlVIarkham was dispatched to America, in May, 1681, prominent among 
the provisions of his commission were instructions to negotiate with the natives 
for peaceable possession of the lands necessary for the new colony. At the 
same time the proprietor addressed a conciliating address to the Indians, ia 
which he expressed the most elevated sentiments. He declared to them that 
althouo-h the king of the country in which he lived had granted him a great 
province in their land, yet he only desired to enjoy it with their love and con- 
sent, that they might live together as neighbors and fi-iends; that he was not 
io-norant of the iinkindness and injustice too much practiced toward them by 
colonists who had sought to make great advantages for themselves, rather than 
to be examples of goodness and patience to them, and had thereby caused great 
grudo-ing and animosities, sometimes to the shedding of blood. But, he de- 
clared, I am not such a man, as is well known in my own country; and if £e 
anything any shall offend you or your people, you shall have a full and speedy 
satisfaction for the same by an equal number of just men on both sides, that by- 
no means you may have just occasion of being offended. These were not idle 
words, and resisting the most seductive temptations to vary from his liberal 
views, in the latter part of this year Penn formulated his promises to colonists 
and natives in a constitution, which was subsequently submitted to the settlers. 
It was cordially ratified, and became the fundamental law of the province. 

Markham held a conference with the Indians at Shakamaxon, July 15, 
1682, and, it is believed, then first obtained a grant from the natives. The land 
thus obtained was included between the Neshaminy creek and the Delaware, 
and extended in a northerly direction to a point on the latter stream a short 
distance above the mouth of Baker' s creek. In the following November Penn 
had arrived with a second company of colonists, and while there is no written, 
evidence to the fact, a long line of well confirmed tradition indicates that the pro- 
prietor held another treaty with the Indians at the same place. Here he met 
the representatives of the Delaware tribes of the Lenni Lenape, of the Shawan- 
ese and of the Iroquois tribes settled on the Conestoga. No concessions of 
land were sought by Penn, but he established those friendly relations between 
the two races settled here, which, it is the proud boast of history, were never in- 
terrupted by either of the contracting parties. 

Various treaties, however, were subsequently entered into with the tribes 
occupyino- the neighboring lands, and not long before his return to England, 
Penn secured the services of Governor Dongan, of New York, in obtaining 
from the Five Nations a release of their claims to "all that tract of land lying 
on both sides of the river Susquehanna, and the lakes adjacent in or near the 
province of Pennsylvania. ' ' The conveyance was finally made to Penn, on 
January 13, 1696, "in consideration of one hundi-ed pounds sterling." This 
was but a preliminary step, however. Penn's sense of justice would not permit 
him to accept the Iroquois theory of ownership, and he wisely took measures to 
have this sale confirmed by the occupants, or heirs of the former occupants, of 
this region. Accordingly in September. 1700, he obtained from the "Kings 
or Sachems of the Susquehanna Indians, 'and of the river under that name and 
lands lying on both sides thereof," a deed of all this region, "lying and be 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUMY. 41 

ing upon both sides of said river, and next adjoining the same, to the utmost 
confines of the lands which are, or formerly were, the right of the people or 
nation called the Susquehanna Indians, ' ' and a distinct confirmation of the 
bargain and sale effected with the Five Nations. 

Here the Conestoga Indians interposed their objections, refusing to recog- 
nize the validity of the Dongan purchase. Penn at once addressed himself 
with unfailing patience to overcome this obstacle, and while in the province oa 
his second visit, procured from the representatives of the Susquehannas, Po- 
tomac and Conestoga tribes a full confirmation and ratification of both the pre- 
vious deeds. This was in April, 1701, but notwithstanding Ponn's liberal 
measures to extingviish every just claim, the possession of this territory still 
continued in dispute. In their ignorance of the interior, Penn and his agents 
began their boundaries at certain well known natural objects, but indicated their 
extension into the unknown region by such vague tei'ms as, " to run two days' 
journey with an horse up into the country as the river doth go, " or ' ' north- 
westerly back into the woods to make up two full days' journey, " "as far as 
a man can go in two days fi'om said station," etc. There is a tradition to the 
effect that Penn himself walked out a part of the boundary designated in 
Markham's first treaty. Arriving at the mouth of Baker's creek, it is said, 
that he became satisfied that a line drawn from this point to Neshaminy creek 
would include land enough for his immediate purposes, and left the remainder 
to be finished at another time. 

Whatever the truth may be in this instance, there is no evidence that any 
similar lines, subsequently provided for, were similarly measured. Literally 
defined, these lines would have extended far beyond the expectation of either 
of the contracting parties, and as the country became better known to the 
colonists, more definite terms were employed to define the limits of these 
grants. To this end, after examining all former deeds, a treaty was entered 
into between sundry chiefs of the Delawares and the agents of the proprietor 
granting all lands between the Delaware and the Susquehanna ' ' from Duck 
creek to the mountains on this side Lechay. " This was consummjited in Sep- 
tember, 1718; but the settlers, maintaining the authority of the original treaty 
lines, or ignoring all alike, pushed their improvements beyond the later line, 
much to the dissatisfaction of the natives. Their most influential chiefs re- 
monstrated with the proprietary government, isolated cases of hostilities en- 
sued, and the prospect of a general war appeared imminent, when wiser coun- 
sels prevailed. AVhile the new line seemed well understood on the Delaware, 
on the Schuylkill ' ' the mountains this side of Lechay ' ' were confounded witli 
the Kittatinny range, and settlers had planted themselves at Tulpehocken and 
Oley. This difficulty was finally adjusted in 1732, when Thomas Penn pur- 
chased the Tulpehocken lands, which now form the county of Berks. 

At other points of the line encroachments continued to form the subject of 
complaint, until in 1736, when, at a general gathering of the Iroquois, it was 
determined to put an end to the bickerings which had so long been sustained. 
Their representatives accordingly repaired to Philadelphia, and renewing old 
treaties, by the signatures of twenty-three of their chiefs, deeded to Penn's 
heirs ' ' all the said river Susquehanna, with the lands lying on both sides 
thereof, to extend eastward as far as the heads of the branches or springs 
which run into the said Susquehanna, and all lands lying on the west side of 
the said river, northward, up the same to the hills or mountains. ' ' The line 
thus established made the Kittatinny mountains the northwest boundary of the 
ceded lands, but on the Delaware the line established by the treaty of 1718 
remained unchanged. This fact, however, did not exclude the unscrupulous 
land seeker. 



42 - HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

At the time of the Tnlpehocken purchase a prominent land speculator 
had secured a warrant for the location and survey of ten thousand acres 
of land in the Minisinks, forty miles above the Indian boiindary line. 
About the same time the proprietor published proposals for the dis- 
position of one hundred thousand acres by lottery, the prize-holders to 
locate upon any lands not sold or settled. No exception was made of the 
lands not yet purchased of the Indians, and settlers on such lands found 
the prizes of the lottery a valuable means of securing a valid title to their il- 
legal improvements. All this provoked the indignation of the natives, but, as 
if this was not enough, an old claim was revived by which, under color of a 
treaty, the whole region as far as Shoholo Creek was seized. 

In 1686, Thomas Holme, agent and surveyor-general to William Penn, was 
said to have secured from certain Delaware chiefs a deed to certain lands to ex- 
tend one and a half days' walk from near Wrightstown into the interior. The 
original deed has never been discovered, but in 1737 a musty old copy was 
brought forward, and two chiefs of the band occupying the region above the 
site of Easton. induced to confirm it. The proprietors at once advertised for 
expert walkers, offering five hundred acres and five pounds sterling to the one 
who should make the greatest distance in the time sjiecified. The walk took 
place in the latter part of September, 1737, with two Indians attending, osten- 
sibly as witnesses for the Delawares. 

Three whites entered the race, but of the whole party two of the whites 
only reached the north side of the Blue mountains, the rest having been worn 
out and left behind. The next morning one of these fainted and fell, and the 
survivor pushed on to the Second or Broad mountain, some sixty-five miles 
from the starting point, where he arrived at noon. The outrageous character of 
this proceeding, was not lost upon the natives. When the walking party, at- 
tended by mounted relays provided with liquor and refreshments for the con- 
testants, reached the Blue mountains, they found a great number of Indians 
collected, with the expectation that the walk would end there. But when they 
found there was still a half day's journey to complete the line, they were loud 
in expressions of indignation at what they considered a palpable fraud. 

A line was subsequently drawn from Broad mountain to the Delaware river, 
just below Shoholo creek, and the territory thus included claimed under the 
terms of the old treaty. The Indians, however, with one accord, refused to 
yield the lands, and the proprietary government, to avoid a hostile collision 
with the determined savages, had recourse to the Iroquois. They sent messen- 
gers to the dominant nation in 1741, acquainting them with their case, and 
claiming that, inasmuch as the whites had removed intruding settlers on the 
demand of the Iroquois, they should now use their authority in removing the 
Delawares from the lands thus purchased. In the following year, therefore, 
a delegation of the Six Nations, to the number of two hundred and thirty, 
appeared at Philadelphia. The Delawares were also summoned and the matter 
brought before the conference for decision. 

The finding of the Iroquois was a foregone conclusion. They had sold their 
pretended claim to the region, they were flattered by the invitation to act as 
arbitrators, and they could satisfy their vindictive hatred without personal 
cost. They promptly decided, therefore, in favor of the whites, and in a most 
insolent speech bade the betrayed natives to remove either to Wyoming or 
Shamokin. Beset before and behind, the remnant of Delawares and Shaw- 
anese had no other course to pursue than to obey, a part continuing their 
journey to Ohio. 

The expanding settlements still kept in advance of the Indian boundary 




^. 



<^<^^^^^^^'^ -^^ ^ 



^ 



r 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 45 

line, and the demand for more room soon began to be urgently pressed. In 
1749, therefore, a further cession of land was secured fi-om the natives, the rep- 
resentatives of the Six Nations uniting with chiefs of the Shamokin, Delaware 
and Shawanese occupants on August 22, in a deed granting the region north 
of the Kittatinny range on the east side of the Susqehanna, within the follow- 
ing limits: Beginning on the river at the nearest mountains north of the 
Mahanoy creek, and from thence extending by a direct line to the main branch 
of the Delaware at the north side of the Laxawaxen. Much of this region had 
already been pre-empted by adventurous squatters, while west of the Sus- 
quehanna, the line of settlements were scarcely less advanced although the 
purchase line on this side was still marked by the Blue hills. 

In 1753, the increased activity of the French in the valley of the Ohio be- 
gan to create concern for the safety of the frontier. The enemy' s agents were 
known to be actively engaged in seducing the natives from their allegiance to 
the English; the Shawanese had yielded to their blandishments, and the Dela- 
wares and Iroquois were known to be wavering. A general conference of rep- 
resentatives fi'om the threatened colonies was called to meet at Albany, and to 
this the Iroquois were also invited. The meeting occurred in 1754, and on 
July 6th the representatives of Pennsylvania secured a deed from the Indians 
for all the land within the state southwest of a line beginning one mile above 
the mouth of Penn's creek, and running thence "northwest and by west as 
far as the province of Pennsylvania extends, to its western lines 
or boundaries." In determining this line, however, it was found to strike 
the northern boundary a short distance west of the Conewango creek. The 
lands of the Shawanese, Delaware and Monsey occupants were thus ' ' sold 
from under their feet" contrary to the express stipulation of the Six Nations 
to these tribes. Nothing further was needed to completely alienate these sava- 
ges, and but little more to precipitate these savages into a cruel and relentless 
war upon the defenseless frontiers. 

The defeat of Braddock, in 1755, decided the last waverer, and the border, 
from the Delaware to the Allegheny, was at once ravaged with tomahawk and 
fire-brand. On October 18th, a party of Indians attacked the settlers on Penn's 
creek, and cai*ried off twenty-five persons, after burning and otherwise destroy- 
ing the improvements. Five days later, a company of forty-six men from Pax- 
tun creek, led by John Harris, went to Shamokin to inquire of the Indians 
there who the authors of the devastation were. On their return, while cross- 
ing Mahanoy creek, they were ambushed by hostile savages; four were killed 
by the enemy, four were drowned, and the rest put to flight. These incidents 
inspired the pioneers in this region with such terror of the savages that all the 
settlements between Shamokin and Hunter's mill, a space of fifty miles along 
the Susquehanna, were deserted. On the 13th of December, Weiser reported 
to the provincial government that the country about Reading was in a dismal 
condition. Consternation, poverty and confusion were everywhere apparent, 
with the prospect that the settlements would soon be abandoned. On the 16th, 
reports fi-om Bethlehem and Nazareth gave account of two hundred savages 
invading Northampton county, murdering the inhabitants and burning their 
dwellings. On Christmas, reports were received fi'om Conrad Weiser, who had 
been sent to Harris- ferry and who had gone thence up the west branch of the 
Susquehanna, that the Delawares at Nescopec had given that place to the 
French for a rendezvous, and frequent collisions had occurred between the hos- 
tile Indians and the white rangers. 

It is unnecessary to cite further details to illustrate the reign of terror and 
l)lood which devastated the frontiers, and carried consternation even to the 



46 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

citizeus of Philadelphia. The most vigorous measures for defense were em- 
ployed. Bounties were offered for prisoners and for scalps of men, women 
and children of the enemy; a chain of block-houses was stretched along the 
Kittatinny hills from the Delaware to the Maryland line, and each garrisoned 
with twenty to seventy-five men. But by far the most effective in its results 
was an expedition, concerted in 1756, against Kittanning — an Indian strong- 
hold on the Alleghany river. The movement, under the direction of General 
Armstrong, was entirely successful, and resulted in the complete disorganiza- 
tion of the Indian conspiracy against the frontier. The savages were once 
more willing to treat, and a grand council was convened atEaston in November 
of this year. 

The high contracting parties were Governor Denny, on the part of the prov- 
ince, and Teedyuscung, on the part of the natives. Each leader was accompanied 
by a considerable retinue, the whites making special effort to impose upon the 
imagination of the Indians by the bravery of their martial display. A previous 
council had been held in July, but the attendance was small, and neither party 
was fully prepared to join issue. The more important business was therefore 
deferred until autumn. Meanwhile Armstrong's expedition had occurred, and 
the second meeting found the two parties ready to discuss their grievances. 
When questioned as to the cause of the dissatisfaction and hostility of the In- 
dians, the eminent chief mentioned the overtures of the French and the ill- 
usage of the provincial authorities. He boldly declared that the very land on 
which they stood had been taken from the rightful owners by fraud ; and not 
only had the country from the Tohiccon Creek to Wyoming been thus taken, 
but several tracts in New Jersey had been similarly stolen from his people. 
And, subsequently, when the Six Nations had given them and the Shawanese 
the country on the Juniata for a hunting-ground, with the full knowledge of 
the governor, the latter permitted settlers to encroach upon their lands. Again, 
in 1754 the governor had gone to Albany to purchase more lands of the Six 
Nations, describing the lands sought by points of compass, which the Indians 
did not understand, and, by the profusion of presents, obtained grants for lands 
which the Iroquois did not intend to sell, including not only the Juniata, but 
also the west branch of the Susquehanna. W^hen these things were known to 
native occupants, they declared they would no longer be friends with the En- 
glish, who were trying to get all of their country. 

This council lasted nine days, and resulted in a treaty of peace between the 
two parties. Compensation was offered for the lands taken by the ' ' walking 
purchase, ' ' but this matter was deferred until those especially interested could 
be present. A council for this purpose was accordingly held in July, 1757, 
when the whites resorted to a practice too common with them in such confer- 
ences. Rum was freely supplied, and strenuous efforts made to place Teedy- 
uscung hopelessly under its influence. Through the aid of certain Quakers 
present this was prevented, and the whole settlement finally referred to the 
king and council in England. In the succeeding year another grand council 
was held at Easton for the adjustment of the whole question of Indian griev- 
ances, and representatives of the Six Nations, Delawares, Shawanese, Miamis, 
Mohicans, Monseys, Nauticokes, Conoys, etc. , were present to the number of 
five hundred. The Iroquois had 'taken great offense on account of the inde- 
pendent treaty made by the Delawares and Shawanese in 1756, and had com- 
mitted sundry outrages upon the settlements in the hope of embroiling the ad- 
joining tribes with the whites. In this conference, also, they took great offense 
because of the prominence assumed by the Delaware chieftain, and it was only 
through the earnest efforts of the Quakers present that rum and intrigue with the^ 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 47 

representatives of the Six Nations did not defeat the purposes of the confer- 
ence. Teedyiiscung, however, bore himself with dignity and firmness, and 
eeciued from the governors of Pennsylvania and New Jersey and the principal 
Indian agents, who represented the whites, a release of all lands beyond the Al- 
legheny mountains, purchased in 1754, and the lands on the ''West Branch." 
For the remainder the Indians gave a deed confirming the former purchase, 
more clearly defining its boundaries, and received additional compensation 
for the same. 

The following five years were marked by peace and prosperity on the Penn- 
sylvania border. In 1762 the " chain of friendship" between the natives and 
whites was "strengthened" and "brightened" at a council held in Lancaster; the 
frontier settlements increased in population, and the Moravian missionaries ex- 
tended their stations to Wyoming and vicinity, and re-established their mission 
at Gnadenhutten. And in 176'2, after eifecting a purchase of the Six Nations, 
andTwith'tEe consent of the neighboring tribes, the first company of Connecticut 
colonists began their improvements in the Wyoming valley. But this favor- 
able state of affairs was not destined to last. The Iroquois had joined hands 
with Pontiac, who found that, after the destruction of the French, the English, 
instead of receding to their old lines, had established themselves in the strong- 
holds of their opponents. 

Amongr the first indications of the unfavorable change was the murder of 
Teedyuscuag in April, 1763. This is now believed to have been the deed of 
the Six Nations, but was charged upon the Connecticut settlers, with the inten- 
tion of involving the Delawares in the predetermined hostilities, as well as to 
cover the course which their vindictive hatred had lead them to take. In the 
following October the same evil power destroyed the Wyoming settlements, 
and subsequently carried the fire-brand and tomahawk into every fi'ontier com- 
munity. The fi'ontier was again depopulated, the dismayed pioneers fleeing 
with their families and movable property to the stronger stations at Shippens- 
burg, Carlisle, Lancaster and Reading. A series of partisan forays and re- 
prisals, characterized by the most barbarous exhibitions of revenge, on the 
part of both white and red men, marked the period. In 1764, however, the 
strength of the Indian conspiracy was broken on the Pennsylvania frontier by 
the well directed campaign of Colonel Bouquet. A treaty of peace, with a 
surrender of prisoners, was effected, and the matter of a ncAV boundary line 
referred to England for instructions. 

In the meantime the settlers returned to their abandoned improvements; 
traders once more carried their wares to the Indian wigwam, and the more ad- 
venturous squatter once more trespassed upon the unpurchased lands of the 
natives. The Indians began to renew their murmurs of complaint, and ob- 
servant men began to fear a renewal of savage hostilities, when instructions 
from the crown were received and a council appointed to meet at Fort Stanwix 
for the adjustment of all difficulties. Few of the Indian nations, save the Iro- 
quois confederacy, were represented, and the representatives of the latter alone 
signed the treaty and received the consideration given for the lands ceded, al- 
though by the terms of the deed it was made binding upon the ' ' dependent 
tribes." This one-sided bargain was productive of prolonged hostilities in the 
west, though, fortunately, not contested in Pennsylvania. By the terms of this 
cession all the province east and south of the following line was granted to repre- 
sentatives of the whites: Beginning on the northern charter boundary, where 
the east branch of the Susquehanna crosses, following the east side of the 
stream to a point opposite the mouth of Towanda creek; thence crossing the 
river and following up the course of said creek to its source lying north of what 



48 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

was known as the Burnett hills; thence in a direct coui'se to Pine creek, and 
down its course to the west branch of the Susquehanna; thence following up 
the course of the said branch to a point nearest the site of the Indian town 
Kittanning; thence in a direct course to said town; and thence down the Alle- 
gheny and Ohio to a point where it crosses the charter limit of the province on 
the west. 

It was this purchase that formally opened up the larger part of the terri- 
tory now included within the limits of Columbia county, but the eager advance 
of the adventurous pioneer had anticipated this action, and a considerable pop- 
ulation was already to be found in the upper valley of the Susquehanna. 

As has been previously suggested, this valley, north of the river forks, had 
been assigned in the early days of the province to various dependent tribes of 
the Six Nations, and the whites found the Delawares, Shawanese, Conoys, Nan- 
ticokes, Monseys and Mohicans located along the course of the river in scat- 
tered villages, or visiting the valley on hiinting expeditions. Any attempt to 
more specifically locate the aboriginal occupants, from data now accessible, 
must prove unsatisfactory, but tradition points out the vicinity of Berwick, 
Catawissa and Bloomsburg as the sites of minor villages, while temporary camps 
were found elsewhere in the territory included within the present county limits. 
The great war-path of the Iroquois, in their forays against the Catawbas of the 
•south, traversed this region, and it was deemed especially important by the 
dominant nation to keep a close surveillance upon its subjects in this vicinity, 
that they might not prove obstacles in the way of their expeditions. Shikel- 
lamy, a prominent Cayuga chief, was therefore sent here in 1728 as a kind of 
colonial governor, who took up his abode in the native village of Shamokin, 
on the site of Sunbury. 

This village commanded the entrance to the valley on the south, as the char- 
acter of the country made the early transportation by wheeled vehicles, or even 
pack animals, impracticable, and its importance to the natives may readily be un- 
derstood by the number of trails which converged here. One led up the ' ' West 
Branch" from Shamokin through the gap in the Muncy hills to the principal 
village of the Monseys, the site of which is marked by the borough which perpet- 
uates the tribal name. From this point the trail to Wyoming followed the course 
of Glade run to Fishing creek, at a point where Millville now stands, and thence 
along the Huntingdon creek, through the Nescoj^eck gap, and up the river to 
the Wyoming village. To the upper village of VV'yalusing, a trail continued 
up Muncy creek to its head, then crossing to the Loyalsock, half a mile from 
where the Berwick turnpike crosses, it passed near the site of Dushore, and 
struck the Wyalusing creek near the northeast corner of Sullivan county, and 
then continued to its destination. The trail which led to the villages on the 
upper branches of the " West Branch," also passed through the Monsey village, 
as did the one leading to the Shesheqnin village. The latter turned off from 
the first named trail at Bonser' s run, which it followed to its source, and then 
extending to the Lycoming creek near the mouth of Mill creek, followed the 
course of the stream to certain beaver dams, where it turned eastwardly and led 
along the course of the Towanda creek to the site of the village, on the Susque 
hanna. A more direct route led up the Susquehanna to the flats near the site 
•of Bloomsburg, and thence up the valley of Fishing creek to the vicinity of 
Long Pond, where it diverged to the northeast and, striking the upper waters 
of the Tunkhannock creek, followed it to its junction with the Susquehanna. 

All these trails found their outlet toward the settlements by way of Shamo- 
kin and the river, and, when first familiar to the whites, bore ample evidence of 
constant use. Beside these, only one important trail led to the southeastern set- 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 49 

tlements — the one from Wyoming to the ' ' forks of the Delaware, ' ' at Easton. 
The other route, however, was the one generally traveled to reach Philadelphia, 
the latter only coming into use after the extension of the settlements up the 
Delaware. To all other points, south and southwest, the Susquehanna trail 
was not only the great Indian thoroughfare for the occupants of the valley, but 
for the whole Iroquois confederacy. 

The development of the settlements in Pennsylvania was first along the 
upward course of the streams which emptied into the Delaware, and westward, 
in a somewhat narrow path, toward the Susquehanna. Their progress to the 
year 1718, is fairly indicated by the treaty line established in that year. Three 
years later, the Palatine settlement on the Tulpehocken was planted, and by 
1735, the line of civilization had reached a limit well up to the foot of the Kit- 
tatinny range, from the Delaware to the Susquehanna. During the thirteen 
years following, the advance of the settlements was less rapid, and was chiefly 
noticeable in the region of the Delaware. In 1739, the celebrated George- 
Whitfield began a settlement at Nazareth, and invited the newly arrived Mo- 
ravians to join him. This gave rise to complaints from the Indians, and it was 
8ubsequ.ently abandoned for Bethlehem. In 1743, however, the pious adven- 
turers retui'ned to Nazareth, completed Whitfield's unfinished building, and 
established a flourishing colony there. Three years later Friedenshutten was 
founded on Mahoning creek (Carbon county), where a large number of Mohi- 
can followers of the Moravians were established. Here a large settlement gath- 
ered, and others elsewhere in the region; speculators secured and surveyed 
large areas of land, until the threatening attitude of the Indians finally brought 
about the treaty of 1749. 

Nine years elapsed before another important cession of land was effected, 
and in this interval the frontier settlements were gradually extended toward 
the mountains west of the Susquehanna, up the coui'se of that stream as far as 
Penn's creek on the west side, and Mahanoy creek on the east side. Settle- 
ments were effected on the upper branches of the Tulpehocken (now Lebanon 
county), as early as 1732; but along the Susquehanna the Moravians pioneered 
the way. In 1742, Count Zinzendorf came to Shamokin, where he was hospit- 
ably received by Shikellamy, and from thence went to Otzinachson, on the 
" West Branch, " where he met Madame Montovu* and other Europeans who had 
adopted Indian habits. In 1745, the Reverend David Brainerd visited Shamo- 
kin and found it a village of some fifty cabins, situated partly on the east and 
west banks of the river, and partly on an island in the stream. Its inhabitants, 
numbering about three hundred, were principally Delawares, and were ' ' ac- 
counted the most drunken, mischievous and rutfian-like fellows of any in these 
parts; and Satan seemed to have his seat in this town, in an eminent manner." 

Brainerd again visited the Susquehanna towns in the following year, and in 
his diary expressed a similar opinion of the whole Indian population. This 
place was prominently used as a resting place by the war parties of the Six 
Nations, in theii' forays against the Catawbas and other southern Indians, and 
about this time the Iroquois requested the governor of the province to allow a 
blacksmith to be stationed there, that they might be saved the trouble of seek- 
ing the services of those in the Tulpehocken settlements. This was granted, on 
condition that he was to remain only so long as they continued fi'iendly to the 
English. Anthony Schmidt was accordingly sent from Bethlehem, and in the 
spring of 1747, the Moravians sent missionaries and built a mission house. 
They appear to have had a strong and healthful influence over Shikellamy, the 
Iroquois viceroy, and probably had much to do with his continued faithfulness, 
to the English cause. 



50 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

Notice of England's declaration of war against France reached the province 
on the 11th of June, 1744:, but the negotiations of the French with the Indians 
had been viewed with uneasiness by the colonists since 1728, and no effort was 
spared to hold the Six Nations and their dependent tribes true to their treaties 
of friendship. Traders from the different colonies found their way to the 
remotest nations east of the Mississippi, and gave fi'equent cause of complaint 
to the savages, whose taste for rum was beyond their self-restraint, though 
they repeatedly affirmed that it was through its influence that the unsci'upuloua 
trader robbed them and brought on fatal encounters which were constantly 
endangering the friendly relations of the two races. To these were added the 
irritation occasioned by the steady encroachment of the settlements upon lands 
not purchased of the Indians. This was allayed by purchasers fi-om time to 
time; but these, in the main, proved more satisfactory to the Six Nations thaa 
to the native occupants. 

In 1749, Shikellamy died, the Shawanese had withdi-awn to Ohio, and the 
Iroquois, under the seductive influences of French agents, began to waver in 
their allegiance to the English. The regular alternation of encroachments and 
purchases seemed likely to have no end, so long as the Indians possessed any 
lands, and the feeling began to gain ground among the savages that some 
other means must be sought to avoid probable extermination. Until 1755, the 
conflict between the French and English did not involve the Indians of the 
interior. The success of the French in 1754, however, encouraged the Shawan- 
ese to join them, and Braddock's defeat in the following year precipitated 
upon the Pennsylvania border the first Indian war of its history. Its result 
was to depopulate the advanced settlements, and lead to a general concentra- 
tion of those hardly less exposed. 

It was not until the treaty of 1768 opened the "new purchase " to settlers, 
that the frontier communities had regained the positions held at the beginning 
of the war, and were prepared to make fresh advances. On the conclusion of 
this purchase, the provincial authorities sent a small party of settlers to the 
lands from which the Connecticut immigrants had been driven in 1763, with 
the hope of supplanting those who claimed the land, under an independent pur- 
chase from the Indians and the charter of Connecticut. In February, 1769, 
a colony of some forty persons arrived from Connecticut and quietly repos- 
sessed themselves of their former claims. A bitter controversy, characterized 
by wanton cruelty and gross injustice, was thus begun and persistently carried 
on for years. In the summer following the settlement at Wyoming, the first 
settler appeared in the territory now within the limits of Columbia county. 
The new lands found ready sale among the speculators, and but little of the 
land in this county was settled by the first purchaser. It happened, therefore, 
that the attention of John Eves, a resident'.of New Castle county, Delaware, was 
directed to this region by a Philadelphian, who had made a large purchase 
here. In the summer of 1769, he came on a tour of inspection; in 1770, he 
came with his son and prepared a home for his family, and, in 1771, took up 
his permanent residence within the territory now included in Madison town- 
ship. 

For about a year, this family were probably the only white occupants of the 
region now marked by the county limits. The trails were the only roads, and 
the sole dependence for indispensable supplies was Harris' ferry, or Shamokin, 
where, in 1756, Fort Augusta had been erected. The Eves did not long remain in 
such isolation, however. The Scotch-Irish settlements of the Kittatinny 
valley sent forth their surplus population along the "West Branch," while here 
and there a family turned inland to seek a home. In 1772, some Welsh fami- 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 51 

lies from Chester county settled just south of the river, within the present 
limits of Maine township. In 1774, improvements were made in what are 
now Beaver and Center townships, and in the following year in Madison 
township. It is impossible to determine the number of persons included in 
the settlements indicated, but probably it did not exceed one hundred. 
In 1772 the county of Northumberland was erected, with limits embracing 
an area from which more than a score of counties have since been formed. 
Its limits included the Wyoming settlement, which at this time proved a source 
of great concern, to those who bore official responsibility, and disturbance to 
the whole community. For a time, this matter engaged the public attention 
and tasked its energies, but the struggle for independence beginning to cast 
its shadows before, public activities were turned in another direction. Well 
founded apprehensions began to be entertained that the savages would become 
involved in the approaching conflict, and the colonial authorities made early 
efforts to secure their neutrality, but with no strong assurance of success. 
Such a state of affairs boded very serious consequences to this unprotected re- 
gion, which lay in the very path of the powerful Iroquois. Late in the year 
of 1775, and in the early part of the following year, the Wyoming settlers 
held unofficial ' ' talks ' ' with representatives of the northern Indians, who, while 
professing the most peaceful intentions, made their replies a tissue of com- 
plaints and protests against the erection of fortifications. On one pretext or 
another they sought to make occasion for the visit of the Indians, with a view, 
as the settlers believed, to turn their presence to a hostile account whenever it 
should suit their purpose to " dig up the hatchet." 

The only fort at this time was at Shamokin. This was garrisoned by a de- 
tachment under the command of Capt. Hunter, and served as a rallying point 
rather than a protection to the frontier, which was advanced some fifty miles 
to the north of it. Stockades were soon built, however, which became known 
as forts. Of these the Wyoming settlers erected, in 1776, the fort at 
Pittston; and one called after the builder, "Fort Jenkins," was erected on the 
west side of the river in the same vicinity. Northumberland county had 
also its ' ' Committee of Safety, ' ' * which lost no time in organizing those capa- 
ble of bearing arms for the defense of the settlements. 

On the 8th of February, 1776, the gentlemen previously nominated by 
their respective townships, met at the house of Kichard Malone, at the mouth 
of the Chillisquaque. The committee thus constituted consisted of John 
Weitzel, Alexander Hunter and Thomond Ball, from Augusta township; 
William Cook, Benjamin Alison and Thomas Hewet, fi'om Mahoning; Captain 
John Hambright, William McKnight and William Shaw, from Turbut town- 
ship; Robert Roble, William Watson and John Buckalew, from Muncey town- 
phip; William Dunn, Thomas Hewes and Alexander Hamilton, from Bald Eagle 
township; W^ alter Clark, William Irwin and Joseph Green, from Buffalo 
township; James McClure, Thomas Clayton and Peter Mellick, fi'om Wyoming 
township ; none indicated from Penn's township; none from Mahanoy township; 

John Livingston, Maurice Davis and Hall, from Potter' s township ; 

and Walter Clarke, Matthew Brown and Marcus Hulings, from White Deer 
township. The committee organized by the election of Captain Hambright as 
chairman, and Thomond Ball as clerk. The first general business of the com- 
mittee was to provide for the organization of a volunteer regiment. The county 
was divided into two parts, each of which was to raise a battalion : the contingent 

*0n June 30, 1775, the provincial assembly appointed twenty-five mea to act as a "Coimuittee ol Safety " 
who met on the 3d of July and orcanized, with Benjamin Franklin as president. Subsequently, aubsid ary 
committees were constituted in each county, which corresponded and acted in conjunction with the central 
committee. 



52 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

of the lower division to be oiScered by Samuel Hunter, colonel ; William Cooke,' 
lieutenant-colonel; Casper Weitzel, first major; John Lee, second major; and that 
of the upper division to be officered by William Plunket, colonel; James Mur- 
ray, lieutenant-colonel; John Brady, first major; Cookson Long, second major. 
Each battalion was to consist of six companies, each of which should number 
at least forty privates. 

The committee was changed once in six months, and but few members seem 
to have retained their positions more than one term. To judge from its record 
of proceedings, it was not remarkably efficient. Some of its appointees proved 
tories, and others do not appear to have been in accord with its administration. 
It had occasion to complain that recruiting officers from other counties took 
the balk of their fighting jjopulation into other organizations, and subsequent 
events proved that what stand was made against the enemy was effected largely 
by local leaders in their private capacity or by the continental forces. The 
Wyoming settlement raised and equipped two companies, of eighty-four men 
each, under the direction of the congress, but these were drawn to re-enforce 
Washington' s retreating army in ihe following winter. It is sufficient tci say that 
there was no bond of union between this settlement and the lower ones in 
the county, nor did their common danger beget one. Fortunately it did not 
serve the purposes of the savages to carry their hostilities in this direction in 
the first two years of the war, and it was not until the latter part of 1777 that 
rumors of an impending blow upon this frontier began to be credited. 

It is difficult to assign any particular share in the early movements to the 
residents of Columbia county territory. They were probably included in 
'Wyoming township, but the undistui'bed condition of affairs did not demand 
more active duty than occasional musters, or a short scouting expedition. The 
relation of Moses Van Campen, whose house was then within the present limits 
of Center township, gives the only detailed account of affairs here, that can 
now be obtained. 

My first service was in the year 1777, when I served three months under Colonel John 
Kelly, who stationed us at Big Isle, on the west branch of the Susquehanna. Nothing 
particular transpired during that time, and in March, 1778, I was appointed lieutenant in 
a company of six-months men. Shortly afterward I was ordered by Colonel Samuel 
Hunter to proceed with about twenty men to Fishing creek, and to build a fort about three 
miles from its mouth, for tiie reception of the inhabitants in case of an alarm from the 
Indians. In May, my fort being nearly completed, our spies discovered a large body of 
Indians making their way toward the fort. The neighboring residents had barel}' time 
to fly to the fort for protection, leaving their goods behind. The Indians soon made their 
appearance, and having plundered and burnt the houses, attacked the fort, keeping a 
steady tire upon us during the day. At night they witlidrew, burning and destroying 
everything in their route. What loss they sustained we could not ascertain as they car- 
ried off all the dead and wounded, though, from the marks of blood on the ground, it must 
have been considerable. 

The incident related above was the first Indian attack on this frontier in the 
revolutionary war. Scouts of the enemy had previously been discovered about 
the Wyoming settlements, but always at considerable distance away, as if their 
purpose was to veil their real movements and to intercept any messengers who 
might be sent for succor. Authentic information having reached the board of 
war, however, of an attack on this region by a combined force of British and 
savages, some inadequate measiu'es were suggested to meet it; but the blow 
fell before the authorities could bring themselves to act decisively. In May, 
the scouts, who had hitherto invariably retired when discovered, piit on a bolder 
front and killed a settler near Tunkhannock. A few days later they fired on 
a party of six with fatal effect, but still no concerted action took place until 
the attack on Van Campen' s fort, which is locally known as Fort Wheeler. 




(^y^^-^^r^^zm^xrin) 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 55 

It is probable that this attack was designed to destroy any hope of re-en- 
forcement from below, that Wyoming might have reason to entertain. The 
success of the expedition was not conspicuous, and in June, therefore, an ad- 
vance force was sent hither to distract the attention of the lower settlements, 
while the main attack was delivered at Wyoming. The settlers who had fled 
to Fort Wheeler remained there, and inclosed a parcel of ground not far from 
the stockade for their cattle. One evening in June, when some of the com- 
pany were engaged in milking, the sentinel on guard called attention to a sus- 
picious movement in the bushes beyond the cattle pen. Examination developed 
the fact that a party of Indians were approaching the milkers with the inten- 
tion of surprising them. Van Campen, who was still in command, quickly 
summoned a party of ten men, and succeeded in gaining a position between the 
savages and the milking party unobserved. Advancing to an intervening ridge, 
the whites came upon the Indians within pistol-range. A sudden volley killed 
the leader of the band, but did no execution upon the rest, who lost no time in 
getting beyond the reach of a second fire. In the meantime, the surprised 
milkers, startled by the firing, made a rapid race for the fort, while the dis- 
carded milk pails, flying in all directions, served to mark the precipitation of 
the stampede. 

On the 3d of July occurred the terrible massacre at Wyoming, the bar- 
barous details of which are not excelled in horror by any other incident in the 
whole range of savage warfare. The few survivors of this disaster fled down 
the river or to the settlements on the Delaware, enduring the most heart- 
rendering sufferings in their flight, and spreading the utmost consternation by 
the recital of their sad story. In the meantime parties of the enemy scouted 
through the whole region, murdering defenseless families and burning aban- 
doned houses. Many of the settlers fled, never to return, and others fled to 
the most accessible stockade. 

On learning of this sad state of affairs, the authorities took prompt meas- 
ures to stay the course of the victorious enemy. Colonel Hartley, of the Penn- 
sylvania line, with a part of his regiment, was ordered to Sunbury at once. 
The cduncil directed four hundred militia from Lancaster, one himdred and 
fifty from Berks and three hundred from Northumberland county, to concen 
trate at the same place; and General Mcintosh, arresting the march of Colonel 
Broadhead toward Fort Pitt, directed him to march to Wyoming. Unfortunately, 
these ample re- enforcements came too late; the people of that settlement who 
had not perished were already flying or fled. Colonel Broadhead therefore^ 
halted at Sunbury, and took prompt measures to restrain the ravages of the 
enemy, and to infuse courage in the hearts of those still in the country. 
Scouts were employed in watching the Indian trails; reconnoitering parties 
were sent out daily, and detachments stationed at important points. One of 
these, "consisting of a major, two captains, one subaltern and eighty men, in- 
cluding sergeants," were posted at Briar creek, "a little below Nescopec.'* 
Encouraged by these measures, many of the refugees returned, and, in com- 
panies, attempted to save something from the general wreck of theii* crops. 

Hartley arrived about the 1st of August, and relieved Colonel Broadhead' s 
forces; a few days later Colonel Z. Butler, with twenty continental troops and 
forty militia, reached Wyoming. Both officers actively engaged in secui'ing 
the settlements from the daily attacks of the savages. Additional re -enforce- 
ments were sent to Butler from Easton, and on the 9th of August Hartley 
wrote the former officer: "I expect another part of my regiment to join 
me every day, and some more militia. I have established a post, and a work 
is built, at one Jenkins's, about six miles below the Nescopeck falls. There- 

1 1 



56 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

is now a garrison there, which is to be strengthened to-morrow; when I am 
re -enforced, my wish is to extend our post to Wyoming. Shonld you not think 
yourself able to maintain yourself at AVyoming, you are to march your troops 
to Jenkins' fort, at the place I have mentioned. 

Colonel Hartley had fi-equent occasion to march in pursuit of marauding 
parties of savages, but with no better success than to temporarily drive them 
ofP, and on the 1st of September this diligent commander reported that, not- 
withstanding these efforts, "we are not certain we killed a single Indian." 
In the latter^'part of this month, however, he led a force up the " West Branch," 
and then crossing over to the " North Branch," in conjunction with Colonel But- 
ler, from Wyoming, brought the savages to a stand at Sheshequin. The 
enemy was easily put to flight with considerable loss, when the united forces 
retired to Wyoming, where, on October 22d, the bodies of those slain in July 
•were buried. This had hitherto been found impossible, and even now was 
done hurriedly, amid constant alarms of an Indian attack. 

Colonel Hartley soon returned to Sunbury, leaving a small garrison in the 
fort, but no sooner had the retiring forces reached their destination than the 
whole region was again infested by lurking savages, who plied their nefarious 
•work with apparent impunity. On November 9, 1778, Hartley wrote from Sun- 
bury to the executive council: 

The enemy within these ten clays has come down in force and invested Wyoming. 
They have burnt and destroyed all the settlements on the Northeast Branch, as far as 
Nescopeck Fort Jenkins, where we have a small garrison, has supported itself for the 
present About seventy Indians were seen about twenty two miles from here yesterday 
•evening, advancing toward the forks of Chillisquaque; they took some prisoners yester- 
day With the sniall force we have, we are endeavoring to make a stand. * 
Wyomino- I make no doubt, will make a good defense, but the garrison is rather too 
small Should the enemy take that post. New York, Pennsylvania and Jersey will then 
think too late of its importance. I am drawing some little force together, and to-morrow 
will endeavor to attack those Indians on Chillisquaque, if they keep in a body and make 
a movement toward Fishing creek, which will probably be of use to the people of Wyo- 
ming. If Wyoming falls, the barbarians will undoubtedly approach these towns. 

Neither congress nor council was careless of such appeals, but the demands 
from all parts of the service were so urgent that the wisest found it difficult to 
dispose of the meager resources at command so as best to meet the rapidly 
arisincr emergencies. Aid was forwarded to the commandant at Fort Augusta, 
and every effort made to encourage enlistments, but all this fell far short of 
the necessities of the situation. Even the severity of the winter put but a 
partial check upon the savages' cruel activity, and with spring 
their harrassing attacks were renewed with unabated vigor. On the 25th 
of April, a party of Indians attacked the people living in the vicinity of Fort 
Jenkins, and took two or three families prisoners. The garrison, learning of the 
matter, promptly sent out a force of thirty men and rescued their unfortunate 
friends, but the enemy, rallying in a body, drove the whites back to the coyer 
of the fort with a loss of three killed and four badly wounded. After burning 
several houses near the fort, and killing the cattle to be found, they departed, 
taking a number of horses with them. The next day they attacked Fort Free- 
land, ' ' near Muncy hill," and ravaged the surrounding country. On the 17th 
of May the savages again visited the settlements near Fort Jenkins, and 
killed and scalped a family of four persons across the river fi'om the fort (Mif- 
flin township). In fact, there was not a day when Indians were not 
seen prowling about some part of this frontier, who seemed to 
commit the most cniel depredations without fear of reprisal; and such was 
the growing discouragement that the county appeared ' ' on the eve of break- 
ing tip. ' ' Nothing was seen ' ' but desolation, fire and smoke, ' ' the houses of 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 57 

the inhabitants, who fled to the forts for protection, being biirned almost as soon 
as they were abandoned. 

Early in 1779, a campaign up the Susquehanna, under command of Gen- 
eral Sullivan, was projected against the Seneca Indians. In June the troops 
concentrated at Wilkesbarre, the local forces being fully employed in convoy- 
ing boats bearing supplies for the proposed expedition. Even in the presence 
of this force of three or four thousand troops, the savages boldly committed 
their depredations, almost within rifle-shot of the encampment, and it was not 
until the latter part of August, when the army had reached the Indian country 
and ravaged it with fire and sword, that this region had an interval of peace. 

In the latter part of October, the return of the victorious army was wel- 
comed by the loud rejoicing of the inhabitants of the river settlements. Before 
the end of the month the army retired to Easton, leaving a greatly depleted 
German regiment to garrison the forts. The force was entirely inadequate for 
the purpose. There were but one hundred and twenty effective men, exclusive 
of ofiicers, and only sixty of these were available for frontier service, as the 
commanding ofiicer insisted on keeping one-half at the headquarters in Sun- 
bury. Forty men were therefore stationed at Fort Montgomery (in Montour 
county), and twenty men at Fort Jenkins, while a company of fourteen local 
' ' rangers ' ' were stationed at a point on the " West Branch, " seventeen miles 
above Sunbury. 

As winter set in, the people began to fear that Sullivan's campaign, severe 
as its results had been, had not broken the spirit of the savages. Distressing 
as the condition of the Indians must have been, there were no signs of their 
readiness to make overtiires for peace, and the borderers began to fear that 
they were plotting a bloody reprisal, though an early and heavy fall of snow 
made it probable that the blow would not be delivered before the spring. The 
event confirmed these forebodings. On April 2, 1780, Samuel Hunter, county- 
lieutenant for Northumberland, wrote the president of the executive council 
as follows: 

The savages have made their appearance on our frontiers in a hostile manner. The 
day before yesterday they took seven or eight prisoners* about two miles above Fort 
Jenkins, and two days before that, carried off several people from about Wyoming. This 
has struck such terror to the poor scattered inhabitants of this county, that all the settlers 
above this will be in the towns of Sunbury and Northumberland before two days. Our 
•case is really deplorable, and without some speedy assistance being ordered here, I am 
afraid the county will break up entirely, as the German regiment that is stationed here is 
no way adequate to grant us the necessary relief required. And as for calling out the 
militia of this county, it is impossible to expect it in the present circumstances the inhab- 
itants are reduced to; for if they miss getting spring crops put in the ground for the sup- 
port of their families, they have nothing that can induce them to stay, except the council 
would order some of the militia from our neighboring counties to act in conjunction with 
a few continental troops that are here, and without something like this is done to 
encourage the people, I dread the consequences that may ensue. 

The case is quite altered with us from what it was this time twelve months. We had 
a pretty good fort garrisoned at Muncy,of continental troops, Brady's fort and Freeland's, 
with our own inhabitants, but now we have but about forty or tifty at Montgomery's and 
thirty at Fort Jenkins, the latter of which was not able to spare men enough out of 
the garrison to pursue the enemy that carried off the prisoners. I suppose there was not 
above thirty Indians and tories in the party, and a pretty deep snow had fallen the night 
before, by which they could be easily tracked. I am sorry to mention this, as I have seen 
the time, within this three years past, that we could turn out some hundred of good 
woodsmen, but now the case is altered, as our county is quite drained of our best men. 

To such appeals, and there were many of them, the reply of the council 
was sympathetic and judicious. They exhibited their situation, in which they 
were reduced to the painful necessity of listening to distress they could not 

♦Refers to the capture of the Van Campen party, the details for which may be found on page — Chap. IX. 



58 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

relieve, and to claims they could not satisfy. They declared that the poor 
people, like the wagoner in the fable, must put their own shoulders to the 
wheel as well as call on Hercules. ' ' We will endeavor, " they wrote, ' ' to 
supply them with ammunition, provisions and such like assistance; we will 
give rewards to those who distinguish themselves — in short, we will do any- 
thing to create that spirit which is so necessary in an Indian war, a spirit of 
hostility and enterprise, which will carry our young men to their towns. " 

The lamentable deficiency among the majority of the settlers in this region 
was a conspicuous lack of this spirit. Bounties of one thousand dollars for 
scalps and fifteen hundred for prisoners were offered, and yet not a dozen 
claims of this kind were preferred here in the whole period of the war. 
Responsibility was divided, the citizens and troops were not in perfect sym- 
pathy, and too many of the settlers were totally unequipped for ,the duties and 
responsibilies which a state of hostilities devolve upon the pioneer. The 
enterprising settlers of Wyoming, notwithstanding their grievous losses and 
horrible sufferings, made few demands for assistance, and fewer complaints, 
and had not a base covetousness dictated the fatal policy of keeping the 
Wyoming companies away from the defense of their own homes and families, 
many lives that were lost, not only in Wyoming but elsewhere as well, might 
have been preserved. 

The community in Northumberland county was "strangely divided" in 
sentiment, ' ' Whig, Tory, Yankee, Pennamite, Dutch, Irish and English in- 
fluence' ' — all operating to interfere with the general success. The general dis- 
like of the Yankee settlers at Wyoming found frequent expression in the official 
communications of the county authorities, and the people were "hardly re- 
strained from complaint against the keeping up of that garrison. " At the 
same time they did not fail to urge their demands for assistance, to be drawn 
fi'om the militia of the lower counties, with a wearisome persistence which re- 
peatedly called forth good-tempered rebukes from the sorely-pressed council. 
It was in vain the latter urged the recruiting of the home militia, offered high 
bounties for scalps and prisoners, and sent comparatively liberal supplies. The 
regular reply was a cry of helplessness. The German troops garrisoned a chain 
of forts from the east to the west branch of the Susquehanna (Jenkins, Montgom- 
ery, Bossley and Boone' s Mills), and seemed unwilling to leave their posts for 
any purpose. Scouting duty was performed by the militia and volunteers, but 
with little result, save the finding of burning ruins and cold trails ; and parties 
which went out in quest of scalps came back empty-handed, with a tale of con- 
fused trails, which led, they knew not where. 

Some time in the summer of 1 780, the German regiment was withdrawn, and 
the protection of this region devolved upon the militia, under the command of 
General Potter. At the same time the council complained of the increasing 
demands of this section, declaring that the marked attention it had given this 
frontier had created a feeling of jealousy in other exposed communities, and 
wrote the county lieutenant that ' ' it will, therefore, unavoidably happen that 
your exertions must be considerable in the county, and that your reliance upon 
distant aid must also in some degree abate. ' ' 

In the meantime scarcely a day passed without its tale of murder and arson; 
isolated parties of savage marauders were frequently seen, and as the harvest 
time approached, lively fears were entertained that the region would be visited 
by a formidable force of the enemy. On the 6th of September, these fears were 
partially realized. A party of three hundred savages attacked Fort Rice, which 
was garrisoned by twenty militia. The whites returning a brisk fire, the en- 
emy turned their attention to burning the abandoned houses and unprotected 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 59 

stacks of grain, and the destruction or stealing of the stock. The alarm was 
speedily carried to Sunbiuy, and a considerable body of militia mustered and 
marched to the scene of danger; but the savages had disappeared, and, as 
usually happened, there was no one present capable of tracing their course. 
The forces accordingly divided and went in every direction but the one taken 
by the enemy. On the next day they were heard of at Fort Jenkins, where 
they burned the stockade, abandoned houses and grain stacks, and slaughtered 
or di'ove off the stock. Fortunately, on the first alarm from Fort Rice the 
gan-ison of Jenkins, consisting of twenty militia, was withdrawn, as the ad- 
ditions made to the stockade for the accommodation of those who had gathered 
to it, made it untenable against a determined attack. 

The winter finally brought some relief to the harrassed community, and 
especial effort was made to organize a home force for the protection of the 
frontier. In the preceding June, the council had sent commissions and money 
to aid in the organization of a company of rangers. Thomas Robinson was 
made captain, and Moses Van Campen ensign, but the other commissions 
* ' went a begging. ' ' Under such circumstances the recruiting was not likely 
to be rapid, and in December Robinson could only report seven men. April 
12th he had secured forty men, but many of them were so much in want of all 
kinds of clothing that they could not do duty. In the latter part of May, he 
reported forty-seven men enlisted for the war, and eighteen for seven months. 
Another officer had raised fifteen men for seven months' service, and a third 
had secured twenty recruits for the same term. In February, 1781, Van 
Campen was promoted to a lieutenantcy, and signalized his accession to 
leading responsibility by praiseworthy activity. Captain Robinson, being 
neither a woodsman nor marksman, left the active command of the company 
to his more experienced lieutenant, and the company was thenceforward em- 
ployed in maintaining a line of scouting posts fi'om the north to the west 
branch of the Susquehanna. In the spring of 1781, this company erected a 
fort near Bloomsburg, ' ' on the Widow McClure' s plantation, ' ' and there stored 
its surplus supplies. 

Notwithstanding these precautions, the enemy began their depredations 
early in the spring, and continued them, with their usual success, far into the 
summer. Many families, which had braved all dangers hitherto, now fled, and 
it is probable that no families remained in the territory now embraced within 
the limits of Columbia county, save in the vicinity of ' ' McClure' s fort' ' ; but 
even this was abandoned whenever a strong attack was threatened. The latter 
paxi. of the year, however, was marked by some successful counter- strokes by 
the whites, but these did not secure immunity from frequent depredations on 
the part of the savages, until winter brought the usual suspension of active 
hostilities. 

In the subsequent years of the war, the brunt of Indian attacks fell on 
the settlements on the " West Branch " and in the vicinity of Wyoming, but the 
end was rapidly approaching, and the year of 1782 was less marked by savage 
inroads on this frontier, though occasional murders were committed, even after 
the British general had given his assurance that the savages had been recalled. 
In January, 1783, the great principals in the war ceased active hostilities, and 
in April peace was proclaimed to the American army. The savages did not 
lay down their weapons so soon, and some depredations are noted in this year, 
within the old-time limits of Northumberland county, but the people had be- 
come reassured, and were rapidly returning to their lands. Some of the 
improvements had been permanently abandoned by the terrified people, but in 
the larger number of instances the settlers, worn out by the anxieties 



60 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

of the situation, had retired to Sunbnry or Northumberland to wait for 
the return of peace. These were the first to return. A little later some 
who had retreated to the older communities returned, and brought new settlers 
with them. The treaty of October, 1784, removed the last barrier, and the 
long pent-up tide of emigration flowed forth, each month marking a large 
increase in the settlements of the upper valley of the Susquehanna. 

The character of the lands in "the new purchase" was flatteringly set forth 
by those whose military duties had brought them hither, and these, with many 
others fi'om the older portions of the state, eagerly turned toward the country 
now opened for settlement. It was to this migration that Columbia county 
was indebted for its general settlement, the earlier settlers coming from the 
older counties of the state, and those of a trifle later period coming largely 
from west New Jersey. The people from the two localities were not essen- 
tially different in character. The Swede adventurers had been followed by 
the Dutch on both sides of the river, and a society, characterized to some 
extent by the institutions of each, had resulted. With the accession of Penn 
a new element was introduced, which temporarily gave ascendency to the 
English Quaker influence on both sides of the Delaware, but, as the news of 
the proprietor's liberal principles spread abroad, the victims of oppression 
everywhere turned to this new asylum. "From England and Wales, from 
Scotland and Ireland and the Low Countries emigrants crowded to the land 
of promise. On the banks of the Rhine new companies were formed under 
better auspices than the Swedes; and, from the highlands above Worms, the 
humble people renounced their German homes for his protection. " 

Within the limits of Pennsylvania, the English Quakers came close upon 
the advent of the earlier nationalities. Both Swedes and Dutch had made 
isolated settlements here, however, when the Quakers of New Jersey, tempted 
by the natm-al attractions of the country, crossed the Delaware. Before 
Penn' 8 arrival, therefore, they had established settlements at Upland, Shako- 
maxon, and near the falls of the Delaware, opposite Trenton. The arrival of 
Penn's colonies re- enforced their numbers, and by the close of 1682, some 
twenty-three vessels had landed upward of two thousand more of their co- 
religionists. Each year brought accessions to the number already here, and, 
until the great influx of Germans, were in numbers, as they long were in influ- 
ence, the predominant element. Many of these people were persons of wealth 
and distinction, and were induced to come to the new land only by the vigor- 
ous persecutions which oppressed them at home. They were an industrious 
and prudent people, and early placed the colony upon a flourishing and pros- 
perous foundation. Their settlements were made principally at Philadelphia 
and along the river, though a large proportion found homes inland in the 
county of Chester. These were principally from Sussex, the home of Penn, 
from Cheshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire, England. 
A considerable company of Welsh came in 1683, and, settling in Chester coun- 
ty, joined the society of Friends. The names given the site of their settle- 
ments still perpetuates their memory. Of these, Uwchlan, settled under the 
auspices of David Lloyd, of Old Chester, contributed to the early settlement 
of Columbia county. A company of German Quakers, fi'om Kresheim, was 
also a notable addition to the early settlement of this county. 

Next to the Quaker immigration, that of the Germans was most important 
in the early history of the commonwealth. They were a hardy, frugal and 
industrious people, retaining their customs and language with such tenacity as 
to leave their impress upon society to the present, and spreading their influence 
over a wide scope of country through the migrations of their descendants. 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 61 

Some of these people were among the earliest arrivals, but their numbers were 
not marked until about 1725, when it became so great as to excite some alarm 
lest they should "produce a German colony here, and perhaps such an one as 
Britain once received from Saxony in the fifth century." They came princi- 
pally from the Palatinate, whence they were driven by religious persecution. 
Many fled to England for protection, where Queen Anne supported them from 
the public treasury. Hundreds were transported by the royal command to 
Ireland, and others to New York, whence they finally found their way to West- 
ern New Jersey and Pennsylvania. 

Many of these persons, as well as of the English, Irish, Scotch and Welsh,, 
came as redemptioners — persons unable to pay their own passage and sold to. 
a term of service to defray this cost. The public alarm at the increasing num- 
ber of Palatine and Irish immigrants, caused the imposition of a tax on all 
such persons, and for a time the Germans were refused naturalization. The 
latter continued to come, notwithstanding these discouragements and the great 
privations they suffered from the advantage taken of their ignorance and sim- 
plicity by unscrupulous ship-owners and agents. In 1755, their numbers were 
estimated at upwards of sixty thousand, of which some thirty thousand were 
of the German Keformed denomination. The rest were divided among the 
Lutheran, Mennonite, Dunkard, Moravian, Quaker, Catholic and Schwenken- 
feldter pursuasions, the first named being rather more numerous than any of 
the others. The Germans at first settled in the lower parts of Bucks, Mont- 
gomery, Lancaster and Berks counties ; a little later their settlements extended 
up the Tulpehocken, in 1732. reaching its headwaters in Lebanon county. 

The Scotch and Scotch -Irish portion of the early population of the province 
came subsequent to 1719, and constituted an important element of the hardy 
people who reclaimed the valleys of Pennsylvania. The persecutions of the 
Protestants in Ireland under Charles I, which resulted in the massacre of 
1041, drove many who had originally emigrated fi-om Scotland back to their 
native land. In 1662, the "act of uniformity" bore with equal oppression 
upon both Scotch and Irish, who promptly availed themselves of the asylum 
opened in the new world, and prepared the way for many others in the subse- 
quent " troublous time. " The interval of toleration dating from 1691, waa 
suspended in Queen Anne' s reign by the ' ' schism bill, ' ' and many alarmed 
dissenters from Ireland and Scotland followed the path of those who had come 
earlier to America. 

Many of the Scotch and Scotch- Irish in this later migration found their 
way to Pennsylvania, settling at first along the Maryland line. They appear 
to have seized their lands by "squatter right," and as they occupied a con- 
tested region were tolerated on these terms for the protection they afforded the 
more remote settlements. They were subsequently viewed with some uneasi- 
ness by the agent of the proprietor, to whom it looked "as if Ireland was to 
send all her inhabitants hither, for last week not less than six ships arrived, and 
every day two or three arrive also. The common fear is, that if they continue to 
come, they will make themselves proprietors of the province." They were a 
somewhat intractable people, and having been tolerated in their first usurpa- 
ations, did not hesitate to extend their operations. They advocated the prin- 
ciple that the heathen had few rights which Christians were bound to respect, 
and seized the Conestoga manor, fifteen thousand acres of the best land of the 
valley, insisting that it was against the laws of God and nature that so much, 
land should lie idle while so many Christians wanted it to use. They were 
subsequently dispossessed by the sheriff and their cabins burned, but this temp>o- 
rary triumph of Indian rights returned some twenty-five years later ' ' to plague 



•^62 inSTOKY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

the inventor" in the massacre of Conestoga. In 1730, they occupied Donegal, 
in the northwest corner of Lancaster county. From this point they extended 
their settlements northward, to which they gave the characteristic names of Pax- 
ton, Derry, Londonderry, etc. , and to the west and northwest. They made no 
very permanent impression upon society, and subsequently lost a great part of 
their number by emigration to the south. The remainder have become assim- 
ilated, their native language has been lost, and as communities they have been 
generally supplanted by the Germans. 

The early settlement of Columbia followed the general order noted else- 
where, though this fact is rather a coincidence, than the expression of any 
natural law of development. The first settler was an English Quaker from 
New Castle county, Del. ; others only a little later came from the Welsh set- 
tlement at Uwchlan, fi-om the Dutch settlement at the Minisinks, from the 
German settlements in Berks county, from the Scotch-L'ish settlements, and 
from New Jersey. Here the war intervened, and for several years the devel- 
opment of the county was arrested and even retrograded. But before the smoke 
•of burning houses had fairly cleared away, the tide of immigration again set in. 

The available Hues of travel undoubtedly had much to do in determining 
the character of the immigration, and these, largely the outgrowth of the 
necessities of the frontier, led to the older settlements. The oldest of these, 
therefore, followed the line of the Susquehanna from Harris' ferry to Sun- 
bmy, and it was by this route that communication with the lower counties 
was principally maintained. Subsequently a road fi'om Reading to Sunbury, 
was opened, passing thi'ough Bear-Gap, which had the effect of leading some 
to early settle in Locust township. About 1787, a line of travel was opened 
from Easton to Nescopec falls, which opened this region to the emigration 
from New Jersey, to which Columbia county owed much of its early population. 
In the following year the Reading road branched off near the site of Ashland 
and led to Catawissa, a road that, in 1810, was established by the state. And 
in 1800, a road from Catawissa to Reading was laid out on a more direct route, 
which led to closer relations between the two places. 

A general relation may therefore be discovered between these facts and the 
character of the subsequent settlement of the county. The English Quakers 
who had been driven out returned in 1783, bringing others with them, though, 
in 1779, others of this class from Exeter had found their way hither by the 
same route. From 1779 to 1790, the emigrants from the Quaker settlements 
in Berks and Chester counties and from New Jersey were a marked propor- 
tion of those who came to the county, though there were other accessions in 
the meanwhile, and it is doubtful if they were at any time in the majority as 
to numbers. They were an intelligent and industrious people, and for a time 
wielded the predominant influence. They were notably strong at Catawissa 
and in Greenwood, but ;the character of the soil south of the river disappointed 
these thrifty farmers, and they began to emigrate, the larger 2:)art of them 
leaving, between 179G and 1804, for Canada and Ohio. In Greenwood they 
were better pleased and have remained, constituting a majority of the present 
population of that township. 

The German immigration set in about 1788 and, until 1810, continued with 
unabated vigor. These people came at first, principally from Berks county, 
though a few were fresh from their native land, and settled generally south of 
the river. Subsequent additions came from Lehigh and Northampton coun- 
ties and settled north of the river. These settlers were generally a plain, 
plodding people, whose persistence has enabled them to overcome the stubborn 
toil and make fair farms where the natural difficulties have discouraged others. 



HISTORY OF COLUiMBIA COUNTY. 65 

They retain, in some parts of tlie county, many of their primitive customs and 
national characteristics, while in all parts they have generally retained their 
native language and constitute a large minority, if not a greater proportion of 
the inhabitants of the county. 

The New Jersey immigration was generally English, of the dissenting 
classes, and came in from 1785 to 1802, though some preceded the opening 
of the road from Easton by ten years. They are found almost entirely in that 
part of the county which lies north of the river, and constitute, perhaps, a ma- 
jority of the population. To these should be added a few who came from the 
Connecticut settlements farther up the " North Branch, " and others who were 
not in any way identified with the different tides of immigration noted. The 
present population is generally made up of the descendants of the first settlers. 
The usual changes have taken place, but of the something more than thirty 
thousand inhabitants in the county, by the last census, less than one thousand 
were born out of the state. In Conyngham the character of the people is 
somewhat affected by the locality; farming industries giving place to mining 
pursuits, has invited a mixed population of recent origin and of various nation- 
alities. In Locust township a considerable number of Welsh immigrants 
came about 1840; they were recently from their native land, and were well-to- 
do farmers; they retained their native language, and erected a church, but be- 
coming dissatisfied with the locality, they removed in the fifteen or twenty years 
followiner. 



CHAPTER III. 

OEGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY. 

THE POLITICAL development of Pennsylvania followed in the wake of 
its expanding settlements. In 1682, the counties of Bucks, Philadelphia 
and Chester were formed with limits intended to include not only the populat- 
ed area, but territory enough in addition to meet, for a considerable time to 
come, the growing necessities of the rapidly increasing immigration. It was 
not until 1729, therefore, that the extension of settlements and the purchase 
of new lands from the Indians led to the erection of Lancaster county. At 
that time the Susquehanna marked the western limit of the province, but the 
purchase of 1736 opened a triangular area west of the river, which was at- 
tached to Lancaster until the convenience of the increasing settlements in this 
region, in 1749, demanded the erection of York county, and a year later for 
the erection of Cumberland. The northern extension of these counties was 
limited by the Indian boundary line, marked by the Kittatinny range. 

Again the extension of settlements and the treaty of 1749 demanded new 
county organizations, and, in 1752, Berks and Northampton were formed to in- 
clude in their jurisdiction the northern portions of the older counties and the 
newly acquired territory between the Delaware and Susquehanna rivers. Berks 
embraced the larger area, and, by the treaty of 1768, extended to the present 
northern limits of the state. In the meantime, the territory acquired west of 
the Siisquehanna by the treaties of 1754-8 had made the outlying county of 
Cumberland too large for the convenience of its inhabitants, and in 1771, Bed- 
ford was erected. A similar development was rapidly taking place east of the 



66 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

Susqiiehanna, and, in 1772, Northumberland county was formed from the coun- 
ties of Bedford, Cumberland, Lancaster, Berks and Northampton, with an area 
which now constitutes twenty-six counties. Its limits are thus indicated: 

Beginning at the mouth of Mahoutongo creek, on the west side of the river Susque- 
hanna; thence up the south side of said creeli, by the several courses thereof, to the head 
of Robert Meteer's spring; thence west by north to the top of Tussey's mountain; thence 
southwesterly along the summit of the mountain to Little Juniata; thence up the north- 
easterly side of the main branch of little Juniata to the head thereof; thence north to the 
line of Berlcs county; thence east along said line to the extremity of the province; thence 
east, along the northern boundary, to tiiat part thereof of the "great swamp;" thence south 
to the most northern part of the swamp aforesaid; tlience with a straight line to the head 
of the Lehigh, or Middle creelv; thence down the said creelt so far that a line run west 
southwest will strike the forks of Mahontongo [there were two streams of that name] 
creek,_ wliere Pine creek falls into the same, at the place called the Spread Eagle, on the 
east side of the Susquehanna; thence down the southerly side of said creek to the river 
aforesaid; thence down and across the river to the place of beginning. 

This generous area has been successively restricted by the erection, in 1786, 
of Luzerne county; in 1789, of Mifflin; in 1795, of Lycoming; in 1800, of 
Center; and in 1813, of Union and Columbia. The area included in the limits 
of the last named county had been variously divided, while under the jurisdic- 
tion of the original county, and to understand the lines on which it was erect- 
ed it will be convenient to notice the development of the early townships. 
Northumberland was a county of ' ' magnificent distances, ' ' and the same char- 
acteristic marked its subsidiary divisions. Augusta township extended from 
Sunbury nearly to the "plains of Wyoming;" Bald Eagle was nearly seventy 
miles long; and Wyoming and Ttirbut were equally extensive. Of the earliest 
divisions of Northumberland, the townships of Augusta, Turbut and Wyo- 
ming, erected in April, 1772, included more or less of the subsequent area of 
Columbia. Augusta embraced the territory south of the river fi-om the forks 
nearly to Wilkesbarre; Wyoming extended from the line of little Fishing creek 
eastward along the river and included the territory in the bend of the Susque- 
hanna; and Turbut included the area between little Fishing creek and the 
" West Branch, " extending north indefinitely. 

In 1775, the area of Turbut township was restricted by the erection of 
Mahoning, and further curtailed in 1786 by the erection of Derry; in the same 
year, also, Chillisquaque was formed fi-om Mahoning. In the meantime 
a change had taken place south of the river. At the April session 
of the court of quarter- sessions for 1785> certain of the inhabitants 
of Augusta presented a petition in which they set forth its unwieldy 
proportions, which they ' ' conceived after a division would be large enough 
and sufficient for two townships," and suggested a line of division "to 
begin at the mouth of Gravel run where it empties into the northeast 
branch of the Susquehanna, and to extend up said run to the first 
large fork; thence up the east branch of said run a direct course till Shamo- 
kin creek between the plantations of William Clark and Andrew Gregg; from 
thence a direct line to a large deer-lick on the north side of Mahanoy hill, till 
it joins the line that divides the township of Augusta and Mahanoy." The 
court appointed commissioners in accordance with the request of the petition- 
ers and at the August session, their report having been received and con- 
firmed, the court ordered that ' ' the upper end of Augusta township be 
called and known as Catawassa forever." Notwithstanding the far-reaching 
character of the court's order, the new township next appears in the records 
as Catawessa, and subsequently as Catawissa, to which the popular taste has 
since restricted the name; but there is nothing in the character of official 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 67 

orthography to preclude the idea that it may eventually travel the whole range 
of vowel sounds. 

The township thus formed was soon found to be too large for the conven- 
ience of its population, and in August, 1788, it was divided by a line "begin- 
ning at the mouth of little Roaring creek; thence up said creek to the head 
thereof; thence on the ridge to the south branch of big Eoaring creek; from 
thence up the said creek to Yarnall's path; thence a southeast course to the 
county line." To the upper division the name of Ralpho was given, but a 
year later this was changed to Shamokin. This division still left Catawissa 
thirty miles long and fifteen miles wide, and in April, 1795, and again in Au- 
gust of the same year, petitions were presented praying for a division of this 
township. Although the record of the court of quarter-sessions gives no inti- 
mation of the fact, the line suggested by the later petition was evidently adopt- 
ed. This began "at a gap in the mountain by the river side called Aspy's gap; 
thence to Hartman's gap, in the Catawissa mountain; thence along the ridge of 
the said mountain till it intersects the Little mountain; from thence to the 
bridge over the Dark rvin (which said bridge is the first below the Catawiss^ 
bridge between that and Berks county line) ; thence the same coiu'se continued 
until it meets the Berks county line. ' ' The report of the commissioners ap- 
pointed under this petition was delayed by one cause or another until 1797, 
when it was confirmed and the eastern division called Mifflin. 

In 1786, the formation of Luzerne county had divided the comprehensive 
township of Wyoming, and three years later it was ordered that ' 'so much of 
Wyoming township as is included in the county of Northumberland, on the di- 
vision line between the county of Luzerne and the county af s' d. be henceforth 
called and known by the name of FisnixacREEK. " As early as 1793, there was 
a movement for the division of this township but it was unsuccessful ; but in April, 
1797, the petition was renewed and the township divided by a line "beginning 
upon Little Fishing creek, opposite to the mouth of Black run near John Buck- 
alew's mill; thence in a direct course to the south end of Knob mountain or 
Lee's mountain; thence upon the main edge of said mountain ; thence to inter- 
sect with Luzerne county line. " This line was confirmed in August, and the 
new township thus formed to the south of it was named by the court "Green 
Briarcreek. ' ' In the following year a petition was presented for the division 
of Briarcreek, the line to be run at the discretion of the commissioners ap- 
pointed by the court. The record does not give the report of the commission- 
ers but subsequent events satisfactorily fix the line at tlie eastern boundary 
of the present township of Orange, and south in a direct course to the river. 
The new township was called Bloom after one of the county commissioners. 

In Januaiy, 1799, a petition was presented for another division of Fishing- 
creek, and commissioners were appointed to run a line "commencing at the 
mouth of Green creek, thence to the 'Narrows,' and along the same; thence in 
a direct course to the big bridge [ridge ?] ; and thence unto the North mountain. ' ' 
In the August session the report of the commissioners was confirmed and the 
new township named Greenwood. In the following year an attempt was made 
to erect the township of Center, but this proved unsuccessful. In 1801, a 
movement was made to divide Mahoning, and Hemlock was formed, though the 
record does not exhibit the line of division nor any confirmation of the com- 
missioners' report. In April, 1812, the next change occurred. Fishingcreek 
was still twenty miles long and eight miles wide, and a petition was presented 
praying that this township should be divided by a line "beginning at a chest- 
nut oak in the road leading from Thomas Conner's to Daniel Jackson's; thence 
south seventy degrees east, five hundred perches to the school-house on 's 



68 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

plantation; thence east thirteen hundred and sixty perches to a white pine on 
the Huntington town line. ' ' This division was approved and the upper part 
erected into a township named "Harrison, after General Harrison. " There ap- 
pears to have been a difference between the court and the people in the choice 
of a name for the new township, and whether the name found on the record 
was the result of an inadvertence or a determined overruling of the popular 
choice does not appear from the evidence now at command. It is said that 
SuGARLOAF is the name which appears upon the report submitted by the commis- 
sioners, and that this was the choice of the people. Whatever the facts in this 
respect may be, the name of Harrison was subsequently supplanted by its pop- 
ular rival, and remains to this day, although authority for this substitution was 
not discovered in the records of the court. 

The townships of Bloom, Briarcreek, Chillisquaque, Catawissa, Derry, 
Fishingcreek, Greenwood, Hemlock, Mahoning, Mifflin, Sugarloaf and Tur- 
but had thus been formed, when an act of the legislature, approved March 
22, 1813, provided for the erection of Columbia county. The extensive area, 
comprised in Northumberland county, prior to the formation of Union and 
Columbia, rendered it certain that a division would, sooner or later, be made, 
and one or more counties be formed from it. Property interests were, there- 
fore, not less active than the convenience of the people, in shaping the lines 
which ultimately constituted the limits of the last two counties. The lines of 
each were affected by the other, and the logical result was that the leading men 
of the two regions united to effect their several purposes in such a way as to 
serve mutual interests. 

At this time the disparity in outward advantages was not such as to pre- 
vent any eligible site for a village from hopefully entering the contest for met- 
ropolitan honors. The proprietors of the Mifflinville plat had early indicated 
the advantages of its position for a possible county seat; Eyersburg was a 
flourishing village, centrally located between Sunbury and Wilkesbarre; and 
Danville had the advantage of an unimportant preponderance of population. 
While all these points may be said to have been interested in the question of 
the formation of a new county, including this region, there was at this time, 
however, no open contest. The people settled in the upper valley of Fishing 
creek, were much interested in the whole question, as were the citizens of 
Eyersburg and Mifflinville, but these people, while persons of worth and local 
influence, were by no means equal to an advantageous contest with the influ- 
ence of Danville, when the legislature was to be acted upon. The original 
limits of Columbia county were, therefore, settled practically, without consult- 
ing their preferences, and resulted in the following boundaries, which were to 
be in force "from and after the first Monday in September" (Sept. 6, 1813): 

Beginning at the nine-mile tree, on the bank of the northeast branch of the Susque- 
hanna, and from thence, by the line of Point township, to the line of Chillisquaque town- 
ship; thence, by the line of Chillisquaque and Point townships, to the west branch of the 
river Susquehanna; thence up the same to the line of Lycoming county; thence, bj^ the 
line of Lycoming county, to the line of Luzerne county; thence, by the same, to the line 
of Schuylkill county; thence, along the same, to the southwest corner of Catawissa town- 
ship; thence, by the line of Catawissa and Shamokin townships, to the river Susquehanna; 
and thence down said river to the place of beginning. 

This act left the appointment of the three commissioners to fix upon the 
site of the proposed pulDlic buildings to the discretion of the governor, with the 
provision, however, that they should be "discreet and disinterested persojis, 
not resident in the counties of Northumberland, Union or Columbia." There 
is a tradition that, of the three thus appointed, one favored Bloomsburg, but 
circumstances were such that he failed to meet with his conferees, and they 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 69 

selected Danville. As they were required to choose a site in Columbia county, 
' ' as near the center as the situation thereof will admit, ' ' and were made com- 
petent to transact the business in any event, the absence of the third member 
probably had no important effect upon the decision. The commissioners' ac- 
tion met with a spirited remonstrance at once. Some professed to know that 
improper means were employed to secure the selection of Danville, and many 
more believed it upon more or less reasonable grounds. The people in the 
eastern portions of that new county thought that their interests had not been 
fairly consulted, and that Danville was not a materially better location than 
Sunbury. It was pointed out that the new seat of justice was only twelve 
miles from the old one, and that it was not ' ' as near the center as the situa- 
tion thereof will admit. ' ' Operations were soon commenced to present the 
facts to the legislature, and request a relocation of the county seat, and on 
January 11, 1814, Leonard Rupert, then in the ''house," presented nineteen 
petitions, signed by 1,046 citizens of the county, praying for the removal of 
the seat of justice to Bloomsburg. 

The matter was referred to a special committee, which on February 2, 1814, 
reported in favor of granting the prayer of the petitioners. They agreed with 
the petitioners ' ' that the town of Bloomsburg on big Fishing creek, a pure and 
navigable stream of water, and only one mile from the river Susquehanna, will 
be more convenient and much more central. The committee held, also, that 
an examination of the map showed that the location of the county seat at Dan- 
ville did not "comport with the meaning and spirit of the law." A resolution 
was offered that a committee be appointed to bring in a bill agreeably to the 
prayer of the petitioners, but it was ' ' laid upon the table, ' ' and died an easy 
death. In December, 1814, and March, 1815, similar petitions were present- 
ed, which met a similar fate, but another element was projected into the issue 
at this time, which materially strengthened the position of the petitioners. It 
appeared that the townships of Turbut and Chillisquaque had been included in 
the new county in opposition to the wish of nine-tenths of their inhabitants, 
and they came before the legislature with an earnest demand to be re-annexed 
to Northumberland. It is hardly probable that this was a part of any secret 
programme, as it would leave Danville in a far less defensible position to ac- 
cede to this demand, but it was obviously better to do this than to incur their 
determined hostility by holding them in the new county, when their enmity 
could prove effective in aiding the cause of the partisans of removal, and on 
February 21, 1815, these townships were rejoined to Northumberland. 

However illogical, this action was accepted by many as an evidence of a 
previous bargain, and it was loudly proclaimed that these townships had only 
been included in Columbia for the purpose of insuring the location of the coun- 
ty seat at Danville. The seat of justice was now truly "on the very verge of 
the county, ' ' and the opposition came to the next legislature with great confi- 
dence in their ultimate success. But the Danville leaders were not to be so 
easily beaten. Realizing the weakness of their position under the new dispen- 
sation, they promptly effected a diversion in their favor, and on January 22, 
1816, a law was passed reannexing apart of these townships to Columbia again. 

This partially restored the equilibrium of the country centering in Danville, 
but the county seat was still, in a marked degi'ee, west of a central location, 
and those of the people in favor of a removal, apprehending the determined 
character of the struggle, proceeded to organize for the accomplishment of 
their purpose. On the 15th of February, 1816, a number of townships sent 
delegates to Bloomsburg, pursuant to a call ' ' for the purpose of devising 
measures to obtain a removal of the seat of justice for said county, from Dan- 



70 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

ville to a more central location. ' ' Bloom was represented by Levi Aikman and 
Samuel Webb, Jr.; Briarcreek by John Stewart and George Kelchner; Cata- 
wissa by Major Joseph Paxton and William Brewer; Derry by Jacob Swislier 
and Marshal Gh-ton; Fishing creek by Daniel Bealer and William Bobbins; 
Greenwood by Abner Mendenhell and Henry Miller; and Sugarloaf by Philip 
Fritz and William Wilson. The meeting organized with Hon. Leonard Ru- 
pert, as chairman, and Samuel Webb, Jr., as secretary, and resulted in the 
appointment of Paxton, Mendenhall and Webb as a committee to urge the en- 
actment of a law granting the citizens the privilege of voting ' ' for the seat of 
justice in said county. ' ' Each of the parties to the contest were represented 
in the legislative lobbies by determined partisans, but in these struggles the 
influence of Danville proved the stronger, and the party for removal was regu- 
larly defeated. The county seat had the weight of the legal profession of the 
county, which was then concentrated there; it had the only men of state repu- 
tation and influence ; and it had the preponderance of wealth and business, if 
not of population, in its favor. The justice of the complaints seems to have 
been generally recognized by the committees to whom the various petitions 
were referred, and favorable reports were generally made, but the legislature in- 
variably defeated favorable action. In February, 1816, it was asked that a law be 
passed to suspend the erection of public buildings for one year, and that the 
people be authorized, in the meantime, to select a location for the county seat by 
popular vote; but this petition, though obtaining the sanction of the commit- 
tee, was refused by the "House." In 1821, another determined effort was 
made. The matter proceeded as far as the framing of a bill granting the pe- 
tition for the submission of the question to a vote, but it got no further. In 
December, the matter was again brought up, referred to a special committee, 
who reported adversely, and there the matter rested for years. But the star 
of empire was gradually making its way eastward, and when most discouraged 
the partisans of removal were surely nearing success. 

The act of 1816, restoring parts of Turbut and Chillisquaque townships to 
Columbia, described the new boundary line as ' ' beginning at the corner of 
Point and Chillisquaque townships, in Columbia county; thence by the line of 
said townships along the summit of Montour's mountain, to where what is 
called Strawbridge' s road crosses said mountain; thence by said road to where 
the road fi'om Wilson's mills to Danville intersects said road; thence to the 
bridge over Chillisquaque creek at James Murray's; thence by what is called 
Harrison's road past Chillisquaque meeting-house to the corner of Turbut and 
Derry townships in the line of Lycoming county. ' ' The portions of Turbut 
and Chillisquaque townships thus restored were subsequently named Lime- 
stone and Liberty, respectively, and from this date forward the evidences of 
development were largely in favor of the eastern portion of the county. 

In April, 1817, the inhabitants in the eastern part of Derry, which then in- 
cluded the territory of the present townships of Madison and Pine, asked for the 
erection of a new township. This was granted, the division line following the 
present western line from the Lycoming county boundaiy to the eastern line of 
West Hemlock; thence along said line to the limit of Valley township; thence 
easterly to little Fishing creek. In the latter part of this year certain resi- 
dents in Bloom, Greenwood and Fishing creek complained that the water of 
big Fishing creek seriously inconvenienced the people residing northwest of 
the creek, and often prevented their attending elections and other meetings for 
the transaction of township business. They petitioned, therefore, for the erec- 
tion of a new township from the contiguoiis portions of those townships lying 
on the north side of the river. Commissioners were appointed to examine the 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 71 

matter, and, if they found it necessary, to report the bounds for a new town- 
ship. The report confirmed the statement, and returned the specifications of 
the proposed limits agi'eeable to the ones asked by the petitioners. These were 
generally described as beginning at the mouth of little Fishing creek, and up 
along said creek to the mouth of Robert Montgomery's tail-race; thence along 
the comb of the swamp ridge, including John Rodger's house, to the "Nar- 
rows" of Green creek; thence along said creek till it joins big Fishing creek; 
thence along said creek to the place of beginning. To this was also added 
" a small corner of Greenwood township lying on the southeast side of big 
Fishing creek, opposite Miller's mill," constituting a township of about twen- 
ty-four square miles. The report was confirmed on April 8, 1818, and the 
township named, from a prominent natiu'al object. Mount Pleasant. 

This sufficed for the growing population until the January session of the 
coui't of quarter-sessions in 1832, when "divers inhabitants of the township 
of Catawissa" represented this township was too large "for the inspection 
and supervision of the usual number of officers. ' ' It was represented that the 
broken character of the country required a great length of road, to keep which 
in proper repair was more than two supervisors could conveniently do; that 
the distance necessarily traveled to reach the place of election and town meet- 
ings, was so great as to cause great inconvenience to the voters, especially the 
aged and infirm, "thus, in effect, depriving such persons of the inestimable 
privilege of election;" that in population and area it was equal to two other 
townships in the county; and that it was practically divided by a natui'al bar- 
rier, which made its legal division the more desirable. These reasons were ac- 
cepted by the court and its appointees who investigated the situation, and in 
April, 1832, the court confirmed the division line ' ' beginning at the line of 
Mifflin township, near the house of Jacob Fisher, and running thence a straight 
line to the house of Adam Gorrell; thence to the fulling-mill, late of John 
and Joseph Hughs; thence to Yoder's mill; and from thence to the mouth of 
Musser's run, which point is on the line of Northumberland." This is the 
northei'n line of the present townships of Roakingcreek and Locust, south of 
which was then erected a single township with the first mentioned name. 

In April, 1833, an application was made for the division of Hemlock, and a fa- 
vorable report was made by the viewing commissioners, but the court found rea- 
son to set it aside and deny the petition; but in August, 1837, the petition was 
renewed. Complaint was then made that the township was too large for the 
convenience of the people in attending to public business ; that this inconvenience 
was increased "in consequence of several bridges [ridges?] running quite 
through the township, separating the inhabitants in a great measure, and com- 
pelling a large portion of the inhabitants to cross two of said bridges [ ?] to 
get to the election, settlement of jownship accounts, work the roads, etc." 
The "viewers" again reported favorably, and designated "the lop of the 
ridge, which extends from or near the late John Montgomery's mill, in Mahon- 
ing township, to Isaac Barton' s mill, on Hemlock creek, ' ' as the dividing line. 
This the court confirmed ii^ the November term of 1837, and named the part 
south of the line Montour. 

In April of this year it was proposed to annex a part of Greenwood to 
Sugarloaf, but this did not meet with favor fi-om the court, and in April of the 
following year it was proposed to form a new township from parts of each of 
the older ones. The boundary line of the proposed township began ' ' at the 
west side of big Fishing creek, at the division line between Sugarloaf and 
Fishing creek township; thence west to Thomas' sawmill; thence to follow the 
line between Greenwood and Madison north to the Lycoming creek; thence to 



72 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

follow tlie Lycoming county line east to the head- waters of West creek; thence 
to follow said West creek to place of beginning." This line was confirmed 
November, 1838, and the new township named Jackson. In the following 
August, however, the people of Jackson, living in that part which was origi- 
nally taken off of Sugarloaf, asked to be reannexed to the latter township. 
They represented that they were a majority of the people in Jackson; that the 
division was made against their will, and constituted a valid grievance. On 
January 31, 1840, this petition was granted, leaving Jackson with its present 
area. 

In the meanwhile a voting precinct had been formed fi'om the adjacent 
portions of Bloom, Mount Pleasant and Fishing creek, with the name of 
Orangeville precinct. In the January session of 1839, the people of this pre- 
cinct asked to have it erected into an independent township. Its proposed 
boundaries were rather irregular, and can be described only by the technical 
line of the commissioners. This began "at a stone heap on the top of the 
Knob mountain; thence north 55° west, 1,138 perches to a post; thence along 
the line of Greenwood, south 76° west, 683 perches; thence south 20° east, 
980 perches to a point on Fishing creek; thence south 11° east, down said 
creek, 577 perches to a post below what is now McDowell's mill (formerly 
Jews' mill); thence along what is called the Summer hills, north 70° east, 620 
perches to a post; by same north 76° east, 637 perches to a post in the line of 
Briarcreek; thence along same, north 1^° west, 637 perches; thence easterly to 
place of beginning." This line was reported in April, 1839, but was met 
with a remonstrance, and both were ordered filed for argument. The matter 
was thus delayed and kept under advisement until January 31, 1840, when the 
report was confirmed and the new township named Orange. At the same ses- 
sion of the court a petition was presented for the erection of a new township 
from Mahoning and Derry, and in the next August Valley was formed. 

In January, 1843, Catawissa was represented as still too large for the con- 
venience of the expanding population, and the court was petitioned to form a 
new township of its western portion. The line, as confirmed by the court at 
a subsequent session in this year, began " at a chestnut oak nine perches be- 
low the mouth of Clayton's run;" thence to the run, and up its course to the 
forks; thence up the east branch " forty perches to a stone-heap," in the line 
between John Forten and Conrad Fenstimaker, and thence southerly to the 
line of Roaring creek (now Locust). This township was named Franklin, 
and included the present township of that name and Mayberry. In the fol- 
lowing April Bloom and Briarcreek found that the population of their outlying 
territory had outgrown the early facilities, and asked the court to confirm two 
lines of division, the one to begin at the Susquehanna, on the line between the 
lands of Philip Miller and the heirs of Henry Trimbly, deceased, in Bloom 
township, and thence in a direct line northward to strike the Orange line ; the 
other to begin at the river, on the line between the lands of Alten Bowman 
and John Freese, Jr., in Briarcreek township, and thence northwardly in a 
direct line to strike the Fishing creek line on the Knob mountain. The north- 
ern boundary followed the line of Fishing creek township to the Orange line, 
and thence along said line of Orange to intersect with the northern end of first 
line mentioned. This proposition was met with a remonstrance, and in April, 
1844, was referred to a second commission, which reported the same lines favor- 
ably, which, on November 25th, were "confirmed absolutely" by the court. 
On account of its situation the new township was named Center. 

The year 1843, was especially marked by the activity in township building, 
and in N^ovember a third township was projected, to be formed fi'om the out- 



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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 75 

lying portions of Catawissa and Mifflin. A favorable report was had by the 
viewers, but a spirited remonstrance caused the matter to be referred to a sec- 
ond commission, which returned a favorable report in August of the succeeding 
year. There were few natural boundaries, and the lines are therefore best in- 
dicated in the language of the report, which were to begin " at a hemlock on 
the bank of the Susquehanna, and near the mouth of Thresher's run; thence 
south 21° east 848 perches to a stone; thence south 16° east 494 perches to a 
stone heap on the summit of Nescopec mountain; thence continuing to the line 
of Schuykill County; thence along the same to the line of Roaringcreek 
township; thence northwardly along same to a black oak in Jacob Fisher's 
field, a corner of Roaringcreek township; thence by the same, south 65° west, 
760 perches to a white pine; thence north 25° west, 1,358 perches to a beech 
on the bank of said river; and thence up the same 1,587 perches, to place of 
beginning. ' ' The township thus described was a quadi-alateral with a wedge- 
shaped appendage extending southeasterly to the Schuylkill county line. Sev- 
eral siu'veys were made, and each was strongly opposed, and it was not xintil 
November 25, 1844, that the objections to the above line were overruled and the 
repoi't of the commissioners confirmed absolutely by the court. In the final 
report the name of the township is written Maine, though the records quite as 
often omit the final vowel. There is no evidence to show whether the one or 
the other spelling indicates the idea of the sponsors of the new township. 

In 1845, there was a movement to divide Roaringcreek, but a commission 
reported adversely to the petition, and the matter was dropped. At the same 
term of court, however, there was presented a petition to divide Miiflin, which 
eventually proved successful. The Nescopec mountain had proved a barrier to 
the free communication of the people as the settlements increased south of it, 
and ' ' created dissatisfaction in the collection and ajjpropriation of taxes. ' ' 
The Paxton election precinct had been formed in the territory south of the 
mountain, which is occasionally referred to in the records as a "proposed 
township, ' ' but it was not officially ' ' proposed" until this date. In the report 
confirmed by the court November 22, 1845, the movmtain was made the north- 
ern boundary from the Luzerne county line to the line of Maine township; 
"thence down the summit of the mountain, south 75^^'' west, 138 perches to a 
chestnut oak corner; thence striking down the south side of said mountain, 
south 2G.T° west, 610 perches to a black oak in Jacob Fisher's field, a corner 
of Roaringcreek and Maine township," taking off the wedge-shaped append- 
age of the latter township and adding it to the proposed township. This was 
called Beaver, which still retains its original shape and area. 

In 1847, Derry was divided and Anthony formed. In January, 1850, Sugar- 
loaf asked for a division. Five years before the same request had been made 
and i-efused; but the growth of population now made the demand with such per- 
sistence that, notwithstanding the adverse report of the first commission ap- 
pointed, it was finally divided in the summer term by a line starting on the 
county boundary three and three-quarters miles above the northeast corner of 
Fishingcreek, and thence north 88° west four miles and 146 perches, to a 
post on the Jackson line three miles and 160 perches above the southwest cor- 
ner of Sngarloaf. South of this line the territory of the latter township was 
erected into a new township called Benton. In the January term. Madison 
also petitioned for a division of its area, the petition setting forth that it con- 
tained " four hundred taxables;" but the erection of Montour county solved 
this question in another way. 

The division of Columbia county, in 1850, was the final outcome of the 
struggle which was inaugurated in 1813; from that date to 1821 the contest 

12 



70 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

was scarcely intermitted; but from 1821 to 1833 the matter was not carried to 
the legislature, though the demand for removal had not abated. In every 
campaign this question formulated the test by which the candidates for county 
or legislative honors were tried' and their election contested, but the issue was, 
for a time, so confused by conflicting interests that no decisive resiilts could 
be obtained. In 1822, Columbia was made a separate district, from which two 
state representatives were elected, and the opposed factions being thus equally 
represented the matter was tabooed. The representation of the county in the 
state senate also added to the difficulties of the partisans for removal. In 
1814, Northumberland, Columbia, Union, Luzerne and , Susquehanna were 
united in a district with two senatorial representatives; but with Columbia 
divided and the others indifferent it was impossible to elect a senator pledged 
to removal. But while thiis hampered and delayed, the eastern faction of the 
county bided the time when natural decay or accident should bring up the 
question of extensive repairs, or the appropriation for the erection of new build- 
ino-s. This came in 1833, when the grand jury, at the November session, re- 
ported to the court that the public records were in great danger of being de- 
stroyed by fire for want of suitable protection, and recommended the erection 
of fire-proof offices. This action aroused the opponents of the Danville loca- 
tion, who were determined that no public money should be appropriated 
for the repair of the old buildings. Petitions for the removal of the county- 
seat were again vigorously circulated and numerously signed, and were pre- 
sented in both branches of the legislature. These were so strenuously urged 
that bills to carry out the prayer of the petitioners were presented in each 
house, the one in the senate, however, alone coming to a vote, when it was 
defeated by a majority of eleven to fifteen. 

This issue was further complicated, in the meanwhile, by the ambition of 
Berwick to secure metropolitan honors. It was conceived that with the county 
seat so far west of a central location, that the outlying portions of Columbia 
and Luzerne could be brought together in a new county, with Borwick as the 
seat of justice. This ainbition was fostered by the Danville people, as efFect 
ually operating in favor of their interests, and so it occurred that the extremes 
of the county united to defeat the central faction. This was especially true 
from 1836 to 1840. In the first named year Columbia and Schuylkill coun- 
ties were made to constitute a senatorial district, with one member, and Colum- 
bia, alone, to constitute a district, from which one member of the lower house 
was elected. The senator, elected in 1837, was a resident of Schuylkill, and, 
in the divided condition of Columbia at best, could be expected to do nothing. 
The representative elected in 1830 was from Berwick, as was the one elected in the 
following year. In 1838 and the succeeding year the representative was elected 
from Danville, and in 1840 the senator was a citizen of Berwick and an earnest 
advocate of the new county scheme. The Bloomsburg faction made an earnest 
ficht for the election of candidates favorable to its plan in these years, but had 
signally failed, and the sentiment was growing that it was no longer worth 
while to resist the inevitable. 

It was about this time that the Rev. D. J. Waller, Sr. , came to Bloomsburg 
to take charge of several Presbyterian churches in this region, of which the one 
at Bloomsburg was the most important. He found his congregation here 
greatly in need of members of commanding social influence, and therefore 
visited Danville with the hope of inducing some Presbyterian business men to 
come to Bloomsburg, for whom there was an eligible opening. He was met at 
the outset with the question whether he favored the removal of the county-seat, 
and on expressing himself in the affirmative he found his church brethren en- 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 77 

m?- ^^'1^'P?^^ *o ^^^i^t him in his project for building up his charge. Such 
cavaher treatment somewhat nettled the new pastor, a man of gfeat dect 

8 and thttTt'^^^ activity and he gave his interrogator? to unde" 

stand that, if they refused him the aid of a few business men, the people of 
Bloomsburg would take the county-seat. This sally was met wfthTriln 
They pointed to the success which had hitherto attended the effoxis of Dan: 
vil le, and dec ared that they had the wealth and influence to maintain the con 
own 'Z^^''"^'^' ^^^ '''' *^^ -«- «— to effect his promised revolution in t^s 

r.b-Jn''HTi'**i'' '^''"'J'' ^"^ ^'^^'^^ ^^ *^^ ^^y °f ^easiu-es for the accom- 
plishment of the desired removal, but it was much to receive the fresh couiage 
and determined aggressiveness of the new member of the community, and the 
removal faction soon began the fight, which steadily brought it nearer to the 

ew17^i'^"'"*r"^ r^"^^ ''' ^^°^-*^- In 1840 Daniel Snyder was 
elected o the lower house from Bloomsburg, and re-elected each year, unt' 

StdleT ?f ^ 1 ^- f"^'*"^' ^'^''^^'^ *« '^' '^^^ ^^*^r«^t«' was elected 

HeiKlley, of Berwick, and an earnest advocate of the new county scheme was 

m the senate until 1844, when, the district being changed so as t"^ incite Lu 
zerne county instead of Schuylkill, William S. Ross wlis elected, who proved 
somewhat .favorable to Bloomsburg interests. In the meanwhle a vigorous 
agitation in which Messrs. Snyder, Funston, William McKelvy and cliailes 
H. Doebler were prominent, was maintained in the county: petitions were nu 
me'nts oYth^'"' '"? f°™^:^.^^,*« '^^ legislature, and'th^iews anTargu: 
Z:%tf::ZZf''''' ^^^ ^^ *^^ -°^* ^--^^^ ^^^P^^ brought to the attL. 



The townships most convenient to Danville are the follnwino- a«H ^^^t • *t, 

ber of taxables, paying tax as follows: lollowing, and contain the num- 

Taxables. Tax 

Derry township contains orrn ^ -rop Jo 

Mahoning (including Danville) ". " * ' 351 ^ilf.fl 

Limestone ?o7 1,31-3 62 

Liberty V.'.".". ogs aqI ^^ 

Hemlock contains 337 taxables, one-third 'of " ^^ 
whom are nearer to Danville than to Blooms- 
burg, but none of them more than six miles 

from the latter place 109 37363 

Accommodated at Danville.' 7^ $i:i^^ 

ihe townships most convenient to Bloomsburg are: 

-,, _,, Taxables. Tav 

Mount Pleasant 147 *J,o-, 

Bloom (including Bloomsburg) IV, \ ^H -1 

Briar creek ' ' ' .V^X r i';„ ** 

Catawissa if^ Hf ^^ 

Greenwood Ha 1.07o 33 

Fishing creek Toq 2<^^ 94 

Madison If.^ 218 78 

Mifflin g2 514 45 

Roaring creek .'::.■::;■■: S ^,^2^8 

Sugarloaf fg 608 99 

Hemlock (two-thirds) ! .' ! ! '. ." ! ! ! . .' .' 2I8 54? ^ 

Accommodated at Bloomsburg 3,035 |g g^j ^5 



78 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

There is another view in which the relative position of Danville and Bloomsburg may 
be seen, and it shows conclusively, as we think, the propriety of removing the seat of jus- 
tice. Eighteen hundred and forty-eight taxables residing in Bloom, Briarcreek, Mount 
Pleasant! Greenwood, Fishingcreek, Sugarloaf and Mifflin townships, all pass through 
Bloomsburg on their way to Danville. Few of them have less than fourteen miles, and 
many of them from twenty to thirty-five miles' travel to Danville. A large majority of 
657 taxables residing in Catawissa and Roaringcreek townships (say five-sixth.s) are at 
least four miles nearer to Bloomsburg than to Danville, and the remainder are not more 
than two miles further from Bloomsburg than from Danville— even one-third of the 350 
taxables in Derry, which we have set down to the credit of Danville are nearer to Blooms- 
burg than to Danville, and the remainder are not more than two miles farther from Blooms- 
burg than from Danville. From Mahoning township, in which Danville is situated, con- 
taining 351 taxables the average travel to Bloomsburg will not be ten miles. Liberty and 
Limestone townships form the Western bounds of the county and lie north and south 
of each other. Limestone contains 121 taxables. Liberty contains 268 taxables — these 389 
will none of them have to travel more than eight miles farther to reach Bloomsburg than 
to reach Danville, and many of them not so far. 

We would further remark, that Danville is as far from the center of business as from the 
center of population in the count^^ It draws a large portion of its business and supplies from 
a neighboring county, by which it is almost surrounded, and thus acts as a continual drain 
on the circulating medium of the county. Scarcely a single dollar of the money expended 
by suitors and others attending court, can ever find its way back into the interior of the 
county — there is no trade between them, and no reciprocity of interest between the inte- 
rior of the county and its metropolis. On the other hand, Bloomsburg is not only very 
near the center of territory and population, but it is also the center of business. It is the 
natural outlet, and commands the trade of Hemlock, Madison, a portion of Derry, Green- 
wood, Sugarloaf, Fishingcreek, Mount Pleasant, Bloom, and a portion of Briarcreek 
townships. It is also in the line of communication for a large portion of the county, with 
the markets of Pottsville, Mauch Chunk, and places below those points. 

For nearly ten years this state of affairs existed, and notwithstanding that 
it "was urged by petition and. argument, the Danville adherents had influence 
sufficient to defeat every bill introduced in the legislature to allow the people 
of the county to adjust the matter in accordance with the will of the majority. 
Some progress had been made in this time, however, and the election of Ross 
to the state senate, in 1844, removed the great obstacle to Bloomsburg in- 
terests in that branch of the legislature. The friends of the old county- seat 
were not slow to road the signs of their waning power, and at once brought 
into prominence the cost which the erection of new public buildings would im- 
pose upon the county. This final argument of a desperate cause was prompt- 
ly met by the Bloomsburg people, who agreed to donate the grounds and erect 
the buildings at their own cost, and on the 24th of February, 1845, an act to 
submit the question to a vote of the people was approved by the governor. 

This act provided that tickets labeled ' ' seat of justice, ' ' on which should 
be written or printed "for Bloomsburg," or " for Danville," should be depos- 
ited in a box especially provided for the purpose, at the various polling places, 
and that the people, at the next general election, should thus decide, for or 
against the removal of the county-seat. In case that the vote should show a 
majority for removal, it was provided that within three years after such elec- 
tion, the citizens of Bloomsburg should erect, ' ' at their own proper expense, ' ' 
suitable buildings of brick or stone, ' ' of the most approved plans, ' ' and that 
the old public grounds and buildings should be disposed of, to repay the origi- 
nal subscribers thereto, the surplus, if any, to revert to the county treasury. 
The election was accordingly held in the succeeding October, and resulted in a 
majority of 1,334 in favor of Bloomsburg out of a total of 4492 votes, Berwick 
casting 107 out of a total of 184 votes, against removal. 

In November, 1847, Danville ceased to be, in fact, as it had in anticipation, 
the seat of justice, and the defeated faction ostensibly prepared their minds to ac- 
cejjt provincial obscurity with such consolation as philosophy might afford. The 
convention held this summer, for the nomination of legislative candidates, met in 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 79 

Bloomsburg. and prominent before the convention was Valentine Best, a citi- 
zen of Danville, and the editor of the organ of that faction in the county -seat 
contest. He was an ardent advocate for complete reconciliation; the long 
struggle had been stubbornly contested on both sides, the decision had been 
made, and the chasm mast now be not merely bridged over, but closed; hence- 
forth he had no disposition to revive the issues now settled, and pledged him- 
self, if elected, to devote his energies for the prosperity of the whole county. 
Such protestations were accepted by the victorious faction in good faith, and as 
a ratitication of peace — an exchange of conciliatory olive branches — Mr. Best 
was nominated, and eventually elected to the state senate. At the capital he 
found himself in company with sixteen whigs and sixteen fellow democrats, 
and evidently desirous of distinguishing himself, arrived at the conclusion 
that he had been providentially ordained to hold the balance of power. 
The duty of redistricting the state was devolved upon this legislature, and both 
political parties had made strenuous efforts to control the body for that pur- 
pose, but the whigs f-ound themselves in the minority. Accordingly, when the 
organization of the senate came up, Mr. Best made overtures to his political 
opponents, agreeing to give them control of redistricting the state, provided 
they would unite their votes with his own in making him president of the sen- 
ate. In proper time Mr. Best was made president, and the whigs received 
their consideration. 

Whether the design of forming a new county had been conceived before the 
convention, or whether the success of his bargain suggested the plan to INIr. 
Best and his faction, are questions for which there is no sufficient answer at 
hand, but such a measure was soon introduced. It met with great opposition 
from the members of the legislatm-e, as the county was already small enough, 
but Mr. Best's position was such that for several weeks he held all business at 
a standstill until his favored measure was passed. It was but natural that the 
western faction of the county should forget the pleasant words of fraternal 
reconciliation uttered before the convention, and should give place to animated 
expressions of satisfaction. The eastern faction, on the other hand, could not 
restrain expressions of wi-ath at the action of the minority, but the whig fac- 
tion did not fail to recognize that the party had received an ample quid 
pro quo. 

The line of division included in the new county little more than those who 
had o})posed the removal, and embraced ' ' all that part of Columbia county 
included within the limits of the townships of Franklin, Mahoning, Valley, 
Liberty, Limestone, Derry, Anthony, and the borough of Danville, together 
with all that portion of the townships of Montour, Hemlock, and Madison, lying 
westward of the following line:" 

Beginning at Leiby's saw-mill on the bank of the river Susquehanna; thence by the 
road leading to the Danville and Bloomsburg road at or near to Samuel Lazarus house; 
thence from the Danville and Bloomsburg road to the back valley road at the end of the 
lane leading from said road to Obed Everett's house; thence by said lane to Obed Ever- 
ett's house; thence northward to the schoolhouse near David Smith's, in Hemlock 
township; thence by the road leading from said schoolhouse to the state road at Robin's 
mill, to the end of the lane leading from said road to John Kinnej^'s house; thence by a 
straight line to John Townsend's, near the German meeting-house; thence to Henry 
Johnston's, near Millville: thence by a straight line to a post in the Lycomiug county line, 
near the road leading to Crawford's saw-mill, together with tliat part of Roaringcreek 
township lying south and west of a line beginning at the southeastern corner of Franklin 



uylkill county line, at the northeast corner of Barry 
township. Provided, hotcever, that at no time hereafter shall any portion of the territory 
now embraced within the limits of the county of Northumberland be annexed or attached 



80 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

to the said county of Montour, without the unanimous consent of the qualified voters of 
said county of Northumberland. 

The act declared, among other provisions, that ' ' the seat of justice for the 
same is fixed in the borough of Danville. ' ' It was approved on the 3d of May, 
1850, and was to go into effect on the 1st of November. There was a good 
deal of ill-feeling over the division, in the eastern part of the county, which 
was intensified by the fact that they regarded it a practical violation of the 
pledges volunteered by Mr. Best, and when the extent of the territory taken 
off was accui'ately known, there was a general determination to resist. "Re- 
peal" became the rallying cry and the dominant issue in the exciting cam- 
paign which followed. Best was a candidate for I'e-election, but was beaten by 
C. R. Buckalew by a decisive majority. The final result, however, was not 
repeal but a limitation of the territory set off to the new county. This was 
undoubtedly the wisest adjustment of the matter, for however unwise the divis- 
ion then appeared, and was subsequently proven, it would have been equally un- 
wise to hold a vigorous minority in a relation which would have inevitably 
given rise to bickerings and strife. Accordingly, by an act approved January 
15, 1853, the division line was so changed as to restore that part of Roaring- 
creek township taken off, and such parts of the townships of Franklin, Madi- 
son and Hemlock, which lie eastward of the following line. 

Be,^iunintJC at the Northumberland county line, at or near the house of Samuel Reader; 
thence a direct course to the center of Roaringcreek, in Franklin township, twenty rods 
above a point in said creek, opposite the house of John Nought; thence from the middle 
of the stream of said creek to the Susquehanna river; thence up the center of the same to 
a point opposite, where the present county line between Columbia and Montour strikes 
the north bank of the river; thence to said north bank; thence by the present division line 
between said counties to the school-house, near the residence of David Smith; thence to 
a point near the residence of Daniel 8mith; thence to the bridge over Deer lick run, on 
thr- line between Derry and Madison townships; tlience by the line between said township 
of Madison and the townships of Derry and Anthony to the line of Lycoming County.* 

The division line of 1850 so dismembered the townships of Madison, Hem- 
lock and Montour that some readjustment of township lines became necessary, 
and, in 1852. what remained of Madison, south of Millville, was attached in 
part to Mount Pleasant, and part to Hemlock, the old name adhering to that 
portion which extended along the county line northwest of Greenwood. By the 
act of 1853 the latter was renamed Pine, and the restored portion, with those 
attached to Hemlock and Mount Pleasant, were formed into a township under 
the old name. The division effected in the township of Roaringcreek by the 
act of 1850 was subsequently made permanent, the restored portion being 
named Scott. This was found to conflict with a township, north of the river, 
which was then under the advisement of the court, and a month later the name 
was changed to Locust. In May, 1853, the citizens of Bloom presented a 
petition to the court of quai'ter- sessions praying for the division of the town- 
ship, ' ' in order that the business at the election board may be diminished. ' ' 
The commissioners to whom the matter was referred evidently found the reason 
assigned entirely sufficient for the purpose, and reported the dividing line, 
beginning " at ' a point in the middle of the north branch of the Susquehanna 
river, immediately opposite the corner and division line of the farms of Peter 
Mensch and Daniel Snyder," and thence in a direct line northward to the line 

♦This constitutes the present western boundary of the county, but to complete the history of the eastern 
boundary it should be added, that by an act of the legislature, approved March 3, 1818, a section of the south- 
eastern area of Mifflin and Catawissa townships was stricken off, and with a part of the adjacent area of 
Luzerne, was added to Schuylkill county. The division line began " at a corner In the line dividing the county 
of Columbia from the county of Schuylkill; thence extending through the township of Catawissa north ten 
degrees east, four miles and a half to a pine tree on the little mountain ; thence extending through the town- 
ships of Catawissa and Miftiin north forty-five degrees east, five miles to a stone on Buck's mountain and in a 
line dividing the county of Columbia from the county of Luzerne ; thence through the township of Sugarloaf 
in the county of Luzerne," etc. 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 81 

of Mount Pleasant township, near the hoiise of John Howery. This report 
was confirmed September 7, 1853, and the new township named Scott. The 
final township erected was formed, in 1855, from Locust. At this time the latter 
township was from twelve to fourteen miles long, and from eight to ten miles 
wide, '"the southern end being a stone-coal and mining region, and the north- 
ern end being a farming district." Commissioners appointed to view the town- 
ship reported favorably, indicating a line of division beginning at or near 
where the south branch of Roaring creek, or the Brush-Valley creek, crosses 
the Northumberland line, thence two hundred and twenty perches north on to 
the Little mountain; thence easterly along the mountain to the Schuylkill 
county line. This report was confirmed in November, 1855, and the township 
named Conyngham for the president judge of that name, who then occupied the 
bench in Columbia county. In a subsequent petition it is stated that the town- 
ship was erected in February, 1856, but there is nothing in the record of that 
term to warrant the statement. 

In carrying out their engagements, which were made a part of the condi- 
tions upon which the removal of the county- seat was effected, the Bloomsburg 
people acted in no niggardly spirit. AYilliam McKelvy and Daniel Snyder 
were the prime movers in this matter, and as soon as the question of removal 
was decided at the polls, entered actively upon the work of erecting a court- 
house and jail. Elisha H. Biggs, who had made a libei'al subscription, owned 
the site of the Exchange Hotel on the south side of Second street, aod with a 
shrewd calculation of the ' ' main chance " boiight the lot opposite, of 
Robert Cathcart, for a thoiisand dollars. This lot he offered in payment of 
his subscription as a site for the proposed court-house. William Robinson, 
who owned the lot adjoining on the upper side, also donated sufficient land, so 
that after the alleys on each side were made, the building site contained about 
ninety feet front. The proffered site, in location and contour, was every way 
desirable, and promptly accepted. Mr. Snyder contributed two lots, fronting 
on Center street and extending back to the iipper line of the court-house lot, 
for a jail site, which were accepted. At this time the Presbyterian church 
were planning for their present house of worship, and Rev. D. J. "Waller, Sr. , 
went to Philadelphia to secure approved drawings, by which to erect the two 
structures. Napoleon Le Brun drew the plans, which were scrupulously 
observed in the erection of both buildings. 

The court house was constructed of brick in the pure Ionic order of archi- 
tecture, and for years was considered the model building of its kind in the 
interior of the state. It was forty by sixty feet in size, with the county offices 
below, and a court and jury rooms above. A graceful flight of stone steps in 
front led to a vestibule opening into the court room, which possessed the rare 
excellence of being perfectly adapted to the purposes for which it was designed. 
The passage way to the offices was made under the fi'ont platform, in the rear 
of the front steps. The cupola, which surmounted the ridge at the front end 
of the building, was designed for a bell and clock. The first was procured by 
the county commissioners in 1848, at a cost of some four hundi-ed dollars; the 
clock was provided somewhat later by private subscription. In the summer of 
1868 the court-house was extended by an addition of twenty-five feet. The 
additional space in the upper story was devoted to rooms for the law- library, 
for the use of the jiidges and the jiuy. In the lower story the office accommo- 
dations were enlarged, and additional fire-proof protection for the records 
afforded. In the changes incident to this improvement the comb of the roof 
was raised without a corresponding elevation of the cupola, which destroyed 
the true architectui-al proportions. In 1882, a new clock supplanted the older 



82 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

one, which had outlived its usefuhiess, and a year later, the steam heating 
system was applied to the building. In this condition the court-ho^^se still 
remains, attractive in its outlines and situation, confirming by the test of ex- 
perience that the requirement of the act of 1845, to erect buildings ' 'of the 
most approved plan," was fully met. 

The jail was constructed of brick and stone, and combined the usual fea- 
tures of a jailor's residence, and prison. It was a two story structure, with no 
claim to architectural distinction, but was conveniently located, and generally 
well calculated for the purpose to which it was devoted. It served the county 
for thirty years, though its insecurity occasioned considerable complaint in 
later years. At this time there appears to have been a difference of opinion as 
to the necessity of a new prison between the constituted authorities and many 
of the people. Three successive grand juries had recommended the erection 
of a new one without eliciting action, but the county commissioners made it 
known that if another jury recommended action it would be taken, whatever 
the judgment of the officials might be. The fourth grand jury promptly 
sanctioned the action of its predecessors, aad in 1877, the commissioners began 
measures for erecting a new jail. For various reasons it was determined to 
abandon the old site, and "the Pursel lot, on Market below Third (less six- 
teen feet in the rear)" was conditionally purchased for the purpose at a cost 
of four thousand dollars. The abandonment of the old site, the character of the 
new one, and its cost, combined to give rise to severe criticism of the commis- 
sioners' plans. 

On the 21st of April, the proposals for the construction of the new prison, 
upon plans and specifications drawn by a Mr. Wetzell, were opened, and the 
contract awarded to Charles King. This action intensified the dissatisfaction of 
the critics, who rapidly included a large proportion of the people in their num- 
bers. It appears that there were ten proposals offered, ranging in i^rice from 
141,075 to !S;119,025, and that the award was made to the next to the lowest 
bidder, at a price $5,900 higher than the lowest mentioned. It was at once 
fi'eely charged that there were grave reasons to suspect jobbery on the part of 
the architect; that his compensation, as provided by contract, was less than one- 
third the usual price granted to competent men of this class ; and that his influence 
against the acceptance of the proposal of the lowest bidder was inspired by the 
wish to secure a more pliable contractor. The commissioners were therefore 
urged to dismiss the architect, abandon ' ' the new, expensive and mud bottom 
location," and to either order a new letting, or promptly accept the lowest bid 
already offered. The commissioners refused to accept these suggestions, and 
on the 27th of April, a Bill of Complaint in Equity was presented to the court, 
asking an injunction to restrain the authorities from building on the Pursel 
lot, and from entering into a contract with King.' In the hearing had upon 
this question, the fact was developed that the proposed lot was too narrow for 
the structure as planned, and that this would require such modifications in the 
present plans and pi'oposals as to render any action by the commissioners upon 
the ones accepted, improper, and hurtful to the interests of the people, and a 
temporary injunction was granted. 

In the meantime D. J. Waller, Sr., had offered to donate a lot on Iron 
street, between Seventh and Eighth streets, and in July the commissioners 
abandoned the first site selected, and accepted Mr. Waller's donation. This 
site was open to some of the same objections urged against the other site — 
that it was inconveniently distant fi'om the court-house, and on low, wet 
ground, but the commissioners were not to be moved from their decision, and 
the new prison was eventually located on this site. In the matter of construe- 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 83 

tion, the commissioners (as it is charged), evaded the injunction of the court, 
by granting the different parte of the structure to various contractors, some of 
whom v^ere only a cover for King, and it was further objected that the mode 
finally adopted, instead of restricting the cost to the agreed price of $50,975, 
gave opportunity to swell the expense to seventy thousand dollars. In all 
this controversy, it is due the commissioners to say, there was no distinct 
charge of venality against the county officers, and the gravest objection, which 
still remains to the prison, is the suspicion that the architect corruptly profited 
at the expense of the county, through the ill-advised persistence of those in 
authority. 

The prison, as it now exists, is a somewhat picturesque stone structure, 
consisting of a rectangular residence, of a high basement and two stories, the 
plainness of which is relieved by a square tower in its middle front, from the 
top of which a good view of the town may be obtained. An oblong extension 
at the rear contains the cells, which are arranged in two tiers on either side of 
a corridor, lighted by skylights in the arching roof. The upper tier is reached 
by an iron stairway and gallery. In the basement are provided several unused 
apartments, designed for workshops; a place for the storage of fuel, for the 
steam-heating apparatus, and the dungeon. The arrangements for the proper 
comfort of those confined here appear complete. Baths, water-closet conven- 
iences, ventilation, lighting, heating and range for exercise are well provided 
for, and may be economically applied. It is reasonably secure, each cell being 
metal-lined, within heavy walls of stone; the light is admitted through glass- 
closed slots, difficult of access, and too narrow to allow the passage of any 
human being. The doors to the cells are double, the inner one of strong 
metal grating and the outer one of wood, so combined that both are made 
secure by one lock, which is beyond the reach of the most ingenious criminal. 
This part of the structure is flanked on either side by a rectangular inclosure, 
the high stone walls of which form projecting wings back of the rear line of 
the residence part of the building. The whole structure has an appearance of 
massive strength, which might well cause the evil-doer to hesitate in a course 
likely to place him in confinement behind its walls. Several prisoners have 
escaped from it, however, but this was rather the result of carelessness than 
from any architectural default. 

The only other public buildings in the county are the several district poor- 
houses; the county has no eleemosynary institution of its own. In the early 
history of the county, those dependent upon charity for support were provided 
for under the general law by the several townships, and were ' ' farmed out. ' ' 
In later years this method was seen by many to be crude and unsatisfactory, 
and in 1866 an act was passed aixthorizing the people of Columbia to ascertain 
the sense of the citizens as to the expediency of erecting a poor-house for the 
use of the whole county. On submitting the question to vote it was found 
that only Bloom, Greenwood and Hemlock supported the project, and it was 
accordingly abandoned. In 1869, however, an act was passed authorizing the 
erection of a poor-house in Bloom, and provided also that, "at the request of 
any ten taxable inhabitants of any township in the county of Columbia," an 
election should be ordered to decide whether said township should join Bloom 
in forming a district for the purpose. Under that provision elections were held 
in 1870, by Scott, Greenwood and Sugarloaf, and these townships were united 
with Bloom in the enterprise. A farm of one hundred acres, on Fishing creek, 
in Mount Pleasant township, was procured, with comfortable buildings. 
There are two, a brick and a frame, the inmates occupying the former. "Water 
is supplied fi'om the creek by a windmill; two bath-rooms supply the means 



84 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTV. 

for cleanliness, and a furnace heats the whole building. In 1869, under a 
special act of the legislature, the township of (^onyngham, with the borough 
of Centralia, organized a district. A farm of some seventy-five acres, in 
Locust township, was purchased, which, with all personal property belonging 
to this corporation, was, by a provision of the same act, exempted from all tax- 
ation, save for state purposes. In 1872 Madison township was authorized, by 
a special act, to form a corporation for the care of the poor, and under its 
provisions a farm of about one hundred acres was purchased, where its indi- 
gent citizens are now comfortably cared for. 

The removal of the seat of justice to Bloomsburg, practically marks the 
origin of a new county. Prior to this event, what is now Columbia county 
was overshadowed by the maturer settlement and greater influence which made 
the western section the seat of power. The promise of the future was with 
the eastern section. Its development was rapid, and its power steadily in- 
creasing, but it was not until it had acquired the county-seat and repioved 
thither the public records, that the period of its tutelage ended. Had the 
identity of the original county remained unimpaired by division, time would 
doubtless have exorcised the spirit of authority which naturally lingered about 
its vacant throne, but the formation of Montour intervened, and the deserted 
tribune was again rehabilitated with the insignia of power. Columbia thus 
found itself in possession of the old name without the hereditary title, or rather 
in the condition of one of an old partnership where, after dissolution, the one 
partner retains the firm name and the old account book, and the other takes 
the " old stand, " with the prestige and traditions which naturally linger 
about it. This fact is doubtless more apparent in retrospection than it was at 
the time of removal. There was nothing at that date to abate the sense of 
triumph, and the records were brought to Bloomsburg with great demonstra- 
tions of rejoicing. The crowning act of success accomplished, the more en- 
thusiastic citizens gave themselves up to celebrating the event with ceremonies 
of a bibulous character, and, in the expressive phrase of the street, "painted" 
the new seat of justice a much deeper hue than a peach-blow tint. 

The first court was held in Bloomsburg in January, 1848, with Joseph B. 
Anthony as president judge. The original county was annexed to the middle 
district of the supreme court, and the eighth judicial district of the court of 
common pleas, comprising the counties of Northumberland, Union and Lu- 
zerne. Under the amended constitution, Columbia was placed in the eleventh 
district with Luzerne and Wyoming, and subsequently with Sullivan and 
Wyoming in the twenty-sixth. Under the constitution of 1872, Columbia 
and Montour were formed into a district, a relation that is still sustained. Of 
those who preceded Judge Anthony on the Columbia county bench, Seth Chap- 
man was the first to occupy the place. He was appointed president judge of 
the Northumberland district in 1811, from Bucks county, and when this county 
was formed, in 1813, held the first court at Danville in the following January. 
He resigned in 1833, and was succeeded by Judge Ellis Lewis, a native of 
Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Beginning life as a printer, he subsequently occu- 
pied the editorial chair, and finally studied law, being admitted to the bar at 
the age of twenty- five. Two years later he received the appointment of deputy 
attorney-general for Lycoming county; in 1832 was elected to the legislature, 
where he served with distinction on several important committees; in 1833 he 
was appointed attorney-general for the commonwealth, and later in the same 
year was appointed successor of Judge Chapman. For ten years he dis- 
charged his duties in this court with marked ability, and was then transferred 
to the bench of the second district. He was subsequently elevated to the po- 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 85 

sition of chief-justice of the supreme court of the state, and was afterward 
appointed one of a committee of three to revise the criminal code. 

On the 14th of January, 1843, Charles G. Donnel, of Northumberland 
county, was appointed to the vacancy on the bench of the eighth district, and 
held his first term in Columbia county in April, 1843. He died in the follow- 
ing year, after giving promise of future eminence, and receiving the respect of 
the bar by his dignity and lU'banity upon the bench. He was succeeded in 
March, 1844, by Judge Anthony, of Lycoming county. The latter began his 
legal career at Williamsport in 1818. In 1830 he was elected to the state sen- 
ate, and, in 1834, to congress, to which he was reelected, two years later, by 
an unprecedented majority. In 1843 he was appointed judge of the court for 
the adjustment of the Nicholson claims, and in March, 1844, to the eighth 
district court. He discharged his judicial functions with great acceptability, 
deciding many important cases involving questions of considerable legal diffi- 
culty. He died in 1851, aud was succeeded by James Pollock. 

Judge Pollock was born in the borough of Milton, and began his education 
under the instruction of Judge Anthony. He was subsequently graduated 
from Princeton; studied law, and was admitted to the Northumberland bar in 
1833 ; two years later, he was appointed district attorney, and in 1844 entered 
political life as a whig, being elected to congress from the thirteenth district, 
which was then strongly democratic. He was subsequently twice reelected, 
and served with credit upon the important committees of territories, ways and 
means, etc. In 1850, he was appointed president judge of the eighth judicial 
district, which then comprised the counties of Northumberland, Montour, Co- 
lumbia, Lycoming and Sullivan. He held this position until the amendment of 
the constitution, making the judges elective, came into operation, when he de- 
clined a nomination for the place. In 1854 he was elected governor, the 
'duties of which office he dischai'ged with such approval by the people that he 
was tendered a renomination; this he declined and resumed the practice of his 
profession. In 1860 he was appointed a delegate to the " peace congress " at 
Washington, and in 1861 was appointed director of the mint at Philadelphia. 
To him is originally due the motto, ' ' In God we trust, ' ' which is found upon 
the national coins. Resigning his office under the Johnson administration, he 
was reappointed in 1869, by President Grant, and continued to hold this posi- 
tion until 1882, when he was made collector of internal revenue. 

John Nesbit Conyngham succeeded Judge Pollock upon the bench of Co- 
lumbia county. He was a native of Philadelphia, an alumnus of the University 
of Pennsylvania, and for thirty years presided on the bench ' ' with the dignity 
and urbanity of a gentleman of the old school." Elected in 1851, under 
the amended constitution, for the eleventh district, which included Columbia, 
he served on the bench of this county until 1856, when it was included in the 
twenty-sixth district. He resigned his commission in 1870, with the profound 
respect of the bar which practiced before him. On the formation of the twenty- 
sixth judicial district, Warren J. Woodward was appointed to preside over the 
new district, upon the recommendation of the several bars practicing in its 
courts. He was regularly elected to this position in October of the same year 
and served until December, 1861, when he resigned to accept a similar position 
in the court of Berks county. At the end of his tirst term in Berks, he was 
reelected, and served until the general election of 1874, by which he was 
transferred to the state supreme court, where he served until his death in 
1879. Judge Woodward was born in Wayne county; obtained his early edu- 
cation at Wilkesbarre; served as printer and was subsequently connected with 
the Peunsylvanian at Philadelphia in an editorial capacity. He then studied 



86 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, 

law at Wilkesbarre, and for some fifteen years practiced his profession there 
with eminent success, possessing at the time of his elevation to the bench, the 
leading place at the bar. In the fall of 1861 A. K. Peckam was appointed to 
fill the unexpired term of Judge Woodward; he declined to be a candidate for 
the succeeding ofiicial term, and at the expiration of his commission resumed 
his practice at Tunkhannock, continuing until his death. 

In 1862 William Elwell was elected president judge of the twenty- sixth 
judicial district composed of the counties of Columbia, Sullivan and Wyoming, 
no candidate being named against him; and upon the expiration of his term, 
in 1872, he was reelected without a dissenting vote. In May, 1874, Wyom- 
ing and Sullivan were created the forty- fourth judicial district, and Montour 
county was added to Columbia, the district still remaining the twenty-sixth. 
Upon his election, in 1862, he removed to Bloomsburg, where he has ever since 
resided. 

In April, 1871, Judge Elwell was chosen umpire to settle the difficulties 
between the operators and the miners in the anthracite coal regions, and his 
impartial judgment was accepted by all parties as a just and equitable solu- 
tion of the troubles. He has been frequently urged to become a candidate 
for the supreme bench, and he has been voted for in convention for that place; 
but he uniformly declined to authorize a canvas in his favor, for the office, not 
deeming it consonant with judicial propriety. And for the same reason he has 
refused to allow his name to be canvassed for the office of governor of the com- 
monwealth, for which he has been frequently and warmly urged. 

On the expiration of his second term as president judge of the twenty-sixth 
district, the bar of the district unanimously and without distinction of party 
requested him to accept a third term, to which he consented; and the political 
convention of the democratic and republican party respectively, following the 
lead of the bar, nominated him to the office for the election of 1882. He was 
then again unanimously elected. 

It is believed that Judge Elwell has held more special courts than any judge 
now upon the bench. And in order to have the advantage of his legal learning 
and ability many important cases have been certified to Columbia county from 
other districts and tried before him. 

Among the many notable cases which he has tried are the Williamsport bond 
case — Fisher against the City of Philadelphia — Tryon and Dall against Mun- 
son, and the celebrated Cameron will case from Union county, each involving 
the rights of parties to the amount of hundreds of thousands of dollars, and in 
all of which his opinions were affirmed by the supreme court. On the appeal in 
the will case, after elaborate argument by eminent counsel for the appellant, 
the decision was affirmed, the supreme court adopting the opinion of the court 
below as the opinion of that court, The Mollie Magnire case, growing out of 
the murder of Alexander W. Rea — which was affirmed by the supreme court, of 
itself forms a large volume, and establishes many important questions on the 
law of homicide — was tried before him. 

Numerous cases in equity in this and other counties have been heard and 
decided by him, and, with a single exception, their divisions have been sus- 
tained on appeal. His opinions, which appear in the state report, in the Week- 
ly Notes of Cases and other legal publications, are considered valuable ad- 
ditions to the legal literature of the time. It is worthy of mention that of all 
the cases in the court of oyer and terminer, quarter- sessions and orjDhan's 
court, not a single case from this district has been reversed during the more 
than twenty years he has been upon the bench. 

In counties of less than forty thousand inhabitants two associate judges are 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 87 

elected whose chief business is to pass upon matters of county administration. 
They have also, in the absence of the president judge, jurisdiction in cases in- 
volving the relief of suitors, such as the stay of execution in civil cases, the 
granting of a writ of habeas corpus, and may, when united, overrule the presi- 
dent judge in the imposition of penalty in criminal cases. In questions of law 
simply they have no jurisdiction, and practically their activity is confined to 
county administration, in which each has an equal voice with the law judge. 

In the work to which the foregoing pages are indebted for the facts per- 
taining to the bench, Mr. Freeze thus refers to the local bar: "This is not the 
place, or we might add much matter to this division, of personal history and 
anecdote, of gentlemen who, upon the bench or at the bar, have given to our 
county a solid and honorable reputation at home and abroad — of Robert 
Cooper Grier, who began the practice of the law in Bloomsburg, and rose to 
be an associate justice of the United States supreme court;* of William G. 
Hiirley, for more than forty years identified honorably with the bar of this 
county; of John G. Montgomery, a man of great power and eloquence, elected 
to the legislature and subsequently to congress, and who perished in the 
National Hotel disaster; of John Cooper, himself an eccentric and brilliant 
man, the son of Judge Thomas Cooper, renowned in the old world as well as 
here; of George A. Frick, second to none as a man, and as a lawyer of ex- 
tensive and solid attainments; of Robert F. Clark and Morrison E. Jackson, 
who, among the younger members of the bar, achieved and maintained a position 
at the head of the profession in the county. Nor would it be difficult to select, 
from among the living, names whose sound will long linger in the memories of 
the young men of the bar, and whose courtesy, learning and chaste professional 
honor it would be safe to follow and ennobling to emulate." 

Of the present active members of the bar there are several whose legal ac- 
quirements and native talent make them friendly rivals for the second place, 
but by general agreement the Hon. C. R. Buckalew is facile princeps. He 
was born in Fishingcreek township; studied law with M. E. Jackson, and in 
1843 was admitted to the bar. In 184:5 he was appointed prosecuting attorney, 
an olfic3 he resigned two years later. In 1850 he entered political life, hav- 
ing been elected to the state senate for the district comprising the counties of 
Luzerne, Columbia and Montour. At the expiration of his first term he was 
reelected, and in 1854 was appointed special commissioner to exchange ratifi- 
cations of a treaty with Paraguay. In 1856 he was chosen presidential elec- 
tor, and in the following year was made chairman of the democratic state com- 
mittee. In this year he was returned to the state senate, and in the following 
winter was appointed one of the committee to revise the criminal code. He 
resigned both positions in the summer of. 1858, however, to accept the appoint- 
ment as minister resident of the United States at Quito. After three years' 
absence he returned to his home, and, in 1863, was elected to the United States 
senate. On his retiring from congress, he was again returned to the state 
senate, and in 1872 become candidate for governor of the state. In this 
campaign he was defeated, but was immediately chosen to a vacancy in the 
constitutional convention, made by the resignation of Mr. Freeze, who retired 
in his favor. In the intervals of his political career, Mr. Buckalew has prac- 
ticed his profession with increasing success, and has found time amid all these 
demands upon his time and strength, to prepare and publish, in 1872, a work 
on "Proportional Representation;" and, in 1883, "An Examination of the Con- 
stitution of Pennsylvania." In the fall of 1886 he was elected from the 
eleventh district to the lower house of congress. 



88 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

There have been no local cases before this court of more than temporary 
importaace save the one arising out of the Rea murder. On Sunday, October 
18, 1808, the dead body of Alexander W. Rea, a citizen of Centralia in this 
county, and ageat for the Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Company and the 
Coal Ridge Improvement Company, was found in the bushes near the water- 
barrel on the road from Centralia to Mount Carmel, riddled with bullets. He 
was last seen near that point on Saturday preceding. On the 17th of Novem- 
ber, 1868, on the testimony of one Thomas Doorley, John Duffy, Michael 
Prior and Thomas Donohue were arrested for the murder and lodged in the 
Pottsville jail. After a habeas corpus hearing, the prisoners were sent to this 
county for trial. About the time of Donohue' s arrest, Patrick Hester went to 
Illinois, where he had a brother and sister living. Suspicion had already 
fastened upon him. In the early part of January, 1869, Hester returned, 
came to Bloomsburg and delivered himself up for trial. At the December ses- 
sion of 1868, a bill of indictment was found against Donohue, Duffy and 
Prior, and at the February session of 1869, a similar bill was returned against 
Hester, Donohue and Duffy. 

The case was called by the district attorney on February 2, 1869, the 
prisoners were arraigned and severally pleaded not guilty. On motion of 
counsel, separate trials were granted, and the commonwealth elected to pro- 
ceed against Thomas Donohue. On the morning of the 3d, a jury was empan- 
neled, and the trial proceeded with. E. R. Ikeler, district attorney, Linn 
Bartholomew, Robert F. Clark, Edward H. Baldy and M. M. L'Velle repre^ 
sented the commonwealth, while John W. Ryan, John G. Freeze, Myer 
Strouse, S. P. Wolverton and W. A. Marr defended the prisoner. 

The theory of the i)rosecution was that this Saturday being a general pay- 
day in the coal regions, a party of assassins had concealed themselves at this 
point for the purpose of securing the money which it was supposed Mr. Rea 
would carry to pay the hands at the colliery. It was his custom, however, to 
pay the men on Friday, so that the messenger who brought the cash from Phil- 
adelphia could return on Saturday. This practice was of long standing, was 
well known to every one in the region, and had been followed on the day pre- 
vious to the murder. It appeared pretty certain therefore, that the perpetra- 
tors of the crime were ignorant of the time of payment at the Coal Ridge Col- 
liery, and were to be sought outside of the immediate neighborhood. The 
trial of Donohue terminated on the 11th of February in a verdict of not 
guilty, and the prisoner was discharged. 

At the May term, 1869, the case of Daffy was tried and resulted in the 
acquittal of the defendant on the 11th of May. On the same day, the evi- 
dence against Hester at that time being insufficient to convict, a nolle 2yrosequi 
was entered, and he was discharged. Prior was tried and acquitted. Seven 
years subsequently passed by, and no further clue to the murderers of Rea 
was discovered. At this time, there was a man named Manus Cull, alias 
Daniel Kelly, one of the most abandoned criminals, confined in the Schuylkill 
county jail on the charge of larceny. Learning that there wore suspicions of 
his having some guilty knowledge of the Rea murder, this man offered to turn 
state's evidence to shield himself from the threatened penalty. Accordingly, 
on his testimony, Peter McHugh and Patrick Tally were arrested in the fall of 
1876, as participants in the murder, and Patrick Hester was re-arrested as an 
accessory before the fact. They were first lodged in the Pottsville jail, and on 
January 31, 1877, brought to this county for trial. On Wednesday, February 
7th, the trial began, Messrs. Hughes, Buckalew and District -Attorney Clark 
appearing for the commonwealth, and Messrs. Ryan, Wolverton, Freeze, 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 89 

Brockway, Mahan and Elwell for the defense. The prisoners were formally 
arraigned, Tully and McHugh answering ' ' not guilty. ' ' For Hester, a 
special plea was presented, to the efPect that he had once been arrested and 
discharged for the same offense. This plea the court overriiled, and Hester 
entered the plea of not guilty. 

The three prisoners elected to be tried together. "Daniel Kelly," who 
was made a competent witness by a pardon from the governor, furnished the 
principal evidence against the accused, which is substantially set forth in the 
judge's charge to the jury, as follows: 

Daniel Kelly, an accomplice in the murder of Alexander W. Rea, has testified to 
facts, which if believed to be true, establish the guilt of all the prisoners. He says that 
the robbery and murder of Mr. Rea was planned on the night of the 16th of October, 1868, 
at the saloon of Thomas Donohue in Ashland, at the suggestion of Patrick Hester; that 
there were present at the conspiracy ten persons, viz. : Patrick Hester, Peter McHugh, Pat- 
rick Tully, Ned. Skirington, Bryan Campbell, James Bradley, William Muldowney, Roger 
Lafferty, Jack Dalton and himself; that its object was money. Hester informed the 
others that Rea would go to Bell's tunnel the next day, and that there was money in it 
for them, — eighteen or nineteen thousand dollars; that the whole band had pistols; that 
it was agreed to rob, but not to kill Mr. Rea; that they all stayed in Donohue's saloon drink- 
ing all night until nearly daylight, when all except Lafferty started out to meet Mr. Rea on 
the Mount Carmel road between Centralia and Mount Carmel; that Muldowney left 
them saying he was lame; that above the toll-gate, Hester and Skirington left, Skirington 
saying that he would [go to work in order to ward off suspicion, and Hester that he would go 
to Shomokin to buy hair to put in lime for plastering; that he there handed his pistol to Kelly 
saying, "your pistol is no good, take mine for I know it is sure;" that the money was to 
be divided between eight of them; that the two others for some reason were to 
have no part; that they were all members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Hester 
being bodymaster, whose orders, according to the practices among them, they were bound 
to obey. He says that the party of six arrived at the place known as the "Water-barrel " 
in the early morning, and were concealed by the side of the road; that Dalton being the 
only one of the party who knew Mr. Rea, went upon the road and was to give signal by 
raising his hatj after Mr. Rea had passed him; that they saw a wagon coming and went 
out by the side of the road, but as Dalton did not raise his hat, went back into the brush; 
that when Mr. Rea did come along they went out upon him, robbed him of his money, 
gold watch and pocket-book; that then he and Tully fired at him about the same time; that 
Rea ran and they all kept firing at him, McHugh following nearer than the rest, and 
nearer to the side of Mr. Rea, fired upon him; that deceased fell upon his face, and Tully 
put his pistol behind his ear and fired; that the party went upon the mountain and di- 
vided the sixty or seventy dollars found in the pocket-book; that he kept the watch and 
gave it to Michael Graham on the evening of the same day to^keep for him, telling him 
it was Rea's watch. -^ * * * He further says that he saw Hester on the night of the 
murder at Michael Graham's at a raffle; that Hester said the money was not worth dividing. 
He further testified that the day after, as he thinks, Thomas Donohue was arrested for 
the murder; that he, Jack Smith, Lafferty, Tully and McHugh went to see Hester, and 
that Smith informed Hester of Donohue's arrest when Hester replied. "It is near time 
that I should clear out," and that he left that night, and that the next night or two the 
witness, Tully and McHugh left for fear of being arrested. 

The trial lasted nearly three weeks, when the jury, after being out but a 
short time, returned a verdict of ' ' guilty. ' ' An application for a new trial 
failed, and the prisoners were sentenced to be hanged, the death warrants fix- 
ing August 9, 1877, as the date of execution. The case was carried to the 
supreme conrt and a stay of execution thus effected; but in December the 
supreme court rendered a decision sustaining the court below, when the case 
was taken to the board of pardons, which on March 19, 1878, refused to 
interfere. In the meantime, the governor issued alias death warrants fixing 
Monday, the 25th of March, as the date of execution. 

Up to within about two weeks of the date of execution all three of the 
men persisted in their protestations of innocence, but at this time Tully sent 
word to George E. Elwell, one of his counsel, requesting an interview. At 
this conference, the condemned man signified his intention of making a state- 
ment after the final action of the board of pardons was ascertained. On Tues- 



90 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

day, the 19th instant, after the prisoners had been informed that the last hope 
for them in this world had failed, Tully was called upon, about nine o'clock at 
night. He then dictated a confession, which was read to him and received his 
signature. In it he confessed to his guilt and practically corroborated the evi- 
dence of Kelly, saying, "He swore to some lies, but most he said was true." 
The other men continued to assert their innocence until Sunday night, when 
they were informed that Tully had confessed the whole truth. McHugh re- 
ceived the information with apparent indifference, but Hester was completely 
confounded, and in a few moments both freely confessed their guilt. The gal- 
lows, borrowed fi'om the authorities of Carbon county, was erected in the 
western corner of the old jail yard, and at 11:15 a. m. on the day fixed, the 
penalty of death was inflicted upon the condemned men. 

The miserable wretch who bore such fatal evidence against his accomplices, 
at Bloomsburg, was subsequently made a witness in a similar trial at Wilkes- 
barre. In these trials he freely confessed to an appalling career of crime 
which justly merited the infliction of the extreme penalty of the law. His evi- 
dence was given without stipulated immunity by the authorities, and at the 
February term of court in 1878, full preparations were made ti;> try him for the 
murder of Rea, but at the urgent request of F. P. McGowan and others en- 
gaged in prosecuting the Mollie Maguire cases elsewhere in the coal region — 
cases in which the chief hope for conviction rested upon the expected confes- 
sion of accomplices, the prosecuting attorney allowed the second term after 
Kelly' s indictment to draw to its close without appearing against him. Under 
the rule, therefore, the prisoner was entitled to his discharge, and on ihe 18th 
of May, the court granted it, concurring in the judgment of the prosecutor who 
said: "To permit Daniel Kelly to escape without trial, will, in my opinion, 
give greater terror to the remainder of these criminals who are yet fugi- 
tives from justice." The event proved the wisdom of this policy. Crimi- 
nals were in constant dread lest some accomplice should save himself at 
the expense of the rest — a condition of things which speedily precipitated 
the very danger they feared. Conviction followed arraignment with a re- 
morseless precision that struck terror into the hearts of the Mollie Maguires, 
and disrupted this nefarious conspiracy against human life. 



The tables which follow afford a convenient means of reference to the facts 
more specifically stated in the foregoing chapter. The first table indicates the 
order and nature of the formation of townships. 



# 



\ 



% 

%, 




'% 



^^. ^. 3^^^M(:kA<^ 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 



9E 



1772 
1772 
1772 
1775 
1785 
1786 
1789 
1797, 
1797. 
1798. 
1799. 
1801. 



Turbut 

Wyoming. . . 

Augusta .... 

Mahoniug . . 

,Catawissa. . . 

Derry 

Fishingcreek 

Briarcreek . . . 

Mifflin 

Bloom 

Greenwood . . 

^Q,., Hemlock 

loj2 iSugarloaf 

Madison 

Mt. Pleasant. 



FORMED FROM. 



1817 
1818 



1^;^? Roaringcreek 



]^^' iMontou. 

\^-'^ 'Jackson 

lo*" I Orange . 

^^^3 Franklin 

'^^^* Maine . . 

18+4 Center . 

l^l'i iBeaver . 

JJjO iBenton . 

]^~^ iPine JMa'dison. 

!o-o [Locust Roaringcreek 

]^^l iScott Bloom 

^°^'^ iConyngbam I Locust. 



Northumberland county. 

Northumberland county. 

Northumberland county 

Turbut. 

Augusta. 

Turbut. 

Wyoming. 

Fishingcreek. 

Catawissa. 

Briarcreek. 

Fishingcreek. 

Mahoning. 

Fishingcreek. 

Derry. 

Green-wood, Bloom and Fishingcreek 

Catawissa. 

Hemlock. 

Greenwood. 

Fishingcreek, Mt. Pleasant and Bloom 

Catawissa. 

Mifflin and Catawissa. 

Bloom and Briarcreek. 

Mifflin and Maine. 

Sugarloaf. 



The courts of the county are known under the distinctive titles of quar- 
ter sessions , orphans', oyer and terminer, and common pleas, with a iurisdic 
tion peculiar to each, but practically a single court engaged in the Xidi 
cation of different classes of legal question! The members ot this S ' 
consisting of a president judge and two associates, were appointed by the 
governor unti a change in the constitution placed their selection, in 185^1 in 
at foflows "^"^ • ^^' "^"'""''^ ^"""'^ ^°"^* ^^« been constHuted. 

PRESIDENT JUDGES. 



APPOINTED. 

Seth Chapman July 11, 1811 

E Us Lewis Oct. 14, 1833. . . .' 

Charles G.Donnel Jan. 14, 1843 died" March 18' 18il 

iz^l'^^±}}''^y ;^i-phi8i4 died ::::'Slo;l8S 

expired. .Nov. 5, 1851 



RESIGNED. 

Oct. 10, 1833 
Jan. 14. 1843 



James Pollock Jan. 1.5, 1851.' .'com. 



John N. Conyngham Nov. 15, 1851 District nT^nSil 

Warren J. Woodward. apptd. . May 19. 1856 Del lO^Sfi? 

WiHiHrn 'ETwdl'"™- ' ' -^^^^P'^^-?/^- l,^'S-^«-- expir'e'd.'''No%.'g; 86^ 
wu nam ^i^ell Nov. 3, 1862.. com. expired Nov 6 187'> 

wi'lllZ Ilr/ell; :;::::■.:: ; . : : ;fc I, ,S: ; f ?"!: y^" '■ ■ ^•- '■ '« 



ASSOCIATE JUDGES. 



John Murray (appointed), October 11, 1813. 
William Montgomery ^ appointed), August 5, 1815 
Leonard Rupert (appointed), June 27, 1816. 
William Donaldson (appointed), March 20, 1840. 



94 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

George Mack (appointed), March 27, 1840. 

Samuel Oakes (appointed), March 0, 1845. 

Stephen Baldy (appointed), March 11, 1845. 

George H. Willits (appointed), March 12, 1850. 

John Covanhovan (appointed), March 12, 1850. 

Leonard B. Rupert (elected), November 10, 1851. 

Geo. H. Willits (elected), November 10, 1851. 

Peter Kline (elected), November 12, 185G. 

Jacob Evans (elected). November 12, 1856. 

Stephen Baldy (appointed). January 12. 1861. 

John McReynolds (elected), November 23, 1861. 

Stephen Baldy (elected), November 23, 1861. 

Peter K. Herbein (elected), November 8, 1866. Died in office April 1, 1869. 

Iram Derr (elected), November 8, 1866. 

James Kester (appointed), April 23, 1869. 

Charles F. Mann (elected), November 26, 1869. Died in office, January 

24, 1870. 
Isaac S. Monroe (appointed), February 1, 1870. 
Isaac S. Monroe (elected), November 9, 1870. 
Iram Derr (elected), November 17, 1871. 

G-eorge Scott (elected), December 3, 1875. Died in office, April 10, 1876. 
Mayberry G. Hughes (appointed), April 26, 1876. 
Franklin L. Shuman (elected), December 8, 1876. 
Isaac K. Krickbaum (elected), December 8, 1876. 
Franklin L. Shuman (elected), December 8, 1881. 
James Lake (elected), December 8, 1881. 
C. G. Murphy (elected), December 8, 1886. 
James Lake (elected), December 8, 1886. 

THE BAR. 

The names follow the order of their admission. 

Robert C. Grier, Bloomsburg, deceased. 

William G. Hurley, Bloomsburg, deceased. 

James Pleasants, Cata-wissa, deceased. 

Samuel F. Headley, Berwick, deceased. 

Morrison E. Jackson, Berwick, deceased. 

Le Grand Bancroft, Bloomsburg. deceased. 

B. K. Rhodes, Bloomsburg, left the county. 

Charles R. Buckalew, Bloomsburg, practicing. • 

Robert F. Clark, Bloomsburg, deceased. 

Reuben W. W^eaver, Bloomsburg, deceased. 

John G. Freeze, Bloomsburg, practicing. 

Elisha C. Thomson, Bloomsburg, deceased. 

Franklin. Stewart, Berwick, practicing. 

Ephraim H. Little, Bloomsburg, practicing. 

Alexander J. Frick, Bloomsburg, left the county. 

Oliver C. Kahler, Bloomsburg, practicing. 

Wesley Wirt, Bloomsburg, deceased. 

Agib Ricketts, Bloomsburg, left the county. 

Robert S. Howell, Espy, practicing. 

W. A. Peck, Berwick, left the county. 

Charles G. Barkley, Bloomsburg, practicing. 

Samuel Knorr, Bloomsburg. practicing. 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 85 



Hervy H. Grotz, Bloomsburg, not practicing. 
William H. Abbott, Catawissa, left the county. 
Charles B. Brockway, Bloomsburg, practicing. 
Wellington H. Ent, Bloomsburg, deceased. 
M. M. Traugh, Berwick, left the county. 
James K. Brugler, Bloomsburg, left the county. 
Peter S. Rishel, Bloomsburg, left the county. 
Michael Whitmoyer, Bloomsburg, left the county. 
M. M. L'Velle, Centralia, left the county. 
Russel R. Pealer, Bloomsburg, left the county. 
Elijah R. Ikeler, Bloomsburg, practicing. 
Charles W. Miller, Bloomsburg, practicing. 
George S. Coleman, Bloomsburg, deceased. 
J. B. Robison, Bloomsburg, practicing. 
J. H. James, Centralia, left the county. 
M. E. Walker, Bloomsburg, left the county. 
O. B. Melick, Lightstreet, not practicing. 
James Bryson, Centralia, left the county. 
Milton Stiles, Berwick, left the county. 
Le Roy Thompson, Berwick, left the county. 
John M. Clark, Bloomsburg, practicing. 

B. Frank Zarr, Bloomsburg, practicing. 
A. C. Smith, Bloomsburg, deceased. 

H. E. Smith, Bloomsburg, practicing. 
John A. Opp, Bloomsburg, left the county. 
AVarren J. Buckalew, Bloomsburg, deceased. 
George E. Elwell, Bloomsburg, practicing. 
Robert R. Little, Bloomsburg, practicing. 
Nevin U. Funk, Bloomsburg, practicing. 
William L. Eyerly, Catawissa, practicing. 
Charles B. Jackson, Berwick, practicing. 
Frank P. Billmeyer, Bloomsburg, practicing. 
Levi E. Waller, Bloomsburg, practicing. 
T. J. Vanderslice, Bloomsburg, left the county. 
H. C. Bittenbender, Bloomsburg, left the county. 
W. H. Rhawn, Catawissa, practicing. 
William Bryson, Centralia, practicing. 
Paul E. Wirt, Bloomsburg, practicing. 
Robert Buckingham, Bloomsburg, practicing. 
L. S. W'intersteen, Bloomsburg, practicing. 
A. L. Fritz, Bloomsburg, practicing. 
Andrew K. Oswald, Berwick, practicing. 
Jacob H. Maize, Bloomsburg. practicing. 

C. C. Peacock, Bloomsburg, practicing. 
Heister V. White, Bloomsburg, practicing. 
A. E. Chapin, Bloomsburg, left the county, 
John C. Yocum, Catawissa, practicing. 
David Leche, Bloomsbiirg, left the county. 
Guy Jacoby, Bloomsburg, practicing. 
Wm. Chrisman, Bloomsburg, practicing. 
W. H. Snyder, Orangeville, practicing. 
Wm. E. Smith, Berwick, practicing. 
Grant Herring, Bloomsburg, practicing. 



96 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

A. N. Yost, Bloomsburg, practicing. 
C. E. Geyer, Catawissa. practicing. 
S. P. Hanly, Berwick, practicing. 

COUNTY OFFICIALS. 

The present constitution provides that county oflScers shall consist of a 
prothonotary, clerk of the courts, sheriff, register of wills, recorder of deeds, 
auditor or controller, treasurer, district attorney, coroner, surveyor, commmis- 
sioners, and such others as may, from time to time, be established by law. In 
the smaller counties the duties of more than one office was imposed upon one 
official, hence the double title of prothonotary and clerk of the courts; and 
register of wills and recorder of deeds. Under the constitution of 1790, all 
county officers, save the sheriff and coroner, wgre appointed by the governor 
without participation by the people; but by an amendment in 1838, it was pro- 
vided that "prothonotaries and clerks of the several courts (except the supreme 
court), recorders of deeds and registers of wills shall, at the time and place of 
election of representatives, be elected by the qualified electors of each county, 
or the districts over which the jurisdiction of said courts extends, and shall be 
commissioned by the governor. They shall hold their offices for three years, 
if they shall so long behave themselves well, and until their successors shall be 
duly qualified." 

PIIOTHONOTARY AND CLERK. REGISTER AND RECORDER. 

George A. Frick appointed 1813 Josiah McClure appointed 1814 

David Petrildn appointed Mar. 15, 1821 Ellis Hughes " 1821 

John Russel " Jan. 14, 1824 Rudolph Sechler " 1824 

Jacob Eyerly " Jan. 19, 1830 John Cooper " 1830 

James Donaldson... " Jan. 8,1836 Alexander Best " 1836 

James Donaldson. . " May 1, 1838 Philip Billmeyer. . .appointed Jan. 18, 1839 

James Donaldson. . " Jan. 10, 1839 Philip Billmeyer elected, assumed office 

Valentine Best.... " Jan. 18, 1839 Dec.l 1839 

Jacob Ej'-erly elected, assumed office Charles Conner elected Dec. 1, 1842 

December 1 1839 Jesse G. Clark " Dec. 1, 1848 

Jesse Coleman elected Dec. 1, 1863 Daniel Lee " Dec, 1, 1804 

Wellington Ent " Dec. 1, 1869 John G. Freeze " Dec. 1, 1863 

Died Nov. 5, 1871. William H. Jacoby " Dec. 1, 1869 

R. H. Ringler appointed 1871 Geo. W. Steiner " Jan. 2, 1882 

B. F. Zarr elected Dec. 1, 1872 Geo. W. Steiner " Jan. 5, 1885 

William Krickbaum. . .. " Jan. 7, 1878 
William Snyder " Jan. 7. 1884 

By the constitution of 1790, is was provided that "sheriffs and coroners 
shall, at the times and places of election of representatives, be chosen by the 
citizens of each county; two persons shall be chosen for each office, one of 
whom for each, respectively, shall be appointed by the governor. They shall 
hold their offices for three years if they shall so long behave themselves well, 
and until a successor be duly qualified; but no person shall be twice chosen or 
appointed sheriff in any term of six years. Vacancies in either of the said 
offices shall be filled by a new appointment to be made by the governor, to 
continue until the next general election and until a successor shall be chosen 
and qualified as aforesaid." The convention of 1838 so far amended this sec- 
tion as to require the people to choose one person only for each office, who was 
to be commissioned by the governor. 

SHERIFF. 

Henry Alward, commissioned Januaiy 13, 1814. 

Joseph Prutzman, commissioned October 19, 1816. 

John Underwood, commissioned October 18, 1819. Died in office. 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 97 

William Robison, to fill vacancy, September 16, 1822. 
Andrew McReynolds, commissioned October 14, 1822. 
John Rhoads, commissioned October 22, 1825. 
William Kitchen, commissioned October 22, 1828. 
Isaiah Reed, commissioned October 24, 1831. 
Isaiah Salmon, commissioned October 25, 1834. 
William Kitchen, commissioned October 18, 1837. 
John Fruit, commissioned October 30, 1840. 
Iram Derr, commissioned 1843. 

Benjamin Hayman, commissioned November 5, 1846. 
Peter Billmeyer, commissioned October 24, 1849. 
John Snyder, commissioned 1852. 
Stephen H. Miller, commissioned 1855. 
John Snyder, commissioned 1858. 
Josiah H. Fui'man, commissioned 1861. 
Samuel Snyder, commissioned 1864. 
Mordecai Millard, commissioned 1867. 
Aaron Smith, commissioned 1870. 

Michael Grover, commissioned 1873. Died in office April 3, 1876. 
Charles G. Murphy, Coroner, was sworn in April 5, 1876, to' May 5, 1876. 
Charles S. Fornwald, appointed by governor May 5, 1876, to January,' 1877. 
John W. Hoffman assumed office January 1, 1877. 
XJzal H. Ent assumed office January 5, 1880. 
John Mourey assumed office January 1, 1883. 
Samuel Smith assumed office January 4, 1886. 
b J^G^ f"'^^^ foregoing list of officials is derived from a History of Columbia County, 



CHAPTER IV. 

THE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT. 

n^HE evolution of a homogeneous and prosperous community out of the vari- 
-L ous social material first planted in the broken country of the Fishing 
creek valley, and in the valleys of the Catawissa and Roaring creeks, involved 
a slow tedious process which they only can fully appreciate, whose lives have 
touched both extremes. What one has written of the west may with equal 
truth be applied to the pioneers of the interior of Pennsylvania. "In that 
span of peaceful days there was no lack of noblest devotion to purpose; indeed 
the whole story of western settlement is one long tale of struggle and privation 
of courage and death. The fallen in this quasi peaceful campaign vastly 
outnumber the victims of war and count among them regiments of gentle 
women and defenseless children. Still the drama of life was never more than 
narrow and local; it was a period full of the sounds of pioneering whose 
echoes scarcely ever carried beyond the lines of township and county." 

The different factors of Columbia county's pioneer society came from widely 
separated localities; they were led to immigrate by a variety of motives, and 
varied as much in social prejudices, habits and conditions as in their nationality. 
The common object of all was the planting of a new home where patient, perse- 



98 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

vering toil would gain a moderate competence for old age, and provide greater 
advantages for a growing family. There was no established rule for success 
in this venture, and the problem presented by the unbroken forest contained 
new difficulties enough to develop the full individuality of the pioneer. The 
selection of a home-site was determined largely by accident. The chance ac- 
quaintance with one who had bought lands in the "new purchase " for specula- 
tion, or the emigration of a neighbor or relative led to the removal of many from 
the older settlements. Very often the purchase was made before examination 
of the country; in other cases a careful tour of inspection was made before 
the removal was decided upon; in many others, the general fever of emigra- 
tion to newly opened territory seized the head of the family, and with little 
more consideration, property was disposed of, and with the proceeds of the 
sale and a few indispensable household articles, the family started toward the 
land of promise without definite aims. 

With the meager facilities for travel, the amount of goods brought was 
narrowed to the things of pressing necessity. Carts and wagons made tedious 
progress so far as Sunbury, but beyond that and by other routes, wheeled 
vehicles were brought forward only with great difficulty. Pack saddles were at 
first generally used,- and these were placed not unfrequently on oxen and cows 
as well as horses. Those whose location had not been determined by previous 
purchase were influenced by the settlements already made, and the character 
of the water and timber found, and many a grievous mistake was thus made. In 
their old home, a good soil had been found bearing a certain kind of timber, and 
they naturally sought a similar forest growth as a guarantee of a similar soil, 
sometimes to be greatly disappointed. The location once made and the family 
brought forward, the rude shelter was provided. This consisted of the log 
house for which the timber supplied ample material, and their experi- 
ence the requisite skill in constructing. It required little aid other than 
each family could command within itself, to rear this humble structure, 
but where there were other settlements within a few miles there was no lack 
of assistance. Neighborhoods extended for miles about, and the accession of 
numbers was too gladly welcomed to make the earlier inhabitants chary of 
lending a hand at the cost of what would now be deemed a great inconven- 
ience. 

With willing and capable hands the house was erected in a day and occu- 
pied on the next. ' ' Setting things to rights ' ' was not a laborious process. 
A few wooden pegs di'iven into the logs supplied the scarcely needed conven- 
iences of a wardrobe, and two larger ones over the fire-place furnished the 
common support for the rifle and powder-horn. The puncheon floor was not un- 
frequently a luxury afterward provided, as was also the loft flooring, reached 
by a ladder, but the fire-place was the one feature of the pioneer home that 
combined the characteristics of usefulness and luxury. It commonly faced 
the single entrance, was of ample proportions and built of stone, which the 
region amply provided. Above the genei-al reach of the flame, the throat was 
constructed of small poles imbedded in mud, and, gradually contracting in 
dimensions, was canied up to the height of the ridge-pole. 

The careful housewife brought ' ' ticks ' ' as well as bed clothing, and these, 
filled with dry leaves, furnished the bed until the first crop of corn supplied 
husks to take their place. Besides bedding, indispensable agricultural imple- 
ments and a few culinary articles, there was only room in the restricted mode of 
transportation for the women and smaller children. Furniture was therefore 
lacking until time was had for its manufacture in the woods. This was made 
from the growing timber with the aid of an ax alone, or at best, with the single 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 09 

addition of a draw-share. Koiigh benches supplied the demand for seats, and 
a higher one sufficed for a table, while the bedstead, a curious fixture of the 
cabin, was constructed in the corner. It was said to go upon one leg, which 
to those not initiated in the mysteries of pioneer life seemed an impossible feat, 
though simple enough when explained. One end of the outer side-rail and the 
foot-rail found support in the log sides of the cabin, while the ends, which met 
at right angles, were supported by a post firmly planted in the ground, which 
constituted the only leg of the bedstead. The foundation for the bed was 
made of a cord, if the family was so fortunate as to have one, otherwise of 
deei«-hide thdngs, layers of bark, etc. 

But little support could be expected fi-om the new farm in the first season, 
and dependence was had upon purchases to be made of the neighbors, whose 
surplus crops had no other mark-^t. The new-comer found no time for idling 
in the meanwhile, however. Every hand capable of wielding an ax was busily 
employed, from daylight till dark, in felling the timber, trimming off the limbs, 
and cutting it into rolling lengths, while the women and children gathered the 
brush into piles for biirning. It was not uncommon for the especially ener- 
getic family to carry on this work late into the night, by the light of the burn- 
ing brush-heaps. The log-rolling was a neighborhood afPair, and such was the 
general demand that for years each settler annually devoted some six weeks 
to the assistance of his neighbors in return for the aid similarly received. 

There was no room for theoretical farming at that day. The grubbing hoe 
preceded the plow, a great, heavy, wooden implement, with an iron point or 
coulter. In a soil ramified with uudecayed roots, such a tool barely scratched 
the surface, but siich was the fertility of the land that it literally needed but 
the tickling of the hoe, to laugh with a harvest. For many years the princi- 
pal object of the settler was to "improve" his property, farming operations 
being carried on simply as a means of support. In fact, this was the only 
road to success. There was no market for surplus crops, nor was the rank 
virgin soil adapted to a variety. Beside a few vegetables, corn alone was culti- 
vated, and constituted the main food suj)ply for both man and beast. It re- 
quired less care to grow and harvest than any other cereal; it was avail aljle for 
use from the time the kernels were fit to grate; it was readily prepared for use 
by the crude means possessed by the pioneer, and every part of the crop served 
a useful purpose. , 

Ordinarily the support of a frontier family was not a serious question. 
Each settler brought more or less stock, which found ample support in the for- 
est, and even in the winter scarcely needed the addition of such fodder as the 
corn crop supplied. Hogs fattened upon the abundant mast, and furnished a 
nutritious food for the farmer. AYith plenty of milk, pork and meal, supple- 
mented by the game which stocked the woods, and the profiision of wild fruits, 
wholesome food was seldom wanting, nor even a touch of luxury. A patch of 
flax was early sown and. formed the basis of the family clothing, and while both 
sexes joined in the labor of convei'ting the raw material' into the finished gar- 
ment, the greater part of this work fell upon the housewife. The frontier 
cabin has always been the scene of busy activity. Housekeeping was crowded 
into the smallest possible space, to give place to the spinning wheel and loom. 
Every woman took pride in such useful accomplishments as were involved in 
the preparation of the crude material, the manufacture of the fabric, and the 
fashioning of the wearing apparel of the whole family. The dress of the set- 
tlers was of primitive simplicity. Buckskin entered largely into men's wear, 
but chief dependence was placed upon the liusey-woolsey, a combination of 
linen and wool, which was the product of the taste and skill of the women. 



100 IIISTOllY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

Even the footdress was homo made, and years elapsed before calico and " cow- 
hide " ceased to be regarded as an almost unattainable luxiiry. 

The early social duties were of the simplest kind. Feeble settlements 
gradually expanded in isolated situations where some favoring stream or spring 
attracted the adventurous pioneer. The necessities of the case brought the 
community together for mutual assistance, but frontier life was too intensely 
practical to give place to mere display or sentiment. The sense of isolation 
and mutual dependence encouraged cordial relations and a hospitality that 
"was not measured by the stock in store. Amusements were allied to useful 
occupations. Quiltings. wool-pickings and spinning-bees were made up by 
the women, when the day was given to work and the night to games, the men 
coming in to share the entertainment and escort their wives and sweethearts 
home. House-raisings, log-rollings and husking bees were occasions when the 
men, after a hard day' s work, would spend the evening with the women invited 
in. But with all this social activity, society developed in the form of separate 
and independent communities. For years, the isolated settlements in the 
county were really farther aj^art than the east and the west are to-day. The 
larger social questions had not yet entered to overcome the difficulties of com- 
munication and the diffidence of national or educational prejudices. 

Perhaps the earliest of these fusing influences was the church. Most of 
the earlier pioneers had strongly cherished religious affiliations, and were thus 
brought together in some form of public worship. This bond of sympathy 
compacted the community, and eventually led to a more extended organization. 
The standards of that time, it is scarcely necessary to say, were far less exact- 
ing than those of a later day, and differed somewhat in different nationalities 
and different denominations. Many of the customs prevalent, while somewhat 
modified by the circumstances of a new country, were still easily traceable to 
the habit and customs inculcated in the father-land, from which the immigrant 
had come or was derived. The use of liquor as a common beverage was 
scarcely considered a question of morals, and a minister's account which con- 
tained charges for "half a hundred lemons" and "half a gallon of rum and 
bottles " was not deemed peculiarly significant. To become seriously intoxi- 
cated, however, was an off'ense to good taste, and in the case of a minister, if 
an old church record may be relied upon, called for an apology. 

In 1741, the presbytery of Donegal, Pennsylvania, after trying a pastor 
for di-unkenness rendered the following decision in the case: "We cannot 
find cause to judge Mr. Lyon guilty of anything like excess in drinking. 
* * * But inasmuch as his behavior had so many circumstances and 
symptoms of drunkenness, and inasmuch as he did not make any apology, or 
allege it to proceed from sickness, we judge that he is censurable; and yet, as 
we apprehend that the small quantity of liquor which Mr. Lyon drank might 
produce the above effect, after his coming out of the extreme cold into a warm 
house near the fire, we do not find sufficient cause to condemn him for drunk- 
enness. " Doubtless, a kindred feeling made them wondrous kind. But if in 
some respects the religious community of that period, the characteristics of 
which were not wholly lost a half-century later, were remarkably lax when 
viewed in the light of to-day, in other respects it was sufficiently severe to re- 
store the moral equilibrium. Vanity, slander, and "vacuity of thought" 
were sharply rebuked. It is related that, in the time when the most prosper- 
ous settler aspired to possess nothing better than a hewed-log dwelling, several 
brothers, who were trained mechanics, conceived the idea of building a two- 
and-a-half story house of stone. It was a labor of love and prospered in their 
hands, and as it stood completed, towering above its humbler neighbors, the 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 101 

simple folk looked upon its strange magnificence with awe, and called it "a 
palace. ' ' The story of its grandeur spread in ever widening circles, attracting 
people fi'om afar to look upon the new wonder, until the guardians of the pub- 
lic morals became alarmed and determined to discipline the ambitious brothers. 
Martin was selected as the head and front of the offending, and "having re- 
paired to the humble log cottage hard by the 'stately mansion, ' and organized 
the meeting, ' ' the presiding bishop called the offender before the ecclesiastical 
court. ' 'Martin was first questioned, upon conscience, to openly declare what 
his intentions were in erecting so large, so gorgeous a dwelling?" He replied 
that he had ' 'consulted only his own comfort, and that he had no sinister 
views. ' ' He was told, however, that in their view the house was too showy for 
a Menonite, and the discussion of the court turned upon the question whether 
the penalty should be severe censure or suspension from church privileges. At 
length, '"after some concessions and mutual forbearance" by the parties, it 
was resolved "that Martin be kindly reprimanded, to which he submitted. 
Thus the matter ended, and all parted as brethren. ' ' 

In 1781 a case is recorded, in which the principals were of the fair sex. 
One young woman had uttered some spiteful criticism of her social rival; 
both were highly' connected in church circles, and the session was so far em- 
barrassed by this fact, that it felt obliged to refer the matter to the presbytery. 
A strongly contested trial ensued, but the church tribunal decided that the 
subject of criticismwas of "modest and excellent behavior," that the remarks 
complained of were ' ' shameful, ' ' and therefore ordered that the culprit ' ' pre- 
sent herself before the pulpit and receive a solemn admonition. " The penalty 
was daly inflicted by the moderator of the presbytery, and white-winged Peace 
once more brooded over the church of Great Conowago. One more of many 
interesting incidents may be drawn from the same record, in which the Rev. 
Mr. Lyoa again figures before the presbytery. It was at the meeting imme- 
diately succeeding the one in which the accused was vindicated against the 
charge of drunkenness. This time the charge was a graver one, and one 
'' which did not appeal to the sensibilities of his judges. He was accused of 
whistling on the Sabbath. ' ' The evidence does not show that his musical ef- 
forts were boisterous, nor that his selections were irreverent, but the presbytery 
found sufficient evidence to convince its members that the offensive "whistling" 
indicated a ' ' vacuity of thought and a disposition at variance with the proper 
spirit of the Lord' s day, ' ' and the whole matter is closed by the significant 
entrj: "For good and sufficient reasons wholly dropped Mr. Lyon from the 
ministry. ' ' 

In all this there is much to excite derisive humor, but let us 

"Laugh where we must, be candid where we can." 

WitH all their foibles, the religious element of the pioneer community was a 
sturdy, honest and steadily-progressive people. It was from such a people 
that the pioneers of Columbia county were di-awn. The slow progress of 
that period had only slightly modified the idiosyncracies of the fathers in the 
sons, and the earliest society was thus not an unplanted field, but rather one 
where a struggling crop sadly in need of cultivation strongly invited the care 
of the earnest laborer. 

In the absence of regular ministers, the Society of Friends were best 
equipped for establishing public worship, and the presence of a considerable 
number of this sect at Catawissa led to the founding of a meeting there in 1787, 
which for twenty years continued to be the rallying point for the denomina- 
tion in this region. A monthly meeting was established here in 1796, but in 



102 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTV'. 

1808 this was removed to Mnncy on account of an extensive emigration of the 
sect from Catawissa. In 17U5 a meeting was established in Greenwood, and 
a year later in Locust. In 1814 a monthly meeting was established at the 
latter place and is still continued. A meeting was also established in 1800 at 
Berwick, which continued with gradually diminishing strength until about 
1865, when it ceased to have an existence. The Society of Friends was more 
firmly established, however, in Greenwood, where there are now two well sup- 
ported meetings. In 1834 the different meetings of the sect in the county 
were associated in a half-yearly meeting established at Greenwood, and in 
1856 the Muncy monthly meeting was transferred thither also. Although the 
name is retained and occasional meetings held in Locust and Catawissa, the 
chief activity of the denomination in this county is confined to Greenwood. 

The Scotch-Irish were an important element in the pioneer society of the 
state, and early gave prominence to the Presbyterian denomination, to which 
they generally belonged. James McClure, who came in 1772, was probably the 
first representative of this sect in Columbia county, but it was some years later 
before any organized effort was made to propagate its tenets here. In 1789 
this region is mentioned under the name of Fishingcreek, in connection with 
neighboring localities, as in the presbytery of Carlisle. This presbytery had 
been formed three years before, but this region probably remained unoccupied 
until 1792, when the Rev. Mr. Henry was appointed to cultivate the field. Two 
years later the Rev. John Bryson was sent to this region and became pastor of 
Warrior's run and Chilliequaque, where he continued to serve for nearly a half 
century. ' ' In the following year, the Rev. John Porter was commissioned to 
start from Fishingcreek, and missionate up the river to Wyoming and Tioga 
Point. The names of the Rev. Benjamin Judd, Rev. Ira Condit, and Mr. Will- 
iam Spear, a licentiate, appear also as appointed, about this period, to mission- 
ate along the east branch of the Susquehanna. Revs. Messrs. Andrews and Gray 
also performed greater or less amounts of missionary labor in this field. "* The 
first church of this denomination, known as "Briarcreek," was organized in Cen- 
ter township some time prior to 1796, when its first place of worship was erected. 
In 1817 a second church was organized at Bloomsburg with three members, 
which immediately set about erecting a commodious church building. A third 
organization was effected at Berwick in 1827, and others in Orange in 1842; 
in Greenwood in the following year; in Scott, in 1853; in Sugarloaf, in 1858, 
which was subsequently moved to Benton; and one, in 1867, at Centralia. 

The introduction of Methodism in Columbia county was probably through 
the immediate instrumentality of Bishop Asbury, the founder of the Methodist 
Episcopal church in America. It was under his preaching in Northampton 
county, that the Bowmans were converted. They subsequently removed to 
the vicinity of Berwick, and it was probably through their representation^ that 
the bishop was led to come here. At this time he ordained these earnest men, 
who subsequently became such a power for good. Other itinerants who found 
their way here in missionary tours, were Revs. William Colbert, James Payn- 
ter, Morris Howe and Robert Burch, but they do not appear to have effected 
any permanent organization. 
/ " In Briarci'eek valley, about fonr miles distant from Berwick, resided Rev. 
Thomas Bowman, an ordained local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, a man of fervent zeal and persuasive eloquence, who, with hia 
brother, Rev. Christopher Bowman, sowed pure Methodistic seed in all this 
region of country. In order that his neighbors might have the regular ministra- 
-tions of the gospel, he fitted up the third story of his dwelling — a stone house 

♦Historical Discourse by Rev. David J. Waller. 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 103 

— as a place of worship, and invited the Methodist itinerants to hold religious 
service therein. Here, in the year 1805, under the joint ministry of Rev. 
James Paynter and Joseph Carson, occurred a revival of great power and wide- 
spread influence. The country for thirty or forty miles around felt the impulse 
of this wondrous spirit-baptism. As a direct and immediate result of this relig- 
ious awakening, a class was organized in Berwick."* This point was made 
a regular appointment in the Wyoming circuit, which extended from North- 
umberland to Tioga Point. In 1806 it was attached to the Northumberland 
circuit, where it remained until 1831, when the church work had so spread, 
that the Berwick circuit was formed, embracing twenty- eight preaching places, 
of which the following were in this county : Benton, Berwick, Bloomsburg, 
Buckhorn, Espy, Jerseytown, Lightstreet, Mifflinville and Orangeville. Since 
then its organizations have multiplied in the county until only two townships 
have none, while each of "the others have from one to five. 

The large German immigration which so conspicuously contributed to the 
settlement of the lower counties of Pennsylvania made its influence felt not 
only throughout the state, but also in other parts of the nation. The earliest 
of the Palatine settlers were generally Mennonites, but they formed a center 
arovmd which German immigrants of all classes and confessions rapidly gath- 
ered, extending their settlements into the surrounding country. In 1723 a 
considerable Lutheran emigration from New York took place, which resulted 
in the settlements on the Tulpehocken. These were rapidly reinforced by 
the vast numbers who continued to come from the Palatinate, Wurtemberg, 
Darmstadt and other parts of Germany. The latter accessions were generally 
adherents of the Lutheran and Reformed creed, though the former denomina- 
tion had been well represented before their coming, by the Swede settlers on 
the east bank of the Delaware, and on the site of Philadelphia. 

' 'Although deprived of the regular ministrations of the sanctuary, large por- 
tions of them, who were under the influence of religious principles, remained 
true to the faith in which they had been reared. They had brought with them 
from their native land their hymn books, catechisms, and manuals of devotion, 
which they faithfully read, endeavoring to keep alive in their hearts the spirit 
of piety, and anticipating a more propitious season, when the means of grace 
would be adequately provided. " Their circumstances had greatly improved in 
this respect before the period of Columbia county's settlement and the Ger- 
man settlers of this region were not long without the visit of earnest missiona- 
ries. Among the early Lutheran missionaries were Revs. Seeley, Sherrets, 
Plitt, Pauls, Kramer and Baughey, who organized churches in 1795 at Cata- 
wissa; 1805, in Briarcreek; 1808, in Locust; 1809, in Mifflin; 1810, in Hem- 
lock; and in 1812, in Orange. It is now one of the most flourishing religious 
denominations in the county and numbers some eighteen organizations. 

Rev. Jacob Deiffienbach was the first minister of the Reformed church who 
systematically and zealously labored for the upbuilding of that denomination 
here. There were a considerable number of this communion among the early 
settlers, and a number of itinerants of the church had made occasional visits 
to this region, but they did not in all cases "walk worthy of their vocation," 
and effected little toward the organization of churches among the scattered 
settlements. Mr. Deifiienbach came to Bloomsburg in 1815 ; he was in the 
prime of life and preached at Bloomsburg in Mahoning, Catawissa, Briar- 
creek, Mifflin, and occasionally in Fishingcreek. His missionary labor extend- 
ed over the whole extent of the county, and ' ' through him the church in this 
county was placed on a firm basis and took organic shape, and he may justly 

*From the Berwick Methodist, March, 1882. 



104 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

be regarded as its founder in Columbia county." In 1822 he removed to 
Espy, and continued to preach until 1824, when he was confined to his bed 
with consumption to rise no more. He preached only in the German language 
and is said to have been an excellent singer. 

The church interests of this denomination were first associated in the 
Bloomsburg charge. In this Mr. Deiffienbach was succeeded, in 1829, by Rev. 
Daniel S. Tobias, who was assisted in 1844, by Mr. Henry Funk, who added a 
service in English. In 1854 the Rev. W. Goodrich succeeded and served the 
people faithfully for half a century. At the close of his ministry the charge 
consisted of six congregations, and by his advice these were divided between 
two, the Orange ville charge then being erected: the first consisting of the 
Bloomsburg, Heller's andCatawissa congregations, and the latter made up of 
the Oraugeville, Zion and St. James conscregfations. Since then the num- 
ber of congregations has doubled, the church being thus represented in 
eleven of the twenty-three townships of the county. 

Among the New Jersey emigrants to Columbia county were many Episco- 
palians and Baptists, which led to the early organization of churches of these 
denominations. The Protestant Episcopal church was the earliest of the two 
to secure an organized representation in the county, the Rev. Caleb Hop- 
kins being chiefly instrumental in this work. The church at Bloomsburg was 
founded in 1793, and about 1812 he established another in Sugarloaf. A 
third organization was effected at Jerseytown very early, but it has since passed 
away, leaving no record save that it was and is not. In 18G0 Rev. E. A. Light- 
ner began to hold services in Catawissa, which resulted in the founding of a 
church there, and in 1866 the Rev. M Washburn did a similar work at 
Centralia. The Baptist denomination was chiefly recruited from English emi- 
grants and organized the first church of their faith in Madison, as early as 
1817, through the labors of Revs. Wolverton, Smiley and Coombs. Two years 
later Revs. Joel Rogers and Elias Dodson organized a second one in Jackson, 
and about 1841 other churches were founded in Berwick and Bloomsburg. In 
1851 an organization of thirty members was made in Center, and in 1886 
another, of twelve members, was effected in Centralia. 

Some of the old church landmarks of these earlier organizations still remain. 
There are only three, however, two of which have practically been abandoned, 
while the third has apparently been outgrown. The most venerable of these 
links to the forgotton past is the old Quaker meeting-house at Catawissa. It 
was erected of hewed logs prior to 1787, and in a plain unostentatious way still 
defies decay. It is now seldom used, and it stands apart, a fit type of the plain, 
sturdy folk who once gathered there to worship. A similar structure in Locust 
township bears similar testimony to the honest workmanship and good care of 
the Friends, who have generally passed away. The third relic of that early 
day is the "stone church" in Briarcreek, erected in 1808 by the Methodists. 
It is no longer used for the purposes of worship, but it is still in a good state of 
preservation and likely to outlive the century. 

The other denominations represented in the county are the Church of 
Chi'ist (Disciples), which organized its first congregation in 1837; the Evan- 
gelical Association, originating here in 1848; the Protestant Methodist,, in 
1860; the United Brethren, in 1866; and the Roman Catholic, about the same 
time. The latter denomination celebra^^ed mass here as early as 1829, but all 
services were discontinued here after a time until 1844, when again for a short 
period services were held. Occasional services were subsequently held until 
the purchase of the present place of worship, since which they have been 
regularly held. In 1869 a second organization was formed at Centralia. The 
present distribution of churches may be gathered from the following table: 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 



105 



TOWNSHIPS. 


a 


i 


V 


i 

.£5 
5 


a 

« 


"3 

e 
o 

1 


a 


"a. 

'i 


"5 

a 
a 


S 

Pi 

d 


pa 


.2 


"3 
1 


Beaver . . 








1 


1 








1 






3 


Benton 




1 

1 

1 

.... 

1 


?, 






1 








4 


Bloonisburij 




2 
3 

2 
2 
1 
3 
2 
5 
3 
1 
3 
1 
1 
1 
1 
2 
2 


1 

2 
2 
2 


1 
1 
1 
1 


1 


1 

1 


1 

2 






1 


9 


Briarcreek 








10 


Catawissa 


1 








7 


Center 


1 
1 




2 








q 


Convnirhaiii 










a 


Fisbiiiii'crcck 






2 


1 






6 


Franklin 


















9 


Greenwood 


2 


1 


1 
1 

"i" 
1 
1 

2 








2 


1 








1^ 


Hemlock 














3 


Jackson 






'i' 
1 
1 
1 




1 


1 


2 








"i 


Locust 








3 




q 


Madison 




1 








4 


Main 
















8 


Mifflin 












1 








5 


Montour 












1 


Mount Pleasant 






1 
1 


















3 


Oran <!;e 




1 


1 
















r; 


Pine 














RoariniTLrcek 






1 
3 
2 

42 
















1 




0, 


Scott 




1 


1 










3 
13 




8 


Sugarloaf 






1 

4 


6 


1 
6 


1 






5 




4 


8 




12 








Total 


18 


1 


5 


3 


121 



Next to the preacher there is no more potent factor in the elevation of 
society than the secular teacher, and it is greatly to the credit of the early set- 
tlers of Columbia county that they were so much alive to the importance of 
education. Popular education was, in fact, one of the corner-stones upon 
which the colonial " Frame of Government " was founded. In that instru- 
ment, as well as in the " Great Law" enacted in the first year of the province, 
it was provided that "schools should be established for the education of the 
young." Under this provision a school was opened in Philadelphia in 1683, 
at which each pupil was charged a small sum for tuition. In 1698 the Qua- 
kers opened a public school in the same city, where children of both .sexes and 
all conditions were received, the rich for a small fee and the poor for nothing. 
A few years later, a company of German philanthropists, sitstained by contri- 
butions from religious societies in Europe, established free schools in Philadel- 
phia, and in 1756 had extended their ojjerations to- the counties of Bucks, 
Montgomery, Chester, Lancaster, York, Cumberland, Northampton, and Berks. 
These schools were well sustained, the pupils being instructed in the German 
language, and all being admitted who applied. At the same time, the local 
religious bodies lent their aid to the cause of education and various parochial 
schools were established, to which, however, access was generally denied to 
none. 

In the constitution of 1790, it was stipulated that the legislature should 
"provide by law for the establishment of schools throughout the state in such 
manner that the poor may be taught gratis," and in 1802 an act was passed, 
and amended in 1804, to provide for the opening of schools throughout the 
state, where elementary instruction might be received by all children. Those 
of the well-to-do were required to pay a small sum, but when the returns of the 
assessors showed that parents were unable to pay the expenses, the county 



106 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

commissioners were authorized to do so. This law was variously amended at 
different times, but its operation still fell far short of the results at which the 
friends of public education aimed. In 1833 it was estimated that less than 
twenty- four thousand children in the state attended school at public expense, 
and most of these were taught by very incompetent teachers. ' 'The schools were 
called 'pauper schools' and were despised by the rich and shunned by the poor; 
the children were classified as 'pay' and 'pauper' scholars; thus, the law prac- 
tically separated the poor from the rich, and hence failed; for, in a republic, 
no system of education which makes a distinction on account of wealth or birth 
can have the sup];)ort of the people. " 

The act of 1834 inaugurated in Pennsylvania what is distinctively known 
as the "common school system." A society was formed in Philadelphia for 
the promotion of education in the state, as early as 1827; a committee was set 
at work coi'responding with the leading men in every community and collecting 
statistics bearing upon this subject, and in this way a union of the most pro- 
gressive sentiment was effected which resulted in the act referred to. In this 
the old distinction between pay and pauper scholars was abrogated; all taxable 
property was brought to the support of the schools, and their local manage- 
ment placed in the hands of a board of six district directors. This advance was 
not made without strong opposition, and in the following year a strong effort 
was made to effect tKe repeal of the act, but under the lead of the Hon. 
Thaddeus Stevens this effort was defeated. Some two hundred acts of the 
legislature on the subject of education had preceded the one of 1834, and in 
1836 its efficiency was increased by wise amendments, but it has substantially 
remained unimpaired to this day, the wisdom of which is amply attested by the 
growing success of the system in the state. 

In the common school act, it was provided that each township should be 
at liberty to adopt its provisions or reject them. This was subsequently found 
to be unwise, and in 1849 this act was made applicable to every township, but 
until 1854 its efficacy was greatly hindered by the lack of power to enforce 
its mandates by the school authorities. This was then remedied, and in 1857 
the general superintendency of the schools was separated from the office of the 
secretary of the comm mwealth. In the same year, the normal school law was 
passed, and has since grown into an important feature of the system. The 
state is now divided into twelve normal districts, in each of which are institu- 
tions primarily devoted to the education of teachers for the common schools. 
The first to be established under this law was the school at Millersburg, in 
Lancaster county, for the second district, and recognized, in 1859, by the state 
authorities. Others thus recognized are at Edinboro, in Erie county, for the 
twelfth district, in 1861; at Mansfield, Tioga county, for ttie fifth district, in 
1862; at Kutztown, Berks county, for the third disti-ict, in 1866; at Blooms- 
burg, Columbia county, for the sixth district, in 1869; and for the first dis- 
trict, in 1871, at Winchester, in Chester county. 

In pioneer times, education in Columbia county was the actual companion 
of religion. The effort to dispense its blessings was the distinct outgrowth of 
the enlightened conscience, and found its most earnest and earliest support 
where public worship found a similar encouragement. The genius of the com- 
monwealth found a congenial home upon the frontier as well as in the older 
settlements, and the sect which was found earliest established here, became 
the first patron of the school. The first organized educational effort was prob- 
ably made at Millville, in 1785, but this progressive sentiment was restricted 
by no sectarian limits, and primary schools multiplied, in Fishingcreek in 1794, 
in Benton in 1799, in the following year at Berwick, and elsewhere in the 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUMV. 107 

■county in rapid succession. The itinerant schoolmaster, the knight of the rod 
and bottle, had little if any place here. The early teachers were generally the 
younger members of families who had enjoyed more than the ordinary advan- 
tages for education, and, at the solicitation of neighbors, devoted a room in 
their restricted households for school purposes. When more liberal accommoda- 
tions became necessary, the public school-house gradually supplanted the pri- 
vate school-room. These were erected by donations upon grounds given, with 
scarcely a single exception, for the joint use of the church and school, and 
these plats, when still held, are subject to this joint ownership. 

The act of 1(S34 met with some opposition in the county, its opponents 
contributing in the following year five petitions, having three hundred and 
forty-four names, for its repeal. This opposition was based upon the mistaken 
idea that in the general support of schools, one individual was taxed for the 
especial benefit of another, and, among the Germans, that the tendency of 
such schools would be to displace their native language, to which they were 
greatly attached. No report was made by the county of the number accepting 
or rejecting the provisions of the act at this time, but in 1845 MiiSin and Val- 
ley alone were set down in the "non-accepting" list. Since 1854 the charac- 
ter of the common schools has made steady progress, and while there is still 
ample room for improvement they are not inferior to the average of the state. 
School-buildings are generally neat and comfortable one-story frame structures 
in the country, and two-story brick in the boroughs, with generally commo- 
dious and pleasant grounds. 

Secondary instruction had also an early beginning in Columbia county, the 
Berwick Academy being the pioneer institution in this movement. It was incor- 
porated June 25, 1839, and was provided with a building in the same year. It re- 
ceived appropriations under the act of 1838, and flourished for a number of 
years, but was eventually merged in the public school system, its building 
being torn down in 1872. The Millville High School was established in 1851 ; 
became the Greenwood Seminary in 1861, and is still doing a good work. The 
Orangeville Male and Female Academy was incorporated March 11, 1858; 
was opened in the following year ; was conducted as an orphans' school during 
1864-66, when it resumed its former character, and still enjoys a considerable 
local patronage. The Catawissa Seminary was chartered February 9, 1866. 
It was founded as an academy as early as 1838, and was fairly successful in its 
early history; but its career in its more ambitious departure disappointed its 
projectors, and about 1872 was suspended. The Bloomsburg Literary Insti- 
tute was chartered in September, 1856. Its origin, however, dates back to 
1838, when D. J. Waller, Sr. , W^illiam Robison, Leonard B. Rupert and others 
were made a committee, by an informal meeting of the citizens, to provide for 
increased educational facilities for the community. The project gradually de- 
veloped until through the influence of the gentlemen named, certain other 
citizens united in 1856 to form the " Institute." This was finally merged in 
the normal school, which is now justly the pride of the whole county. 

The following table, taken from the state report of 1885, will give a sum- 
mary of the condition of the common schools: 



108 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 



■J0UJ9TP JO "OK: ^ »»«>■• m® (-<»=><='- 


r^«-tmoi-Qoo-.o-;JiSS2'n If 






"■'"" II 


US 




CJCI '00:1:- 1- -Q -w- . . .tfi 
t-CO -W^tCM -O ;OC30 • • .00 

c-j :af-*' C-! : '. : : :>n 




S :S : 



1 


•saoanosaa :s : :3 
;•» : 


: : :g 

i i i^ 




in 


s is 


S5 


EXPENDITURES. 


3 

D. 

o 

12, 130 49 

1.496 26 
6,027 83 
7.906 10 
2,533 23 
4,906 25 
3,707 67 

2.497 21 
8,575 28 
2,623 62 

870 27 
3,091 91 
1,472 79 
1,3.34 51 
2,696 38 
1,407 08 

948 08 
2,752 93 

922 81 

937 98 
1,171 56 
1,462 22 

669 or 

2.614 99 
1,412 95 


I 


1 moiirtir:i'-'moi-l.--(r*oocco^'7L-n/:0)nco'— — •c^'ccootn 
GO-^-n i-omtc-3'r-'CD»ft-^i"'OCT:c;ir20iCoo»caiL-«;cr- 

-loa JO saa; 'sarouaauHuoo '[anj; mi>eoo-^.r:-*morjoo,-,»c^r^toci^c^_<r^r-,(NCJ,-.ooco 


i 

i 

i 
i 


$1,050 00 

1,158 89 

3.254 88 

4,5.58 64 

1,350 00 

3,117 06 

2,000 00 

1,300 00 

5,625 00 

1,404 00 

720 00 

1,885 45 

875 00 

421 00 

1,9.50 00 

1,125 00 

749 00 

1,145 (K) 

720 00 

7a) 00 

915 00 

870 00 

525 00 

1,320 00 

560 00 


toa;Ol-Ci«OOt-t-0'y^OO^-^'-'ir:0 •<7:OMCOCO • 

■013 'Sannaj'anipunq'aai fSgSSSSSgg^SSggSSgsS -SSsSg!::;}: : 

-StjqOJnd 'B9Sn0m00l[0S JO }B00 =>, i"CO-^=^ ««=«>.« ^mc-^ m . m ^ ■ 

8& "^ : : 





1 

O 
H ■ 


.$2,440 49 
1 508 88 
6,102 98 
7,788 54 
2.680 21 
5,250 74 
3,773 36 
2,49? 21 
9,040 75 
2,539 04 

869 27 

3,144 43 

. 1,457 32 

803 80 
2,720 14 
1,765 27 

985 69 
2,955 07 
1,322 90 
1,,375 65 
1,329 42 
1,370 80 

690 27 
2,639 45 

673 24 


i 


1 ?g5SgSSSgi5S5§gS^S3gfeSSfS85Sl5 

•aonBudojddB aiBjsjdaaxa S!nSRR??sSSgGS5ooSSgSSSS??^SS8g 

saDinosaanjo (lu poB saxm uioi^ Ai"!S'2S'5^"'M'S'"'^«'2''°«'I3'"N^'"C'iJ'"S''^ 


S5 

6ft 


.2 

a, 
o 

Q. 

$219 00 
252 65 
540 80 
817 96 
2.52 65 
550 10 
398 84 
270 25 
482 .50 
an 94 

98 86 
355 75 
196 04 
152 10 
421 65 
214 63 
229 80 
238 29 
125 06 
136 05 
192 66 
180 80 

98 86 
332 93 
180 83 


S 




sasod.md aaipunq puB looips 2gSgS?£?SES^Sf2jg^J5g£;g°S52g?g2g 
Joj paiAai xBi JO junoiUB ['bjox trv^.'^.'*.-;^.-'"/-^.^.",'-^."""'".".^."..^.'^^.^^-'^'^.'"-'^'^.-'" 


1 


•sasodand auipunq j :g : S : : : : : : : : : : : 1 SS 
joj paiAai sumi jo jaiiiuiiN | .^ :-i„ :«««« * :« :oo : : •* .::«:«: I« 




•8a80d.ind looq.is 
aoj paiAai sintu jo aaqianK oo^not-oa>cococo^o5cl-«^ccco^ooln^n^^-ln2I'""*°° 


t- 


CO 
O 

m 
o 

CO 


■tljnolU Jad :)800 1 i-i-Soiascs^Sr-t-i-o-.l-ini-coGoosoot-ot-l-a-.^ \t~ 


•aouBpua^Bjo-juaojadaaujaAv | JxffiSSSgegttSSSSSi^SSSE^frsS.-SiSgiSJg |s 


•looiiDs Suipnaj^B 'ox a3BJaAV 




tn 


•saiBUiajjoiaquinN: '-'h«<m--c^ <«■-'-<"- «-- c^'-^ « ^ « r-.,-, 


■^ 


1 i-?SSS"§?St^ScS?xo?2^S^oSSSc5 


! 


o 

El 


■qiuoui 
jad saiBuiaj jo XJtUBs aSwaaAV 


$30 00 

17 83 
.38 81 
32 71 
30 00 
35 83 
26 50 
28 50 
40 00 

18 83 

■3356 
25 (K) 
14 00 
30 00 
25 00 
30 00 
.32 00 
30 00 
20 00 
25 00 
25 00 

■3V 20 
16 00 


to 

s 


•qjuoiu 
aad saiBiu jo ijBiBS aSBaaAV 


$30 00 
33 00 
46 66 
50 00 
30 00 
46 50 
67 50 

29 20 
70 00 
28 43 

30 00 
33 00 
25 00 
25 75 
30 00 
25 00 
30 00 
32 83 
30 00 

2766 
24 66 

35 00 

36 00 
16 00 


i 


•saiBinaj JO aaqmnij Nfcct-^in^in-^in^ ■-^•co-n.c»-*-*-Hcct-co^ .lowI^ 


•saiBUl JO Jaqinn^ j ^t-OTcJ^«5r-,intot--*oo-!>.T).ir;in«-^^ ■-s.mmjmcjjg 


CO 

M 
o 
to 


•jqSnBj sq^noiu -oj^ aSBaaAV o o ._ ° 


•jaqtmin aioqAV 1 '-«>=>S''"'""^;:'^"'2'"''S="'"'~"*'^^'-"°°'- Ig 


DISTRICTS. 

• 


Beaver 

Benton 

Berwick 

Bloomsburg... 

Briarcreek 

Catawlssa 

Centralia 

Centre 

Cunyngliam.... 
Kisliingcreek .. 

Franklin 

Greenwood .... 

Hemlock 

Jackson 

Locust 

Madison 

Main -... 

Mifflin 

Montour 

Mt. Plea,sant... 

Orange., 

Pine 

Roaringcreek . 

Scott 

Sugar Loaf. 




1 


^CJ 


■OTTin^ 


-«'=-S;:;222:SSES2SSg5gSS!S 





HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTV. Ill 

From the same report it is ascertained in regard to the schools that the 

Xumber in which the books are uniform is 160 

" bible is read is 127 

" " drawing is taught is 29 

" " vocal music is taught is 1 

" " anj^ of the higher branches are taught is •. . . . & 

" of males employed is 94 

" "females " " 106 

" who have had no experience is 29 

" " " taught less than one year is 4 

" " " " more " tivf- j't-itrs is 56 

" " intend to make teaching a permanent business is 75 

" who have attended a state normal school is 77 

" " " been graduated by a state normal school is 31 

The connty superintendents who have served Columbia county under the 
law of 1854 are as follows: 

Joel E. Bradley, elected June 5, 1854. 

Reuben W. Weaver, appointed January 1, 1855. 

William Burgess, elected May 4, 1857. 

Lewis Appleman, elected May 7, 1860. 

AVilliam Burgess, appointed October 23, 1801. 

John B. Patton, apointed March 81, 1863. 

C. G. Barkley, elected May 4, 1863. 

C. G. Barkley, re-elected May 1, 1866. 

C. G. Barkley, re-elected May 4, 1869. 

William H. Snyder, elected May 7, 1872. 

William H. Snyder, re-elected May 4, 1875. 

AVilliam H. Snyder, re-elected May 7, 1878. 

J. S. Grimes, elected May 3, 1881. 

J. S. Grimes, re-elected May 6, 1884. 

Parallel with this religious and intellectual growth was a material develop- 
ment which made the former possible, and without which society would have 
remained isolated fragments jealoasly retarding, rather than unitedly reaching 
higher achievements. These influences served to compact and elevate the 
community in which they were supported, but there was needed something 
more to bring the separated settlements into closer relations, to build up a 
broader fellowship than that presented by sectarian limits, and afford incite- 
ment to the best use of the intelligence possessed and to be acquired. The 
demands of pioneer life, however, had the opposite tendency. The stern 
necessity which made every man the architect of his own fortune, rendered 
self-dependence an essential qualification for success. For years frontier life 
was a hand-to-hand struggle for existence, which left the pioneer little time 
to consider any broader interest than the support of his own family. Public 
improvements were thus held in abeyance until the farm was so far cleared and 
cultivated as to demand a market for its surplus yield. With surplus crops 
came those pioneer industries which relieved the family of some of the heavy 
work which an enforced economy had imposed upon it — a service, for whichi 
the farmer was glad to exchange his otherwise unmarketable product. Thus 
grist-mills, saw-mills, carding machines, fulling-mills and whisky- stills,, 
gradually found a place in almost every community. 

The erection of these adjuncts of pioneer life led to the construction of 
roads by which they could be reached. These were at first only bridle trails,, 
and it was not until the era of stage lines that they were improved so as to- 
afford a passage for wheeled vehicles. As the crops became diversified, and 
the circumstances of the community improved, the more enterprising began to 

14 



112 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

reach out for a better market. This was to be found only at Reading, Easton 
and Philadelphia. The latter offered the best advantages, and as early as 1787 
a road was laid out from Berwick to Easton, fi'om whence the Delaware offered 
the best means of transportation. It was by this tedious route that the foreign 
traffic of the county was carried on for years; but as the community grew in 
numbers, and the number of settlements increased, the road to Reading was 
improved, and traffic found its way direct to Philadelphia by this route. This 
traffic was simply a system of barter, and was at first carried on by the individ- 
ual farmer or by several neighbors who clubbed together to secure a year's 
supply of such things as the frontier farms did not readily supply. Out of 
such ventures the first stores originated almost by accident. It is related that 
John Funston, who was an early settler near Jerseytown, was thus in the habit of 
disposing of his wheat. It was his son Tommy' s business to do the marketing, and 
on one trip it occurred to him to purchase a half-dozen wool hats to bring back. 
The old gentleman was somewhat surprised to see this strange invoice, but they 
found such ready sale among his neighbors, that on the nest trip, he said: 
' ' Tommy, bring some more. ' ' The young merchant improved on his father' s 
advice, and not only brought back some more hats, but invested the whole pro- 
ceeds of his load in a varied supply of those things most in demand on the 
frontier. It was thus that one of the earliest stores in the county began, and 
others were not slow to follow his example. 

The Susquehanna river very early. suggested the most eligible mode of trans- 
portation, and the river traffic rapidly grew to large proportions. At Marietta, 
York-Haven and Columbia there were extensive saw-mills, and vast quantities 
of timber were rafted from this region to find a market at these places. As 
the product of these frontier settlements increased, the "Durham boat" was 
brought into requisition. These were rude flat-boats first made at Durham, 
below Easton on the Delaware river. Down stream they floated with the cur- 
rent, but the upward voyage was made by ' ' poling ' ' and ' ' cordelling. ' ' These 
were laden for the Baltimore market, and were frequently broken up at the 
end of their journey, and sold for what the lumber was worth. The volume of 
this business suggested the establishment of better commu.nications with this 
upper country, and in 1S20 two steamboats were built by Baltimore capitalists 
to develo[) the trade so laboriously begun. This venture, however, terminated 
disastrously and the enterprise was abandoned. Other means of turning the 
water-way to the advantage of commerce had been agitated and discussed. It 
had been proposed to construct a series of dams across the river and thus make 
it available throughout the year, but this suggestion never got beyond the the- 
oretical stage of development. The movement for the construction of a canal 
along its course supplanted it, and in 1826 its construction was begun in Co- 
lumbia county. This was a branch or extension of the Pennsylvania canal 
which began at Harrisburg, where it connected with the Union canal, begun in 
1791, but not completed until 1829. The North Branch canal was completed 
in 1830, and in the following year the first boat passed along its course. 

The canal system was of inestimable value to the commonwealth, and in- 
fused new vigor in every community located on its route, but there were re- 
gions inaccessible to this mode of transportation, the mineral wealth of which 
demanded equal facilities for shipment. It was out of this demand that the 
first railroad grew, and Pennsylvania shares with Massachusetts the honor of 
inaugurating a system to which the nation so largely owes its phenomenal de- 
velopment. The first railroad in Pennsylvania was completed in*1827, from 
Mauch Chunk to Summit Hill, but Christian Brobst, of Catawissa, had five 
voars earlier taken a broader view of the usefulness of the railroad. He was a 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 113 

man of limited school training, but nature had endowed him with rare foresight 
and reasoning powers of a high order. It is said that the number of rafts 
floating down the river first attracted his attention, and anxious to build up the 
place of his residence, he began to reckon the advantage which would accrue 
if all this trafl&c could be made to pass through Catawissa to its final destina- 
tion. He took accurate account of the river traffic and compiled statistics and 
arguments which commanded the attention of capitalists. His energy did not 
cease with this, however. Once assured of the advantage of a railroad he pro- 
ceeded to demonstrate its practicability. He was not able to buy the necessary 
instruments for making the survey, much less to employ an engineer, but with 
some knowledge of the methods employed, gained by observation, by his own 
ingenuity he equipped himself for the work and ran out a practical line for the 
proposed road. Mr. Brobst possessed a ' ' Jacob' s stafP. " He had a tin tube of 
proper dimensions made, into the upper side of which he made small holes at 
either end. In these he inserted small glass vials ' 'puttied' ' fast, which, when 
half filled with water, enabled him to level his instrument. With this crude 
instrument he located and leveled a line which was considered by engineers 
subseqiaently employed a marvel of accuracy. His engineering skill did not 
enable him to get a practical route over the mountain, and the apparent neces- 
sity for an expensive tunnel balked his plans for the time. The projected road 
extended fi'om Catawissa to Tamaqua. In 1825 he got certain capitalists to view 
the proposed route, which made such a favorable impression on them that, in 
1831, a company for the construction of the road was chartered. In the 
meantime he had enlisted the co-operation of Joseph Paxton, who was better 
fitted to deal with monied men, and in 1854, after overcoming great difficul- 
ties and discouragements, the first passenger train was greeted at Catawissa. 
It is now operated by the Philadelphia & Reading Company. 

In the meanwhile a second railroad was projected. Bloomsburg's future 
had been assured, and the canal had come to be looked upon as too slow. 
In 1852, therefore, William McKelvey, Charles R. Paxton, Morrison E. Jack- 
son, John K. Groetz, of Columbia county, with othei's, were authorized to re- 
ceive subscriptions of stocks and organized a company to construct a railroad 
from Lackawanna creek to Bloomsbm-g. Its route was projected from "the 
village of Scranton in the county of Luzerne, ' ' through the village of New 
Troy, Kingston and Berwick to Bloomsburg, with the privilege of extending 
it to Danville. Its authorized capital stock was $900,000, but Columbia was 
not a wealthy region, the undertaking grew on the company's hands, and in 
1853 the company sought and received authority to increase the capital stock 
by an amount not to exceed $500,000, to borrow a sum not to exceed $100,000, 
and to extend its route to connect with the Pennslyvania & Erie railroad or 
Susquehanna railroad at Sunbmy, or at any other point in Northumberland 
or Lycoming counties. On January 1, 1858, the first train rolled into Rupert, 
At this point connection was made with the Catawissa road, and for about two 
years this was the lower terminus of the road In 1859 the company was 
authorized to borrow a sum not exceeding $400,000 to construct, complete and 
equip the extension to Sunbury. Northumberland was made its terminus, 
however, and is now operated by the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Com- 
pany. 

By an act passed April 15, 1859, Hendrick B. Wright, George M. Hollen- 
back and others of West Pittston, and Ralph Lacoe, Simon P. Case and others 
of Montour county were authorized to receive subscriptions, and organized a 
company under the name of the "Wilkesbarre & Pittston" railroad. Its route 
was projected from the Lackawanna & Bloomsburg road, above Pittston, along 



114 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

and near the Susquehanna river, on the east side to Danville or Sunbnry. It 
was required that the line between Pittston and Shickshinny should be first 
constructed, but in 1867 it was provided by a supplementary act that construc- 
tion might be commenced at any point on the line, and the name of the com- 
pany changed to Danville, Hazleton & Wilkesbarre Railroad Company. It 
was not finally opened until 1872, when it extended from Sunbury to Tom- 
hicken. It was subsequently sold and reorganized as the Sunbury, Hazleton 
& Wilkesbarre Railroad Company, and is now controlled by the Pennsylvania 
company. It is forty miles long and does a good coal traffic. 

The latest completed railroad through Columbia county, like the first, is of 
home origin, but unlike the first it was carried through to successful operation 
by the energy, skill and resources of one man. Before the construction of the 
North & West Branch railroad the Lackawanna & Bloomsburg road had a 
monopoly of the greater part of the traffic in the county, and by its extortion- 
ate charges proved a great obstacle to its development. The people seemed 
powerless until D. J. Waller, single-handed, showed the way for relief. He 
had decided in his own mind that competition was the only effective remedy, 
and he relates that as he lay in his bed at night and heard the puffing of the 
struggling engines, the thought occurred to him that the formation of the 
valley indicated the other side of the river as the true route for a successful 
railroad. Upon his own responsibility he had a line surveyed on the south 
side of the river, and demonstrated the truth of his idea. The result was that 
in 1871 a charter was granted to himself, William Neal, James Masters, John 
J. McHenry, D. H. Montgomery and Robt. F. Clark to organize a company to 
construct a railroad from Wilkesbarre along the south side of the Susquehanna 
to a point opposite Bloomsburg, and thence by a bridge over the river and by 
the valley of little Fishing creek to Williamsport, with authority to construct 
a branch up big Fishing creek to connect with any railroad existing or pro- 
jected in Sullivan county. The plan was a far-sighted one, and in many ways 
still looks to the future for its fullest fruition. The road has been extended to 
Catawissa, and connects with the Sunbury, Hazleton it Wilkesbarre road at 
that point, and is operated by the Pennsylvania company. Its immediate re 
suits were most happy, and have done more to bring the advantages of the rail- 
roads to the benefit of the people than all the other railroad enterprises com- 
bined. 

The Bloomsburg & Sullivan railroad, projected up the valley of the big 
Fishing creek from Bloomsburg, with the other terminal point still undecided, 
is now in course of construction. The Wilkesbarre & Western railroad is 
another line now in process of construction, and is projected from Wilkesbarre 
to Watsontown, but its course is not yet unalterably fixed. 

The effect of improved transportation upon the development of the county 
has been marked. In fact, the year 1860 marks the beginning of a new era 
in the history of both town and country, the course of which has been one of 
steady improvement. Improved methods of agriculture have been entertained, 
public improvements have been encouraged, varied manufactures have been 
introduced and placed upon a paying basis, and progressive thought has been 
manifested in all the higher social activities. There is undoubted promise of 
further development in these directions in the future. AVith an abundant sup- 
ply of excellent water, cheap fuel, and increasing shipi:»ing facilities, manufac- 
turing interests must certainly continue to thrive. The county as a whole, 
however, will continue to be predominantly agricultural in its character, but 
the impetus which an extensive manufacturing center at the county- seat 
would give to this industry, would greatly stimulate the interest already 
awakened in the best methods of farming. 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 115 

A good evidence of the growing intelligence of the farming community is 
the interest taken in the different agricultural societies in the county. On 
December 8, 1868, a charter was granted to the "Columbia County Agricultural, 
Hortictiltural and Mechanical Association," on the application of B. F. Hart- 
man, James Masters, William G. Shoemaker, Caleb Barton, Matthias Hart- 
man, Jacob Harris, J. K. Ikeler, N. J. Sloan, Paleman John, E. R. Ikeler, 
C. G. Barkley, Joshua Fetterman, Thomas Creveling and Joseph P. Conner. 
The name was suggested by John Taggart. In 1885 the charter was so 
amended as to provide for perpetual membership; to remove the restriction to 
the authorized amount of receipts; and to empower the association to hold 
real- estate by purchase or lease. 

In the summer of 1855 Mr. John Taggart visited a country fair in the 
northern part of the state, and was so impressed with the benefit to be derived 
fi'om such an exhibition by the whole community, that on his return he began 
to agitate the question of securing a similar institution for this county. He 
was successful in interesting a number of gentlemen in the movement, among 
whom were John Ramsey, B. F. Hartman, Caleb Barton, William Neal and 
I. W. Hartman. A consultation was eventually held by these gentlemen in 
Mr. Neal' s office, where it was decided to inaugurate a fair. Personal solici- 
tation was made for exhibits of vegetables, fruits, farm products, etc. , and 
after great effort sufficient were secured to warrant the opening of a "fair." 
The only exhibit of agricultural machinery was a grain- drill which Mr. Barton 
had used for several seasons, but the whole made a good beginning. The fair 
was held in Mr. Barton' s field at the foot of Second street, and the public road 
was used for the race course. The "grounds" were inclosed by a common 
rail fence, the admission fee was ten cents, and nearly the entire gate receipts 
were required to maintain the police service. There was sufficient left, how- 
ever, to pay two dollars to B. F. Hartman, who was awarded the first premium 
upon a single driving horse entered. A fair attendance, with the general sat- 
isfaction manifested, encouraged the projectors of the enterprise and gave them 
good ground for mutual congratulation. 

A second fair was held in the following year in the field of Mr. Sloan, 
which now lies on the south side of Fifth and the west side of Market street. 
This exhibition was characterized by a marked improvement in the number 
and quality of the exhibits, the number in attendance and the financial returns. 
The third fair was held in grounds situated on Fifth street, between Market and 
East streets, and the fourth, on the grounds now used in the southwestern por- 
tion of Bloomsburg. This property was then leased at ten dollars per acre, and 
annual exhibitions have since been held here without interruption. In 1884 
the race track was increased to a half mile in length, and the association admitted 
to membership in the National Trotting Association, and has since renewed its 
membership from year to year. In the summer of 1886 a new exhibition hall, 
fifty by three hundred feet, was erected, which, with ample stabling for horses 
and cattle and pens for smaller animals, render the equipment of the grounds 
superior to those owned by most of the local associations in this part of the 
state. 

During the first three years of this movement, each one interested worked 
upon his own plan. Lunaber merchants in town loaned material for the erec- 
tion of sheds, etc. , which were torn down after the exhibition, but after the 
organization, in 1858, some discipline was introduced into its methods. Since 
then the enterprise has steadily gained favor with the people, and the charac- 
ter of the exhibitions has steadily improved. The association is conducted on 
strictly business principles. It neither pays dividends nor levies assessments, 



116 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

the surphis going to make improvements in the grounds or to increase the pre- 
miums, every one of which, that has been earned, having been promptly paid. 
The original officers of the association were John Ramsey, president; Andrew 
Madison, secretary; Elias Mendenhall, treasurer. The present officers are: 
president, Samuel Camp; vice presidents, William Shaffer, J. M. DeWitt, 
Baltis Sterling, Jere Kostenbauder ; treasurer, J. C. Brown; secretary, H. V. 
White; librarian, Thomas Webb; executive committee, James P. Freas, John 
Appleman, Dr. A. P. Heller; auditors, K, C. Ent, J. P. Sands, George Con- 
ner; chief marshal, Capt. U. H. Ent. 

The ' ' Northern Columbia and Southern Luzerne Agricultural Association" 
was chartered on February 16, 1884, and held its first fair in the last week of 
September, in that year. Its grounds are situated in the southwestern sub- 
urbs of Berwick, a village centrally located in the region to which it looks for 
support. Thus far it has been successful in its exhibitions, and in its financial 
returns. Its career has not yet demonstrated its probable future, but if sup- 
ported by the adjoining county it will undoubtedly prove beneficial to the 
f ai'ming community at large. The ' ' Benton Agricultural Association " received 
its charter on October 3, 1885, and has held two fairs which give it promise of 
future success. It is questionable whether more than one fair can be profita- 
bly supported in a county of the size of Columbia, but if these different associa- 
tions are the outgrovdih of the enthusiasm of the farming community, and not 
simply of the enterprise of energetic individuals, they cannot fail to produce 
lasting benefit. 

In all this progress the public press has borne its part of responsibility 
and labor, and there is no more powerful agency in stimulating progressive 
tendencies in a community than the newspaper. Since 1818 it has been a 
prominent social factor in Columbia county. On Saturday, May 2d, of this 
year, Mr. William Carothers issued the first number of the Berwick Independ- 
ent American. A few of the earliest numbers were published in Nescopeek, 
but the establishment was then moved across the river and was subsequently 
identified with Columbia county. In 1823 David Owen, son of the founder 
of Berwick, came into possession of the paper, and with the change of 
proprietor came a change in the name, the heading losing its ' ' independent ' ^ 
characteristic. Orlando Porter soon succeeded to the ownership of the paper, 
but at the end of the year the issue of the Berwick American ceased. .The 
materials of the office were sold to George Mack, who on March 13, 1824, 
issued the first number of the Columbia Gazette. He subsequently changed 
the name to Berwick Gazette, and on September 18, 1830, sold an interest in 
the paper to John T. Davis, who subsequently became sole proprietor. 

Some time in 1834, Evan O. Jackson began the publication of the Berwick 
Argus, and the two papers maintained an existence until March, 1837, when 
Messrs. J. F. Wilber and P. S. Joslin purchased and consolidated them in 
the Berwick Sentinel. In the early part of the year 1838, Levi L. Tate be- 
came editor and proprietor of this publication; two years later A. M. Gange- 
were became associated in. the business, but in 1843 this relation was dissolved. 
With this change, the Sentinel seems to have been relieved, and The Enquirer 
put in its place. In 1845 B. S. Gilmore was associated in the ownership of 
the paper and took editorial charge, Mr. Tate going to Wilkesbarre to establish 
a paper there. Two years later, Mr. Gilmore became sole proprietor and con- 
tinued its publication until the spring of 1849 when the county- seat having 
been removed to Bloomsburg, Mr. Gilmore removed his office to that place, 
and began the issue of a new paper. 

About a year after Mr. Wilber sold the Sentinel, and in company with Moses 



HISTOKY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 117 

Davis, he began tbe publication of a small eight-paged paper, called the Inde- 
pendent Ledger. It continued a little more than a year, when it changed its 
name to the Conservator, with John T. Davis as editor and proprietor. This 
paper continued through the "Hard Cider " campaign of 1840, and then hid 
its diminished light in obscurity. 

In 1843, on the dissolution of the firm of Tate and Gangewere, the latter 
established the Star of the North, and published it about a year when he sold 
the ofiice and publication to U. J. Jones and John H. Winter. The new pro- 
prietors continued its publication until 1848, when they disposed of it to De- 
witt C. Kitchen, who changed the name to The Standard. In 1850 it again 
changed owner and name, when it became the Telegraph, edited by John M. 
Snyder. In 1851 James McClintock Laird purchased it, and changed the 
name to The Berwick Citizen, which was published until 1853, when it was 
suspended, and the outfit sold. 

The Investigator was founded in the same year by Stewart Pearce and John 
M. Snyder. Mr. Pearce retired at the end of a month, but Mr. Snyder con- 
tinued the publication until the spring of 1855, when Levi L. Tate became its 
purchaser. The name was changed to the Berwick Gazette, with Tate and 
Irwin as publishers. In 1856 Walter H. Hibbs purchased the paper, and in 
the following year he was succeeded by A. B. Tate, who published it until 
1860, when Jeremiah S. Sanders bought the paper. The latter published the 
paper at Berwick until 1869, when it was suspended, and the material re- 
moved to Hazleton. 

For some three years Berwick remained without an ' ' organ. ' ' In June, 
1871, however, the Snyders ventured again to establish a paper, which they 
called the Berwick Independent. It started out with an imposing array of 
editorial talent, Charles B. Snyder acting as managing editor, Frank. L. Sny- 
der as assistant, J. M. Snyder as city editor, and so continued until September 
1, 1879, when Robert S. Bowman purchased the paper. Mr. Bowman, having 
decided in early life to become a disciple of Johann Faust, entered, when 
eighteen years of age, the office of the Republican, at Bloomsburg, where he 
served an apprenticeship of three years, then returned to Berwick and bought 
out the Independent. 

In March, 1882, the Berwick Gazette, the third paper to appropriate the 
name, was established by J. H. Dietrick. On January 1, 1884, he sold the 
establishment to M. B. Margerum, who in September of the following year 
associated H. R. Reedy with himself, and the paper is still published by the 
firm of Margerum & Reedy. 

In Bloomsburg the first paper was published considerably later than in 
Berwick. This was the Bloomsburg Register, which made its first appearance 
under date of October 5, 1826, with James Delavan as editor and proprietor. 
In April. 1828, Thomas Painter purchased the paper and changed the name to 
Columbia County Register. This paper continued in existence until 1844, 
when it was discontinued. In 1837 the Columbia Democrat was established by 
John S. Ingrain, with whom F. S. Mills was early associated. In 1838 the 
paper was sold to Henry Webb, who conducted it until 1847, when it passed 
into the possession of L. L. Tate. Mr. Tate retained the paper until 1866, 
when he sold it to E. R. Ikeler. In the meantime, the Star of the North had 
been founded here. In 1849 B. S. Gilmore suspended the publication of the 
Enquirer at Berwick, and removed the material to Bloomsburg, where, in com- 
pany with R. W. Weaver, he founded the Star of the North. Gilmore retired 
from the management in 1850, but Mr. Weaver continued it until his death 
some seven years later. It was subsequently sold to W. H. Jacoby, who con- 
ducted it until the fall of 1862, when he went into the army. It was then sus- 



118 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

pended until August, 1863, when he returned and resumed its publication. It 
was thus conducted until February, 1866, when E. R. Ikeler, having pur- 
chased both the Columbia Democrat and the Star of the North, consolidated 
these papers under the name of the Democrat and Star. 

On May 5, 1866, the first number of the Columbian was issued as the 
organ of the ' ' Johnson republicans, ' ' under the management of George H. 
Moore. During the campaign of 1866 a half sheet publication called the 
"Campaign" was issued by S. H. Miller & Co. , and edited by E. H. Little 
as an organ of a certain political following. It was of only a temporary nature, 
but it indicated that the "organ" of the Johnsonian republicans did not sat- 
isfy their tastes, and as there were probably too few ' 'J. r' s' ' in the community to 
support the paper, after issuing thirty-five numbers, a company of democrats 
purchased it and placed J. G. Freeze in the editorial chair. A fresh start was 
made, and it was editorially announced that it would hereafter support the 
"Jeffersonian school of politics." Some six weeks later C. B. Brockway 
became associated in the business, and eventually bought up the stock and took 
entire charge and ownership of the paper. Ou the 1st of January, 1869, he 
bought the Bloomsburg Democrat and consolidated it with his own, under the 
name of Columbian and Democrat. The Democrat was the descendant of, or 
rather the Democrat and Star with a new name and editor. After conducting 
the latter some seven months, Mr. Ikeler had sold his interest to J. P. Sherman 
andW. H. Jacoby; Sherman had published the paper until January, 1867. Mr. 
Sherman then retired and Mr. Jacoby, choosing a new name, continued its pub- 
lication until he sold out to Mr. Brockway. On the 1st of January, 1871, H. L. 
Dieffenbach bought the Columbian Democrat and published it a year, when 
Mr. Brockway resumed control. In July, 1873, Mr. Dieffenbach again took 
charge of the paper, but on October 1, 1875, Mr. Brockway and George E. 
Elwell purchased the paper. They conducted the paper until October 1, 1875, 
when Mr. Brockway gave place to J. K. Bittenbender. Since then Messrs. 
Elwell & Bittenbender have published the paper with increasing success. 

The Democratic Sentinel was founded in Bloomsburg in 1871, by Charles 
M. Vanderslice, and conducted by him with some success until 1885, when 
William Krickbaum purchased it. 

The Columbia County Republican was established March 1, 1857, by Pale- 
mon John, who conducted it until 1869, when it passed into the hands of a 
stock company, with W. H. Bradley as editor. The paper was subsequently 
purchased by Mr. Bradley and Lewis Gordon, but in 1871 it was sold to D. 
A. Beckley and John S. Phillips, the former acting as editor. In 1873 E. 
M. Wardin bought the interest of Phillips, and soon afterward became sole 
proprietor. On August 1, 1875, James C. Brown purchased the paper ^rom 
Mr. Wardin, and has since conducted it. 

Other periodicals of transient character have had a brief existence here. 
Of these, the Bloomsburg Journal was founded by G. A. Potter in 1876. It 
was intended as an expositor of the temperance question, and beginning as a 
five-column folio, it expanded in 1881, to a quarto of twelve pages and finally 
reached sixteen pages. In September, 1882, Jacob Schuyler became half 
owner of the paper, which was reduced to a folio form, and in 1885 was moved 
to Wilkesbarre, where it was merged into the Watch Fire. The Herald of 
Freedom was a short-lived advocate of the freesoil doctrine, and had an exist- 
ence here in the transition period preceding the civil war. The Sun was an 
ambitious venture in daily journalism. It was published in 1881, by A. B. 
Tate and W. H. Kahler, but was suspended after some eighty issues. 

In January. 1870, the Christian Messenger, a monthly periodical of twenty- 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 119 

four pages was founded by E. E. Orris. la 1872 its title was changed to the 
Messenger and Laborer, the number of its pages increased to thirty-two, and 
D. Oliphant added to the editorial staff. In January, 1875, this publication 
was changed to a four-page, twenty-four column weekly, and in the following 
October the publication office moved to Orangeville. ^ In December, Oliphant 
retired, and the paper was discontinued. In the meantime W. H. Smith, in com- 
pany with Orris, began the publication of the Independent Weekly at Benton. 
Its first issue appeared April 1, 1874; in October, 1875, it migrated with the 
monthly to Orangeville, where Smith and Orris dissolved partnership. On 
the first of April, 1876, the Independent Weekly, which was then conducted 
by Smith alone, returned to Benton, where it was published until September, 
1877. It was then removed to Milton, where it has since remained, and is 
now published under the name of the Argus. 

In Catawissa the first newspaper enterprise was inaugurated in the spring 
of 1876, when the Catawissa Advertiser was published by Harry John and 
Joseph Rinard. The Advertiser did not survive to the end of its first volume, 
although it offered a new feature in the way of an original serial by "Vir- 
ginia." It would be cruel to suggest that this mark of enterprise may be the 
cause of the fatal result, but whatever the cause, like the early riser to whom 
the poet Hood refers, it "died young." The News-Item is the second ven- 
ture in Catawissa journalism, and is a bright local newspaper. Its first issue 
appeared on May 16, 1878, and was a five-column folio. In the spring of 
1879 it was increased to twenty-four columns, and in 1881 to twenty-eight 
columns. It is a sprightly paper, devoted to the interests of its home town, 
and enjoys a merited prosperity. 

The long array of names in the above recital would naturally indicate to 
the casual reader a wonderful activity in newspaper enterprises here, but such 
a conclusion would be somewhat modified by the fact, which examination would 
develop, that there were only nineteen distinct ventures. But this number, on" 
account of the size and character of Columbia is su.fficient to excite inquiry. 
The fact that Berwick was at that early date the most important interior vil- 
lage of the county, and that its situation on the most important turnpike of 
that day promised to maintain its prominence in the future, probably led to 
the early founding of a newspaper there. It is not probable that its projec- 
tors had any idea of forcing the growth of the village, as the modern belief in 
the efficacy of the newspaper in this direction was not then developed, but such 
an enterprise was then a feature in all the large boroughs, and it was hoped 
that the natural gr()wth of the village would bear the venture on to fortune and 
success. 

The early newspaper was really the people' s forum. Editorials had little 
or no space in them. Its news columns were devoted to foreign affairs, many 
weeks and sometimes months old, and the congressional proceedings. The 
miscellany consisted of stories and poetry, the original production of which was 
encouraged by the admission of every such contribution offered. But the most 
highly prized privilege accorded to the public was the liberal space granted to 
all comers for exhaustive and unrestricted discussion of every conceivable topic. 
Governmental affairs and policies constituted the most favored themes, but un- 
like the light-armed fusilade of modern newspaper criticism, the discussions of 
that day had in them the shock of armies, the crushing force of the battle-ax, 
and the crash of missiles hurled from a catapult. The proscription against ar- 
ticles not responsibly endorsed had not then been inaugurated, and vicious per- 
sonal attacks were then universally tolerated which would now properly bring 
downiipon the offender condign punishment. Bat with all these objectionable 



120 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

features, these old-time, polemic contributions were characterized by a remark- 
able knowledge of the constitutional history of the country, and were graced 
with classical quotations and allusions that would dc credit to a modern profes- 
sor of languages. It is said that the citizens of the United States are not at 
this day, with all their superior advantages of education, as thorou.ghly versed 
in the principles of their government, and as well qualified to perform their 
duties as citizens, as they were fifty years ago. If this be true, it may be found 
that in refining away certain crudities of taste and inelegancies of manner, 
some vigor of intellect has been lost. 

It was not until the period of Jackson's first administration that country 
papers generally began the development which has made the newspaper a so con- 
spicuous element in society, and it is to this development that may be largely 
attributed the frequent changes in the name and owner that have occurred in 
the difPerent papers of the county. Until this time, while the prevailing sen- 
timent of the region now embraced within the limits of Columbia county was 
undoubtedly in favor of the principles supported by the democratic party in 
politics, the only papers at Berwick and Bloomsburg, so far as they had a po- 
litical individuality were supporters of whig principles. It was probably not 
until 1832, that the Gazette, at Berwick, came actively to the support of the 
democratic faith, and it was five years later when the first paper was established 
in Bloomsburg to advocate similar political doctrines. From this time forward 
it has been considered a party necessity to have a regular exponent of its prin- 
ciples, and whenever the vicissitudes of business have extinguished the politi- 
cal beacon, or a heterodox editor has come into possession of a recognized 
' ' organ, ' ' successful efforts have at once been made to repair the loss. 

Viewed from the standpoint of the newspaper, the democratic party in Col- 
umbia early achieved an embarrassing success. With the suspension of The 
Conservator, of Berwick, in 1840, and the Columbia County Register, of 
Bloomsburg, in 1844, began a period of twenty-five years in which no opposi- 
tion ' ' organ ' ' (save The Standard for a brief period at Berwick, 184S-50) was 
published in the county. Such a condition of things invited competition, and 
democratic expositors were multiplied, which divided the party scarcely less 
than the business. Consolidations have three times been resorted to in this 
county only to find a new rival immediately in the field, and in the nature of 
things this experience is likely to be a fixed quantity so long as the conditions 
favor it. The supporters of whig principles were too weak in numbers to 
maintain a paper in the county, and so for years they generally subscribed for 
the "organ" of the party, published at Danville. With the founding of the 
republican party, the element which was naturally drawn to it, made it a far 
more vigorous political factor than the whigs had been. In 1857 it secured 
a representative publication, and gradually made such progress as to challenge 
the respect of the dominant party. In 1866 a gentleman was invited from 
Washington, D. C. , to edit a paper in the interest of Andrew Johnson's policy, 
but it proved a signal failure, and after the publication of thirty-five numbers 
gave place to a democratic expositor. 

The more recent development of the newspaper, the ' ' independent jour- 
nal," has also had its representative in the county. Instead of attempting to 
carry water on both political shoulders, the independent newspaper has here 
endeavored to secure the patronage of all without offending the political prej- 
udices of any, an undertaking extremely difiicult to accomplish in the narrow 
field of county literature, under the present constitution of society. In Ber- 
wick the Gazette, and the News Item in Catawissa, are fairly successful exam- 
ples of this class. The newspapers of Bloomsburg are more than ordinarily 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 121 

good representatives of country journalism, and in typographical appearance, 
in true journalistic enterprise and editorial equipment would honor a much 
larger sphere. 

In the nature of the case, political honors have, with rare exceptions, been 
conferred upon the members of the democratic party. Until the question of 
the removal of the county-seat was finally settled, that issue dominated all oth- 
ers, and various considerations brought about the election of whigs to both 
branches of the legislature. In borough elections republicans are occasionally 
successful, but in contests for county ofiices, even where the dominant party is 
seriously divided, the republicans are too few to elect one of their own number, 
and have wisely refused as an organization to attempt to wield the balance of 
power. 



The eighth section of the act erecting Columbia county, in 1813, i)rovided 
' ' that the inhabitants of the counties of Northumberland, Union and Columbia, 
shall jointly elect four representatives." Those elected in 1813 were Samuel 
Bound, Leonard Rupert, Thomas Murray, Jr., and George Kreamer; in 1814, 
David E. Owen, Robert Willett, Joseph Hutchison and Henry Shaffer. 

In 1815 Columbia county was made a separate representative district with 
one member, and James McClure was elected in that year; Samuel Bond, in 
1816, 1817 and 1818; James McClure, 1819; John Snyder, 1820; John Clark, 
1821. 

In 1822 Columbia county was constituted a separate district with two mem- 
bers, and in that year AVilliam McBride and Alexander Colley were elected, 
and re-elected in 1823; John McReynolds and Eli Thornton, in 1824; John 
McReynolds and Christian Brobst, in 1825; John McReynolds and William 
McBride, in 1826; John McReynolds and Christian Brobst, in 1827; John 
McReynolds and John Robinson, in 1828. 

In 1829 Columbia county's representation was reduced to one member, and 
John Robinson was elected; Uzal Hopkins in 1830 and 1831; Isaac Kline, in 
1832 and 1833; John F. Derr, in 1834 and 1835; Evan O. Jackson, in 1836; 
John Bowman (whig), in 1837; William Cost, in 1838 and 1839; Daniel Sny- 
der (whig), in 1840, 1841, 1842, 1843; Thomas A. Funston (whig), in 1844 
and 1845; Stewart Pearce, in 1846, 1847, 1848; Benjamin P. Fortner (whio-), 
in 1849. 

In 1850 Columbia and Montour counties were constituted a district with 
one representative, and John McReynolds was elected; in 1851, M. E. Jackson; 
in 1852 and 1853, George Scott; in 1854, James G. Maxwell; in 1855, J. G. 
Montgomery; in 1856, Peter Ent. 

In 1857 Columbia, Montour, Sullivan and Wyoming were constituted a 
representative district, with two members, and Peter Ent and John V. Smith 
were elected; in 1858 and 1859, G. D. Jackson and — Cakes; in 1860, H. R. 
Kline and — Osterhaut; in 1861, L. L. Tate and — Tutton; 1862 and 1863. 
G. D. Jackson and J. C. Ellis. 

In 1864 Columbia and Montour counties were constituted a district with 
one member, and W. H. Jacoby elected, and re-elected in 1865; Thomas Chal- 
fant, in 1866 and 1867; George Scott, in 1868 and 1869; Thomas Chalfanf, 
in 1870. 

In 1871 Columbia county was made a separate district with one member, 
and C. B. Brockway electc>d. and re-elected in 1872 and 1873. In 1874, under 
the constitutional provision of previous year, Columbia county was given two 
members, and the term of service made two years; E. J. McHenry and S. P. 



122 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

Ryan were elected; in 1876, E. J. McHenrv and — Brown; in 1878 and 1880, 
T. J. Vanderslice and Joseph B. Knittle; in 1882, William Bryson and Thomas 
J. Vanderslice; in 1884, A. L. Fritz and William Bi-yson; in 1880, A. L. Fritz 
and James T. Fox. . 

The state senatorial district in which Columbia county was first placed, was 
composed of Luzerne and Susquehanna, to which the new counties of Union 
and Columbia were added. This district elected two senators, Thomas Mur- 
ray. Jr., and William Ross, the former being re-elected in 1814, the first sen- 
atorial election in which the new county of Col^^mbia participated. In 1815 
the ninth senatorial district was composed of the counties of Northumberland, 
Columbia, Union, Luzerne and Susquehanna, with two senators to elect. 
Their term was four years, and were chosen alternately. In 1816 Charles 
Frazer was elected; in 1818, Simon Snyder; in 1819 a special election, to fill 
the vacancy occasioned by the death of Snyder, resulted in the election of Rob- 
ert Willett; in 1820 Redmond Conyngham was elected. 

In 1822 Luzerne and Columbia were constituted the tenth senatorial dis- 
trict with one member, the first election under this chanoje occurring; in 1824, 
and resulting in the choice of Robert Moore. The tenn was changed to three 
years. In 1827 Moore was re-elected; in 1830 Jacob Drumheller was elected, 
and in 1838 Uzal Hopkins. 

In 1836 Columbia and Schuylkill were constituted the ninth senatorial dis- 
trict, with one mamber, and in 1837 Charles Frailey was elected; in 1840, 
Samuel F. Headley. In 1843 another change was made in the district, and 
Columbia and Luzerne were associated to form the thirteenth senatorial dis- 
trict, with one member. In 1844 William S. Ross was elected; in 1847, Val- 
entine Best. In 1850 Columbia, Luzerne and Montoiu* constituted the six- 
teenth district, with one' senator, and C. R. Buckalew was elected, and in 1853 
re-elected; in 1856 George P. Steele was elected. In 1857 Columbia, Mon- 
tour, Northumberland and Snyder counties were constituted the thirteenth dis- 
trict, with one senator. In this year Mr. Buckalew was again chosen, but 
resigned after serving one session. In 1858 Reuben Keller was elected to fill 
the vacancy, and in 1860, re-elected; in 1863 D. B. Montgomery was elected. 

In 1864 the counties of Columbia, Montour, Northumberland and Sullivan 
were constituted the fifteenth district, with one senator. In 1866 George D. 
Jackson was elected, and in 1869, C. R. Buckalew. In 1871 Lycommg was 
substituted for Northumberland county in this senatorial district, the numbei' 
remaining unchanged, and in 1872 Thomas Chalfant was elected. The ^'.hange 
in the constitution in the following year required a new districting of the state, 
but this district suffered no change save in the number being changed from 

the fifteenth to the twenty-fourth. In 1875 and again in 1876 Allen was 

elected; in 1878, G. D. Jackson; in 1880 E. J. McHenry was elected to till 
vacancy occasioned by the death of Jackson; in 1882, W. W. Hart; in 1886, 
Nerus H. Metzgar. 

For congressional elections Columbia was originally placed in the tenth 
district composed of the counties of Northumberland, Union, Lycoming, Lu- 
zerne, Bradford, Potter, Susquehanna and Tioga, with two members. In 
1814 William W^ilson and Jared Irwin were elected; in 1816, W^illiam Wilson 
afld David Scott; in 1817, Mr. Scott having resigned to accept a place on the 
bench, John Murray was elected to fill the vacancy, and in 1818 John Mu^rray 
and George ^Dennison were elected; in 1820, George Dennison and W. C. 
Ellis; in 1821, Ellis having resigned, Thomas Murray, Jr., was elected to 
fill the vacancy. 

Under the apportionment of 1822, the ninth district was composed of the 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 123 

counties of Columbia, Union, Northumberland, Luzernp. Siisquehanna, Brad- 
ford, Lycoming, Potter, Tioga and McKean, with three members. In 1822 W. 
C. Ellis, Samuel McKean and Kreamer were elected ; in 1824 and 1826, Samuel 
McKean, George Kreamer and Espy Vanhorn; in 1828, Philander Stephens, 
James Ford and Allen Man-; in 1830, Lewis Dewart, Philander Stephens and 
James Ford. 

In 1832 Columbia and Luzerne were constituted the fifteenth congressional 
district with one member. In that year and in 1834, Andrew Beaumont was 
elected; in 183(3 and 1838, David Petriken; in 1840 and 1843, B. A. Bidlock. 
In 1843 Wyoming county was associated with Columbia and Luzerne, and the 
number of the district changed fo the eleventh. In 1844 and 1846 Owen D. 
Leib was elected; in 1848, Chester Butler; in 1850, Hendrick B. Wright; in 
1851, J. Brisbin, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Butler. In 
1852 the district was numbered the twelfth, and comprised the counties of 
Columbia, Luzerne, Montour and Wyoming. In this year H. B. Wright 
was elected; in 1854, Henry M. Fuller; in 1856, John G. Montgomery; he 
died, however, before he took his seat, and in 1857 Paul Leidy was elected to 
fill the vacancy. In 1858 and 1860 George AV. Scranton was elected; he died 
in March, 1861, and in the following June a special election was held when 
H. B. Wright was chosen to fill the vacancy. 

In 1861 the counties of Bradford, Montour, Columbia, Sullivan, Wyom- 
ing and all of Northumberland, except Lower Mahanoy township, were made to 
constitute the twelfth district. In 1862 Northumberland was assigned to an- 
other district, and the remaining counties elected Henry W. Tracy; in 1864, 

1866, 1868 and 1870, Ulysses Mercur; in 1872, Strowbridge. In 1872 

Mercur resigned, and on December 24 a special election was held to fill the 

vacancy, Bunnells being chosen. In 1873 a bill was passed designating 

the eleventh district composed of the counties of Montour, Columbia, Car- 
bon, Mom-oe, Pike, and the townships of Nescopeck, Blackcreek, Sugarloaf, 
Butler, Hazel, Foster, Bearcreek, Bucks, Roaringbrook, Salem, Hollenback, 
Huntingdon, Fairmount, Springbrook, and that part of the city of Scranton 
south of Roaringbrook creek, and east of Lackawanna river, and' the boroughs 
of Dunmore, New Columbus, Goldsboro, White Haven, Jeddo and Hazleton. 

From this district, Collins was elected in 1874, and re-elected in 1876;; 

Klotz, in 1878 and 1880; in 1882 and 1884, John B. Storm; in 1886, C. R. 
Buckalew. 



124 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 



CHAPTER V. 
THE STORM AND STRESS PERIOD. 

THE civil war of 1861-5 brought to the people of Columbia county as it 
did to the whole country, an experience for which their previous training 
afforded no adequate preparation. There was little of the piu'ely raartial 
spirit to be found here. The first settlers were not the most successful Indian 
fighters, nor did they number among them — with the possible exception of 
Van Campen — any of the class whose achievements have embellished the tales 
of other borders. They were peaceful and industrious farmers rather than 
Indian-slayers; but such a character did not prevent their doing substantial 
service where duty called or danger threatened. During the war of 1812 
Columbia was situated too far fi'om the scene of hostilities to be called actively 
into service. AVhen the attack on Baltimore was threatened the militia was 
rendezvoused at Danville, but was disbanded after a few weeks of camp- life. 
The requirements of the militia system, which was nominally maintained by 
the commonwealth for years, were at first met with a moderate degree of faith- 
fulness, but the amusements of training-day gradually lost their charm, and 
the absentees numbered far more tban those who reported for duty on field and 
muster days. 

There was one company, however, which proved a remarkable exception. 
Its rendezvous was at Danville, and its original organization dated in 1817; 
and when, in November, 1846, the call for troops for service in Mexico came, 
it reunited its ranks fi'om all parts of the then county of Columbia, took the 
name of Columbia Guards, and offered its services to the governor. It was 
accepted, and on the 26th of December, 1846, the county authorities appro- 
priated seven hundred dollars to uniform them and defray their expenses to 
Pittsburgh. They were escorted thus far by a committee of citizens, and un- 
der the command of Captain John S. Wilson were mustered into the service of 
the United States as a part of the Second regiment, on the 5th of January 
of the following year. They were at first commanded by Colonel Roberts, who 
was succeeded by Colonel Geary. Captain Wilson died on the 10th of April, 
1847, at Vera Cruz, and the command devolved upon Lieutenant Frick, who 
led the company during the campaign. 

Their first engagement was at the capture of Vera Cruz, and the second at 
Cerro Gordo, where they lost one man, John Smith. At the battle of Chapiil- 
tepec they lost two men, William Dietrich and John Snyder. On approaching 
the city of Mexico, the defense of San Angelos, with all the military stores, 
was committed to the Guards; and on the 13th of September, 1847, they were 
among the first in the triumphant entry into the city. 

They retui-ned to Danville on the 28th day of July, 1849. The whole 
county turned out to welcome them, and such a demonstration as was then 
made had never been seen in Danville before or since. The Guards kept up 
their organization until the rebellion, and entered the union service under 
Captain Oscar Ephlin. On the expiration of their term of service they were 
honorably discharged, and the company disbanded. 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 



125 



*The following is the muster roll of the Columbia Guards as the}' went into the 
United States Service for the war with Mexico: 

Captain — John S. Wilson. 

Lieutenants — First, Clarence H. Frick; second, Edward E. LaClere; third, William 
Brindle. 

Sergeants— First, George S. Kline; second, Jas. D. Slater; third, Robert Clark; fourth, 
Charles Evans. 

Corporals — First, John Adams; second, James Oliver; third, John Smith; fourth, 
Arthur Gearhart. 

Music — Drummer, Thomas Clark; fifer, Jesse G. Clark. 



Charles W. Adams, 
Alvin M. Allen, 
Jacob App, 
Geo. W. Armstrong, 
Frederick Brandt, 
Samuel Burns, 
Elam B. Bonham, 
Wm. Banghart. 
■John Birkenbine. 
Samuel D. Baker, 
Francis Bower, 
Francis B. Best. 
William Brunner, 
Wm. H. Birchfield, 
Randolph Ball. 
Peter Brobst, 
Abram B. Carley, 
Michael Corrigan, 
Wm. Dieterech, 
William Erie, 
Daniel S. Follmer, 
Chas. W. Fortner, 
Robert H. Forster, 
Sewell Gibbs, 
Edward Grove. 
George Garner, 
Thomas Graham, 



PRIVATES. 

Samuel Huntingdon, 
Adam Heisler. 
Henry Herncastle, 
Oliver Helme, 
William S. Kertz, 
William King, 
Jerome Konkle, 
Charles Lytle 
Ira Lownsberry, 
Robert Lyon, 
John A. Lowery, 
Benjamin Laform, 
Benj. J. Martin, 
Jasper Musselman, 
Edward McGonnel, 
George Miller, 
William Moser, 
Archibald Moonej', 
Mahlon K. Manly, 
John G. Mellon," 
Alex M' Donald, 
Daniel Martial. 
Richard H. M'Kean, 
Charles Moynthan, 
Robert M'Almont. 
Hugh M'Fadden. 
James M'Clelland. 



Norman B. Mack, 
William McDonald, 
Casper Oatenwelder, 
Daniel Poorman, 
Peter S. Reed, 
Philip Rake, 
James A. Stewart, 
Peter M. Space, 
Jona R. Sanders, 
Oliver C. Stephens, 
Daniel Snyder, 
Edward Seler, 
Peter Seigfried, 
John C. Snyder, 
John N. Scofleld, 
William Swartz, 
Joseph Stratton, 
Wm. H. Sawaney. 
John A. Sarvey, 
Benj. Tumbleton, 
Adam Wray, 
Wm. White, 
George Wagner, 
Jacob Willet, 
Jerome Walker, 
George Wingar. 
Peter W. Yarn ell. 



Shepherd W. Girton, 

Tbe interest which kept up the organization of the Guards in Montour was 
not shared to any great extent in Columbia county; yet the president's call for 
volunteers, following Sumter's fall, met with an enthusiastic response. 

The presence of W. W. Ricketts, a former West Point cadet, had fostered 
a military spirit at Orangeville, and a company was quickly formed there and 
put in drill, but for a time others seemed at a loss how to proceed. A meet- 
ing, however, was called at the court-house, and addressed by Robert F. Clark 
in a speech that made the young men struggle for precedence in sabscribing to 
the enlistment roll. C. B. Brockway is said to have been the first man in the 
county to enlist, and others followed so that the complement of Rickett' s com- 
pany was soon filled. Their services were tendered to the governor, but the 
state quota under the first call was already filled. Not to be put off in this 
way, the company chartered canal boats and went to Harrisburg, where they 
were subsequently accepted. There were but few meetings in the county to 
awaken enthusiasm. There was no call for them. Many volunteered without 
hesitation, and company after company marched to " the front. " Later on, 
however, the quotas were not so readily filled, and unfortunate dissensions 
arose, which, during and for a long time after the war, disturbed the peace 
and happiness of the citizens of the county. 

In the summer of 1862 a " war meeting " was held at the court-house in 

*The rosier, with some of the facts concerning the career of the company, is derived Irom the ''History 
of Columbia Counly," by J. G. Freeze. 



126 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

the latier part of July, which requested the county commissioners to grant a 
.bounty to each soldier that had enlisted from the county. Only two of the 
commissioners were jjresent, and they very properly declined to accede to the 
request vintil assured of the approval of the county at large, and of their au- 
thority to do so under the law, but advised the calling of another meeting to 
consider the question. Early in August a second meeting was held with a 
similar result. This was in the forenoon. The commissioners met in the mid- 
dle of the day, but in the meanwhile another call for troops had greatly in- 
creased the number to whom bounties would have to be paid. There was a 
great difference of opinion on the subject throughout the county, and, still in 
doubt as to their authority, the commissioners refused to take action. Their 
decision was received by the momljers of the morning meeting with indigna- 
tion, and a meeting was held in the afternoon at which the commissioners' ac- 
tion was u.nsparingly denounced. 

After the meeting, an altercation having taken place between a drunken 
man and a convalescent soldier, and the former having cheered for Jeff. Davis, 
he was pursued and maltreated by a mob. Some dozen or more republicans 
were arrested on a charge of riot, under a warrant issued by a justice of the 
peace of Hemlock township; the accused were taken there for a hearing and 
bound over for trial. The trial was had, and the accused were convicted, and 
sentenced by the court to fine and imprisonment. No attempt was made to en- 
force the penalty, however, and the governor's pardon put an end to the 
matter. 

An enrollment was ordered this year, and the number subject to military 
duty was found to be 4,587; the quota, under all calls prior to Sei:)tember, 
1862, was 1,447; the number in the service, at the same date, was 626, leaving 
a balance of 821 men to be supplied by draft or otherwise. 

The militia of Pennsylvania, as generally throughout the country, was 
practically to be found only on paper. There was a form of organization; a 
military tax was levied on each voter liable to duty, save those in volunteer 
companies, and C. M. Blaker, of this county, by the regular removal of his 
seniors, in 1861 had reached the chief command in the state. At the break- 
ing out of the war, the legislature revived and revised this organization, and 
in 1862 a draft was ordered by the state to fill its ranks. The townships of 
Catawissa and Pine, and the borough of Berwick, filled their quota with vol- 
unteers, biit in the other divisions of the county, the draft was drawn; a total 
of 695 men was drawn, 45 from Bloom, 49 from Briarci'eek, 40 fi'om Beaver, 
27 fi'om Benton, 60 from Conyngham, 54 from Center, 50 from Fishingcreek, 
4 fi'om Franklin, 45 from Greenwood, 25 fi'om Hemlock, 19 fi'om Jackson, 40 
from Locust, 24 from Montour, 18 from Maine, 27 fi'om Mount Pleasant, 46 
from Mifflin, 48 from Madison, 9 from Orange, 86 from Scott and 29 from Su- 
garloaf . No opposition was manifested to this draft. In fact it had the effect 
. of stimvilating enlistments in the national service, as many, when they found 
it necessary to enter the military service at all, preferred to avail themselves of 
the advantages to be derived from such enlistments. 

The drafts on the part of the general government, however, were not re- 
ceived with equal unconcern. The first was di'awn at Troy, Pennsylvania, 
September 17, 1863, and called for 634 men from Columbia county. 

In the spring of 1864, some trouble occurred between a company of " Home 
Guards," in Mifflin township, and a portion of the invalid corps, which the 
enrolling officer for that township had summoned to his assistance. A confer- 
ence was finally had, at which it was agreed to allow a citizen of the village 
to proceed with the enrollment, unmolested, and this was done. 




^^" 



() . /^^^-T^^^x^-^^-U-'^ 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 129' 

Similar companies were formed in Benton and Fishingcreek townships, 
but they never figured ofPensively as an organization in the history of the 
period. There was vague talk in these and neighboring localities, that there 
were places in the North mountain where a hundred men could successfully^ 
defy a thousand, and indefinite references to "the fort," where a stand would 
be made against any attempt to enforce the di-aft. This was undoubtedly^ 
mere gasconade, and no such stand was ever made. There was quite a num- 
ber of drafted men who refused to report for duty, and they, with theii- fi-iends,. 
constituted a considerable element in the townships of Fishingcreek, Benton,. 
Sugarloaf, Jackson, Pine, and the neighboring portions of Luzerne and Sul- 
livan counties. 

A series of half-open, half-secret meetings had been held by disaffected 
parties, for the purpose of discussing the situation, and devising the safest 
means to obviate the difiiculties which now appeared to be daily growing more 
serious. There was no unanimity in the choice of measures. Some advocated 
hiding, others proposed the raising of money to procure substitutes, and each 
finally acted individually upon their own suggestions. 

Early in August, 1864, Lieutenant Kobinson, of Luzerne county, with a 
squad of eight men appeared one evening near what is nowEaven's-Creek post- 
office in this county, and attempted to stop by challenging a party of citizens, 
whom they met. They were fired upon by the challenge party and Robinson 
was fatally wounded. Shortly afterward, on August 13, 1864, a detachment 
of government troops arrived in Bloomsburg. for the purpose, it was said, of 
enforcing the draft, and went into camp on the fair grounds. This force was 
increased until it included Captain Lambert's independent company of mount- 
ed men; one section of the Keystone Battery of Philadelphia, under the com- 
mand of Lieutenant Roberts; a battalion of infantry under Lieutenant- Colonel' 
Stewart; and a battalion of the Veteran Reserve Corps, aggregating, it is said, 
a thousand men. On the 16th of August, Major General- Couch, commanding 
the department of the Susquehanna, reached Bloomsburg, and on the same- 
day conferred with some of the leading republicans and democrats of the 
coui^y. He was assured by prominent gentlemen of the democratic party, 
that he had greatly misapprehended the situation; that there was no fort, 
there would be no resistance, and that ten men could arrest the delinquent 
conscripts as safely as ten hundred. J. G. Freeze was at length per- 
suaded to carry to the recalcitrant drafted men the general' s offer to remit the 
charge of desertion in the case of all those who would report themselves on 
or before 12 p. m. on the following Saturday, and on the 17th, General 
Couch returned to Harrisburg, leaving Lieutanant- Colonel Stewart in com- 
mand of affairs. The di'afted men did not report at the time appointed, and' 
on the following day a body of troops under command of Stewart proceeded 
to Benton. 

On Saturday, August 2Sth, Major- General Cadwallader arrived in Blooms- 
bui'g from Philadelphia, and assuming command, proceeded on the follow- 
ing day with another body of troops to join the advance detachment. 

On the 30th General Cadwallader was in Bloomsburg, to confer with' 
the leading supi^orters of the administration, and during that night, by his. 
orders, squads of troops were posted at various localities in the upper town- 
ships. Early on the following morning about one hundred arrests were made,, 
and the prisoners brought to a meeting house near the village of Benton, 
where a preliminary examination was held. Of the persons arrested forty- 
four were held and dispatched under guard to Harrisbiu'g. These prisoners 
were treated with little consideration. They were compelled to make th& 

IS 



130 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

eighteen miles from Benton to Bloomsbnrg on foot, while some, at least, of the 
guards rode. Arrived at the connty seat, no delay was made in getting them 
on board the cai's, and no attempt was made to interpose any legal obstruction 
to their removal. This done, General Cadwallader explored the adjacent 
country for evidences of forts and artillery, which exaggerated rumors had in- 
dicated were in that region, but which, it is needless to say, were not found. 
The general pronounced ' ' the whole thing a complete farce, ' ' and on the 7th 
of September returned to Philadelphia. The larger part of the troops was 
subsequently withdrawn, but the remainder was retained, and other arrests 
made from time to time. 

These summary proceedings on the part of the millitary authorities, natur- 
ally and properly gave rise to an investigation of their legality, and spirited 
measures were at once taken to secure the release of the persons arrested. 

On the 17th of October 1SG4, twenty-one of them were conditionally relieved 
from arrest. Among these twenty-one, five were previously discharged on ac- 
count of sickness, one, however, having died in prison before his discharge had 
reached him. On the same day the trials of the remaining twenty-three were be- 
o-un before a military commission, organized at Harrisburg. The general accusa- 
tion brought against all that were placed on trial was the same, and charged 
that the accused, ' ' a citizen of Columbia county, Pennsylvania, did unite, 

confederate and combine with , , and many other disloyal persons 

whose names are unknown, and form or unite with a society or organization 
commonly known and called by the name of the ' Knights of the Grolden Cir- 
cle,' the object of which society or organization was and is to resist the execu- 
tion of the draft, and prevent persons who have been drafted under the pro- 
visions of the said act of congress, approved March 3d, 1863, and the several 
supplements thereto, from entering the military service of the United States. 
This done at or near Benton township, Columbia county, Pennsylvania, on or 
about August 14. 1801, and at divers times and places before and after said 
mentioned day. ' ' Of those earliest tried seven were convicted. These were 
sentenced to terms of imprisonment ranging from six months, with labor, to 
two years. In one case the penalty was a fine of $500 or a year's imprison- 
ment, and the prisoner elected to pay the fine. Of the others, one was par- 
doned by President Lincoln, and five by President Johnson. Several others 
were tried, but acquitted, and the charge was subsequently withdrawn in the 
case of the rest. 

Among the citizens of Columbia county there still exist widely varying 
opinions in regard to the troubles in connection with the draft, and the sending 
of troops to the county. 

On one side it is claimed that there was organized and armed opposition to 
the draft, that menaces and threats were used against officers in the proper 
discharge of their duties, that in some townships Republicans were terrorized by 
threats of incendiarism and assault, that officers of the law were in many in- 
stances in sympathy with the law-breakers, and that military interference was 
necessary to restore order and enforce the draft. On the other side it is 
claimed that by means of a dishonest enrollment, it was sought to compel Co- 
lumbia and other democratic counties to furnish more than their just quotas; 
that there was no organized opposition to the draft; that a reign of terror pre- 
vailed among democrats, which was instituted by republicans; that military 
interference was unnecessary, and was resorted to for the purpose of influencing 
elections ; that some of the soldiers sent to the county were guilty of gross out- 
rages, and that many innocent men suffered arrest and imprisonment without 
cause or warrant of law. It would be a difficult matter to prove the exact truth 



HISTOEY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 131 

in regard to some of these charges. It is generally admitted, however, that in 
Columbia county as in many other parts of the north, some of the democrats 
were opposed to the prosecution of the war; that a considerable number of men 
attempted to evade the draft, and in some places concert of action was had for 
that purpose. It is also admitted that the enrollment was very inaccurate, that 
the force sent here and the large number of arrests were unnecessary, that 
power placed in the hands of irresponsible subordinates was exercised in a vin- 
dictive manner, and that one of the results of sending troops to the county was 
a considerable republican gain at the fall elections. 

Of the convictions before the military commission, all has been said when 
the decision of the United States supreme court, in the case of Lambdin P. Mill- 
igan is considered. What is there said of the petitioner in the case may be 
applied to the cases from Columbia county. On the third point in controversy 
the court said in part: 

It is claimed that martial law covers with its broad mantle the proceedings of the 
military commission. The proposition is this: That in a time of war the commander of 
an armed force (if in his opinion tlie exigencies of the country demand it. and of which 
be is to be judge,) has the power, within the lines of his military district, to suspend all civil 
rights and their remedies, and subject citizens as well as soldiers to the rule of Ms will, 
and in the exercise of his lawful authority cannot be restrained, except by his superior 
officer or the President of the United States. If this position is sound, to the extent 
claimed, then when war exists, foreign or domestic, and the country is subdivided into 
military departments for mere convenience, the commander of one of them can, if he 
chooses,within his limits, on the plea of necessity, with the approval of the executive, sub- 
stitute military force for and to the exclusion of the laws, and punish all persons, as he 
thinks right and proper, without fixed or certain rules. 

The statement of this proposition shows its importance, for, if true, republican gov- 
ernment is a failure, and there is an end of liberty regulated by law. Martial law, estab- 
lished on such a basis, destroys every guarantee of the constitution, and effectually ren- 
ders the "military independent of and superior to the civil power" — the attempt to do 
which by the King of Great Britain was deemed by our fathers such an offense, that they 
assigned it to the world as one of the causes which impelled them to declare their inde- 
pendence. Civil liberty and this kind of martial law cannot endure together; the antag- 
onism is irreconcilable; and in the conflict, one or the other must perish. 

Notwithstanding some opposition to the draft, Columbia county was by no 
means unrepresented at ' ' the front. ' ' There is no data at hand to show how 
many men she contributed to the army, nor how far she fell short of filling her 
assigned quota; but in eighteen regiments she was conspicuously represented 
in point of numbers, and in several others in a varying degree. And their pa- 
tient endurance of the tedium of the camp, the toil of the march, and their 
gallantry upon the field of battle, constitute a record to which she may ever 
point with pride. 

On the afternoon of the 15th of April, 1861, the president's proclamation, 
with the summons of the state executive, was sent throughout the commonwealth, 
and the state' s quota of sixteen regiments was immediately filled by the tender 
of the militia, which had a more or less efficient organization. By the first of 
May the full complement of Pennsylvania was mustered, and a part already 
in Washington or at other threatened points. 

Among the earliest companies to form anew was the ' ' Iron Guard ' ' of Co- 
lumbia county ; but such was the forwardness of the partially organized force 
of the state, that the offer of their services came too late to be accepted under 
the first call. There were twenty-five men, principally fi-om Bei-wick how- 
ever, who gained admission in the Sixteenth regiment. They joined company 
C, which was recruited in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland county, and were mus- 
tered into the United States service on the 20th of April. After organization 
the regiment was ordered to Camp Scott, near the town of York, where it was 
uniformed and drilled. Upon the inauguration of the Shenandoah campaign 



132 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

the Sixteenth proceeded to Chambersburg, where its equipment for field serv- 
ice was completed, and in June advanced across the Potomac with the leading 
division. In the battle of Bull Run it formed a part of the left of the line as 
part of the Fifth Division. It took part in the second movement, and had a 
slight brush with the enemy on the way to Martinsburg, where a halt for sup- 
plies consumed several days. On July 15th the regiment moved to Bunker Hill, 
and two days later made a forced march toward Harper' s Ferry. At Smith- 
field, with its brigade, it took position to repel the attack of Stuart's cavalry, 
but after the passage of the army it again resumed its march, and encamped 
that night at Charlestown. Here it remained until near the expiration of its 
term of enlistment, when it proceeded to Harrisburg, and was mustered out of 
the service on the 30th of Jiily. 

On the 16th of April, General Patterson was appointed to the command of 
the Pennsylvania contingent by the governor, and a short time afterward Gen- 
eral Scott gave him charge of the Department of Washington, consisting of 
the states of Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland, and the District of 
Columbia, with headquarters at Philadelphia. It was well known that in the 
event of a war, the leaders of the South determined to make the North the 
scene of hostilities, if possible, and when, on the 19th of April, the communi- 
cation with Washington was cut off, in the absence of other orders General 
Patterson upon his own responsibility made a requisition on the governor of 
Pennsylvania for twenty-five additional regiments of infantry, and one regi- 
ment of cavalry, to be mustered in the United States service. 

The recruiting of troops, which had been suspended, was at once revived 
by the governor's proclamation and vigorously pushed, but when the interrupt- 
ed communications were restored, the national authorities, unprepared to ac- 
cept more troops, countermanded General Patterson's order. The attitude of 
Maryland, however, was a continu.al menace, and recognizing the danger to 
which the long line of border adjoining disaffected states exposed Pennsyl- 
vania, Governor Curtin called an extra session of the legislature to provide 
for the emergency. On the 15th of May, the governor was authorized to 
organize a military corps, to be called the ' ' Reserve Volunteer Corps of the 
Commonwealth, ' ' consisting of thirteen regiments of infantry, one regiment of 
cavalry, and one regiment of light artillery. They were to be organized and 
equipped as similar troops in the service of the United States, and to be enlist- 
ed in the service of the state for a period of three years or for the war, but 
liable to be mustered into the service of the United States to fill any quota 
under a call from the president. Under this law the governor established 
camps of instruction at Easton, West Chester, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg; 
each county was assigned its quota, and the enthusiastic response everywhere 
made to the governor's call soon placed the full force in the course of prepa- 
ration for active duties. 

On the 22d of April, 1861, ten companies were organized in different 
parts of the state under the first call for troops; the quota of the State hav- 
ing been filled before the tender of their services was received, they were not 
given transportation, but nothing daunted they proceeded to Harrisburg, where 
they met each other in camp. In the meantime the ' ' Reserve Corps " had 
been projected, and these troops with others maintained their organizations 
and awaited the demand for their services. The law authorizing the governor 
to accept them was subsequently passed, and in June, such companies as 
were not recruited to the national standard, sent out officers for recruits, and 
the companies thus brought together were organized on the 22d of June as 
the Thirty-fifth regiment of the line, and the Sixth of the reserve. The 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 133 

"Iron Guards" were mustered as Company A; their captain, W. Wallace 
Ricketts. was commissioned colonel; William M. Penrose, lieutenant -colonel; 
Henry J. Madill, major; and Lieutenant Henry B. M'Kean, was appointed 
adjutant. 

The regiment was assigned to camp duty, which it continued to perform 
while perfecting itself in the manual of arms. On the 11th of July, compa- 
nies A and K were supplied with Springfield muskets, the rest of the regiment 
being armed with Harper's Ferry muskets, and ordered to Greencastle, where 
it received instruction in drill at Camp Biddle. On the 22d it proceeded to 
Washington, and encamped east of the Capitol. From thence it moved to 
Tenallytown, where General M'Call organized his division of Pennsylvania 
Reserves. The Sixth (35th) was brigaded with Ninth, Tenth and Twelfth 
regiments of the Reserves in the Third brigade under the command of Colonel 
M' Calmont, and on the yth of October marched across Chain bridge to a camp 
near Longley. Until the 19th of December, a movement for the double pur- 
pose of reconnoissance and securing forage alone varied the routine of camp 
life. Early on this date, however, the brigade was ordered forward on the 
Leesburg pike, where it was soon involved in the first regular engagement with 
the enemy. 

The Ninth Reserve was posted on the right, the Sixth in the center, the 
Kane Rifles on the left, and the Tenth and Twelfth in reserve, While taking 
position they were fired on by the enemy from a battery posted on the Centre- 
ville road. A section of the Easton battery responded, and the Sixth was imme- 
diately ordered to advance. For a little time there was some doubt whether 
the attacking party were friends or foes, but their true character was soon dis- 
covered and a charge was ordered. ' ' At the word ' forward, ' the regiment 
bounded the fence in front, ci'ossed the open field and in a moment had driven 
him from his position in confusion, capturing one caisson and some prisoners. " 
Private S. C. Walter, of Company A, was killed, and thus the Reseiwes won 
their first victory. 

But little occurred, save the constant round of picket and fatigue duty, to 
enliven the camp-life during the next two months. In February, 1862, Colonel 
Ricketts was discharged on account of continued ill-health, and, Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel Penrose having previously resigned, Major Madill was left in command of the 
regiment. On the 10th of March, the army having advanced to Centreville and 
Manassas, the Sixth marched sixteen miles, to Hunter's Mills, remaining there 
until the l-lth, when it was ordered to Alexandria. While here William Sin- 
clair was made colonel, and Henry B. M'Kean lieutenant-colonel of the regi- 
ment. On the 27th of April the Sixth moved to Bailey's Cross Roads; on the 
12th of May they reached Manassas Junction; on the 18th, moved to Catlett's 
station; on the 3d of June it reached Falmouth, where comfortable quarters 
were constructed from lumber obtained at a neighboring saw-mill. On the 
13th of June the brigade embarked for White House, to join McClellan's army 
on the peninsula. On their arrival there was considerable alarm lest Stuart, 
whose forces were hovering in the vicinity, should attack the post, where vast 
supplies for the army had been accumulated. The Sixth regiment was there- 
fore ordered to remain to guard the post, and was stationed at Tuntstall's sta- 
tion. On the 19th, five companies were ordered to fall back to White House, 
while the remaining companies threw up protecting earthworks. The flanking 
movement of the enemy, however, rendered White House no longer available 
as a base of supplies, and preparations were hastily made for its evacuation. 
On the 28th of June the advanced detachment of the regiment was recalled by 
urgent instructions, and their movement hurried by repeated orders. The en- 



134 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

eniy followed, but made no attack, and the whole force, having embarked, pro- 
ceeded down the river by the light of the burning stores. On the 1st of July 
the regiment reached Harrison's Landing, where the wagon-trains of the re- 
treating ai-my began to arrive that night. 

On the 4th of July the Sixth was transferred to the First brigade and did 
skirmish duty alternately with the Kane's Rifles. On the 14th of August it 
proceeded by water to Acquia creek and thence by rail to Falmouth. A week 
later it set off with its division for Kelly's ford, on the Rappahannock. From 
thence the regiment proceeded to Rappahannock station and to Warrenton, 
where it went into camp on the 24th. The opposing forces were again center- 
ing about the field of Bull Run, and on the morning of the 28th, as the troops 
approached G-ainesville, they were suddenly assailed by a battery posted in a 
piece of woods. The Sixth was deployed as skirmishers and moved forward 
across an open field. No further demonstrations followed, and the regiment 
bivouacked that night on the Alexandria pike. On the following day the di- 
vision moved to the front of the enemy's position, at Groveton, but while act- 
ively maneuvering to gain an advantageous position, the regiment was not en- 
gaged in any serious encounter. On the 30th the Sixth was ordered to support 
Cooper's battery, but was subsequently moved to the left, to cover the flank of 
the division. In covering the retreat 'of Porter's corps, the Third brigade, of 
which the Sixth regiment was a part, met and repulsed a vigorous charge of 
the enemy. A little later the brigade was placed in support of the artillery, 
which was massed on a hill. A brisk artillery duel ensued, but, after enduring 
this for a while, the enemy charged in force, to secure the road which lay be- 
tween the opposing lines. The Reserves were immediately ordered to charge 
the coming enemy. They first reached the road, repulsed the rebels, and sent 
them back in confusion. " In this charge the flag of the Sixth was shot from 
the staff while in the hands of Major Madill. It was instantly taken by the 
gallant Reynolds, who, holding it aloft, dashed along the line, the wind catch- 
ing it as he turned and wrapping it about his noble form. " The loss in this 
stubborn fight, including the three days, was six killed, thirty wounded, and 
eight missing. 

The regiment moved thence to Centreville, Annandale, Bailey's Cross Roads 
and Hunter's Chapel, to Munson's Hill. On the 6th of September the regi- 
ment took up its march to South mountain, across Long bridge, through Wash- 
ington, Leesboro, Poplar Springs, New Market, Frederick City and Middle- 
town. Arriving at the scene of action, it was posted on the extreme right of 
the army, and when the enemy was compelled to fall back on his supports, the 
Sixth dashed up the mountain to gain the flank of the foe. This movement 
was observed and the line still further withdrawn. "The top of the mountain 
was only a few hundred yards distant, and when reached would end the battle on 
that part of the field. Night was fast approaching and the battle raged fu- 
riously for many miles to the left. Companies A and B, Captains Ent and 
Roush, were ordered out to seize and hold the knob of the mountain imme- 
diately in front. They marched from the woods, passed the enemy's flank, 
and, firing into it one volley, made straight for the mountain top. When with- 
in one hundred yards they received the fire of the enemy, protected by a ledge 
of rocks which capped the summit. Immediately companies C, D and E, Cap- 
tains Wright, Dixon and Lieutenant Richards, were ordered to their support, 
and, forming to the left of the first two, the line advanced at a charge. The 
numbers of the enemy were largely in excess of those of the Sixth,- but the five 
companies, restrained during the earlier part of the battle, dashed, like a steed 
released from his curb, against the very muzzles of their guns. The enemy,. 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 135 

staggered by the impetuosity of the charge, yielded the first ledge of rocks and 
retreated to the second, from behind which he delivered a most galling fire, 
causing the advance to reel under the shock and threatening its annihilation. 
The rebel line to the left, which had been passed by these companies, had in 
the meantime been compelled to yield to the persistent hammering of the other 
regiments of the Reserves. The cheers of the brigade were distinctly heard 
by both, when the rebels, broken in spirit by the severity of their losses and 
the determined front presented by the Reserves, fled down the mountain side. 
These five companies had performed an important service and driven before 
them in confusion the Eighth Alabama regiment. The loss Avas twelve men 
killed, two officers and thirty-nine men wounded. 

The regiment moved forward with its division to Antietam creek, where on 
the 16th, with "the Bucktails," it was engaged in a spirited contest with the 
enemy. In the early morning following, the rebels attempted to dislodge 
these regiments fi'om the position they had gained, but with no success until 
the giving way of other portions of the line exposed their flank. The Sixth, 
shielded by a piece of woods, still maintained their position although assailed 
in front and flank, and submitted to a concentrated fire of artillery. The enemy 
now desisted from the attempt to clear the wood, and, moving to the right, the 
division took a position in support of the artillery, where it remained the bal- 
ance of the day unengaged, but still the target of the enemy's artillery fire. 
In this engagement eight men were killed, and among the wounded were four 
officers. 

On the retirement of Lee's army the Sixth marched to the Potomac near 
Sharpsburg, where it went into camp. Here it remained until the latter part 
of October, industriously perfecting its discipline and drill and gaining the 
reputation of being the best drilled regiment in the division. From this point 
the regiment proceeded again to Warrenton where it arrived on the 6th of 
November. On the 11th it again broke camp and marched through Fay- 
etteville, Bealton station, Morrisville, Grove Church, Hartwood and Stafford 
C. H. , to Brook's station on the Acquia creek and Fredericksburg rail- 
road, where it erected snug quarters. Colonel Sinclair was now in com- 
mand of the brigade, and. Lieutenant Colonel M'Kean having resigned, Major 
Ent commanded the regiment. 

The Fredericksburg campaign began on the 8th of December, when the 
Sixth broke camp and marched to the north side of the Rappahannock, reach- 
ing the hills overlooking that town on the 11th instant. On the following 
morning it crossed the river about three miles below the city on a pontoon 
bridge, where a line of battle was formed at right angles with the river, the left 
of the brigade resting on it. At day-break on the 13th the pickets be- 
came engaged, and the Sixth led the brigade across a small stream and 
through a cornfield, in a dense fog, to the Bowling- Green road, where the line 
was re-formed. Here the enemy was found intrenched, and the brigade at 
once advanced to the attack, with the Sixth acting as skirmishers. One after 
the other, the three lines, though stubbornly contested, were taken. "The 
regiment had now lost more than one-third of its entire number, the brigade 
had suffered heavily, and Colonel Sinclair had been borne fi'om the field 
wounded, when the enemy was detected moving through the woods to the 
right in large numbers. At the same time a terrific lire of musketry was 
opened on the left of the brigade. The line began to waver, and no supporting 
troops being at hand, it finally yielded, and the regiment, with the brigade, fell 
back over the same ground on which it had advanced. In this battle, of the 
three hundred men who went into action, ten were killed, ninety-two wounded 
and nineteen missinof. 



136 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

On the 20th of December, the regiment went into camp at Belle Plain. 
It left its camp to participate in the " mud march, " and returned to remain 
^intil the 7th of February, 1863, when it was ordered to Alexandria. Here it 
•did guard and picket duty until the 20th of June, when it moved, to take part 
in the Gettysburg campaign. Marching by way of Dranesville, Edward's 
Perry, Frederick, Uuiontown and Hanover, it reached Gettysburg at two o' clock 
p. m. , of July 2d, and made a charge from Little Round Top. It remained 
in front all night, and on the 3d did skirmish duty. Toward evening the 
Sixth made another charge, recapturing one gun and five caissons, besides lib- 
erating a number of union prisoners. It remained on the skirmish line until 
the afternoon of the -ith, when it was relieved and allowed to camp on Little 
Bound Top. In this engagement the regiment lost two men killed, and Lieu- 
tenant Rockwell and twenty-one men wounded. 

The regiment took part in the pursuit of the retreating enemy as far as 
Falling Waters, engag(5d in a continuous skirmish on the way, and from the 14th, 
until the 18th of August, the regiment i-emained here engaging in reconnoissances 
which involved occasional skirmishes, when it went to Rappahannock station. 
Here it remained until the loth of September*. In the meantime, among other 
'Changes in the officers of the regiment, W. H. Ent had passed through the 
lower grades and been made colonel. It was therefore under his command 
that the Sixth proceeded on the 15th to Culpeper C. H., where it remained 
until the 10th of October. Two days later it crossed the river and took part 
in the engagement at Bristol station, having three men wounded with the 
enemy's shells. It shared in the various maneuvers of the army at this time, 
■and on the 26th of November again met the enemy at New Hope Church. 
The Sixth was deployed as skirmishers and sent forward to the support of the 
cavalry. The left wing of the regiment was twice charged by the enemy, but 
"without success. It's loss was two killed and four wounded. 

December 5th, the regiment went into winter quarters near Kettle Run, 
"where it passed an uneventful experience until the 2yth of April, 1864. At this 
time it broke camp and entered upon the spring campaign, reaching the Wil- 
dei-ness tavern on the 4th of May. On the next day the passage of the Wil- 
derness was begun, the Sixth being actively engaged in the fighting which took 
place on the 5th and 6th instants. It had a slight skirmish on the 7th; at 
Spottsylvania, on the 8th, it was engaged in heavy fighting, and on the 9th, 
moved to the right of the line and constructed rifle-pits; on the 10th it made 
two successful charges upon the enemy's works, and again on the 12th, Colo- 
nel Ent commanding the brigade. The loss of the regiment in these engage- 
ments was thirteen killed, sixty-four wounded and nine missing. In all this 
active campaign the Sixth was found in the front doing valiant service, on the 
22d capturing ninety men of Hill's corps. 

The battle at Bethesda Church occurred after the expiration of its term of 
service. Here the regiment was deployed as skirmishers, and had gained a 
position on the Mechanicsville road, when it was attacked by an overwhelming 
force and thrust back. It then protected its position by a rifle-pit, which the 
enemy charged with the determination to drive out its defenders, but was 
forced to retire with terrible punishment. Although but about one hundred 
and fifty strong, the Sixth captured one hundred and two prisoners and buried 
seventy-two of the enemy in front of their works. Colonel Ent and Captain 
Waters were wounded and nineteen men captured. On the 1st of June the 
regiment started for Harrisburg, and on the 14th was mustered out of the 
service. On the same day they reached Bloomsburg, where they were 
accorded an enthusiastic reception. The following were those who returned: 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 137 

Col. Wellington H. Ent, Adjutant George S. Coleman, First Lieutenant 
A. B. Jameson; Second Lieutenant H. J. Conner, commanding company; Ser- 
geants James Stanley, W. S. Margerum; Corporals W. H. Snyder, Benjamin 
F. Sharpless, Joseph R. Hess, Marks B. Hughes; Privates Charles Achenbach, 
H. C. Bowman, Alfred Eck, Thomas Griffiths, Henry Gotschall, William Hol- 
lingshead, Sylvester Hower, Theodore Mendenhall, A. W. Mann, Baltis Ster- 
ling, George' Waters, Nelson Bruner, Joseph S. Eck, Charles S. Fornwald, 
Samuel G. Gottschall, P. S. Hamlin, J. H. Hughes, John Kern, Augustus 
Willard, William Raup, Abraham Shortz, Alexander Zigler, Emanuel Kurtz. 

To the Forty-third regiment of the line (1st Artillery) Columbia and Mon- 
tour counties contributed some thirty- six men, but the officers who gave it a 
certain local character were from the former county and give it a claim to 
its glory that entitles it to extended mention in these pages. This regiment 
had its origin in the efforts of James Brady, of Philadelphia. On the 13th of 
April, 1861, he issued a call for volunteers for a regiment of light artillery. 
In three days he had thirteen hundi-ed men enrolled, but the tender of their 
services was not accepted, as it was not a militia organization. Before this 
decision was reached, however, the different companies, impatient with the 
delay, joined other regimental organizations until only some live hundred men 
remained. These were maintained by the officers and friends until the organ- 
ization of the Reserves was authorized, when four companies were accepted and 
ordered to Harrisburg. These were subsequently joined by four other compa- 
nies, and the regiment organized in June. It was ai'med and equipped by the 
state and the city of Philadelphia. In August the regiment was ordered to 
Washington, when it was fitted for field service, and encamped east of the 
Capitol. From this point the different batteries were assigned to various 
corps and dMsions of the army. 

Battery F, in which Columbia and Montour counties were represented, "was 
furnished in the month of August, 1861, with horses and equipments, and four 
smooth-bore pieces, and was transferred shoi-tly aft.er to the camp of the Reserve 
Corps at Tenallytown. On the 12th of September, it was ordered to join Gen- 
eral Banks' command at Darnestown, Maryland, and was never afterward in any 
way connected with the regiment or with the Reserves. On the 8th of October 
the battery was enlarged by the addition of two Parrott steel-rifled, ten-pounder 
guns, and immediately thereafter orders were received to move with the new sec- 
tion to Williamsport, Captain Matthews in command. Soon afterward. Sergeant 
Charles B. Brockway was elected second lieutenant, and placed in command of 
the detached section, and was sent to oppose the enemy making demonstrations 
at Hancock, Maryland. A slight skirmish ensued, in which the great accuracy 
of the rifled pieces was demonstrated, several men and horses of the enemy 
being killed and wounded by the first shell discharged. A few days later it 
was reported that the enemy were destroying the railroad in that vicinity, and 
Lieutenant Brockway was ordered to mask one of his pieces and open upon the 
party. The first shot struck the engine employed, and the second burst among 
the men, killing five and wounding twelve others. 

On the 20th of December, Lieutenant Rickett's section had an engagement 
at Dam No. 5, on the Potomac, where it was forced to retire after having one 
gun dismounted. In January, 1862, it joined General Lander's command and 
participated with signal effect in the fight with Jackson near Hancock. 

Until February, 1862, the guns were in service singly and in sections be- 
tween Edward's Ferry and Hancock, but on the 20th the sections were united 
at Hagerstown, where new equipments were received, and the guns furnished 



138 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

by the state were exchanged for six regulation, three-inch, rifled guns, to- 
gether with new carriages and Sibley tents. On the 1st of March the morn- 
ing report showed one hundred and nineteen effectives, officers and men, with 
one hundred and five horses. On the same day it moved with Bank's advance 
up the Shenandoah valley, and was prominently engaged in the actions at 
Bunker Hill, Winchester and Newtown, beside several reconnoissances in force. 

The battery encamped at Warrenton in the latter part of March, and fi'om 
there took part in the general movements in that region. In May it took part 
in the abortive attempt to cut off Jackson' s retreat, and on the 10th of August 
moved with McDowell's corps to stay the enemy's progress after the defeat of 
Banks. When Pope withdrew his forces across the Rappahannock, battery F 
was posted at the crossing to cover the retreat, where it did valiant service. 
It had two guns disabled and several horses killed, but the pieces were all 
bi'ought off. The batteiy was then ordered to Thoroughfare -Gap to dispute 
Longstreet's passage to reinforce Jackson. Brockway's section was pushed 
into position by hand, and held the enemy at bay until dark, when it was with- 
di'awn. On the 30th the battery was stationed on a hill near the Henry house. 
The rest of the guns were subsequently ordered elsewhere, leaving Brockway 
alone. A determined attack was made upon his position, and his supports 
having been driven away, his guns were captured, and all but three of its men 
disabled or captured. Another gun with a fresh detachment of men was 
placed under Lieutenant Brockway, with orders to fill " the chest with ammu- 
nition. " He was ordered to hold his position and maintain a slow fire until 
further instructed. This he did until dusk, when the enemy made a furious 
charge upon him. Supposing he was to be supported, he stoutly defended his 
position until he found himself and command in possession of the enemy. The 
union forces had safely crossed Bull Run in the meantime, and* Brockway' s 
command was simply left behind to deceive the enemy. The ruse was entirely 
successful; the retreat was effected with the loss of one gun and caisson and 
eight men. 

Only one gun was saved, and the remnant of the command marched all 
night and encamped on the following day at Centreville. Here the guns and 
horses of an Indiana battery were turned over to Captain Matthews, and with 
them the battery was i^artially refitted. At the battle of Chantilly it was in 
line but not engaged. At South mountain the battery was not engaged, and 
on the 15th of September it encamped on Antietam creek. On the next day it 
was moved to the right, where it occupied a position in Rickett's division. It 
first occupied the historic position near the Dunkard church, in the rear of a 
cornfield. The enemy's fire was soon concentrated upon it and it was advanced. 
The enemy several times charged the position unsuccessfully. Most of the 
battery horses were killed or wounded, and of the men, four were killed and 
fifteen wounded. 

On the 23d Lieutenant Ricketts rejoined the battery from recruiting serv- 
ice; Captain Matthews left on account of sickness, and never returned. From 
severe service the battery had been reduced from a six-gun to a two-gun bat- 
tery; the men were greatly redvtced in numbers and worn out with constant 
service, and the horses and equipments were equally reduced in effectiveness. 
Lieutenant Goldbad was dead, Brockway a prisoner. Captain Matthews and 
Lieutenant Case absent, prostrated by disease, and the men scattered by wounds, 
desertion and sickness. On the 1st of September, while encamped at Brook's 
station. Lieutenant Ricketts was ordered to Washington, where he obtained 
two guns, fourteen men and twenty-nine horses. On the lOth the battery was 
ordered to Falmouth, where it was posted to cover the laying of pontoon 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 139 

bridges. It remained here during the action of the next three days, and con- 
tributed conspicuous aid in the movement across the river. With the ending 
of this movement the battery retired to Belle Plain and went into winter quar- 
ters. Lieutenant Brockway was exchanged and returned to his command 
shortly after the battle of Fredericksburg. Early in January, 1863, the bat- 
tery was transferred to the Third division of the First corps, and upon the 
promotion of Captain Matthews, Lieutenant R. B. Ricketts was promoted to 
the captaincy. 

The movement upon Chancellorsville opened on the 27th of April. Bat- 
tery F took part in this movement, and on the 2d of May was ordered to 
relieve Seeley's regular battery, which had sufPered heavily in the previous 
day's fighting. The enemy's line was only two hundred and fifty yards away, 
and Captain Ricketts was instructed to hold the position at all hazards. The 
battery was the center of repeated assaults, but its death- dealing engines each 
time forced the enemy to recoil with terrible slaughter. 

On the 13th of May, the battery was ordered to report to General Tyler, in 
command of the reserve artillery. On the 15th, the battery moved by forced 
marches toward Pennsylvania, arriving on the field of Gettysburg on July 2d, 
and taking position in fi'ont of the cemetery gate. It was almost instantly 
engaged, and soon after was charged by the Louisiana Tigers. The battery 
occupied an exposed position. Captain Ricketts had been advised that the 
enemy would probably make a desperate attempt to take it, and he was ordered 
to hold his position to the last extremity. He recognized the desperate char- 
acter of the attack, and, charging his pieces with canister, poui'ed in deadly vol- 
leys at the rate of four discharges per minute. Never before defeated in a charge, 
the Tigers held on their way undaunted, and were soon among the guns bayonet- 
ing the gunners. The guidon was planted in one of the earthworks, and an 
officer of the enemy was in the act of seizing it when its bearer rode up and shot 
the assailant down. He leveled his revolver again, but before he could fire 
was prostrated by the enemy. The guidon at length fell into the hands of the 
enemy. Observing this, Lieutenant Brockway seized a stone and felled the 
captor to the ground. A scene of the wildest confusion ensued, and both con- 
testants struggled with the most desperate valor. It ended in the crushing 
defeat of the enemy, who, coming forward seventeen hundi-ed strong, retired 
with barely six hundred. The loss of the battery in this engagement was nine 
killed, foiu'teen wounded and three taken prisoners, one-half of the number 
actually engaged. 

In Mead's campaign, during the remaining months of 1863, the battery 
participated. At Bristoe station it acted with especial gallantry, and was 
complimented in general orders. On the 22d of November, Lieutenant Brock- 
way commenced re-enlisting the men for the veteran service, and soon after 
went into winter quarters. Early in January, 1864:, over one hundred men 
having been re-enlisted, they were re-enrolled on the 10th, remustered for 
three years, and granted the usual veteran furlough. After the expiration of 
their furlough, the men rendezvoused at Chester, Pennsylvania, where the 
company was recruited to two hundi-ed. About the 1st of March it returned 
to its old camp on Mountain run, and the surplus men were distributed to 
other batteries. 

On the 4th of May, the army under the command of Grant again turned 
its march toward Richmond, and Battery F moved with it, crossing at Ely' s 
ford. At noon of the 5th the enemy was met in the beginning of the Wilder- 
ness. Here the batteiy was early brought into action, and did especial execu- 
tion with its percussion shells. With this battle began the series of movements. 



140 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

which terminated at Petersburg. At Cold Harbor the battery was attached to 
the Eighteenth corps, and was sharply engaged. For six days the battery was 
in the line of battle without relief, but on the 8th of June it was returned to 
the Second corps. On the 11th, this corps reached the James river, and was 
soon in position before Petersburg. The battery took part in the diversion 
toward Deep Bottom, from which it returned to the lines about the city, and 
continued to take part in the siege until the final surrender. Qn the 3d of 
April it went into camp at City Point. From this place it subsequently went 
to Washington, where its guns and horses were turned over, and the company 
dispatched to Harrisburg. On the 10th of June, 1865, it was mustered out of 
the service. 

The Fifty-second regiment contained one company (company G) formed in 
Columbia county, and another (company A) in which a number of its citizens were 
enrolled. This regiment was recruited under the president's call in July, 
1861, and was organized on the 7th of October, at Camp Curtin. On the 8th 
of November it proceeded to Washington, and went into camp at Kalorama 
Heights. In January, 1862, it moved into comfortable barracks, where it 
remained until the 28th of March, when it was summoned to the field. It 
first faced the enemy at Lee's Mills, but was principally engaged in the flank- 
ing movement which caused the confederates to abandon their fortifications at 
Yorktown. On the 20th, with its corps, the regiment took position opposite 
Bottom's bridge, on the left bank of the Chickahominy, and on the 23d en- 
gaged with others in slashing timber to form a defense about the head of the 
bridge. On the 24th the Fifty-second took part in a reconnoissance toward 
Richmond, and, developing the enemy in force, it was deployed as skirmishers. 
A spirited tight ensued, and a partial success gained, but being under orders 
not to bring on a general engagement, the pursuit of the wavering enemy was 
not pushed. On the succeeding three days the force was cautiously pushed 
forward to within five miles of Richmond, and went into camp a half mile 
beyond Fair Oaks. 

The battle of Fair Oaks was fought on the 30fch of May. The regiment 
was greatly depleted by details at guard at different points, and from its ad- 
vanced position came into action later than the rest of the brigade. It nar- 
rowly escaped capture, and behaved itself with such gallantry as to be honor- 
ably mentioned in the report of General McClellan. A month intervened be- 
fore the regiment was again called into action. On the 26th the enemy at- 
tacked the right wing of the army, and on the following day involved the 
Fifty-second, which stood in water waist-deep. For five days the safety of the 
army depended on the brigade of which the regiment formed a part. The de- 
fense of the bridges in the White Oak Swamp was assigned to this command, 
and many of the men were compelled, during the most of this time, to stand 
in the water up to their waists. It retired with the army to Harrison's land- 
ing, and finally to Yorktown. 

In December the Fifty-second was ordered to North Carolina, with the 
probable purpose of attacking Wilmington, but a severe storm at sea balked 
this plan. On the 29th of January, 1863, it proceeded to Port Royal, and on 
the 6th of April embarked for Charleston, but the naval attack failing, the 
regiment finally returned to Beaufort. On the 5th of July it took part in the 
expedition up the Stone river. Landing on the James island it was attacked 
on the 16th by a heavy force of the enemy, and on the following night, finding 
their assailants too powerful, the command was successfully withdrawn. On 
the next night, at dark, the regiment reached the head of Folly island, and 
siibsequently took part in the work of constructing approaches to Fort Wag- 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 141 

ner. When it was decided to carry the fort by direct assault, the Fifty-second 
was ordered to pass Fort Wagner on the beach and charge Fort Gregg, but 
the evacuation of the fort made this hazardous du.ty unnecessary. 

In December, 18G3, a large portion of the regiment re-enlisted, and was 
granted a furlough. Upon its retu.rn it was recruited to its full comple- 
ment, newly armed, and attached to the Tenth corps. It was by some unex- 
plained circumstance detained at Hilton Head. From this point it partici- 
pated in several reconoissances, and in July, 18G4, took part in the vain attempt 
to capture Charleston. The attack on Fort Johnson was assigned to the Fifty- 
second. The approach was made by boat, but, owing to miscalculations, the 
fort was not I'eached until daylight. It nevertheless made the assault, but 
the gai'rison, only partially surprised, rallied in overwhelming numbers and 
captured the whole party that gained an entrance. One hundred and thirty- 
five men were thus captured or killed, more than fifty of the former perishing 
in the Andersonville or Columbia prisons. 

The regiment remained on Morris island during the summer and autumn, 
working the heavy siege guns, and doing picket duty on the harbor. On the 
18th of February, 1865, it was suspected that Fort Sumter was evacucated, 
and Major Hennessy, taking a select boat crew and the old flag of the regiment, 
cautiously scaled the old ruin to find it abandoned. He at once proceeded to 
Charleston and received its formal surrender. Here the regiment remained 
until Sherman's army came through the state, when it joined company, con- 
tinuing to near Raleigh, where Johnson surrendered in April. A few weeks' 
duty at Saulsbury concluded its service, when it proceeded to Harrisburg, and 
on the 12th of July, 1865, was mustered out. 

In the Eighty-fourth regiment, company D was recruited chiefly in Colum- 
bia county with some from Montour and other counties. It was locally known 
as the ' * Hurley Guards. ' ' The regiment was recruited from August to Octo- 
ber, 1861, and in the latter month was organized at Camp Austin. It was 
ordered to Hancock, Maryland, arriving on the 2d of January, 1862, where 
it was armed. During the winter and spring it was employed in the Shenan- 
doah valley with General Lander's command in opposing Jackson's move- 
ments. On the 23d of March, 1862, it was suddenly attacked and severely 
handled before other troops could be brought to its aid, and out of two hun- 
dred and sixty men who went into the fight, twenty-three were killed, and six- 
ty-seven were wounded. 

The Eighty- fourth, after doing provost duty in the town of Berry ville 
until the 2d of May, joined in the general advance up the valley. The regi- 
ment had one or two sharp skirmishes, but was very much worn down by the 
laborious marching. On the 25th of June Samuel M. Bowman was made 
colonel of the regiment, and in the following month the regiment broke camp 
and joined Pope's army. It was present at the battle of Cedar mountain, but 
was not seriously engaged. On the 14th it joined in pursuit of the enemy; it 
took part in the movement to Thoroughfare -Gap, but took little part in the 
action there. At the second battle of Bull Run, it narrowly escaped capture, and 
when it arrived within the defenses at Washington there were scarcely seventy 
men fit for duty. 

Here it was assigned to light duty, remaining until the middle of October. 
In the meantime, through the efforts of Colonel Bowman, the regiment re- 
ceived about four hundi'ed recruits, and in October was ordered to rejoin the 
army. In the battle of Fredericksburg, which followed, the Eighty-fourth 
assaulted the works of the enemy, and received particular mention for " cool- 
ness, judgment and unsparing bravery" in General Carroll's report. In the 



142 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

Chancellorsville campaign, the regiment, after severe marching for some five 
'days, on the '2d of May, 1863, was brought in contact with the enemy. On 
the following day it became involved by the inclosing columns of the enemy, 
and only escaped capture by the most intrepid conduct, capturing some thirty 
prisoners while extricating themselves. 

In the Gettysburg campaign, the regiment was assigned to protect the corps 
train on its arrival at Taneytown, and immediately proceeded with it to West- 
minster, where it was employed in forwarding supplies. Upon the return of 
the army to Virginia it had numerous skirmishes with the enemy, and after 
the conclusion of the campaign at Mine run, returned to the neighborhood of 
Brandy station and went into winter quarters. In January, 1864, a consid- 
erable number of the regiment re-enlisted and were granted veteran furlough. 
On the 6th of February it started toward the Rapidan. On the opening of the 
Wilderness campaign, it proceeded with its corps by the Germania Ford. The 
regiment had several brisk skirmishes, and on the 12th of May it joined 
the corps of Hancock in its brilliant charge. Until the 14th of June each 
day brought its skirmish. On this date it crossed the James, and at once en- 
gaged in the operations of the seige. It took part in the diversion toward Deep 
Bottom ; returning to the lines in front of Petersburg it resumed its part in the 
attack, and later took part in a second diversion toward Deep Bottom. It was 
subsequently transferred to the extreme left of the line about Petersburg, and 
early in October participated in a desperate charge upon the enemy's works. 
In October, the men whose term of service had expired were mustered out, and 
the veterans and recruits were organized into a battalion, of four companies, 
which remained on duty until the 13th of January, 1865, when it was consoli- 
dated with the Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania. The battalion took part in the 
operations on the Weldon railroad. It was finally mustered out on the 29th 
of June, 1865. 

In the One Hundred and Twelfth regiment (Second Artillery), company F 
was largely recruited in Columbia county. On the recommendation of General 
McClellan, President Lincoln authorized the organization of a battalion of 
heavy artillery. This was afterward extended to a regiment. The rendezvous 
was established at Camden, New Jersey, and in January, 1862, the regimental 
organization was completed. Batteries D, G and H were ordered to Fort Del- 
aware, and on the 25th of February the balance of the regiment was trans- 
ferred to the defense of Washington. 

In the spring of 1864, although the regiment numbered more than eighteen 
hundred men, recruits still continued to come in, and it was accordingly deter- 
mined to form a new regiment from the surplus men. Officers were selected 
from the members of the original regiment to command the new one so long as 
their services were needed, and then to be returned to the old organization. 
On the 27th of May, 1864, the original regiment was ordered to join the army 
of the Potomac, and on the 28th reached Port Royal on the Rappahannock. 
On the 4th of June it joined the Eighteenth corps at Cold Harbor. Being too 
large to maneuver as infantry, the regiment was divided into three battalions, 
company F being in the second battalion under the command of Captain Jones. 

On the 18th of June the Second battalion was ordered to join in a charge 
on the enemy's works before Petersburg. Owing to a failure on the part of 
other troops the battalion found itself isolated and a target for the concentrated 
fire of the enemy. Screening themselves in some tall oats, the men constructed 
a temporary defense with the aid of their cups and bayonets, and the line thus 
seized was afterward retained until the fall of the city. During the months of 
June, July and August, the regiment did arduous work in the trenches, losing 
in that time more than one-half its effective strengrth. 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 143 

At Fort Harrison, on the 20th of September, the First and Second battal- 
ions of the regiment, under Major Anderson, were ordered to attack the con- 
federate works in the rear; lack of support rendered the movement unsuccess- 
ful, and with ranks decimated by two hundred killed, wounded and prison- 
ers, they were compelled to fall back, their gallant leader himself being among 
the slain. His commission as colonel reached regimental headquarters only 
one day later. Captain W. M. McClure, of company F, was appointed to the 
position of colonel, after the death of Anderson, and captain S. D. Straw- 
bridge was promoted to fill the position of lieutenant-coloneL On the 2d of 
December, the regiment was ordered to the Bermuda front, and while there, 
in January, 1865, its original term of service expired. A large number of the 
men having re-enlisted, however, these with recruits secured, soon enabled 
the regiment to show an effective force of over two thousand men. 

After the evacuation of Petersburg, it was assigned to duty in that city, 
and upon the surrender of Lee, a week later, the different companies were sta- 
tioned at various points in Virginia, as provost guards. When the departments 
were established, these troops were relieved, and on the 29th of February, 
1865, the regiment was mustered out at City Point. From this place it pro- 
ceeded to Philadelphia, where the men were disbanded. 

The One Hundred and Thirty-second regiment (nine months' service) was 
recruited in the north central part of the state, and was composed of an un- 
usually fine body of men. Companies E and H were recruited in Columbia 
county, and were locally known as the " Columbia County Guards " and " Cat- 
awissa Guards." They left for Harrisburg early in August, 1862, and were 
mustered into the service on the 14th and 13th, respectively. On the 19th 
the regiment proceeded to Washington, and were encamped near Fort Corcoran, 
on the Virginia side of the Potomac. On the 2d of September, it moved to 
Rockville, Maryland, and, on the 13th, made a forced march of thirty-three 
miles, reaching the battle-field of South mountain just as the fighting for the 
day closed. It participated in the pursuit of the enemy, and on the 17th was 
brought in contact with the enemy in close quarters. For four hours the reg- 
iment maintained its position without wavering. The loss of the regiment 
was thirty killed, one hundred and fourteen wounded and eight missing. 

After the battle, it moved with its corps to Harper's Ferry, and encamped 
on Bolivar Heights. On the 31st of October, it joined in the movement on 
Fredericksburg, and in the attack of December, the regiment was ordered to 
charge the works on Marys' s Heights. In this trying ordeal they won the 
highest encomiums from its brigade commander. After this battle, the regi- 
ment encamped at Falmouth, until near the close of April, 1863. When the 
movement to Chancellorsville commenced, the term of service of a portion of 
the men had expired, but when the order to march was received, there was not 
a murmur, as they promptly responded. In this fight, the regiment lost about 
fifty killed and wounded. On the 14th of May, its term of service having 
fully expired, it was relieved from duty, and returned to HaiTisburg, where, 
on the 24th, it was mustered out. 

Company I, of the One Hundred and Thirty-sixth regiment, was recruited 
from Crawford, Centre and Columbia counties, the latter contributing some eight- 
een men. It was mustered into the service for nine months, on August 14th, 
1862, at Camp Curtin. On the 29th, the regiment was ordered to Washing- 
ton, in the vicinity of which it was kept, until the Fredericksburg campaign. 
In the attack on the latter place, the regiment suffered a loss of one hundred 
and forty in killed, wounded and missing. It took part in the subsequent 
movements of this army, and in the battle of Chancellorsville saw some hard 



144 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

fighting, and did excellent service. It was subsequently employed, chiefly in; 
routine duties, and on the 29th of May, 1863, was mustered out. 

The repeated attempts of General Lee to effect a foothold in Pennsylvania 
were a subject of constant fear. The exposed condition of the state, which had 
suggested the organization of the Reserve corps, was not improved when the 
exigencies of the national cause called these troops to the front, and when the 
confederate army, after its victory over Pope, began to press northward, it be- 
came apparent that new efforts must be made for home defense. On the 4th 
of September, 1862, therefore. Governor Curtin called upon the militia to arm. 
On the 10th, the danger was more imminent, and a call was issued to all able- 
bodied men to provide their own guns and ammunition, and hold themselves 
in readiness to answer a summons to the field; and on the following day fifty 
thousand of this militia were called for. The people everywhere flew to arms. 
Columbia county sent out four companies of these "emergency men." Two 
were mustered in as companies B and D in the Thirteenth regiment of the militia 
of 1862, from the 12th to the 17th, and were discharged on the 25th or 26th of 
September; a third was mustered on the 15th of September, as company G, 
in the Twenty-first regiment, and discharged in the last week of the same month. 
The fourth left Bloomsburg on the 22d of September, but was probably not 
mustered into any regimental organization. There were some twenty-five of 
these' regiments, besides a number of independent organizations, assembled 
within two weeks. They were rapidly concentrated at Hagerstown, Cham- 
bersburg and Greencastle. Happily the battles of South mountain and An- 
tietam, on September 14th-17th, rendered the services of the militia no longer 
necessary and they were as quickly as possible disbanded. 

In the One Huudi-ed and Seventy-first regiment, of the drafted militia, 
Columbia county was represented by some dozen or fifteen, divided between 
several companies. This regiment was organized at Camp Curtin about the 
middle of November, 1862, and, on the 27th, left camp for Washington. 
From the capital it proceeded to Norfolk, and thence to Su.ffolk, Virginia. On 
the 28th of December it broke camp, and, under orders, went to Newbern, 
North Carolina, where it took part in the movements of the army in this region; 
until near the close of June, 1863, when it was ordered to Fortress Monroe. 
From this point it participated in a demonstration against Richmond in favor 
of Meade at Gettysburg. On the 3d of August, it proceeded to Harrisburg, 
where it was mustered oiit a few days later. 

In the One Hundred and Seventy-eighth regiment, of the drafted militia, 
companies A, H, I and a considerable number in F, were from Columbia 
county. The men assembled in Camp Curtin fi'om the 20th to the 25th of Oc- 
tober, 1862, where, on the 2d of December, regimental organization was 
effected. On the 5th of December, the regiment moved to Washington, and 
on the 10th, proceeded to Newport News. About a week later, it marched to. 
Yorktown where it encamped, and on the 2yth went inside the fortifications 
and commenced drill and garrison duty. In April the regiment was ordered 
out to relieve a small garrison near Williamsburg, threatened by the enemy, 
but there was no determined attack. In June it participated in a reconnois- 
sance on the peninsula to Charles City and Providence ferry. The One Hun- 
dred and Seventy- eighth took part in the demonstration against Richmond in 
favor of General Meade at Gettysburg, and was in the column directed toward 
Bottom's bridge, on the Chickahominy. Here the regiment had a slight skir- 
mish. It was soon ordered to Harrisburg, where, on the 27th of July, 1863, it 
was mustered out. 

In 1863 another ' ' emergency ' ' arose. The confederate victories at Fred- 




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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTV. 147 

ericksburg, in December, 1862, and on the field of Chancellorsville, in May, 
1863, invited General Lee again to attempt an invasion of Pennsylvania. 
Some knowledge of this design came to the national authorities, and as a pre- 
cautionary measure, on June 9, 1863, two departments were established, that 
of the Monongahela embracing that portion of Pennsylvania west of Johns- 
town and the Laurel Hill range, and portions of West Virginia and Ohio, with 
headquarters at Pittsburgh, under the command of Major-General W. T. H. 
Brooks; and that of the Susquehanna, comprising the remaining portion of 
Pensylvania, with headqu.arters at Harrisburg, under the command of Major- 
General D. N. Couch. These officers were authorized to organize departmental 
corps, and on assuming command they issued orders calling upon the peo- 
ple of the state to volunteer. Governor Curtin aided in this movement, but 
the call came when the farmers were busiest with their farm cares, and so many 
unfounded fears of invasion had been previously raised that the call was to a 
large extent unheeded. 

It daily became more apparent that there had been no mistake made in the 
judgment formed of the enemy's designs, and on the 15th of June the president 
called for fifty thousand men from Pennsylvania, to serve for six months. 
Troops began to arrive at the capital soon after, but there was still a reluctance 
to volunteer manifested, which Governor Cm'tin sought to overcome by grant- 
ing the option to the men of being mustered for six months, or the emergency. 
Eight regiments were soon enrolled for the ' 'emergency, ' ' and meanwhile the 
threatening danger grew more imminent. At this juncture all reluctance passed 
away, and men came pouring into Harrisburg. The approaches to the capital 
were fortified. Chambersburg was occupied, and the militia was soon in con- 
tact with the advance of the rebel army. On the 26th another more pressing 
call was issued by the governor, and the people, alive to the real danger, flew 
to arms. The greater part of the troops assembled at Harrisburg were pushed 
up the Cumberland valley, part joining the army of the Potomac, and part 
standing in readiness to participate in the battle expected to take place at 
Williamsport. During the first three days of July, the battle of Gettysburg 
was fought, and with the defeat of Lee ended the danger of invasion, ^^'ith 
this the demand for further service on the part of the ' ' emergency men ' ' 
ceased, and in the months of August and September the majority of the men 
were mustered out. With few exceptions, they were not brought in serious 
conflict with the enemy, but they none the less rendered efficient service. 

Columbia county was represented by companies C and H, of the Twenty- 
Eighth regiment of militia, by company E of the Thirtieth regiment, and by 
companies H and I of the Thirty- Fifth. 

Of the Two HiTndred and Ninth regiment, of the one year's service, com- 
pany E was recruited in Columbia county. The regiment was organized on 
the 16th of September, 1864, at camp Ciu'tin. It was immediately ordered to 
join the army of the James at Bermuda Hundred and was employed in such duties 
as would free the more experienced troops for active operations. On the 17th of 
November it had a lively brush with the enemy in repelling an attack on the 
picket line. On the 24th it was transferred to the army of the Potomac, and 
during the winter was chiefly engaged in fatigue duty on the roads and fortifi- 
cations. On the 25th of March. 1865, they were called into action by an at- 
tack of the enemy, and won high compliments from the corps commander for 
their gallantry and steadiness in a very trying situation. On the 2d of April, 
the regiment participated in a charge upon the enemy's lines, and notwith- 
standing it was exposed to a fearful fire of infantry and artillery, they pushed 
on unfalteringly, captured the line and held it. After the evacuation of Pe- 
te 



148 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

tersburg, the regiment was employed in repairing the railroad track to Notto- 
way C. H. , where it was held until the 20th, when it returned to City Point, 
and thence to Alexandi'ia, where it went into camp. On the 31st of May, its 
recruits were transferred to another regiment, and the balance of the men 
mustered out of the service. 

In the spring of 1805 a company was recruited in Columbia county for the 
' ' one year' s service. ' ' Some eighteen or twenty of its members, however, were 
drawn fi'om Wyoming county. This was assigned to the Seventy-Fourth reg- 
iment, and designated as company H. In March it joined the regiment, which 
was then doing garrison duty on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, with head- 
quarters at Green Spring. In the early part of April the regiment was ordered 
to Beverly, where it remained doing guard and picket duty until the 12th of 
May. It was then ordered to Clarksburg as guard for the stores deposited there. 
The headquarters were removed subsequently to Parkersburg, and the reg- 
iment detailed in squads and companies to guard the Parkersburg branch of 
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. It was mustered out on the 29th of August 
at Clarksburg, and immediately sent to Pittsburgh, where it was finally dis- 
banded. 

Another company was recruited in the county about the same time, which 
was mustered into the service and assigned in March. I860, as company B, to 
the One Hundred and Third regiment. They served in the Albemarle district 
in North Carolina, and were finally mustered out at Newbern, on June 25, 
1865. 

In other regiments there were from one to six or eight men from Columbia 
county, among which may be mentioned the Fifth, Fifty- Seventh, Eightieth, 
Eighty-First, One Hundred and Sixth, One Hundred and Fifty-Second, One 
Hundred and Sixty-first, and the Two Hundred and Tenth. 

Since the disturbed period of the ' ' war, ' ' Cohimbia county has rapidly de- 
veloped. The county seat has been the center of progressive activity, and, with 
increased facilities for shipping, its natural advantages are certain to invite 
manufactures and interests which will eventually make the borough a large, 
thriving town. Its beautiful and healthful location on the side of protecting 
hills, with its view of hill, dale and river, will attract those who resort to such 
scenes from the heat and dirt of the city. A beginning has been made in this 
direction in the founding of the sanitarium. This institution has not always 
received the unqualified indorsement of the medical fraternity, but the natural 
advantages of the place will eventually overcome professional scruples or lead 
to the establishment of such as will meet the most intelligent scrutiny. 

It is difficult to give a complete resume of the growth of this profession in 
the county. While the center of its influence is to be found at the county seat 
there were many — in the days of long country rides — important practitioners in 
the remoter parts of the county, such as Doctor Parks, and there are such still. 
A resume of the profession in the vicinity of Bloomsburg and vicinity, how- 
ever, while not including everyone in the county, will yet serve to illustrate the 
general career of the fraternity. 

There is no account of doctors here prior to 1807. In that and the fol- 
lowing year, an enterprising Yankee ' ' blazed the way' ' for the succession of 
professional gentlemen that have since graced the fraternity. This adventur- 
ous knight of the pill-bag and lancet was Dr. Ethel B. Bacon, who was popu- 
larly known as the Yankee doctor. He came from Kingston. At that time 
tliere were few physicians, and his j)ractice extended to the headwaters of 
Fishing Creek. He stood high in the estimation of the people, but removed, 
in 1817, to W^ellsboro, where he engaged in farming. 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 149 

About 1816 Doctors Townsend and Krider came to Bloomsburg. The 
former remained only a short time, but Doctor Krider continued his practice 
until his death. About 1818 Doctor Roe came and divided his time between 
the practice of his profession and teaching. He removed to a point further up 
Fishing creek. Doctors Ebenezer Daniels and Harmon Gearhart came about 
1823, though the former apparently came lirst and was well established in the 
confidence of the people when the latter came. Dr. Daniels located at Cata- 
wissa and then gave the following testimonial to his less experienced contem- 
porary : 

Catawissa, May 24, 1823. 

Having had an acquaintance with Doctor H. Gearhart ever since he commenced the 
study of Medicine and having frequently conversed with him on Medical subjects since his 
return from the University of Philadelphia last spring, I am entirely satisfied that he is 
eminently qualified to practice Medicine with safety and advantage to those who may be 
the subjects of his care, and with honor to himself and the profession. 

Ebenezer Dakiels. 

Mr. Daniels remained until about 1834, when he sold his practice to Doctor 
John Uamsay, and removed to Indianapolis. Mr. Gearhart died in 1833, with 
the esteem of those who knew him. 

The year of 1825 was marked by the prevalence of a bilious fever of un- 
usual virulence throughout the county. In Bloom township alone there were 
seventy-one deaths. Doctor Ramsay was a large-hearted man, who was much en- 
deared to the community by his sympathetic nature. He early took a leading 
place in the direction of public affairs, and was especially active in educational 
matters. He died suddenly in 1803, leaving the whole community to mourn 
his loss. Doctor William Petriken came here after the death of Mr. Gearhart. 
He was the son of Doctor David Petriken, of Danville, who had a great reputation, 
and was invariably called in to counsel on critical cases. His son, William, inher- 
ited his father's ability, and would undoubtedly have taken a high place in his 
profession, had not his career suddenly ended, in 1842, by a sudden death. 
David Scott located in Bloomsburg about the same time, and his name has been 
perpetuated as the popular designation of a subui'b of the town, where he built 
the first house. He subsequently removed to Kansas. 

Doctor Thomas Nastine practiced here for a short time about 1833; he subse- 
quently went to Williamsport, and from there to St. Louis. Doctor Hawkins 
came here in 1846; he remained here only a short time, and moved to Mich- 
igan. George Hill located here about the same time, and remained three or 
four years in the practice of his profession, when he removed to Muncy. Soon 
after Doctor Hill came Doctor Thomas Butler, who was associated with the for- 
mer in business. Doctor J. B. McKelvey began practice at Mifflinville in 1849; 
he soon moved to Graysville, Kentucky, some nine months later he removed 
to Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and in 1851 returned to Bloomsburg, where he is 
still practicing. 

About 1855 F. C. Harrison came to the county, and for a time practiced at 
Mifflinville. He had a large patronage, but subsequently went to Lewisburg, 
and engaged in banking. After his departure. Doctor Wells, of A\"ilkesban-e, 
located there for a short time. About the same time, William H. Bradley lo- 
cated at Bloomsburg, but soon abandoned his professional labors for the edi- 
torial field. In 1868 Doctor Reber began the practice of medicine in this place. 
Prior to his coming here he was a surgeon in the United States navy, and his 
varied experience during the war of the rebellion was an admirable school to fit 
him for the successfiil practice he now enjoys. Doctor Evans began the prac- 
tice of the profession also in 1861, and still continues. Doctor A. L. Turner 
came from New York in 1870, and took charge of the sanitarium. In 1874 



150 HISTORV OF COLUMBIA COUNTV. 

Doctor F. B. Gardner came here from Tennessee. He was a surgeon of high 
rank in the Confederate service. In 1875 Doctor H. W. McKeynolds located 
in Bloomsburg, coming from Buckhorn, where he had practiced for a number 
of years. 

The Columbia County Medical Society had its origin in 1858. On July 
Slst of that year, a meeting of physicians was held at Bloomsburg, over which 
Doctor Ramsay presided, and to which the members of the profession in Montour 
county were invited. Among the original members were John Ramsay, J. 
K. Robbins, George Scott, J. D. Strawbridge, H. W. McReynolds, W. M. 
Beckley, F. C. Harrison, R. S. Lemington, W. H. Magill, Jacob Schuyler, D. 
W. Montgomery and George Yeomans. Messrs. J. K. Robbins, F. C. Harri- 
son and J. B. McKelvey were appointed to frame a constitution. In the fol- 
lowing month it was decided to make the society auxiliary to the state society, and 
to extend an invitation to the profession of Northumberland county to unite 
with them. In view of this enlarged membership, the name was changed to 
the Susqu.ehanna Union Medical Society; but on June 21, 1864, it was changed 
to Columbia and Montour Medical Society, and still later it was changed to its 
original title. This society includes about one-fourth of the practicing physi- 
cians of the county. 

By the act of June 8, 1881, it was provided that the names of all medical 
practitioners, with their residence and name of institution by which their degree 
was conferred, should be recorded. Physicians practicing in the state since 
1871, were permitted to continue, if not graduated by a medical school, and 
the blanks in the following table indicate those whose experience gave them legal 
standing in the medical fraternity. The names of those who have moved are 
omitted : 



RESIDENCE. 



DATE OF MED- INSTITUTION 

ICAL DIPLOMA. BY WHICH DEGREE OF M. D. WAS CONFERRED. 



John K. Robbing Catawissa March 10, 1842 Jefferson Mfdical College. 

J. B. McKelvey Bloomsburg April 8, 1848 University of Pennsylvania. 

Hugh W. McReynolds.. Bloomsburg April 8, 1848 University of Peiinsylvania. 

Jacob Schuyler Bloomsburg March 7, 1843 Pennsylvania Medical College. 

John C. Rutter Bloomsburg March 3, 1855 Homeopathic ^ledical College of Penna. 

William M. Reber Bloomsburg March 10, 1863 Jefferson Medical College. 

Benjamin F. Gardner... Bloomsburg March 11, 1861 Medical College of Virginia. 

Isaiah W. Willits Bloomsburg March 11, 1875 Jefferson Medical College. 

Luther B. Kline Catawissa March 9,1867 Jefferson Medical College. 

Thomas J. Swisher Jerseytown ISIarchlO. 1862 .Bellevue Hospital Medical College, N. Y. 

Alex B. McCrea Berwick June 1, 1865 Long Island Hospital Medical College, N. Y. 

George L.Reagan Berwick June, 1865 University of Vermont. 

Frederick W. Redeker..Espy March 12, 1878 Jefferson Medical College. 

Alfred P.Stoddart Orangeville March 10,1850 Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia. 

J. Jordan Brown Milllinville March 12, 1870 Jefferson Medical College. 

Thomas C. McHenry Benton March 30, 1870 University of Pennsylvania. 

Ralph M. Lashell Centralia 

David H. Montgomery ..Mifllinville March 10, 1852 Philadelphia College of Medicine. 

John B. Patton Millville February 23, 1869.. ..Philadelphia University of Medicine and Sur.-cry. 

David H. Montgomery..MifHinville March 10, 1852 Philadelphia College of Medicine. 

John B. Patton Millville February 23, 1869. ..Philadelphia University of Medicine and Surgery, 

Josiah Smith Berwick April 1, 1854 University of Pennsylvania. 

James K. Montgomery..Buckhorn March 13, 1880 Jefferson Medical College. 

Abia P. Heller Millville February 22, 1854. ..Eclectic ISledical College of Penna. 

Pius Zimmerman Numidia April 2, 1883 Jefferson Medical College. 

J. H. Vastine Catawissa March, 1858 Jefferson Medical College. 

Charles C. Willits Catawissa March 30, 1882 Jefferson Medical College. 

John W. Carothers Berwick April 13, 1883 University of Pennsylvania. 

Laforest A. 'Shattuck... Bloomsburg May 6, 1869 Eclectic Medical College, N. Y. 

Charles T. Steck Mainville March 28, 1878 University of Pennsylvania. 

John G. Schaller Rohrsburg. 

Samuel A. Gibson Berwick. 

George L. Jolly Orangeville March 1, 1883 Jefferson Medical College. 

John C. Wintersteen Numidia April 2, 1886 Jefferson Medical College. 

W. T. Vance Rohrsburg March 3, 1881 University of Maryland, Baltimore. 

Norman J. Hendershott Bloomsburg. 

Isaac L. Edwards Benton March 11, 1870 Jefferson Medical College. 

Isaac E. Patterson Benton March 12, 1869 Jefferson Medical College. 

William B. Bobbins Catawissa March 12, 1873 Jefferson Medical College. 

David E. Krebs Eighth Street. ..March 3, 1857 Pennsylvania Medical College, Philadelphia. 

Frank P.Hill Berwick March 14, 1876 Jefferson Medical College. 

Everett W. Rutter Berwick March 6, 1874 Hahnemann Medical College, I'hihideliibia. 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 151 



NAME. RESIDENCE. 



DATE OF MED- INSTITUTION 

ICAL DIPLOMA. BY WHICH DEGREE OF M. D. WAS CONFERRED. 

Jonathan K. Goedner... Berwick. 

B. Frank t^ha^pless Catawissa March 23, 1880 Jefferson Medical College. 

Christian Leaker Buckhorn March 12, 1877 University of Pennsylvania. 

Joseph K. M.Evans Bloomsburg March 5, 1859 Jefferson Medical College. 

O. A.Megargell Orangeville June l.S, 1859 Castleton Medical College, Vermont. 

Louis J. .•\dani3.... Evausville March 10, 1877 Jefferson Medical College. 

John C. Fruit Jerseyiown March 7, 1857 Jefferson Medical College. 

Honora A. Bobbins Btoomsburg University of Pennsylvania. 



CHAPTER VI. 
BLOOMSBUEG. 



THE observer, standing on the Ruj)ert hills and looking up the valley of 
the northeast branch of the Susquehanna, beholds a scene spread out be- 
fore him which rivals in quiet beauty the most famous landscapes in the country. 
There is not in the distant profile of the Knob mountain, nor the less regular 
contour' of the river, hills, that asj^ect of grandeur presented by elevations of 
greater magnitude, but their proportions, and the general characteristics of the 
valley they enclose, harmonize perfectly at that point in the eastern horizon 
where they seem to converge. The town of Berwick is scarcely distinguishable 
in the diminishing prospective. At this point, also, the river comes within range 
of vision, apparently widening in its downward progress. The one street of the 
village of Espy is clearly distingu.ished from its situation in a notch at the foot 
of the hills. Bloomsburg is less distinct, and presents the appeaj'ance of a 
terraced grove, but this impression is dispelled by the spires and cupolas which 
rise above the surrounding verdure. The hills in the rear have been deeply 
serrated in the mining of iron ore; and this, with the columns of smoke and 
vapor which ascend on either side of the town, indicates one phase of the indus- 
trial character of the people. The Avinding channel of Fishing creek, for several 
miles from its mouth, and the village of Rupert form the foreground of this 
landscape view. Its aspect as a whole cannot fail to impress the beholder 
favorably. 

It is possible that more than a century ago the first settlers looked upon 
this valley with feelings of equal pleasure as far as the effect of natural scenery 
was concerned. The primeval forest had not yet disappeared before the 
encroachments of advancing civilization. A swamp extended from Fishing creek 
for several miles to the east, and while this may have caused grave apprehen- 
sions as to the healthfulness of the region, its luxuriant vegetation did not mar 
the beauty of the landscape. A number of islands in the creek, and the water- 
fowl wont to congregate there, may have attracted attention. The ceaseless 
plash of the river, the cautious movements of the deer as they brushed through 
this undergrowth, the stealthy tread of the savage or his shrill whoop and its 
answering echo — such sounds as these broke the stillness which seemed to per- 
vade everything. From an economic standpoint circumstances were not alto- 
gether favorable. The soil gave promise of great fertility, but years of labor 
would be required to bring it to a condition of tolerable productiveness with the 
. rude implements of the period. The region was remote from any market for 
its products, and the broad channel of the Susquehanna was the only available 
highway of travel. When James McClure, in the year of 1772, looked upon 



152 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

this as the region of his future home, it is possible that while he realized its ad- 
vantages, he was also cognizant of the danger of thus living at such a dis- 
tance from the limits of civilization and in a country as yet unmarked by its 
influence. 

Some facts regarding his previous history may indicate the motives of his 
immigration. James McClure was of Scotch-Irish descent,^ and a resident of 
that part of Lancaster county then known as the Paxton district, but included 
since 1785 in Dauphin county. He was connected, by marriage, with Captain 
Lazarus Stewart, and with George Espy, the proprietor of Espytown. It 
cannot be definitely determined whether he took an active part in those ex- 
ploits which have made the ' ' Paxton Rangers ' ' such conspicuous characters 
in the colonial border annals, or whether he remained unmoved by those out- 
rages which incited his neighbors to armed hostility in defiance of the j-jro- 
prietary government. That he was in active sympathy with his brother-in- 
law. Captain Stewart, when the latter espoused the defense of the Connecticut 
colony at Wyoming, seems evident fi'om certain statements in a letter from 
Fort Augusta, by the military representative of the Penns, from which it ap- 
pears, that, on Wednesday, May 10, 1769, James McClure, with several 
others, was encamped at the mouth of Fishing creek, en route for Wyoming. 
It is not further stated whether he reached Wyoming or not; but it seems 
probable that, for political reasons, his residence in Lancaster county was 
no longer agreeable, and that when a number of families from Paxton removed 
to Hanover township, in Wyoming, he went no farther than the mouth of 
Fishing creek, still, however, within the nominal boundaries of the " Town of 
Westmoreland." The tract upon which he located was surveyed in June, 1769, 
for Francis Stewart, who conferred upon it the name of ' ' Beauchamp. ' ' It 
was patented for Mr. McClure, in 1772, under the name of " McClure's 
Choice," and here, in a rude log cabin, James McClure, Jr., was born, in 
1774, this being the first birth of a white child within the forks of the Susque- 
hanna. 

The McClures were not the only settlers in this part of Wyoming township 
for any length of time. In the year of their arrival, 1772, Evan Owen and 
John Doan became their neighbors. They came from Chester county, with 
the intention of forming, at the mouth of Fishing creek, a community in which 
their faith should predominate, as it subsequently did at Catawissa. Evan 
Owen lived south of a small stream which flowed through the town of Blooms- 
burg, and near its source, John Doan's land adjoined the McClure tract. 
Samuel Boone, also a member of the Society of Friends, emigrated fi"om 
Exeter township, Northampton county, in 1775, and secured the title to four 
hundred acres of land, including the farm owned by one of his descendants. 
His land comprised the " Point" between the river and the creek, and extend- 
ed along the banks of both. From all the evidence obtainable on this subject, 
it would appear that but three other families, the Claytons, Coopers and 
Kinneys, lived within the present limits of Bloomsburg, before the war of the 
revohition. Thomas Clayton was a Quaker from Chester county; Kinney was 
from New Jersey; nothing is known concerning the Coopers, except a tragic 
incident in connection with the Indian troubles. And thus, in the interval of 
comparative quiet which followed the French war, civilization was extended to 
this county. But before the settlement had experienced the first severity of 
the next struggle, the death of James McClure, Sr. , deprived it of one of those 
most capable of acting in its defense. In abetting the schemes of Lazarus 
Stewart, the apparent disloyalty to his state was a vigorous, but palliative, re- 
monstrance against the vacillation of the authorities in providing for the 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 153 

defense of Paxton; as a member of the committee of safety for Wyoming 
township, in 1776, he was equally vigorous in advocating measures for the 
protection of the settlements, although in the preceding year Colonel Plunkett 
had passed up the river with an armed force, and repassed the McClure plan- 
tation in hasty retreat, after an iTnsu.ccessful attempt to reduce Wyoming. 

His family did not rem^ain at their home long after his death. Among the 
victims of the Wyoming massacre, July 3, 1778, was Capt. Lazarus Stewart. 
With the assistance of friends his wife collected her household goods upon a 
raft supported by two canoes, and thus descended the Susquehanna with her 
family. Alarmed by her story of danger and desolation, Mrs. McClure col- 
lected her family and embarked in a similar craft. They reached Lancaster 
county in safety, and remained until the close of the war permitted a return 
to their respective homes. In the meantime Fort McClure was built, consist- 
ing of a row of palisades around her house, for the double purpose of pro- 
tecting it and affording a safe retreat for the neighbors in case of emergency. 
It is probable that during Mrs. McClure' s absence it was occupied by Major 
Moses Van Campen, who had married her daughter. The site of the fort is 
now marked by a dwelling-house on the farm of Douglas Hughes. 

An incident illustrative of certain phases of frontier life occurred during 
the last years of the war. Robert Lyon, a soldier at Fort Augusta, was sent 
from that place to Wyoming with a boat load of stores. He ran his canoe 
aground at the mouth of Fishing creek, and, leaving his dog and gun in it, 
started on to visit his affianced bride, the daughter of a Mr. Cooper. His 
movements were observed by Shenap, an Indian chief, and in his defenseless 
condition, he was easily captured and taken to Niagara. Here he was re- 
leased through the mediations of a British officer, who, by a singular coincidence, 
was his brother. The fate of Mr. Cooper was less fortunate. The mysteri- 
ous disappearance of Lyon made him an object of suspicion. He was arrested 
and placed in a canoe to be taken to Sunbury jail. A rifle belonging to one of 
the posse was dropped into the river by some accident, and he was accused of 
having thrown it overboard. In the altercation which followed, one of the 
men seized a tomahawk and buried it in his skull. He lived about twenty 
days, and expired in prison before Lyon's return had established his inno- 
cence. 

When the peace of 1783 finally relieved the valley of the "North Branch" 
of the harassing experiences of the five preceding years, immigration was again 
directed to this county, but the lower valley of Fishing creek did not immedi- 
ately receive an increase of population. Thomas Clayton removed to Cata- 
wissa, and Evan Owen to Berwick, of which he was the founder. This would 
seem to indicate that other localities were considered preferable. There were 
still occasional additions to the community, however. About 1783 Elisha 
Barton became a neighbor of the McC lures and Boones. He was born in Vir- 
ginia in 1742, from whence with his father he went to New Jersey. After his 
marriage, in 1766, he removed to Northampton county, and after a second 
marriage, he again changed his residence, emigrating this time to " Shamo- 
kin," by which name a large section of countly including this county was popu- 
larly known. He built the "white" mill, owned a large farm west of Blooms- 
burg, became justice of the peace, and was one of the most substantial citi- 
zens of this locality. Joseph B. Long, a Jersey emigrant, bought Owen's 
land upon his departure, and in 1795 he was succeeded in its possession by 
Ludwig Eyer, a native of Northampton county. In 1801 Joseph Hendershott 
and Andrew Schooley bought a tract of several hundred acres adjoining the 
river and east of the Kinney farm. They settled here the previous year, hav- 



154 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

ing previously lived at Belvidere, N. J. Mr. School ey disjiosed of his inter- 
est to Simon Wirtman, a native of Germany, a few years afterward. Jacob 
Wanich, also of German descent but a native of North Carolina, settled west 
of Hendershott some time prior to 1809. And at this time the present limits 
of Bloomsburg had become quite as thickly settled as any other part of the 
surrounding region. 

Apparently dissatisfied with the slow increase of population,. and doubtless 
intending to give a new impetus to settlement and improvement, Ludwig Eyer 
laid out the town of Bloomsburg in 1802, thus following the example of Evan 
Owen at Berwick, William Hughes at Catawissa, Christian Krenchel at Mifflin- 
burg, and George Espy at "Liberty." Bloomsburg, at that time, had no 
existence except in the mind of its projector, if two buildings — the Protestant 
Episcopal ChiTrch and John Chamberlain's hotel at the corner of Second street 
and Miller's alley — may be excepted. There was also a deserted hovel with log 
chimney and clapboard roof on the south side of Second street below Market. 
Within a few years after the town was laid out, George Vance, a Scotch-Irish 
Presbyterian from New Jersey, built a cabin on the south side of Main street, 
the location of which was nearly identical with the terminus of East street at 
that place. Abram Grotz removed from Easton in 1806, and built the house 
occupied by C. C. Marr, at the southeast corner of Second and Iron streets. 
Christopher Kahler and John Coleman had formerly been neighbors of Grotz 
in Easton, and no doubt followed him on the strength of his representations. 
The former arrived in 1807; Coleman lived for two years in the tumble-down 
log house previously mentioned, and then removed from this temporary habita- 
tion to a more pretentious residence on the corner of Center and Third streets. 
With seeds brought from his former home he planted an orchard, which cov- 
ered the square of which his buildings occupied a part. In 1800 Philip Mehr- 
ling, a native Hessian, opened a store in a house which adjoined the Central 
hotel. Daniel Snyder, formerly a resident in the Lehigh valley near Allen- 
town, removed to the village in 1810, and bought the land adjoining Eyer's 
town plat from John Vance. And thus, by successive immigration from vari- 
ous parts of the country, Bloomsburg had become an incipient village; and in 
1814 the population was distributed as follows: Henry Weaver lived in a one 
and one-half story log house on Front street between Market and West; George 
Frey lived on the south side of the same street near its intersection with West; 
at tiae forks, on the south side of Second street, was a one-story log dwelling 
owned and occupied by Daniel Snyder; Abram Grotz conducted his business 
as a hatter at the southwest corner of Second and Iron; a frame house on the 
east side of the Central hotel was occupied by Christopher Kahler; John 
Chamberlain lived in a frame dwelling on the site of Mover's drug store; John 
Hagenbuch's log house was situated opposite Kahler' s; Mrs. Moomey 
resided in a fi-ame building at the southeast corner of Second and Jefferson; a 
log house, at the northeast corner of Center and Second, was occupied by — 
Fisher; John Hess lived in the one other house on the north side of Second 
street, at the location of Dr. McKelvey's residence; Caleb Hopkins' house was 
on East street below Third, and James Thornton lived in the red building still 
standing on the same side of that street. 

John Chamberlain was a tavern-keeper at the time M'hen every guest was 
expected to spend at least sixpence at the bar for the privilege of passing the 
night with such comforts as the bare floor of the public. room afforded. His 
establishment was a two-story frame building at the northwest corner of Sec- 
ond and Center streets. Casper Chrisman is remembered as the jovial host at 
a less pretentious building erected in 1810, which occupied the same site as its 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 155 

modern successor, the Exchange. Conrad Hess was the proprietor of a public 
house on Second street, below JefFerson. The original predecessor of the 
Central hotel was a log building erected in 1818 by Philip Mehrling, who lost 
his life by an accident in the progress of the work. About the year 1825, 
Daniel Snyder built the "Forks" hotel. The public house at this period 
was an important social institution, not always possessing those attributes 
usually ascribed to it at the present day. 

Philip Mehrling was the first merchant in Bloomsburg, and was a 
man of some wealth, judging by the standard of that day. A Mr. Bishop 
opened a store in 3810 at the northwest corner of Second and Center streets. 
John Barton was also a merchant about this time. William McKelvey opened 
the largest mercantile establishment the village had yet known in 1816, and 
during the sixty years following was prominently identified with the business 
interests of the place. In 1835 John Moyer, with a capital of one hundred 
dollars, inaugurated the di-ag business, which has steadily expanded to its 
present proportions. Eyer & Hefley was the caption of a well known business 
house from 1835 to 1845. In 1843 the business career of I. W. Hartman 
was begun in the old Arcade building. 

Local manufacturers at an earl}'^ period in the history of the town compre- 
hended the shops of such mechanics — blacksmiths, weavers, carpenters, etc. — 
as formed the usual features of country villages at that time. Industrial 
enterprises of greater importance were the tanneries and wagon factory. 
Daniel Snyder came to Bloomsburg with the express purpose of establishing a 
tannery, but found himself so seriously embarrassed financially after pui'chas- 
ing land, that he was on the point of relinquishing the idea. Fortunately for 
the prospective enterprise, Mrs. Snyder was able to sell several pounds of butter 
every week; and taking a roll of some size he bartered it at the store for a 
shovel, and was thus enabled to begin the work of digging the vats. Philip 
Christman' s tannery was situated in front of a stone building still standing on 
Third street. William Robison was afterward proprietor. Sometime in the 
year 1816, a stranger came into the village and remained over night at a hotel. 
Stranger^ at this time so rarely appeared as to be regarded as objects of curi- 
osity, as well as suspicion. Inquiry elicited fi-om him the fact that he was a 
Yankee, and a wagon-maker by trade. When the landlord suggested that he 
should stay and make him. a wagon he was repeatedly refused the use of such 
tools as were needed by the different carpenters of the town, so great was the 
prejudice against New Englanders. Finall}^ William Sloan agreed to give 
him a bench. He obtained seasoned wood from fences on neighboring farms, 
and in due time the first one-horse wagon that ever appeared in Bloomsburg 
was driven through its streets by the proprietor of the inn, to whom it gave 
abundant satisfaction. Mr. Sloan at once incorporated the manufacture of 
wagons with his business and established an industry of some importance, 
considering the size of the town and the extent of its resources. He would 
send salesmen with a dozen or more ' ' dearborns ' ' into adjoining counties, 
and thus " Eyerstaedtel " became better known as the location of this factoiy 
than fi-om anything else connected with it. About the year 1832, it was pro- 
posed to begin the manufacture of plows, with John K. Grotz as managing 
partner of this branch of the business. Accordingly, he made a journey to 
Lewistown, Mifflin county, the nearest location of a j^low factory. The pro- 
prietors refused to sell pattei-ns, but he bought a plow by strategy and started 
for home with his load on one of the famous dearborns. At Sweisfordtown, 
Union county, he sold the wagon. In this dilemma, he extemporized a sled by 
fastening the root of a sapling beneath the plow point, and thus traverse^ a dis- 



156 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

tance of forty miles in one clay. It does not appear that the plow factory pros- 
pered as Mr. Grotz's efforts made it deserving. In this connection, it should be 
mentioned that about the year 1832 John Whitenight built a Union canal- 
boat on his lot in West Bloomsburg. It was sixty- nine feet long and eight 
feet wide. It was hauled to the "deep hole" in Fishing creek, floated to 
Northumberland, and there launched in the canal. The following year, John 
Barton and Isaac Green built a similar craft at the "ark" building and 
named it the " Water Witch." Isaac D. Gulick was master or captain. It 
was also taken to Northumberland to be entered into the canal. This seems 
to have been the extent of boat-bu^ilding in Bloomsburg; but before the canal 
was excavated, grain and produce were exported by means of arks — a variety 
of river craft usually seventy feet long and sixteen feet wide — the building of 
which constituted an important branch of industry. Samuel Ludwig and 
George Frey are remembered as master builders. The ark building was situ- 
ated on Fishing creek, and the different stages of the work were as follows: 
The " stringle " was laid flat upon the ground and the bottom boards affixed 
thereto with wooden pins three-fourths of an inch in diameter. It required a 
force of thirty men to raise the bottom platform to a vertical position, when 
it was allowed to fall upon ground prepared for the purpose; the sides were 
secured by means of mortises, and the seams carefully caulked; when finally 
completed another force of men was summoned, and the unwieldy structui'e 
was launched. William McKelvey and John Barton were the largest dealers in 
grain, and usually shipped the ark as well as its cargo, both being sold when 
their destination was reached. 

About the year 1838 the culture of the silk- worm was agitated in many 
parts of this country. Among those who conceived the idea that golden pos- 
sibilities could be realized were Robert Cathcart and William G. Hurley, of 
Bloomsburg. An orchard of the morns multicaulis, or Chinese mulberry, was 
planted on the north side of First street. The cocoonery was reported as in 
active operation in 1841 ; and about this time it seems to have lapsed into 
desuetude. 

The importance of Bloomsburg as an inland town increased as the settle- 
ment of the surrounding region became more compact, and the efforts of its 
citizens were directed toward improving its business facilities and extending 
its manufacturing interests. In 1838 the population slightly exceeded three 
hundred. In the size and appearance of the houses, there was a marked im- 
provement over those first erected, many of which had been replaced by more 
substantial structures of brick and stone. McKelvey' s store and dwelling at 
the southeast corner of Second and Market streets, the Forks hotel. William 
Robison's hotel, Thomas Witlit's, John R. Moyer's, and Reverend George C. 
Drake's residences were built of brick. Market street extended from First to 
Third, and at either end a building fronted the open avenue, while the Forks 
hotel was similarly situated with reference to Second street. It verily ap- 
peared as though it was meant to circumscribe the growth of the town, by thus 
closing all the streets except such as were absolutely necessary for ingress and 
egress. If productive of no other benefit, this arrangement prevented to some 
extent that straggling appearance by which country villages are wont to apolo- 
gize for being such; but the time had arrived when Bloomsburg should pass 
that period of its history forever. 

In the year 1822 a laborer in a field on the Montour ridge noticed a pecul- 
iar color in the gi'ound he was plowing. He called the attention of his em- 
ployer to this, and, when assayed, it was found that the soil contained an 
appreciable proportion of iron ore. Drift mining was at once begun, but for 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 157 

some years the product was hauled to furnaces on the south side of the Sus- 
quehanna, thus depriving Bloomsburg of the advantage it shovild have derived 
fi'om the mineral wealth in its vicinity. It was nearly twenty years before 
local enterprise realized that fact ancl acted upon it. June 22, 1839, "The 
Bloomsburg Rail-Koad and Iron Company " was incorporated by the legisla- 
ture. The leading capitalists were Joseph Paxton, William McKelvey, Edward 
Miller, Thomas Hayes, Robert M. Lewis, Ellis Lewis and Charles G. Donnell. 
The country had not yet recovered from the financial stringency of 1838, and 
the furnaces were not completed until 1844. The rail-road connecting Iron- 
dale with the canal was the first work of this character in this county. Iron- 
dale furnaces have been supplied with ore fi-om Hemlock township until recent 
years, when the supply has been drawn largely from Snyder county. The 
name of the company has been so changed as to exclude the word ' ' Rail-Road. " 
The management during the past third of a centiuy has been directed by E. R. 
and Y. P. Deinker, and the ownership of the plant continues with the original 
investors or their descendants. 

The discovery of ore on Montour ridge was followed by similar develop, 
ments regarding the hills east of Fishing creek. Here, too, its existence was 
found out by a trivial circumstance. While plowing on the side of a hill deeply 
seamed with water- courses, Jacob Melick allowed his plow to retain a uniform 
depth, and thus, when passing through a place where the surface soil had been 
washed away, he noticed, in the substratum, that peculiar color possessed by 
iron ore. December 27, 1852, an agreement was entered into by Mr. Melick, 
W^illiam McKelvey and William Neal, to erect and operate an anthracite fur- 
nace. April 1, 1853, seventeen acres were purchased from Daniel Snyder and 
Joseph W. Hendershott, and on the same day ground was broken for the contem- 
plated works, which were completed and put in full blast, for the first time, 
April 14, 1854. In 1873 the firm name was changed from McKelvey, Neal & 
& Co. , to William Neal & Sons, its present style. The furnaces have been 
continuously operated, except occasional short periods when suspended for re- 
pairs. Prior to January 1, 1875, the gross aggregate product was one-hun- 
dred and seventeen thousand, nine-hundred and sixty-eight tons — an average 
of one-thousand, eight-hundred and five tons per annum, which has been fully 
sustained since that time. Owing to the exhaustion of the ore deposits near 
Bloomsburg, the bloom furnaces are supplied mainly from mines in New 
Jersey. The transportation charges thus incurred are more than compen- 
sated by the advantage of a short transit from the anthracite coal region. 

While this branch of the manufacture of iron has become a permanent fac- 
tor in promoting the growth of the town, the practicability of extending the 
industry in various directions has also been demonstrated. In 1863 Messrs. 
Sample & Taylor established a machine-shop and foundry. In 1871 the cap- 
ital was increased, facilities enlarged, and the manufacture of mine-cars 
begun by the ' ' Columbia County Iron Manufacturing Company, ' ' successors 
to the gentlemen who established the business. The new firm became involved 
financially in 1873; the plant was sold by an assignee, and purchased by G. 
M. and J. K. Lockard, who had been foremen in the shops since they were 
first operated. In 1875 a part of their present quarters was first occupied, 
and in 1879 they became sole proprietors. In the same year a destructive 
fire destroyed a part of the works, causing a loss of many thousands of dollars. 
Within three months' time, the sit^ of the burned buildings was occupied by 
others of improved appearance. The succeeding four years were the most 
profitable in the career of this establishment. Upward of four thousand rail- 
road cars were built, and the volume of business annually exceeded a million 



158 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

of dollars. In 1870 S. M. Hess began the manufacture of car- wheels, iron 
fencing, etc., and still continues in this branch of industrial pursuit. In 1875 
Harman & Hassart inaugurated a business career which has now had an exist- 
ence of more than one decade. The Eagle Iron Works have also become well 
known, through the energy of their proprietor, Mr. B. F. Sharpless. 

The origin of the carriage factory of M. C. Sloan & Bro. has already 
been explained. The oldest establishment of the kind in this section of country, 
its management continues to retain that energy with which Major William 
Sloan was wont to engage in everything he undertook. 

The Bloomsburg woolen mills were established in 1882 by S. A. Caswell, 
M. E. Caswell, H. C. Caswell and H. C. Halfpenny, and have been in success- 
ful operation since that time. The plant consists of a brick factory one-hun- 
di-ed and twenty-four feet by sixty-four feet, engine house, -fourteen looms, 
and other ajoparatus of improved design. The value of the annual product has 
reached sixty-thousand dollars. The location of the mills is at the foot of 
W^est street, and was given as a bonus by D. J. Waller, Sr. 

The Bloomsburg School Furnishing Company was incorporated July 17, 

1885, "for the purpose of maniifacturing school and church furniture, and 
doing general planing-mill, foundry and machine work." Among the pi'oject- 
ors of this enterprise were C. W. Miller, W. S. Moyer and J. C. Brown. 

The Bloomsburg Planing and Cabinet Company succeeded November 1, 

1886, to the plant of the Agricultural and Iron Works. Charles Krug's Plan- 
ing-mills were first operated in 1880. Sashes, doors, frames, moldings, etc., 
constitute the product at these places. 

The industrial activity of Bloomsburg has resulted in great measure from 
the transportation facilities afPorded by the canal and rail -roads. The former 
was opened in 1831, and rapidly fulfilled the expectations of those who advo- 
cated state aid to public works. Its period of greatest usefulness to Blooms- 
burg was the decade immediately preceding the construction of the Lackawanna 
and Bloomsburg rail-road. This line of traffic was projected by citizens of 
Wilkesbarre, whose only way of reaching Philadelphia was the circuitous 
route via Scranton and New York. It was originally intended that Rupert 
should be the western terminus of the line, as the connection at this point 
with the Catawissa rail -road effected the main objects of the projectors. 
January 1, 1858, the first train of cars rolled into Bloomsburg, or rather passed 
it, as the line of the road was then quite beyond the limits of the town. For 
several years one regular passenger train and one mixed train, in which 
freight predominated, constituted the daily traveling facilities. The way in 
which accommodations were thus limited was due in great measure to lack of 
enterprise on the part of the officials of the road. Two trains daily were adver- 
tised in 1861, three in 1871, and four in 1881, from which it appears that an 
addition of one train daily has occurred for every ten years in the history of 
the road. 

It may fairly be predicted that Bloomsburg will become a rail-road center 
of importance, second to no inland town of its size in this state. This is in- 
ferred from its geographical position, and from the work in rail-road construc- 
tion now 'in progress and approaching completion. The reason first given is 
purely theoretical ; the forty-first parallel of north latitude crosses the Susque- 
hanna at the mouth of Fishing creek; this is approximately the latitude of both 
New York and Chicago, and if the prcfposed air-line route between those 
places — "The New York, Bloomsburg and Western rail-road" — should ulti- 
mately become an accomplished fact, Bloomsburg cannot fail to derive import- 
•ance and advantage from it. When the Bloomsburg and Sullivan rail-road 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 159 

has been completed, the county seat of Columbia will also become its com- 
mercial metropolis. But, returning to the consideration of things as they now 
exist, the business interests of Bloomsburg have materially improved since the 
completion of the North and West Branch railway. The history of this road 
fi'om its first inception in the mind of the Reverend D. J. Waller, Sr. , to its 
present condition, is directly traceable to the tireless energy with which he 
fought its battles and achieved its final success. He conceived the idea that a 
road bed of uniform grade could be constructed at the foot of the hill on the 
south bank of the Susquehanna. Simon P. Case, a vigorous but unscrupulous 
man, had previously projected a telegraph line, merged it into a railroad, and 
finally, by deciding to tap the coal field at the Hazel region instead of at Wyo- 
ming, vacated the river route from Catawissa to Wilkesbarre. Mr. Waller 
was one of those who had confidence in Case's rail-road, if not in its projector; 
he wi'ote a charter for the North and West Branch Rail-Road coihpany, and 
through the efforts of Hon. C. E. Buckalew, it received legislative sanction in 
May, 1871. This was but the initial step, however; ten years elapsed before 
the line was operated from Wilkesbarre to Catawissa. J. C. Brown was chief 
engineer, and Samuel Neyhard assistant, in directing its construction. It is 
provided, in the charter of this compan}', that a wagon way may be construct- 
ed in connection with its bridge over the Susquehanna, and that upon the pay- 
ment of one-fifth its cost by the commissioners of Columbia county, the com- 
pany shall maintain it as a free bridge for public use. There is every prob- 
ability that this bridge will be built in the near future, and Bloomsburg will 
then realize to the full extent what advantage can be derived from competing 
lines of railway. 

It seems unnecessary to state that the mercantile interests of inland towns 
receive an impetus from lines of travel which bring them into more direct 
communication with the commercial centers of the country. The retui'ns from 
the mercantile appraisements of May 1, 1886, show an aggregate of seventy- 
one dealers, representing .every branch of business enterprise. A similar ex- 
hibit in 1858 would not have shown one third of this number. There are two 
financial institutions — the First National Bank and the Bloomsburg Banking 
Company. February 5, 1864, William McKelvey, William Neal, I. W. Mc- 
Kelvey, Robert Cathcart, Robert F. Clark, John K. Grotz, George Hughes, 
Lloyd Paxton and C. R. Paston formed a temporary organization and began 
to transact a banking bxTsiness. February 29, 1864, the Comptroller of the 
Currency issued his certificate authorizing such action; and, March 7, 1864, 
the bank was formally opened with C. R. Paxton, president, and J. P. Tustin, 
cashier. In 1868 Charles Conner and John A. Funston established a broker's 
office in Bloomsburg, which, in March, 1871, was merged into the Blooms- 
burg Banking Company, of which Mr. Funston was president; Charles Con- 
ner_, Joseph Sharpless, John G. Freeze and Wilson M. Eves were the first di- 
rectors. It is a private corporation, with a capital of fifty thousand dollars, 
and a surplus equal to fifty per cent of the same. Both ai'e prosperous and 
successful institutions, and have greatly facilitated the general business work- 
ings of the community. 

The Bloomsburg Board of Trade, " founded for the encouragement and 
protection of trade and commerce," numbers among its members the leading 
merchants and other citizens of the town. It was incorporated May 12, 1886, 
with Hon. C. R. Buckalew, C. G. Barkley, D. W. Kitchen, I. W. McKelvey 
and I. S. Kuhn, directors. 

In medical circles, Bloomsburg is well known as the location of Dr. L. A. 
Shattuck's Rest-Ciure Sanitarium. It was originally established in 1870 by 



160 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

Dr. A. L. Tench, who was succeeded within a few years by Dr. A. L. Turner. 
His experience as a surgeon in the late war and as superintendent of Ononda- 
ga insane asyhim, rendered him exceptionally competent to treat nervous dis- 
eases with success. The location combines healthfulness, accessibility and eon- 
genial natural surroundings. Dr. Shattuck assumed the management in 1882, 
since when it has maintained a high character as a popular resort. 

As this iu lustrial development of the county seat progressed, the popula- 
tion increased, the building area was extended, and a different political organ- 
ization followed in the wake of changed social conditions. The town plat laid 
off by Ludwig Eyer extended from First street to Third, and from West to East 
(Iron) street, comprising thirty-two blocks of three lots each. Mr. Eyer was 
not an exact geometer, but his good judgment is seen in the location of the 
town, the width and regularity of the streets, and their distance from each 
other. About the year 1815, the Eeverend Caleb Hopkins laid out a number 
of lots on East street below Third. Although this nominal addition comprised 
for years no other houses than the reverend gentleman's residence, it was 
known and recognized as Hopkinsville. * 

When the size and importance of this suburb became such as to really 
require a name, this designation was succeeded by the less complimentary one 
of Snaketown, for which East street has finally been substituted. When the 
canal was opened in 1831, Port Noble came into existence as the port of entry 
for Bloomsburg, and a road was made from Market street thither. Daniel 
Snyder's addition, the south-west corner of Second and East streets, between 
Iron and Third, was made about 1837. Anticipating an influx of laborers 
when the Irondale furnaces should begin operations, D. J. Waller, Sr., in 
184-, laid off that portion of Bloomsburg, known as Welsh hill, from the pre- 
vailing nationality of its people, the northeast corner of Iron and First streets. 
Dr. John Ramsay's addition adioins this on the south side of First street. On 
the west side of the same street between Oyer and Murray alleys, Messrs. 
Cathcart and Hurley laid out a number of lots, after the failure of their 
cocoonery. In 1857 Catharine street was opened; the location of the depot 
of the Lackawanna and Bloomsburg rail-road had determined to a great extent 
the direction in which Bloomsburg has expanded since that time. Passenger 
trains stopped at the Market street crossing at first, but when negotiations for 
the purchase of land proved fi-uitless, a temporary station was built at East 
street. If this arrangement had become permanent, Bloomsburg a.s then ex- 
istino-. would have virtually ceased to be the business portion of the town. 
This was averted by the prompt action of D. J. Waller, Sr. , who purchased a 
tract of land, and in 1859 gave the rail-road company the site occupied by its 
stations. Since this time, the area between Fourth street and Seventh has 
gradually become one of the most beautiful parts of the town. The extension 
westward has been popularly known as Scott- Town, from the fact that Dr. 
David N. Scott was the first person who lived below the hill on Second street 
and still considered himself a resident of Bloomsburg. The addition by 
Messrs. Rupert and Barton is bounded by Fourth, Iron and East streets, and 
the canal. Upon the erection of the Normal School building in 1869, Second 

*The origin of the name Bloomsburg cannot so easily be explained. It is said that the name was suggested 
by certain of the old settlers who had formerly lived at Bloomsburg, N. J. Bloom township was formed from 
the western part of Brlarcreek in 1797 and so named in honor of Samuel Bloom, one of the county commis- 
sioners for Northumberland county at that time. It is said that when the name for a post-office was discussed, 
some of the citizens protested against Dyertown, notwithstanding their German nationality and respect for the 
proprietor. On the occasion of a fourth of July celebration in the wood above First street, some one, with 
excellent tact, called for three cheers for Bloomsburg at the instant when patriotic enthusiasm was at its 
height. In the excitement of the moment, the name made a favorable impression on the popular mind. It is 
not a matter of vital importance, but of curious importance, how the name originated, and the reader can best 
judge which of the explanations given is most plausible. 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 161 

street was extended beyond the forks. Morgantown is the name applied to 
the company houses at Irondale furnace; while Eabbtown comprehends a 
number of similar structures at Bloom furnace, The population of Bloom 
township in 1820 was one thousand six hundred and twenty-six; in 1830, two 
thousand and eighty-one; in 1840, one thousand seven hundred and seventy- 
four; in 1850, three thousand one hundred and twenty-two ; in 1860, two thou- 
sand six hundred and sixty-eight; in 1870, three thousand three hu.ndred and 
forty; in 1880, three thousand seven hundi'ed and two. The apparent decrease 
in the decade ending in 1860 is explained by the fact that Scott township was 
not included in the census of that year. 

In view of this constant increase in population, it is matter of surprise 
that the township organization, established in 1797, and continued for seventy- 
three years, was not sooner supplanted by a form of goverment better adapted 
to a compact community. Efforts to secure incorporation as a borough under 
the act of 1834, were successively made and as frequently defeated. The rea- 
sons to which this may be assigned, is the situation of Bloomsburg within a 
farming region too small to constitute a separate township, and the great di- 
versity of opinion as to what limits should be prescribed for the purposed 
borough. March 4, 1870, an act prepared by Hon. C. R. Buckalew, was 
passed by the legislature, in which the limits of the town are defined in a 
manner that com})letely obviates this difficulty, by the simple declaration, 
"that the Town of Bloomsburg shall hereafter include all the territory now 
included within the limits of Bloom township." It provides for a classifica- 
tion of real estate, based upon the situation of property in the built up or 
suburban portions of the town, or its use for exclusively agricultural purposes. 
The burden of taxation is thus distributed; farm lands are assessed at a rate 
equal to one-half, and suburban property, at a rate not exceeding two-thirds, 
respectively, of the highest rates of tax required to be assessed in each year. 
Cumiilative voting is authorized by this act, which thus provides in the only 
instance in this country, a method for securing proportional representations. 
The following is extracted from section fourth, of the act referred to, and suf- 
ficiently explains the distinctive features of this system of voting. 

In any case where more persons than one are to be chosen in said town to the same 
offlce, for the same time or term of service, each voter duly qualified shall be entitled to 
as many votes as the number of persons to be so chosen, and may poll his votes as follows, 
to-wit: 

First — Where two persons are to be chosen he may give one vote to each of two can- 
didates, or two votes to one. 

Second — Where three persons are to be chosen, he may give one vote to each of three 
candidates, two votes to one candidate and one to another, one vote and a half to each 
-of two candidates or three votes to one. 

Third — Where f.)ur persons are to be chosen, he may give one vote to each of four 
candidates, one vote and one-third to each of three, two votes to each of two, or four 
votes to one. 

Fourth — Where six persons are to be chosen, he may give one vote to each of six 
candidates, one vote and a half to each of four, two votes to each of three, three votes to 
each of two, or six votes to one. 

A town council, consisting of president and six members, is elected annu- 
ally. A list of the incumbents since the organization of the town has been 
compiled from official sources and is herewith subtended : 

1870 — President, Elias Mendenhall ; members, Joseph Sharpless, Stephen 
Knorr, W. B. Koons, F. C. Eyer, Caleb Barton, C. G. Barkley. 

1871 — President, Elias Mendenhall; members, Joseph Sharpless, C. G. 
Barkley, Stephen Knorr, W. B. Koons, F. C. Eyer, John Rinker. 

1872— President, Elias Mendenhall; members, Freas Brown, Stephen 



162 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

Knorr, Culob BarfcoD, Joliii S. Stonier, James Dennis, J. H. Maize, ince W. 
B. Koons, rosignod. 

1875J — ProsidcMit, Stophon Knorr; members, Lonis Bernhard, Charles 
Thomas, C. W. MiUor, Samuel Knorr, J. S. Evans, John S. Sterner. 

1874 — President, David Ijowonberg; members, Joseph Hendt^rshott, P. S. 
Hnrmau, J. K. Eyer, Louis Bernhard, Stephen Knorr, W. Peacock. 

1875 — President, David Lowenberg; members, E. R. Drinker, G. W. • 
Sterner, Eli Jones, Isaiah Hagenbuch, W. O. Holmes, AVellingtoh Hartman^ 
vice John Caduum, resigned. 

187G — President, David Lowenberg; members, Peter Jones, Isaiah Ha- 
genbuch, E. 11. Drinker, Ct. E. Elwell, \V. O. Holmes, E. M. Knorr. 

1877 — President, David Lowenberg; members, E. K. Drinker, W. Rabb, 
W. O. Holmes, Peter Jones, G. W. Correll, G. E. Elwell. 

1878 President, G. A. Herring; members, J. S. Evans, E. R. Drinker, 
W. Rabb, G. E. Elwell, B. F. Sharpless, W. O. Holmes. 

1870 — President, I. S. Kuhn; members, J. S. Evans, W. O. Holmes, G. 
M. Lockard, B. F. Sharpless. E. R. Drinker, W. Rabb. 

1880 — President, G. A. Herring; members, W. Rabb, J. S. Evans, B. 
F. Sharpless, Charles Thomas, George Hassert, W. O. Holmes. 

1881 — President, G. A. Herring; members, W. Rabb, George Hassert, J. 
K. Lockard, I. \V. Hartmau, G. AV. Correll, C. W. Neal. 

1882— President, G. A. Herring; members, C. B. Sterling, W. Rabb, 
George Hassert, W. S. Moyer, L. E. Waller, I. W. Hartmau. 

1883 — President, G. A. Herring; members, C. B. Sterling, W. Rabb, 
George Hassert, I. W. Hartman, L. E. Waller, W. S. Mover. 

1884— President, L. B. Rupert; members, C. B. Sterling, W. Rabb, Eli 
Jones, C. A. Moyer, Isaiah Hagenbuch, L. T. Sharpless. 

1885 — President, L. B. Rupert; membej's, C. B. Sterling, J. C. Sterner, 
Henry Rosenstock, C. A. Mover, Isaiah Hagenbuch, L. T. Sharpless. 

1886— President, B. F. 'Zarr; members, C. B. Sterling, J. C. Sterner, 
Henry Rosenstock, E. B Clark, L. F. Clark, W. J. Correll. 

The election of the lirst town council expressed an almost unanimous senti- 
ment in favor of internal improvement. Little eifort had been directed to 
this object, and much had been misdirected. If one township supervisor attempt- 
ed to correct the inherent muddy propensity of the streets, the conscientious 
scriaples' of jhis successor impelled him to immediately suspend road making 
operations on the score oi retrenchment. As early as 1793, the brook v as 
crossed at Second street by a pine bridge, a neighborhood affair which greatly 
convenienced people on their way to church. The first combined effort at 
street improvement w-as made in 1813, when the town was much excited over 
the prospect of becoming a county seat. As if to emphasize its eligibility, 
stumps were removed and the streets generally levelled. The commissioners 
appointed to select the county town visited Milton first; after preparing 
Bloomsbui-g for their reception, James McClure, John Chamberlain, Casper 
Chrisman, and others, rode over to Jersey town to meet them. Although it 
"was years before their object was finally attained, their efforts were not in vain. 
In 1838 the hill in Second street beyond AVest was deemed too steep for travel, 
and the public road followed the channel of the creek after a circuitous descent. 
The Port Xolile road at this time was narrow, crooked, and almost impassable 
in wet weather. After purchasing the land on either side of the road, Mr. 
Waller straightened its course, graded it as a private enterprise, and built a 
bridge over the rail-road as one of the conditions for the location of the station 
at its present site. Market street was not fully opened until 1874, w^hen the 








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OUl^ d^A^yjLyO 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 165 

house of Wells below Third street was removed. The Forks hotel was 

removed in the following year, and Second street extended to the Normal 
School grounds. Center street was opened and extended from Second to 
First. The grading of East street was begun in 1872, and this work has been 
extended to every street in the town, agreeably to plans prepared by Samuel 
Neyhard at the instance of the council. The initial effort toward establish- 
ing a fi e department was made in 18G8, when the Bloomsburg Fire Company, 
( known as Friendship Fire Company No. 1 ), was incorporated. Two similar 
organizations have since been formed. The police service was established by 
the town council in 1870. 

While the process of improving the general appearance of the town was in 
progress, efforts were also made to provide public conveniences of a character 
which had not hitherto been attempted. May 9, 1874, the Bloomsburg Gas 
Company and the Bloomsburg Water Company were incorporated. Gas was 
supplied to private houses and business places, October 28, 1874; the streets 
were lighted with gas for the first time. May 1, 1875. The water company 
proposed to secure an adequate s.ipply. fi'om Stony brook, a small affluent of 
Fishing creek. Negotiations were opened with the municipal authorities to 
dispose of the franchise to them, but before this was effected, an act passed by 
the legislature, limiting the bonded indebtedness of boroughs, suspended this 
proceeding in a summary manner. August 14, 1877, a second water company 
was organized. The advantage of bringing water from such an altitude that 
the natural flow would raise it above the level of the town was strongly advised, 
but as no springs of sufficient volume and elevation are found in the immediate 
vicinity, a system proposed by Mr. Henry Birkenbine was adopted. The 
water is carried from Fishing creek into a well by a brick conduit. It is then 
pumped a distance of one-thousand, one hundred feet, into a reservoir, fi'om 
which it is distributed through the town. The water- works were completed in 
August, 1880. A public sewer was established in 1884 by the town authorities, 
the trustees of the Normal School and the county commissioners, conjointly. 
The Bloomsburg Steam and Electric Light Company was incorporated Decem- 
ber 7, 1885. The Birdsall-Holly system has been used, and many residences 
and stores are thus heated with economy and convenience. 

The extent to which industrial and commercial pursuits have been devel- 
oped in Bloomsburg, the character and efficiency of its local government, and 
the degree of interest manifested in public improvements, combine in estab- 
lishing its claim as the most progressive town in the lower valley of the " North 
Branch ' ' of the Susquehanna. Contemporary with its growth in population 
and material wealth, it has become the educational center of this section of the 
state. There was little in its early history to indicate that it would reach its 
present jDrominence in this resj)ect. George Vance taught an English school 
in a log building on the site of the Protestant Episcopal church edifice in 1802, 
and about the same time, Ludwig Eyer taught a German school in a building 
at the north-east corner of Second and Market streets. Kobert Fields, Will- 
iam Ferguson, Murray Manville and Joseph Worden were among the imme- 
diate successors of these two pedagogues. On the introduction of the public 
school system, in 1842, school-houses were built in various parts of the town. 
Practically, there was no system of grading, nor any general supervision by 
any one. Consolidation was begun in 1870, when the Fifth street school 
building was erected at a cost of twelve thousand dollars, and first occupied 
with F. M. Bates as principal. Five years later, the Third street build- 
ing was erected. I. E. Schoonover was the first principal of the schools of 
West Bloomsburg, after it was occupied. In 1885 it was decided to place 

17 



166 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

all the schools of the town under one superintendent, and D. A. Beckley 
was elected to that office. A regular course of study has been prepared, and 
the condition of the schools improved in various ways under his administration. 
The present (1886) board of directors is constituted as follows: J. J. Lawall, 
president; J. C. Brown, secretary; Stephen Krum, Isaiah Hagenbuch, William 
Kramer and Henry Rosenstock. 

The general unsatisfactory condition of the public schools led to many ven- 
tures on the part of teachers of more than ordinary acquirements in establish- 
ing private schools. An effort of this kind was made in 1839, when the build- 
ino- at the corner of Third and Jefferson streets was first occupied for school 
purposes.* "The standard of instruction was elevated, if judged by the 
advertisement of the first teacher, to give instruction in the Hebrew language, 
which was not extensively pursued at that early day in Bloomsburg. But the 
teacher' s literary reputation dwindled, when, on perusing a copy of Shakespeare, 
he inquired whether this was the celebrated author of that name, and what were 
his principal works, and evinced his astonishment in the question, 'What, 
these dialogues ?' " This teacher took his departure the same year (1839); 
and, by the efforts of the citizens, Mr. C. P. Waller, a graduate of Williams 
college and subsequently a president judge in this state, was induced to come 
to Bloomsburg to found an academy. He remained two years, and left it in 
a flourishing condition. The far-reaching results of this effort may be traced 
in all the subsequent educational history of the town. The existence of the 
academy for some years after this was merely nominal. Teachers in the public 
schools during the winter months opened subscription schools in vacation. 
Joel E. Bradley, one of the most successful teachers who ever made teaching 
a profession, restored, to some extent, the high character and advanced stand- 
ard of the course of study prepared by Mr. Waller. About the year 1854, B. 
F. Eaton opened a classical school in the Primitive Methodist church building 
(afterward purchased by the parish of St. Colomba's church). It was continued 
the following year with such success that its friends began to consider meas- 
ures for making it a permanent institution. Reverend D. J. Waller prepared 
a charter, and William Robinson and others circulated it; after obtaining the 
signatures of A. J. Sloan, M. Coffman, E. Mendenhall, A. J. Evans, William 
M^cKelvey, J. J. Brower, B. F. Hartman, S. H. Miller, J. M. Chamberlin, 
Philip Unangst, Jesse G. Clark, A. Wltman, Michael Henderson, J. G. Freeze, 
Levi L. Tate, Peter Billmeyer, W. C. Sloan, Jonathan Mosteller, A. J. Frick, 
E. B. Bidleman, Robert F. Clark, A. M. Rupert, R. B. Menagh, W. J. Bidle- 
man, Robert Cathcart, A. C. Mensch and H. C. Hoover, it was submitted to 
the com-t, and confirmed at the September term, 1856. It provided for estab- 
lishing and maintaining a school, to be known as the ' ' Bloomsburg Literary 
Institute." and the object of the corporation was defined to be "the pro- 
motion of education both in the ordinary and higher branches of English 
literature and science, and in the ancient and modern languages." Un- 
der the articles of incorporation, Reverend D. J. Waller, William Robison, 
Leonard B. Rupert. William Snyder, Elisha C. Barton, William Goodrich, D. 
J. Waller, Joseph Sharpless, John K. Grotz and I. W. Hartman were consti- 
tuted a board of trustees. Mr. Eaton's school was continued in the building it 
formerly occupied for several years, when it was discontinued. It was subse- 
quently opened in the old academy building, and there conducted with fair 

success by — Lowry, D. A. Beckley, Henry Rinker and others. There 

was no connected succession of teachers, nor does it appear that the board of 
trustees exercised control over the management of its affairs. As a conse- 

* Reverend D. J. Waller's Presbyterian Centennial discourse. 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 167 

qiience, the character of the school depended altogether upon the attainments 
and ability of the teachers, in some of whom executive ability was not a char- 
acteristic, so that the prospects of the so-called " Literary Institute " were not 
always encouraging. 

Fortunately for the educational interests of this county, a new actor ap- 
peared upon the scene, when the condition of affairs seemed tu have reached 
the lowest ebb. This man was Henry Carver, a native of New York state, a 
self educated teacher, whose power of exerting an unconscious influence over 
the minds of those with whom he came in contact, was phenomenal. After serv- 
ing as principal of an academy in his native state, in which capacity he evinced 
marked ability, he was placed in charge of the preparatory department of 
the University of California, and here his faculty for organizing was again 
manifest. He returned to his home in Binghampton, New York, and while 
making a pleasure tour through the valley of the ' ' North Branch, ' ' stopped for 
several days at Bloomsburg, impressed with the beauty of its natural environ- 
ments. He made some inquiries regarding the general condition of tl_-j schools, 
and was introduced to Reverends D. J. Waller and J. R. Dimiir, Messrs. I. W. 
Hartman, D. A. Beckley, and others, who, after learning his character and pro- 
fession, persuaded him to prolong his stay, and open a school. Its success sur- 
passed any thing in his previous career, or in the school history of Bloomsburg. 
After continuing this school two years, Mr. Carver declined to remain any longer 
unless better accommodations were provided than the academy building then 
occupied. There was a general feeling of confidence in his methods, and 
measures for securing adequate facilities for the unrestricted gi'owth of the 
school were vigorously agitated; and, that the movement might properly crys- 
talize, the charter of the "Literary Institute" was revived, May 2, 1866. 
William Snyder, John K. Grotz, L. B. Rupert, I. W. Hartman and D. J. 
Waller met at the latter' s study in the capacity of trustees, under the articles 
incorporating the Institute, and reorganized, with the election of D. J. Waller 
as president; I. W. Hartman as secretary ; JohnG. Freeze, Robert F. Clark and 
William Neal as trustees, to fill vacancies caused by removals of an equal num- 
ber of the original board. At the second meeting, two days later, a commit- 
tee was appointed to attend to the financial necessities of the undertaking, 
and another to secure a location for the contemplated building. The efforts 
of the finance committee were seconded by Mr. Carver with characteristic en- 
ergy. This all important part of the work progressed to such an extent, that, 
June 16, 1866, a meeting of the stockholders was held in the court-house to 
decide the question of location. After some discussion, the consideration of 
this subject was postponed until the 22nd instant. On assembling in pursu- 
ance of adjournment, various portions of the town were suggested as most eligible 
for the site of the contemplated structure. When the matter was put to^ 
a vote, it was found that the sentiment in favor of the location proposed by 
William Snyder was almost unanimous. This was finally accepted in Au.gust, 
1866, on the assurance that the owners of the Forks hotel would, at no distant, 
time, remove it, and extend Second street to the front of the Institute gi-oimds. 
It was formally resolved, the preceding July, to procure specifications and 
plans, and contract for the erection of a building at a cost not exceeding fif- 
teen thousand dollars. This sum was six-fold larger than any one except Mr. 
Carver had ever thought of expending. The cost of the building and its fm-niture 
aggregated about twenty- four thousand dollars. Under ordinary circumstances 
the project would have collapsed, but the unremitting exertions of Mr. Carver 
were equal to the emergency. His faitli in its ultimate success never faltered, and 



168 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

was amply justified, when, on Thursday, April 4, 1867, the completed* struct- 
ure was dedicated to the cause and purposes of education. The state of the 
weather was favorable to the enactment of the inaugural ceremonies in the 
pleasantest manner. That the connection between the old academy and the 
Institute in which it was thus merged might be properly indicated, a procession, 
consisting of a band of music, the members of the board of trustees, the clergy 
of the town, the parents of the pupils, the pupils themselves, and lastly, the 
faculty, formed at the academy building, on Third street, and proceeded to the 
Institute building. Hon. Leonard B. Kupert, as president of the board of 
trustees, unlocked the door, and the procession entered in inverse order. After 
mugic of an appropriate character, and prayer by Reverend D. J. Waller, 
Mr. Rupert briefly ou.tlined the progress of the work from its first inception 
to the final accomplishment. Professor Moss, of Lewisburg, delivered the 
dedicatory address. The exercises of the evening were opened with prayer by 
Reverend J. R. Dimur, after which, Hon. William D. Elwell spoke upon the past 
history and future prospect of the Institute, and emphasized the importance of 
continued effort on the part of its friends. Among the piipils who participated 
on both occasions, were many who have since risen to positions of honor and 
responsibility in the various walks of life. 

The initial step in organizing a corps of instructors for the Institute was 
made May 25, 1866, when Prof. Henry Carver was elected principal by the 
board of trustees. The first faculty was constituted as follows: Henry Car- 
ver, professor of civil engineering, intellectual and moral philosophy; Sarah 
A- Carver, preceptress, teacher of French, botany, and ornamental branches; 
Isaac O. Best, A. B. , professor of ancient languages; Martin D. Kneeland, 
teacher of mathematics and English branches; Alice M. Carver, teacher of 
music; Jennie Bruce, in charge of the primary department. Two courses of 
study were arranged, in one of which scientific studies predominated, while 
the classics were represented to an equal extent in the other. It was proposed 
that four years shoiild be ample time to complete either. There was also a 
commercial department, and the first catalogue, issued] for the school year 
1867-63, makes mention of the fact that lessons would be given in sewing. 
The liberal ideas of the principal were manifest throughout. The number of 
pupils in attendance and the general results of the school for this first term 
were fairly satisfactory. It ceased to be merely a local institution, and be- 
came well known in other sections of the state, and even beyond its limits. To 
those who were interested in educational matters the success of the Institute 
was truly gratifying. 

The first year of active work was not yet completed, however, when a 
change in the character of the school was agitated. Hon. James P. Wicker- 
sham, state superintendent of common schools, passed Bloomsburg by rail 
shortly after the building was finished, and was favorably impressed with its 
conspicuous situation and symmetrical proportions. The idea of erecting ad- 
ditional buildings and couvei-ting the Institute into a state normal school 
seems to have occun-ed to him at once. He presented the matter to the board 
of trustees. At a meeting of that body, March 9, 1868, it was ^^ Resolved, 
that the trustees of the Bloomsburg Literary Institute agree to establish in 
connection with the same, a state normal school, under the act of assembly 
of the 2nd of May, 1857, and to procure the grounds and put up the necessary 
buildings as soon as the sum of seventy thousand dollars is subscribed by -re- 
sponsible persons, agreeably to the foregoing propositions. ' ' At this and sub- 

'Properly speaking, it was not completed until the following year, when a bell, weighing two thousand, 
one hundred and seveuty-one pounds, was secured through the efforts of D. J. Waller, Jr., G. E. Elwell and 
Charles Unangst, who were then pupils. 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. * 169 

sequent meetings, plans and estimates for the proposed building were pre- 
sented and discussed. A soliciting committee was alpo appointed; but from the 
meagre results realized through its efforts, it was evident that the project did 
not receive the co-operation of the entire body of citizens. That the views of 
all might be considered, a public meeting was held in the court-house, April 
18, 1868. Reverend D. J. Waller was called to the chair. It was found that 
the opposition or indifference resulted from a misconception of the position 
taken by the trustees; but when it was explained to the satisfaction of all that 
the proposed change would not effect the academic character of the school, 
and thus contract its local advantages, and that its influence would be extend- 
ed in the manner suggested, the meeting became as enthusiastic as it had pre- 
viously been reluctant. This is sufficiently indicated by the following minute, 
which appears as part of its proceedings : ' ' Resolved, that the trustees of the 
Bloomsburg Literary Institute be earnestly requested to purchase the neces- 
sary grounds and proceed to make an agreement to carry forward the enter- 
prise of erecting the building required; that the plans submitted by Prof. 
Carver be recommended to the trustees for adoption; that it be recommended 
to let the building to Prof. Carver at his estimate of thirty -six thousand dol- 
lars. " This was submitted to the board of trustees the same day, and on the 
strength of the financial support thus assured, Hon. Leonard B. Rupert, 
Peter Billmeyer and F. C. Eyer were constituted a building committee and 
empowered to contract for the erecting of the building with Mr. Carver at his 
bid of thirty-six thousand dollars. Subsequently, Hon. "William E. Elwell 
and William Neal became members of the building committee instead of the 
last two namad. 

June 25, 1868, the corner-stone of the state normal school building was 
laid. The exercises were preceded by an address in Institute hall by Hon. 
C. L. Ward. The audience then proceeded to that part of the grounds where 
the foundation walls of the building formed the exterior angle of its two 
wings, and where the stone was to be placed. The exercises began with 
prayer by Reverend D. J. Waller, after which John W. Geary, governor of 
the state, placed the corner-stone in position, depositing within it documents 
relating to the history of the school, its charter, with the names of the trus- 
tees, the faculty and students, and of the state school board, contemporary 
issues of the local newspapers, a copy of the Bible, and specimens of currency, 
after which he delivered an address. Hon. William E. Elwell spoke in behalf of 
the board of trustees, and Hon. Leonard B. Rupert read a history of the 
Institute. Governor Geary placed the plans and specifications in the hands 
of Professor Carver, and the latter, in accepting, promised to complete the work 
he thus assumed as rapidly as possible. Hon. James P. Wickersham addressed 
a large audience that evening on the general aspect of educational effort, par- 
ticularly as directed in the preparation of teachers for teaching, which he era- 
phasized as the central object in the normal school idea. 

Mr. Carver pushed the work he had undertaken with his usual energy, and 
the biiilding was finished within nine months fi'om the date upon which the 
corner stone was laid. It remained for the state authorities to formally recog- 
nize the Institute as a state normal school. February 8, 1869, the board 
of trustees, through its president, Hon. Leonard B. Rupert, and secretary, 
Col. John G. Freeze, signified its desire that a committee should be appointed 
agreeably to the act of 1857, to consider the claims of their institution for 
recognition as a state normal school. The following named gentlemen con- 
stituted this committee: Hon. James P. Wickersham, ex officio, Hon. Wil- 
mer Worthington, Hon. James C. Brown, Hon. George D. Jackson, Hon. 
Henry W. Hoyt; the superintendents of schools in the counties composing the 



170 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

district were nqtified, and Friday, February 19, was appointed as the day for 
the examination. The committee met on the day appointed; examined the 
charter, deeds, organization, methods of instruction — everything pertain- 
ing to the character of the school, and embodied its conclusion in the follow- 
ing report: 

Bloomsburg, Columbia County, February 19, 1869. 
Whereas, The "Bloomsburg Literary lustitute," having made the formal application 
to the Department of Common Schools for the appointment of a committee to examine its 
claims to be recognized as tlie State Normal School of the Sixth District, according to the 
provisions of "An Act to provide for the due training of teachers for the Common Schools 
of the State," approved the 20th day of May, 1857; and 

Whereas, The undersigned, being duly appointed and authorized under said act, 
and having personally, and at the same time, on Friday, the 19th day of_ February, 1869, 
visited and carefully inspected said lustitute. and made a careful examination thereof of 
its by-laws, rules and regulations, and its general arrangements and facilities for instruct- 
ing, and having found them to be substantially sucii as the law requires: 

Eteolved, That the "Bloomsburg Literary Institute " is, in our opinion, entitled to 
recognition as a State Normal School, with all the privileges and immunities enjoyed by 
other institutions of like character in this Commonwealth. 

WiLMER WoRTHiNGTON, Chairman. 
J. P. WiCKERSHAM, Secretary. 

George D. Jackson. 
James C. Brown. 
Henry M. Hoyt. 
C. G, Barkley, sup't. Columbia county. 
C. V. Gundy, sup't. Union county. 
William Henky, sup't. Montour county. 

The legal existence of the " Bloomsburg State Normal School of the Sixth 
District," dates from the anniversary of this report, February 19, 1869, 
although the proclamation from the department of public instruction was not 
promulgated until three days later. 

In his report for this je^r (1869), Mr. Wickersham states that the esti- 
mated value of the buildings and grounds was one hundred thousand dollars, 
and that the general equipments of the school were superior to those of any 
similar institutions in the state. While this was no doubt true, the troubles 
that immediately followed threatened to compel a suspension of the school. 
Mr. Carver's health was seriously impaired by his multiplied duties as princi- 
pal, contractor and business manager. His departure from Bloomsburg, in 
1871, was quite unexpected to the trustees, who were thus obliged to assume 
his liabilities in order to save the property. At one time they personally obli- 
gated themselves for an amount exceeding twenty thousand dollars. Meetings 
were held every night for several months consecutively, and the whole board 
was resolved into a ways and means committee. Every circumstance seemed 
discouraging. Every element of opposition that had ever existed seemed to 
assert itself. And when finally the crisis seemed to have passed, the board- 
ing hall was destroyed by fire, September 4, 1875. Monday, September 6, a 
meeting of the citizens was held in the court-house: Reverend J. P. Tustin pre- 
sided. Hon. William E. Elwell stated the object of the meeting. It was a 
critical period in the history of Bloomsburg. There were those who favored 
the application of the thirty thousand dollars of insurance, to the improvement 
of the property that remained, and an organization from which the normal 
school idea should be excluded; Reverend D. J. Waller was called upon to 
express his views. He did so with the force and vigor which the importance 
of the occasion demanded. He stated that it was not possible that the school 
could experience greater reverses and misfortunes than had already befallen it; 
that even under such a combination of unfavorable circumstances — financial 
embarrassments, unfortunate selection of principals, or the existence of a 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 171 

vacancy in that department — the results had been only such as might be ex- 
pected in the incipient stages of an educational enterprise; that the induce- 
ments which prompted their first effort were still operative, but as the oppor- 
tunity was greater, so was their responsibility; that it required but the influ- 
ence of that energy which the supreme importance of the hour should inspire 
to raise, Phoenix-like, a new building of larger proportions from the ashes of 
the old; and that the time would come when a thousand students would be 
•assembled on the hill for the pui-pose of securing an education. These remarks 
had the desired effect. It was unanimously decided to rebuild. Temporary 
accommodations were provided for the students. October 30, 1875, the corner- 
stone of the new building was laid. The work of construction progressed 
rapidly, and on Wednesday, April 26, 1876, the building was opened for 
students. It has a fi'ont of one hundi'ed and sixty-two feet and an extension 
of seventy -five feet. Its predecessor was L shaped, with a front of one 
hundred and twelve feet in each direction. 

While the financial stringency of this period was a most perplexing prob- 
lem, it did not monopolize the attention of the trustees. Their constant ina- 
ability to provide for the support of teachers necessitated frequent changes in 
the constitution of the faculty. There were ten instructors at the opening of 
the first annual term of the Normal School, and their respective dejDartments 
were as follows : Henry Carver, A. M. , Principal — Mental and Moral Science, 
Theory and Practice of Teaching; Sarah A. Carver, Preceptress — French, 
Botany, and Ornamental Branches; Isaac O. Best, A. M. — Ancient Langiiages; 
J. W. Ferree, A. M. — Mathematics and Practical Astronomy ; Reverend David 
C John, A. M. — Chemistry, Natural Philosophy and Physiology ; F. M. Bates, 
Superintendent of Model School Department, History, Geography, and Book- 
keeping; James C. Brown, Assistant in Mathematics; Alice M. Carver, Instru- 
mental Music; Hattie L. Best, Vocal Music; Julia M. Guest, Assistant in the 
Model School. When Professor Carver' s sudden illness, at the opening of the 
second term, left the institution without a principal, the duties of the position 
devolved upon James C. Brown. His efforts and Professor Ferree' s co-opera- 
tion prevented the school from disbanding, and at length it successfully passed 
through the most critical period of its history. At his own request, Mr. Brown 
was relieved, December 20, 1871. At Mr. Wickersham's suggestion, C. G. 
Barkley assumed the principalship, and continued in that capacity until March 
27, 1872, when Reverend John Hewitt was elected in his stead. He was suc- 
ceeded at the commencement of 1873 by L. T. Griswold, A. M., M. D. Con- 
cerning his administration it need only be stated that the financial manage- 
ment was such as to limit the expenses of the school to its income, or vice versa. 
In the judgment of the trustees it was thought best the change should be 
made, however, and for the school year of 1877-78 an entirely different faculty 
was elected, with the single exception of Professor Ferree, who retained his 
position as instructor in Higher Mathematics. The present faculty is consti- 
tuted as follows: Reverend D. J. Waller, Jr., Ph. D., Principal — Mental and 
Moral Science; J. W. Ferree, A. M. — Natural Sciences; H. A. Curran, A. M. 
— Ancient and Modern Languages; William Nottling, A. M. — Rhetoric, 
Theory and Practice of Teaching; G. E. Wilbur, A. M., — Higher Mathematics 
and History; I. W. Niles — Music; F. H. Jenkins — Grammar and Composi- 
tion; Miss Enola B. Guie, M. E. — Physical Culture and Elocution; J. G. 
Cope, M. E. — Mathematics and Geography; Miss Dora A. Niles, Drawing and 
Painting; E. Gertrude La Shelle, M. E.— Model School; Miss Sarah M. Har- 
vey — Assistant in Model School; I. H. Winter, B. E. — Geography and History. 
That the change in 1877 was judicious seems evident from the fact that the 



172 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

four professors, whose names appear in order from the head of this list, have 
been continuously connected with the school since that time. 

More than four hundred pupils wei-e in attendance during the term of 
1885-86. During the existence of the schools, four thousand seven hundred 
and ninety- eight pupils were enrolled prior to July, 1886; four hundred and 
nineteen have graduated in that time, and twenty-five were prepared for col- 
lege and received since 1877. These facts need no comment. 

The present principal is a native of Bloomsburg, and a graduate of La 
Fayette College, with which he was also connected as a teacher. He is a gen- 
tleman of extensive and varied attainments, of natural aptitude for teaching, 
of rare executive ability, and fine social qiialities. His administration has been 
eminently satisfactory. The patronage of the school has increased from year 
to year. It has become an educational power, and influences to a great extent 
the character of the public schools of a large section of country, 

Bloomsburg has been a prolific field for the organizatio'h of secret societies. 
Whenever a movement of this character has been inaugurated it has eventually 
secured a representation here. Many of the organizations thus afifected have 
succumbed to the absorbing character of these stronger rivals, thus presenting 
in the rise and growth of social institutions an illustration of the principle of 
the ' ' survival of the fittest. ' ' The Masonic order alone has increased in 
numbers and influence with the added years of its existence. The first regu- 
larly organized Masonic body in this county, Rising Sun Lodge, No. 100, 
was instituted June 16, 1804, by Israel Israel , R. W. G. M., and George A. 
Baker, G. S. , of the R. W. G. Lodge of Pennsylvania. The first officers of 
Lodge, No. 100, were Christian Brobst, W. M., William Parks, S. W., and 
John Curlee, J, W. The intense opposition to Masonry resulted in disbanding 
"Rising Sun" Lodge about the year 1830, The efforts thus relinquished 
were renewed in 1852, when Washington Lodge, No. 265, F. and A. M. , 
was chartered, with William Sloan, W. M. , Jacob Melick, S. W. , and Christian 
F. Knapp, J. W. The officers for 1885-86 were as follows: Robert R. Little, 
W. M., John Appleman, S. W., George W. Bartch, J. W. A complete list 
of the Past Masters of this Lodge is herewith presented: C. F. Knapp, F. C. 
Harrison, M. D. , J. A. DeMoyer, Agib Ricketts, John Penman, D. A. Beck- 
ley, R. H. Ringler, C. W. Miller, J. C. Rutter, M. D., Rev. John Thomas, S. 
Neyhard, W. O. Holmes, Rev. John Hewitt, A. C. Smith, J. V. Logan, W. 
W. Barrett, Theo F. Hayman, I. Hagenbuch, P. E. Knapp, W. T. Callan, C. 
K. Francis, D. W. Conner, V. N. Shaffer, P. S. Harman. 

The charter of Bloomsburg Chapter, No. 218, R. A. M., was granted July 
28, 1868. The officers named therein are as follows: D. A, Beckley, H. P ; 
Paleman John, J. B, Robison, E, P, Lutz, and C, F, Knapp. 

Mount Moriah Council, No. 10, e. s. ex, & s. m. , was originally organ- 
ized under a dispensation granted December 27, 1857, but was chartered June 
14, 1864, with J, A, DeMoyer, T. I. G. M. ; C. F. Knapp, D. I. G. M. ; J. 
B. McKelvey, P. C. W. ; Jacob Melick, M. E. , and E. F. Lutz, Recorder. The 
following named individuals have been T. I. G. Masters: C. F. Knapp, P. M. 
P. G. M.; J. A. DeMoyer; F, C, Harrison, M, D. ; E, P. Lutz; H, S, Good- 
win, P. G. P. C. W. ; D. Lowenberg, D. A. Beckley, A. J. Frick, C, L. Stow- 
ell, P. E. Knapp, G. W. Reifsnyder, C. K. Francis, W. W. Barrett, W. J. 
Scott, John Thomas. 

Crusade Commandery, No. 12, K. T., was formed by virtue of a dispensa- 
tion granted March 15, 1856, and received a charter June 8, 1864. The orig- 
inal officers of this body were as follows: Christian F. Knapp, C. ; J, B. Mc- 
Kelvey, G. ; F. C. Harrison, C. G. ; J. A. DeMoyer, P. ; Jacob Melick, T. ;. 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 173 

E. P. Lutz, R. ; C. Bittenbender, S. W. ; George S. Gilbert, J. W. ; Lewis 
Enke, S. B. ; F. H. G. Thornton. W. 

Orient Conclave, No. 2, K. of R., C. of R. & C, was chartered February 16, 
1871, with C. F. Knapp, Sov. ; Charles P. Early, F. V. R., and G. T. 
"Wheeler, Secretary. 

The ' ' Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, in the valley of Bloomsburg, Pa. , " con- 
sists of four distinct bodies, numbering a total membership of seven hundred. 
Bloomsburg is one of four places in this State where the Scottish Rite has 
been introduced, and this fact, with its large numerical representations, suf- 
ficiently indicates the energy and enterprise of the Masonic fraternity at this 
place. 

Enoch Grand Lodge of Perfection, 14°, was instituted October 8, 1865^ 
and chartered May 19, 1866, with the following members: C. F. Knapp, 
George Shorkley, John Vallerchamp, Paleraan John, C. C. Shorkley, E. W. 
M. Lowe. F. G. Harrison, B. M. Ellis, J. R. Dimm, C. Bittenbender, E. P. 
Lutz and John Penman. 

Zeriibbabel Council of 16°, was instituted and chartered on the same dates, 
respectively. Its original membership consisted of John Vallerchamp, E. P. 
Lutz, C. F. Knapp, Paleman John, E. W. M. Lowe, S. G. Vangilder, John 
Thomas, J. R. Dimm, John Vanderslice and John Penman. 

Evergreen S. Chapter of Rose-Croix de H. R. D. M., 18°, was chartered 
May 19, 1866, with the following named officers: C. F. Knapp, John Valler- 
champ, J. R. Dimm, Paleman John, S. G. Vangilder, C. C. Shorkley, E. P. 
Lutz and John Penman. 

Caldwell S. Consistor3% S. P. R. S., 32°, was chartered May 19, 1867. 
The following individuals were among the first members of this body: John 
Vallerchamp, Paleman John, C. F. Knapp, C. C. Shorkley and George 
Shorkley. 

Van Camp Lodge, No. 140, I. O. O. F. was chartered November 17, 1845, 
with Andrew D. Cool, N. G. ; Ephraim Armstrong, V. G. ; Edward Keifer, 
S. ; Henry Webb, A. S. ; and George W. Abbott. Treasurer. Among the other 
members at this time were Anthony Foster and Robert Cathcart. The latter 
died in Danville, in 1879, and was the last surviving charter member. 

Bloomsburg Council. No. 146, O. U. A. M. , was chartered July 16, 1868, 
with the following members: Henry F. Bodine, Tobias Henry, Harman Kline, 
H. J. Evans, M. S. Houseknecht. M. M. Snyder, A. S. Crossly, Robert Roane, 
James M. Thornton, Frederick Gilmore, George Nicholas, I. K. Miller, J. S. 
Jacoby, Edward S.earles, William Thomas, Joseph Christman, M. M. John- 
son, J. S. Evans, I. Hagenbuch, P. Welsh, J. Schultz, Henry Shutt, W. M. 
Furman, John Culp, George Moyer and C. W. Miller. 

Bloomsburg Council, No. 957, Royal Arcanum, was organized by H. E. W. 
Campbell, D. G. R. of this state, February 26, 1886, with the following persons 
as officers: I. W. Willitts, G. A. Clark, Thomas E. Geddis, D. A. Beckley. C. H. 
Campbell, John F. Peacock, F. D. Dentler, L. F. Sharpless, C. S. Furman, 
S. F. Peacock. G. M. Quick, William Reber, W. H. Brooks, and C. W. 
Miller. 

A number of flourishing church organizations attest the religious character 
and activities of the people at any period of the history of the town. The 
parish of Saint Paul's Protestant Episcopal church is the oldest religious or- 
ganization in Bloomsburg. Its existence dates fi-om 1793, when Elisha Bar- 
ton appeared in the diocesan convention at Philadelphia as the representative 
of certain members of the church in Fishingcreek township, who had formed 
themselves into a congregation. The object of his mission was to present a 



174 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

request for the appointment of a rector; and in the minutes of the convention 
of the following year, the name of Reverend Caleb Hopkins appears as mis- 
sionary in a field which embraced all the territory within the forks of the Sus- 
quehanna — among other points, Saint Paul's church at Bloomsburg. About 
this time there was erected "on the west side of the grate road leading from 
Esq. Barton's to Berwick" a house for worship, the outward appearance of 
which suggested the workmanship of no artisan save nature herself in the un- 
hewn logs which still retained that massive rotundity developed through years 
of exposure to wind and rain and sunshine. Its interior was scarcely less strik- 
ing. Thei'e was neither fireplace, stove nor chimney. A charcoal fire burned 
on a rude grating before the chancel. The minister's face was either illumin- 
ated by the fitful flames or completely obscured by the ascending smoke, which 
found such outlet as the crevices in the roof or the chinks between the logs af- 
forded. Upon the wall there was a constant play of fantastic forms, the 
shadowy outlines of rude benches and their occupants. Young people sneezed, 
while their parents and grand-parents seemed to experience no unpleasantness 
from the fumes of this primitive heating apparatus. The congregation assem- 
bled from all directions, and engaged in the service with that interest usually 
manifested when such occurrences Avere only occasional. Before mounting 
their horses for the homeward journey, current topics were discussed, and the 
social spirit of the worshippers expressed in hearty hand-shaking and kindly 
inquiries for absent ones. Churches at the present day are vindoubtedly far in 
advance of their predecessors of a century ago in many respects; but nothing 
has been gained in losing that simplicity which invariably characterized relig- 
ious services at that period. 

The Reverend Mr. Hopkins bfliciated in this church at irregular intervals 
until 1805, when he resigned, August 4. 1806; at the conclusion of service, he 
was called to become stated minister. He was offered an annual salary of one 
hu.ndred dollars and the use of a glebe about to be erected by the Saint Paul 
and Saint Gabriel (Sugarloaf) congregations. He signified his acceptance, and 
entered upon the duties of the rectorship, October 1, 1806. From this time 
his field of labor was restricted to the churches at Bloomsburg, Jerseytown 
and Sugarloaf, and Saint Paul's congregation enjoyed greater frequency and 
regularity of religious services. Mr. Hopkins resided in that part of Blooms- 
burg properly known as Hopkinsville, until 1819, when his incumbency as 
rector ceased. The Reverend Snowden succeeded him in 1820. The erec- 
tion of a new church was vigorously agitated about this time, and Mr. Snow- 
den took measures to have the parish incorporated as a protection to its finan- 
cial interests. An act of the legislature under date of April 5. 1824, created 
the church a corporate body, with Daniel Pursel, Battis Appelman, Littleton 
Townsend, Isaac Green, Robert Green, Philip Apj^elman, Elias Bidleman, 
Peter Melick and John Barton, wardens and vestry. The Reverend — ~ EWred 
succeeded Mr. Snowden in 1825, and was the last rector who ofliciated in the 
old church. It was replaced in 1827 by a frame structure with greater pre- 
tensions to architectural beauty, which was used as a place for worship during 
the ten years following. July 13, 1837, the corner-stone of the third building 
on this site was laid. This was one of the few brick structures in the town at 
that time, and one of the finest churches in this section of country. The next 
effort at church building was made in 1868, when legislative action was secured 
for the disinterment and removal of the dead fi'om that part of the burial 
ground at the corner of Second and Iron streets, upon which it was proposed 
to build. The acre of ground upon which the church and rectory are situated 
was secured by Elisha Barton, John Trembly and Edmund Crawford, the ves- 
try, in 1795, from Joseph Long. The amount paid was five shillings. The 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 175 

site of the log church was nearly identical with that of the rectory. The re- 
maining portion of the inolosure was used as a cemetery; hence the legislation 
and disinterment agreeably to its provisions. The corner-stone of the fourth 
and present church edifice was laid in September, 1868. The first service in 
the completed structure was held on Sunday, October 28, 1870. Ten years 
were required to liquidate the debt of eight thousand dollars that then re- 
mained. Tuesday, June 28, 1881, the dedication occurred. There were pres- 
ent on this occasion Reverends T. H. Cullen and J. Hewitt, former rectors; J. 
H. Black, G. H. Rockwell, C. E. Fessenden, H. E. Hayden, J. P. Carncross, 
C. E. Dodson, G. H. Kirkland, J. M. Peck, G. Gregson, and Bishop Howe. 
The certificate of the rector and vestry was read by E. R. Drinker, senior war- 
den. Bishop Howe conducted the service. Reverend T. H. Cullen pro- 
nounced the sentence of consecration. The ceremonies throughout were of an 
interesting and appropriate character. In 1850 the parish came into posses- 
sion of a house on East street, by the will of Elizabeth Emmitt. The proceeds 
of its sale were applied to the purchase of a pastoral residence on First street. 
The brick rectory contiguous to the church was built in 1883, and occupied by 
the Reverend L. Zahner in that year. After completing a pastorate of ten 
years, he resigned in September, 1886. The vestry has elected Reverend Will- 
iam C. Leverett to fill the vacancy thus existing, and he has signified his ac- 
ceptance. 

Saint Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran church has been known by that 
name since its incorporation, December 3, 1856, although known as Saint 
Paul's during the first fifty years of its history. During this period, the con- 
gregation worshiped in a church building at the corner of First and Center 
streets. This structure was built in 1808, and jointly owned by the Reformed 
and Lutheran churches. It was nearly square, with wide galleries on three 
sides and a high, "wine glass" pulpit on the fourth side. Its seating capacity 
was about five hundred, of which number as many people would be upstairs 
as down, when the house was crowded. After some years, its exterior was 
weather-boarded and painted white, and this improvement seemed to give it a 
new lease of life in the affections of the community. It was finally removed 
in 1861, but the two congregations still retain their joint ownership of the 
cemetery of which its site forms a part. This burial ground comprises about 
one acre, and was purchased for eighty dollars from Ludwig Eyer, who was a 
member of this church. 

Reverend Frederick Plitt is the first pastor of whom mention is made in the 

records, although the fact that Reverend Frederitze was here as early as 

1800 and preached in the Episcopal church building, seems well authenticated. 
March 13, 1808, the church adopted a constitution of fourteen articles, signed 
by Mr. Plitt, as pastor, John Deitterick and Bernard Lilly, elders and trustees, 
and Bernard Stetler, deacon. The records were made exclusively in German 
until 1833, and part in that language for some time afterward. Public wor- 
ship was conducted in German until 1835; from that time until 1851, this lan- 
guage was used alternately — with the English. The transition was finally 
completed in 1851. under the ministry of Mr. Weaver. 

Mr. Plitt' s name appears at the head of a list of thirtv-eight communicants 
under date of May 1, 1808. From 1809 to 1816, Reverend J. Frederick 
Engel served the congregation as pastor. At the communion of April 23, 
1815, the names of fifty-seven persons appear upon the records. Reverend 
Peter Kessler followed him and remained until 1829. Reverend Jeremiah 
Schindel was pastor fi-om 1830 to 1837. and Reverend William J. Eyer from 
1837 to 1845. The latter was assisted during part of this time by Reverend 
■Charles Witmer, who preached quite fi-equently at Bloomsburg. Reverend 



176 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

Monroe J. Allen assumed the pastorate from 1845 to 1847, when Mr. Eyer 
again became pastor. Reverend Philip Weaver succeeded him in 1851, but 
resigned two years later. His immediate successor was Reverend E. A. Shar- 
rets. The church building on Market street, since occupied by the congrega- 
tion, was erected during this pastorate. Jacob Eyer was the leading spirit in 
this enterprise, in which he was ably assisted by David Stroup and John K. 
Grotz, the other members of the building committee. The building of so 
large and substantial a church edifice at this time speaks highly of the faith 
and liberalty of the people. It was dedicated September 2(3, 1857. In the 
autumn of the following year, the East Pennsylvania Synod convened at 
Bloomsburg, numbering among its members many of the most eminent Luth- 
eran divines in this country. Reverend J. R. Dimm, D. D. , was pastor from 
1859 to 1867. During his ministry the remaining indebtedness on the church 
building was paid, and the finances of the congregation further improved to 
such an extent that Bloomsburg was constituted a separate pastorate. Previ- 
ous to this time it had received pastoral care in common with neighboring 
congregations. Reverend B. F. Alleman, D. D. , was pastor fi'om 1867 to 
1872, Reverend J. R. Williams from 1872 to 1875, Reverend J. McCron, D. 
D., from 1875 to 1878, Reverend O. D. S. Marclay from 1878 to his death in 
1881, and Reverend F. P. Manhast, the present incumbent, since June 1, 
1881. Several thousand dollars have been expended within the past five years 
upon chancel and pulpit furniture, repairs to the church property, and a pipe- 
organ. And thus, under the leadership of an able ministry, devoted and effi- 
cient church councilmen and Sunday-school superintendents, the congregation 
has steadily developed to its present strength of three hundred and twenty - 
five communicant members. A marked degree of interest and activity is man- 
ifested in Sunday- school work, while several organizations of a benevolent and 
charitable character are well sustained. 

As nearly as can be ascertained, the Reverend John W. Ingold was the first 
Reformed minister who preached in Bloomsbiu-g. Among the German immi- 
grants, this body of Christians was numerously represented. The services 
were held in the Episcopal church building mentioned above. On one occasion, 
a large congregation had assembled outside the church, when they were sum- 
marily denied admittance. Upon the arrival of Mr. Ingold, he was requested 
to announce preaching in four weeks at a school-house to be built about two 
miles distant on Little Fishing creek. Not a tree had yet been felled nor any 
preparation made for the contemplated building, but it was completed within 
the specified time, and Mr. Ingold preached agreeably to appointment. The 
burial ground, in the rear of the site of this school-house, is still pointed out, 
and here repose many of the first settlers of this region in unmarked graves. 

The Reverend John Deitterich Adams succeeded Mr. Ingold about 1807, 
upon the death of the latter. It was decided to co-operate with the Lutherans 
in building a house of worship more convenient to Bloomsburg. The Reverend 
Jacob Dieffenbach preached the sermon at the dedication of this church. 
April 1, 1815, he received a call to become pastor at Bloomsburg. He accepted, 
and removed his family and household goods from Lynville, Lehigh coun- 
ty, to Espy, where a parsonage had been prepared for his use. His field of 
labor embraced Bloomsburg, Briarcreek, Mifflinville, Muncy, Nescopeck, Wap- 
wallopen, Shamokin, Catawissa, and several minor points. He was a man of 
considerable intelligence, and exerted a degree of influence not usually possessed 
by clergymen at this period. He died of consumption April 13, 1825, but in 
the decade of his residence in Columbia county, he laid the foundations of all 
the Reformed churches within its limits. His immediate successor, the Rev- 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTV. 177 

erend Larosh, served the difPereat congregations for two years, when he fell 
a victim to malarial fever, then unusually virulent and prevalent. The Rever- 
end Richard Fisher, of Catawissa, preached at Bloomsburg occasionally for a 
short period, but Reverend Daniel S. Tobias, who entered upon the pastorate, in 
1828, and remained in charge until 1851, was the next regular pastor. He was 
assisted during part of this time by Reverend Henry Funk, who preached in 
English to the live churches which constituted the Bloomsburg charge. Mr. 
Funk resigned in 1854 and was succeeded the following year by Reverend 
William Goodrich. During his ministry the exclusively Reformed church 
building at the corner of Iron and Third streets was erected. He resigned in 
1866, and in the same year a call was extended to Reverend L. C. Sheip. He 
accepted, and the charge was reduced to two congregations, which it numbers 
at present. Reverend F. J. Mohr became pastor in 1868 and added several 
other churches to his charge. In the space of three years he traveled more 
than four thousand miles; but finding^ this labor greater than his strength, he 
-resigned in 1871. Reverend T. F. Hoffmier was pastor from March, 1872, to 
Junel, 1876; Reverend G. D. Gurley, from 1876 to 1878; Reverend Walter E. 
Krebs, from May 3, 1878, to 1883, during which time the appearance of the 
church building and the finance.s of the congregation were much improved. 
Raverend O. H, Strunck assumed the pastorate in August, 1885. His work 
was quietly pursued, but was eminently satisfactory. In February, 1883, a 
unanimous call was extended to Reverend S. R. Breidenbaugh, then pastor at 
Berlin, Somerset county. Pa. He accepted and was installed on the evening 
of April 25, 1885, by a committee of classes consisting of Reverends J. S. 
Peters, G. B, Deehant, and A. Hantz. A debt, incurred in the purchase of a 
parsonage, has been paid during Mr. Breidenbaugh' s incumbency. This church 
is connected with the East Susqu.ehanna session of the Synod of the United 
States. Both bodies have met here— the former quite frequently, the latter 
on the occasion of its annual convention, in October, 1873. 

The Presbyterian element of the population of Bloomsburg and vicinity 
was originally connected with the old Fishingcreek church, the organization 
of which is still sustained in Center township. This church is mentioned in 
1789 in the records of Carlisle Presbytery. Reverends Henry, Bryson, Porter, 
Judd, Condit, Andrews and Gray, were successively sent to missionate in the 
valley of the Susquehanna, and undoubtedly numbered among their hearers, at 
the Fishing creek church, the McClures, Kinney s, Sloans, Pursels, and oth- 
ers, who afterward formed the membership of the Bloomsburg church. Reverend 
Asa Dunham, a native of Middlesex county, N. J., and a revolutionary sol-/ 
dier, became a resident of the Fishing creek valley in 1798, and preached in 
the barn of Elias Furman, between Bloomsburg and Espy. The fact that pub- 
lic worship was thus held in the vicinity of the incipient village of Blooms- 
burg, and also at the Briarcreek church, would seem to indicate an increas- 
ing number of Presbyterians at the former place. Their religious privileges 
were convenient only through the courtesy of the German people or the Epis- 
copalians, while their growing numbers emphasized the importance of a sepa- 
rate organization, and the building of a house of worship for their own use. 
Accordingly the Presbyterian church of Bloomsburg was organized in 1817, 
with James McClure, Paul Leidy and Peter Pursel, as elders. The congrega- 
tion united with the Briai'creek and Shamokin churches, in extending a call 
to the Reverend Samuel Henderson, whose services should be divided equally 
among them. This call was made December 6, 1817, but the Bloomsburg 
congregation had already taken measures to provide their quota for his sup- 
port. His energy was further manifested in the purchase of a lot at the west 



178 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

end of Third street for a cemetery and building site. It was decided that the 
church building should be two stories high, with galleries on three sides, and 
that its dimensions should be thirty-sis and forty feet. After the foundation 
had been laid, a controversy arose as to whether the entrance should be from 
the rear, agreeably to the custom of the neighborhood, or from that end of the 
building next the street. The more modern ideas prevailed, although a change 
was required in the work already done. While this structure was in course 
of erection, the trustees united in an agreement with the officers of the Epis- 
copal church for the use of their church building. An instance in which the 
announcements of the two clergymen conflicted has thus been described: 
"When a communion service had been appointed, and the Rev. J. B. Patter- 
son had been published to preach on Saturday preceding, the Rev. Caleb Hop- 
kins, the founder and rector of the church, wrote a note to Mr. Henderson, 
announcing that he wished to occupy the pulpit on that afternoon. The notice 
reached Mr. Henderson, on his coming to town, to meet his congregation, who 
were already gathering. Finding Mr. Hopkins in the little pulpit, which 
would hold but one, he ascended the steps and asked permission to publish a 
notice, which, being courteously granted, he announced that those who wished 
to hear the Rev. Mr. Patterson, would repair to the German church on the 
hill. The whole congregation left. As the last were passing out Mr. Hopkins 
said, despairingly, ' Well, if ye will go, ye may. ' " 

Mr. Henderson continued to preach at Bloomsburg until 1824, when he 
was succeeded by the Reverend John Niblock. Reverends James Lewers, 
Crosby. Mathew B. Patterson, Robert Bryson, and Irvin suc- 
cessively assumed the pastorate, but found no encouragement to remain any 
length of time. The Reverend John P. Hudson's connection with the Blooms- 
burg congregation began in December, 1832, when he became stated supply, 
and subsequently regular pastor, until his resignation in 1838. The vacancy 

that ensued was temporarily supplied by Reverends — Tobey and Daniel M. 

Barber, but the latter had established a flourishing boarding school for young 
ladies at Washingtonville and declined to relinquish it, although importuned to 
do so. At the instance of Reverend D. M. Halliday, of Danville, D. J. Waller, 
a licentiate of New Castle Presbytery, had preached once in Bloomsburg, in 
the summer of 1837; he was now invited to make his residence in the town, 
and take charge of a pastorate embracing the whole of Columbia county, with 
several preaching points beyond its limits. The call was tendered and accept- 
ed in the autumn of 1838, and May 1, 1839, the pastor was ordained and in- 
stalled. The pastoral relations thus established continued through thirty- 
three years. What was then included in one pastorate has now been formed 
into five or six. Mr. W^aller's reminiscences would fill a volume. His house 
was the recognized stopping place for traveling clergymen, book agents, 
agents of benevolent societies, and other travelers of a miscellaneous character. 
He relates that that hospitality attained such proportions that occasionally 
more guests and conveyances left his house in the morning than left the 
hotel; and when the village landlord erected a new sign -board in hopes of 
thus emphasizing his claims upon the traveling public, some wags procured 
the old one and elevated it in a conspicuous place before the pastor' s dwelling. 

Upon the removal of the seat of justice to Bloomsburg in 1815, the future 
prospects of the town were supposed to be improved to such an extent as to re- 
quire the erection of a new church building. The question of location was 
one of importance, and the different views entertained were widely different, 
and, unfortunately, equally pronounced. That the energies of the congrega- 
tion might be concentrated on the erection of the church, and thus diverted 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 179 

from the consideration of this delicate subject, the pastor secured financial aid 
from friends abroad and purchased the lot on Market street which is the pres- 
ent location of the church edifice. The plans for its erection were prepared 
by Napoleon Le Brun. Its cost was about three thousand dollars. The last 
sermon in the Third street church building was delivered on the last Sabbath 
of August, 1848. The new structure was dedicated on the following Wednes- 
day, on which occasion the pastor was assisted by the Reverend W. R. Smith. 

IVIr. Waller tendered his resignation in 1871; it was accepted and the re- 
lation terminated by the Presbytery. After an interval of one year, the Rev- 
erend Stuart Mitchell, D. D. , was installed as his successor, October 17, 1872. 
A parsonage was erected in 1880 on the lot formerly occupied by the old 
church. The subject of building a new church has been under consideration 
for some time, and a fund for this object has been accruing during this period. 
The erection of a more commodious church edifice certainly cannot be long 
delayed. 

The first Methodist service in Bloomsburg was conducted by Reverends Geo. 
Lane, a former member of the Genesee Conference, who was obliged, in con- 
sequence of lost health, to engage in business in Berwick. He preached in 
the Episcopal church, during a vacancy in the rectorship of the parish. This 
was probably in the year 1829. In the autumn of 1831, while William Pret- 
tyman and Wesley Howe were stationed at Berwick, Reverend Alem Brittain vis- 
ited Light Street and found it necessary to remain, although the presiding el- 
der insisted that he should return to his circuit in Center county. At Mr. 
Prettyman' s suggestion, Mr. Howe exchanged work with Mr. Brittain. It had 
meanwhile been publicly announced that regular religious services would be 
held at Bloomsburg, and on a Sunday evening in October, 1881, Mr. Brittain 
preached* to a large audience in the school-house. This was the first sermon 
delivered in Bloomsburg, after it had become a regular appointment. A class 
was formed in 1832, and consisted of Dr. Harman Gearhart, William Paul, 
Jesse Shannon, Delilah (Creveling) Barton, and others. Preaching at that 
time was held in a school-house, at the corner of Second and Iron streets. 
Subsequently, William Paul's carpenter- shop on Market street, between First 
and Second, became the place of meeting. In 1835, a frame church building 
was erected on Third street; this was replaced in 1857 by the brick structure 
that now marks its site. It was dedicated in December, 1857, by Bishop Levi 
Scott. Its appearance, both internally and externally, has been improved at 
various times since. An extensive revival was held at the dedication of the 
church in 1857, during the pastorate of Rev. George Warren, and again in 
1869, under the leadership of Reverend J. A. Melick. 

The Primitive Methodist and Welsh Wesleyans were represented in 
Bloomsburg by strong congregations during the first prosperity of the iron in- 
dustry. The African Methodist church seems to have become a permanent or- 
ganization. A building site on First street was purchased in 1868, and a 
fi'ame church building erected thereon. It is the place of worship of a flour- 
ishing organization. 

It has been thought proper in this connection to present the names of all 
the Methodist clergymen who have preached in Bloomsburg or the surrounding 
country, by conference appointment. This section was embraced in North- 
umberland circuit from 1791 to 1831, with the exception of the years 1799 and 
1800, when it was included in Wyoming; Berwick circuit comprehended this 
territory during the fifteen years following; Bloomsburg circuit in 1847, and 
Bloomsburg station in 1862. Having thus summarized the changes in the 
ecclesiastical map, the list of ministers is herewith subtended: 1791, Richard 



180 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

Parrott, Lewis Browning; 1792, James Campbell, William Colbert; 1793, 
James Campbell, James Paynter; 1794, R. Manly, J. Brodhead; 1795, James 
Ward, Stephen Timmons; 1796, John Seward, R. Sneath; 1797, John 
Lackey, D. Higby; 1798, J. Lackey, J. Leach; 1799, J. Moore, B. Bidlack, D. 
Stevens; 1800, E. Chambers, E. Larkins, A. Smith; 1801, J. Dunham, G. 
Carpenter; 1802, Anning Owens, J. Atkins; 1803, D. Ryan, J. Ridgway; 1804, 
T. Adams, G. Draper; 1805, C. Fiye, J. Saunders; 1806, Robert Burch, John 
Swartzwelder; 1807, Nicholas Joel Smith; 1808, Thomas Curren, John Rhodes; 
1809, Timothy Lee, Loring Grant; 1810, Abraham Dawson, Isaac PuflPer; 
1811, B. G. Paddock, J. H. Baker. R. Lanning; 1812, George Thomas, 
Ebenezer Doolittle; 1813, Joseph Kinkead, I. Chamberlain; 1814, John 
Hazzard, Abraham Dawson; 1815, R. M. Everts, I. Cook; 1816, John Thomas, 
Alpheus Davis; 1817, Benjamin Bidlack, Peter Baker; 1818, Gideon Lanning, 
Abraham Dawson; 1819, John Rhodes. Darius Williams; 1820, John Rhodefe, 
Israel Cook; 1821, Marmaduke Pearce, J. Thomas; 1822, John Thomas, 
Mordecai Barry; 1823, J. R. Shepherd, M. Barry; 1824, R. Cadden, F. 
Macurteny, R. Bond; 1825, R. Cadden, R. Bond; 1826, John Thomas, George 
Hildt; 1827, John Thomas, David Shaver; 1828, Charles Kalbfus, William 
James; 1829, James W. Donahay, Josiah Forrest; 1830, James W. Donahay, 
A. A. Eskridge; 1831, William Prettyman, Wesley Howe; 1832, William 
Prettyman, Oliver Ege; 1833. Marmaduke Pearce, Alem Brittain; 1834-35, 
J. Rhodes, J. H. Young; 1836, J. Sanks, J. Hall; 1837, J. Sanks, George 
Guyer; 1838, Charles Kalbfus, J. Hall; 1839, Charles Kalbfus, Penfield Doll; 
1840, James Ewing, William R. Mills; 1841, James Ewing, W. F. D. 
Clemm; 1842, Thomas Taneyhill, Joseph A. Ross; 1843, Thomas Taneyhill, 
Thomas Bowman; 1844, Francis N. Mills, W. L. Spottswood; 1845, John 
Bowen, W. F. Pentz; 1846, John Bowen, J. W. Bull; 1847, S. L. M. 
Couser, J. Turner; 1848, G. H. Day, J. W. Elliott; 1849, John W. Gere, 
P. E., G. H. Day; 1850, J. S. Lee, E. H. Waring; 1851, J. S. Lee, T. M. 
Goodfellow; 1852, Thomas Taneyhill, W. E. Buckingham; 1853, Thomas 
Taneyhill, J. A. DeMoyer; 1854, J. A. Ross, A. W. Guyer; 1855, J. More- 
head, F.*M. Slusser; 1856, George Warren, S. Barnes; 1857, George Warren, 
N. W. Colburn; 1858-59, J. Guyer, T. Sherlock; 1860, F. Gearhart, A. R. 
Riley; 1862-63, D. C. John; 1864-66, R. E. Wilson; 1867, J. A. Price; 
1868-69, J. A. Melick; 1870-71. B. H. Crever; 1872-73, N. S. Buckingham; 
1874-75, J. H. McGarrah; 1876, J. S. McMurray; 1877-78, M. L. Smyser; 
1879-80, E. H. Yocum; 1881-82, John Donahue; 1883-85, D. S. Moaroe, D. 
D. ; 1886, F. B. Riddle. 

The first efforts to establish the Baptist faith in Bloomsburg were made in 
1840 by the Reverend J. Green Miles, who preached in the Methodist church 
building in April or May of that year. He was then in charge of the Little 
Muncy, or Madison church. He was given the use of the union meeting 
house, and preached, in all, six sermons. The next minister of this denomina- 
tion was Reverend William S. Hall, of Berwick. In January, 1843, he 
preached two sermons and baptized John Snyder in Fishing creek. This was 
the first baptism in Bloomsburg agreeably to the doctrine and practice of the 
Baptist church. Subsequently, Reverend Joseph B. Morris preached several 
times in the " Smoketown " school-house. At a still later period, and after 
the erection of tlie Welsh Baptist church. Reverend A. D. Nichols visited the 
town and preached several sermons. No continued and regular services were 
held in Bloomsburg until 1858, when Reverend J. R. Shanafelts, of Berwick, 
began to preach once in three weeks in the court hall. He delivered his first 
sermon October 3, 1858. In less than a year from this time a house of wor- 







<> z^-^-^ ^':i^-' 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 183 

ship was dedicated. It is a neat and substantial frame structure, and re- 
quired a greater degree of liberality than would now be required. It was 
dedicated July 11, 1859, Reverends Joseph Kelley and A. F. Shanafelts 
preaching on that occasion. The church was organized with Martin C. Wood- 
ward, deacon; John Snyder, clerk; Daniel Breece, treasurer, and nineteen mem- 
bers, of whom Martin C. Woodward, Sarah J. Woodward, Isaac Tyler, Susan 
Tyler, Harriet Roan and Lena Fidler were received by letters fi-om the Dan- 
ville church; Sarah A. Philips, by letter from the Madison church; John Sny- 
der, in a similar manner from the Berwick church; Richard Edward and Mar- 
tha Edward, by letter fi'om England; Daniel Breece, Robert Roan, Elizabeth 
Cadman and Maria Logan, on experience; Margaret Derr, Mary A. Breece, 
Lucy Cosper, Mary N. Powell and Mahala Brittain, by baptism. The organ- 
ization thus effected was constituted a Baptist church by an ecclesiastical 
council, composed of the following clergymen, representatives of eleven differ- 
ent churches: S. H. Mirick, A. J. Hay, O. L. Hall, E. M. Alden and A. J. 
Kelly. 

Mr. Shanafelts resigned after a three years' ministry. He was succeeded 
by Reverend J. G. Penny, who remained one year. Reverend G. W. Scott 
took charge January 12, 1863, and resigned in March, 1865. Reverend J. P. 
Tustin became pastor .March 15, 1865, and continued in that capacity for fif- 
teen years. Reverend C. Wilson Smith took charge in the spring of 1882, 
and remained one year and six months. He was succeeded, in 1884, by Rever- 
end D. J. R. Strayer. Since his resignation, in the autumn of 1885, Mr. 
Tustin has again become pastor, and continues in that capacity at this time 
(1886). Since the organization of this church two hundred and nine per- 
sons have been received into membership by baptism, fifty-six by letter and 
twenty-six by experience — a total of two hundred and ninety-one. During 
the same period a loss of thirty-two has been caused by death, of thirty-seven by 
expulsion, of sixty-eight by erasure, and of fifty-four by letter — a total of one 
hundred and ninety-one. From a comparison of these figures it appears that 
the present numerical strength of this church is one hundred members. 

The first religious service in Bloomsburg agreeably to the ritual of the 
Roman Catholic church was held while the canal excavations were 
in progress, by Reverend Father Fitz-Patrick, of Milton. His successor 
at that place, Father Fitz Simmons, held mass on several occasions, in 1841, 
for the population attracted to Bloomsburg during the construction of Iron- 
dale furnace. Services were held regularly several times a month at the 
house of Michael Casey, on Iron street, below the hill and across from the cul- 
vert. Many of the workmen attended, and if they had remained permanently 
in the town, a strong organization might have been effected. After they left 
the town services were held at irregular intei'vals by the priests stationed at 
Pottsville, Shamokin, Sunbury, and Danville. Among this number were 
Fathers Sherdon, Murray, McGinnis, Smith, and Noonan, from Sunbury, 
and Schleuter, from Danville. Under their ministrations, a congi-egation 
was gradually collected. The need of a permanent place for public worship 
became apparent with every addition to its membership. The purchase of a 
stone structure on Third street, between Iron and Center, formerly occupied 
by the Primitive Methodists, was successfully negotiated. It was rebuilt in 
1874, and the pastoral residence adjoining was purchased in 1883. Fathers 
O'Brien, Reilly, Clarke and McCann have been resident pastors. The parish 
of St. Columba's church also embraces several other points in this county 
where the R^man Catholic faith is represented by members, but not by regular- 
ly organized churches. 

18 



184 HISTOKY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

The success of the Evangelical Association in extending its borders is. 
largely due to the spirit of its leadership in advancing into new territory, es- 
tablishing missions, and taking up new ap})ointments. In March, 1873, the- 
Central Pennsylvania Conference of this body decided to occupy Bloomsburg 
as a mission, attach to it several points in the vicinity, and place the whole 
under the pastoral care of the Reverend R. C. Bowersox. Six years pi-evious, in 
the winter of 1867, the Reverend U. W. Harris held the first service of this 
church in Bloomsburg, in the " Port Noble " school-house. A class was formed 
with George Rishel, leader. Among its members were Joseph Garrison, 

Henry Garrison, George Rishel, Elijah Strohm, Houseknecht and Tobias 

Henry. Public worship was held regularly, but the necessity of moving from 
one place to another greatly hindered the growth of the society. A lot of 
ground was purchased in 1873 for a building site; December 12, 1880, Bishop 
Thomas Bowman dedicated the brick structure erected thereon, and the con- 
gregation for the fii'st time worshiped in their own house. The following 
ministers have sustained pastoral relations with the Bloomsburg mission: 
1873-74, R. C. Bowersox; 1875-76, J. N. Irvine; 1877, A. W. Sheuberger 
and J. S. Hertz; 1878-79, G. W. Hunter; 1879-80, L. K. Harris; 1880-81, 
S. E. Davis; 1882-84, S. P. Remer; 1885—, H. W. Buck. 

The Columbia County Sunday School Association is an organization which 
includes all evangelical sunday schools. It is auxiliary to the State and Inter- 
national Sunday School Association. It is the purpose of this organization to 
encoui'age weak schools and to organize schools where needed. It has been 
organized eighteen years and holds conventions annually in various parts of the 
county, at which time its ofiicers are elected. The work of organizing an 
association in each township and borough auxiliary to the county association 
has progressed until but four remain unorganized. 

At the time when Bloomsburg is best described as a country village, the 
burial ground of each congregation was in the rear of its church building. 
This arrangement continued until Rosemont Cemetery was incorporated. 
Messrs. D. J. Waller, Jacob Eyer, Joel Ruderow and the clergy of the 
town were the leaders in this movement. Subsequently, the different de- 
nominational burial grounds have ceased to be used for that purpose, and 
except in the case of the German cemetery, the remains of those buried 
there have been disinterred and removed to Rosemont. 



CHAPTER VII. 

SCOTT TOWNSHIP. 



THE last change in the political map of this county north of the river was. 
made in 1853, when Bloom township was divided, and its eastern portion 
given the name which appears at the head of this chapter. The latter was 
conferred in honor of George Scott, then entering upon his second term as a 
member of the legislature from the district embracing Columbia and Montour 
counties. This township is the smallest in the county. It is inclosed be- 
tween Fishing creek and the Susquehanna, on the north and south, and between 
Centre and the town of Bloomsburg on the east and west. The points of his- 



SCOTT TOWNSHIP. 185 

toric interest of which this sketch treats, are the circumstances of its settle- 
ment, the gi'owth of its villages, the industrial and social character of its 
people. 

The early settlers were principally of English origin, and emigrated from 
West Jersey, and from the eastern counties of this state. Among this number 
the names of Melick, Bright, Henrie, Leidle, Webb, Brittain, Creveling and! 
Boone are still familiar. Peter Melick, the first of that name in this neigh- 
borhood, emigrated from Jersey before the revolution. He lived on a fariaa 
below Espy, which was purchased in 1774, from the proprietaries of the prov- 
ince. He enlisted twice in the continental army and passed the winter of 
1776-77 at Valley Forge. When the Indian troubles of 1778 threatened to> 
extend to his house, he returned to its defense. In the spring of that year 
Lieutenant Moses Van Campen was placed ip. command of twenty mea and di- 
rected to build a fort on Fishing creek, for the protection of the frontier. He^ 
selected as its site, a rising ground on the south side of that stream, about, 
three miles from its mouth, near the location of the paper mills. The Salmons,. 
Wheelers, Aikmans and Van Campens lived in the vicinity. The fort was lo- 
cated on the farm of Mr. Wheeler, and has been generally known by his namet 
It was also popularly known as the "Mad Fort" from the appearance of its-, 
walls, which consisted merely of a frame work of logs covered over withi 
earth. Its erection was timely; even before its completion a threatened^ 
attack compelled the inhabitants to seek protection within its walls. Peter- 
Melick was then living in a dwelling on the John Sherman farm below Espy„ 
The cellar excavation of this house is still pointed out near a pear tree, sixty- 
yards northward from the canal bridge. On the 17th of September, 1778, it. 
was burned by the Indians, the occupants having previously escaped to Fort 
Wheeler with such valuables as they could collect. It is related that the> 
enemy selected a feather tick from among his personal effects and fastened it 
upon the back of a pony. The latter became frightened, broke away from his. 
captors, and reached the fort with the tick, valued so highly by friend and foe^ 

During the night of siege that followed, the ammunition of the garrison was> 
exhausted. Two privates, Henry McHenry and another whose name has not 
been preserved, volunteered to go to Fort Jenkins and secure a supply. Al - 
though the intervening country was infested with savages, they performed the- 
journey in safety and the fort was saved. Its protection was deemed insuffi- 
cient however, and some of the families retired to Sunbury where they re- 
mained until the close of the war. * Other families had meanwhile made their 
appearance in the vicinity. About the year 1779 Henry with his wife andl 
children descended the Susquehanna from New York state in a canoe and! 
stopped at Wilkesbarre until the Indian troubles had cleared away. They 
then continued the journey in the same manner as before to the mouth of 
Fishing creek. A deserted log cabin within the present limits of Light Street 
was occupied as a dwelling. An acre of ground adjoining was planted in po- 
tatoes; but before the first crop had matured they were compelled to dig out 
for food the seed thus planted. When this supply was exhausted, wild pota- 
toes in the swamps were eagerly sought after, roasted on the coals, and eaten 
with avidity. A parallel instance occurred in the experience of the Webbs,, 
who lived above the town of Espy. Levi Aikman had settled in Briar creek 
valley the previous year and gathered in his first harvest. The grain was put 
in a sack, and a son sent to take it to mill at Sunbury. He made the journey 
in a canoe, and on the return trip recruited his strength by eating a crust of 

♦When the fort was evacuated its one piece of ordnance, a small brasi swivel, was sunk in a deep bo)»^ imi 
Fishing creek. The course of the stream has changed since then and all efforts to discover the missing eavv- 
Hon have proved fruitless. Its traditional location is known as " Cannon hole." 



18(3 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

bread, the only provision he had taken from home. He reached the landing 
aearest his home at nightfall and carried the sack of meal to Webb'e. 
Mrs. Webb would gladly have given him supper, but there was no food in their 
home. He shared the contents of his sack with that family, and with several 
others before he reached home the next day. The ravages of disease were 

added to the hardship of insufficient food supply. Zebreth Brittain and 

Robbins made a visit to the region about 1782 for the pui'pose of buying lands. 
The former was attacked with smallpox; he died and was buried in the old 
Derry graveyard. His family was on the way to join him when they were ap- 
prised of his death. They did not turn back however, but continued to their 
destination and settled east of Light Street. John Bright removed from 
Mount Bethel, Northampton county, about the same time, and became a neigh- 
bor of the Brittains. Mr. Bright had sent a son in advance to secure land but 
he was attacked with the fatal small-pox and died without the care of fi'iends 
and kindred. Alem Marr located on a farm adjoining. And thus, through 
hardships and inconveniences from which none were exempt, the first repre- 
sentatives of some of the oldest families in the county became residents of 
Scott township 

The fertility of its soil is attested by the fact that every acre of ground 
that was ever farmed is still under cultivation. The land that seemed least 
adapted to farming has in some instances proven most valuable. The wealth 
in these cases was beneath the surface and not upon it. This is particularly 
true of the hills bordering Fishing creek where valuable deposits of iron ore 
have been found. Rodman, Morgan & Fisher, constituting the Duncannon 
Iron Company, purchased land from Samuel Melick and began the mining in- 
dustry in this section. The ore was hauled to Espy and forwarded by canal. 
The Bloomsburg furnaces have received ore from these hills since 1844. Mat- 
thew McDowell operated a furnace at Light Street for some years on a small 
scale. The Light Street Iron Company engaged in a similar business but was 
not financially successful. A paper-mill on Fishing creek, some distance below 
the town, has had a career of greater permanency. Thomas French piu'chased 
a grist-mill from John Barton about 1830 and converted it into an establish- 
ment for the manufacture of paper. It has passed thi'ough different hands 
and suffered many changes, but still retains its character as a manufacturing 
point. The lime ridge should be mentioned in connection with the mineral re 
sources of the township. The ridge has furnished employment for a nvimber 
of people and a small hamlet has been formed in consequence. It bears the 
poetic name of Afton, but its appearance is not likely to inspire the beholder. 
The cottages are substantial and comfortable, however, while two churches 
seem amply sufficient to minister to the spiritual wants of the population. 

Like the iron industry, the fisheries no longer possess the importance 
once attached to them. They were known, in order, from the mouth of Fish- 
ing creek to Mifflin rapids, as the Boone, McClure, Kinney, Hendershott, 
Kuders, Whitner, Greveling, Webb and Miller fisheries. Fishing seems to have 
begun about 1780 and reached its point of greatest importance fifty years later. 
Certain varieties once numerously represented are now practically extinct. 
The shad, gar-fish, salmon, and rock- fish maybe mentioned among this number. 
Lines used were from two-hundred to four-hundred yards in length and four 
or five yards in depth, with meshes two inches square. The season began the 
latter part of March and continued until June. A statute law prohibited fish 
ing on Thursdays in order "to give fish a chance for head- waters. " Two 
hauls per day was the rule — one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The 
flats used were about twenty-five feet long, eight feet wide, and eighteen 



SCOTT TOWNSHIP. 187 

inches high, provided with two stout oars near the bow. Two men were re- 
quired at each oar, one attended to ' ' paying out ' ' the seine, while two others 
remained on shore to adjust the land end. Seven men thus constituted a fish- 
ing crew. Two fiats were used to one seine at Webb" s fishery. It is said that 
at this place nine thousand fish were once caught at a single haul. The price 
of shad in ISOO was six dollars per hundred; in 1830 it had risen to more 
than twice as much. ' People came to the river from all points to buy fish, 
bringing in exchange produce of every description — corn, meat, peach cider, 
whisky, metheglin, etc. Both the fisheries and the ore industries have ceased 
to be important in comparison with their former influence upon the general 
business character of the people. 

One result of their existence was the growth of two villages — Light Street 
and Espytown, from their respective locations in the iron region and on the 
river bank. The former originally consisted of two villages at each extremity 
of the present one. In 1821 John Hazlett, Uzal Hopkins, William McCartey, 
James McCartey, — Lake and George Zeigler were living on the town plot of 
"Williamsburg." It was laid out by Philip Seidle, December 12, 1817, 
and consisted of Front and Second streets, and Magdalene's alley parallel 
with the public road, and Catharine street. South street, Walnut, Straw- 
berry and Cherry alleys crossing these at right angles. The hamlet 
about a half-mile distant in the direction of Bloomsburg was rei)resented 
at this time by the blacksmith shop of Robert Gardner and the farm 
house of John Deaker. General Matthew McDowell came into possession 
of the Jew's mill about the year 1823, and established a post-ofiice under the 
name of McDowell's Mills. Benjamin Seidle was the proprietor of the mills 
at an earlier period and popular usage was divided between the names of Sei- 
dletown and Williamsburg. As is usually the case, the post-ofiico designa- 
tion superseded both. Mr. McDowell found his mill a profitable enterprise 
and built another at the lower end of the town, previously mentioned as the 
location of a smithy. When he engaged in the iron business, this was sold 
to Reverend Marmaduke Pearce, a Methodist clergyman. He found the dis- 
tance of half a mile to post ofiice too long, and took measures to have it estab- 
lished at his mill. The location was changed and also the name, which be- 
came Light Street and so remains. Mr. Pearce was once stationed in Balti- 
more, Md. , and lived on Light street in that city. This explains the origin of 
the name. The two villages gradually approached each other until they have 
become practically one. The town contains a number of stores and hotels, two 
flouring mills, three churches, a school building and a population of about 
three hundi'ed. It was a place of considerable business activity during the 
prosperous period of the iron industry and still retains more of this character 
than the average country town. 

Espytown has not experienced the frequent changes of name which char- 
acterized its neighbor; but the mutations in its fortunes have been equally 
unfavorable in their influence. It appears that in 1775 Josiah Espy purchased 
from the Penns a tract of about three hundred acres of land, including the site 
of the town that bears his name. He sold this to George Espy, his son, in 
the same year. The George Espy property is supposed to have been a two- 
story log house about twenty-four feet square, with two rooms below and one 
above, covered with shingles three feet long, fastened with wrought iron nails. 
It was situated on the Abbot lot, about one hundred yards from the house 
of William Carson and twenty yards from the towing path of the canal. It 
was built by Mr. Espy about 1785, and occupied by him until 1810, when he 
removed to Crawford county. Pa. In locating the town he seems to have 



188 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

observed a notch in the river hill and a corresponding depression in the ridge 
in the roar of his land. It is probable that he thus meant to secure the advant- 
age of a roadvi^ay from Fishing creek to Catawissa which would eventually 
pass through those points. Directly on the line of this route he laid off twenty- 
live acres into sixty building lots, the length of the plot being eighty perches 
and its width fifty perches. It is supposed that this was done about the year 
1800, for in 180'2 several lots in "the town of Liberty" were sold by Mr. 
Espy to various persons. The modesty of the proprietors was overruled by 
the general practice of the villagers, which was confirmed in 1828 when a post- 
office was established under the name of Espy. Among the residents of the 
place at an early period were John Edgar, Alexander Thompson, John Ken- 
nedy, Samuel McKamey, Hinkle, John Haverman, Miller and Fred- 

<^rick Woeman. There were fourteen log-houses and twelve frame dwellings in 
the town in 1826; the population at that time may therefore be estimated at one- 
hundred and thirty. The first hotel was built about 1805 by John Kennedy, 
rebuilt in 185(3 by Hemy Trembly, and constitutes the present Espy hotel. Tn^ 
iirst frame house was owned by John Shuman, and was built of lumber sawed 
at the Elias Barton saw-mill in Hemlock township. The first brick house was 
built in 1845 by John Hughes. In 1820 the people were supplied with water 
from three wells, located respectively at the Woeman hotel and the houses of 
John Webb and Philip Miller. The latter was at the center of Main street at 
its intersection with Market. At this time the bog in the rear of the town was 
scarcely passable. The ' ' Indian path ' ' consisted of two rows of yellow pine 
logs and lead in the direction of Light Street. The swamp extended from the 
brook above Espy to the canal culvert, a mile from Bloomsburg. A corduroy 
road was laid by John Hauch in 1815 to haul iron ore to his furnace at Main- 
ville. Among the attractions of Espy from 1810 to 1835 was Webb's lane, a 
famous racing ground. Jockeys resorted thither from Sunbury, Towanda, 
"Wilkesbarro, and other places, to try the speed of their nags. The following 
anecdote of Reverend John P. Hudson is related in a historical discourse by the 
Reverend David J. Waller: "On a visit to his home in Virginia his father gave 
him a blooded horse, the speed of which, in carrying him from place to place 
in his wide circuit, gave the clergyman an inconvenient reputation for horse- 
manship. On one occasion, riding along the river road, he passed over the 
old race course at Webb's lane, when a shower of rain obliged a farmer to 
loose his horses from the plow. One horse, coming out of the field, took the 
track at his best speed. Meeting the clergyman, under his umbrella, the Vir- 
ginia courser promptly accepted the challenge, wheeled, and took his master a 
* John Gilpin ride,' with umbrella stripped backward in the wind, and dis- 
tancing the pretentious plow horse. A wag, who saw the unique performance, 
related to a listening company the story of having seen the preacher run his 
blooded horse against a famous courser of the neighborhood and win the race. 
A man of high pretensions who was present, but in whom charity was not a 
shining ornament, declared that it was ' just like those Presbyterian preach- 
ers. ' This brought oat the correct version of the affair, to the confusion of 
the caviller, and also evoked the confession of some young sports that they 
had often stolen the preacher's horse from his stable and tested him on that 
track at night. ' ' 

From an industrial point of view, the town has been equally well known on 
account of its boat yards, xibout the year 1834 George and Thomas Webb 
built a Union canal boat on their land at the lower bank of the canal. It was 
launched about three miles above Espy and christened " The Fourth of July." 
It was about seventy feet long and eight feet broad. The industry thus begun 



SCOTT TOWNSHIP. 189 

lias been continued with fluctuating energy until the present time. The boat- 
yards of Barton & Edgar, Kressler & Vansickle, Fowler, Trousoe & McKamey, 
have at one time or another been locally important. The works of the Penn- 
sylvania Canal Company were established in 1873, and have gradually absorbed 
similar enterprises. Manufacturing interests have also been represented by a 
annery, distillery, pottery, flouring mills, and brick-yards. The first mer- 
chant was William Mann, a storekeeper from 1816 to 1818; C. G. Ricketts, 
Samuel Woeman, Woeman & Seraby, Cyrus Barton, Miles Bancroft, and Pat- 
ricken, cover the period from 1820 to 1850 in their financial operations. 
About sixty individuals and firms have been engaged in business at various 
times. 

The citizens of Espy have displayed a degree of interest in improving the 
appearance of its streets. The Lombardy poplar was the first ornamental shade 
tree; it was superseded in 1836 by the weeping willow. A single shoot was 
brought fi-om a tree in front of the Forks hotel at Bloomsburg, and planted 
in a similar position before Woeman' s tavern. The planting of trees was 
pushed vigorously about 1868 by Mr. McCollum and others. Efforts have 
been made for some time to secure legal action for the erection of Espy into 
a borough. Should this be accomplished, the administration of its affairs by 
judicious hands would certainly be a benefit to the citizens in various ways. 

The first school in Scott township was established in 1805 with Messrs. 
Webb, Kennedy and Waters, trustees. The course of study included the al- 
phabet, spelling, writing, reading and arithmetic. Between 1830 and 1840 
grammar and geography were added. Algebra and history became part of 
the coui'se sometime in the next decade. The first school-house stood on lot 
No. 56, in Espy, the north-eastern corner of Market and Main streets. It 
Was the only one for the town and vicinity within a radius of three miles. The 
•ceiling of its one room was eight feet high, and unplastered, while the other 
dimensions were twenty and twenty-four feet. The three windows on each 
side were filled with eight-by -ten glass. Benches were made of slabs; three- 
writing tables extended around three sides of the room ; a " John Heacock 
wood stove occupied the center; a tin cup and wooden water-bucket completed 
the furniture of this temple of learning. The educational interests of the 
township are well sustained, if the general appearance of school buildings 
and grounds may be regarded as evidence in this respect. 

The religious denominations represented are the Methodist, Episcopal, 
Lutheran, Presbyterian and Evangelical. The oldest congregation of the 
society first mentioned is at Light Street. A camp -meeting at Huntingdon in 
the autumn of 1819, was attended by Jacob Freas, John Brittain and others 
who lived in the vicinity of the village. They were converted and formed 
into a class by Reverend John Rhoads, who was then stationed at Berwick. Meet- 
ings were held at Mr. Brittain' s house for eight years befoi-e the society had 
become strong enough to build a place for worship. General Daniel Montgom- 
ery, of Danville, gave the church one -hundred perches of ground in 1827, at 
which time Paul Freas, John Brittain, John Millard, Samuel Melick and 
Pefcer Melick were trustees. The church building was erected the same year. 
In 1851 the church was incorporated, thus rendering a new deed necessary in 
order to give the corporate body the title to its property. Two years later, 
" in consideration of the love and veneration in which they hold the memory of 
Daniel Montgomery, and Christiana, his wife, and their desire that their 
pious and charitable acts should be confirmed," the heirs at law of William 
Montgomery executed a new deed. The old log structure was removed some 
years ago and replaced by a structure better adapted to the needs of a strong 
and increasino; cono-reo-ation. 



190 HISTOEY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, 

The Reverend Isaac John preached in Espy as late as 1828. Lorenzo Dow 
visited the place in 1833, and preached to a large congregation in the school- 
house. The barking of dogs in an adjoining yard exasperated the reverend 
gentleman. He announced with some indignation that he had come to 
preach to people and not to dogs. A gentleman from Light Street offered to 
take him to Slainville in a carriage. He declined in favor of Mr. Murray's 
truck-wagon. The first place for worship was built in 1838, and the present 
structure upon its site in 1883. It was dedicated by Bishop Thomas Bowman. 
On the death of Reverend H. C. Chester, the pastor at that time, Reverend R. H. 
Wharton, succeeded him. Reverend J. Beyer was Mr. Wharton's successor. 
Reverend Richard Mallalieu has been in charge since August 20, 1886. 

Reverend William Weaver, a Lutheran minister at Bloomsburg from 1851 to 
1853, preached occasionally at Espy during that period. A number of mem- 
bers of the Bloomsburg church were formed into a separate organization. 
Among those who were prominently identified with the movement were David 
Whitman, John Shuman, Samuel Kressler, John Kressler, J. D. Werkheiser, 
Cyrus Barton and Conrad Bittenbender. The last two named were constituted 
a building committee, and in the summer of 1853 a church building was dedi- 
cated. Reverends Philip Willard, William Weaver and the pastor were 
present at the ceremonies. Reverend E. A. Sharrets became pastor in 1853, 
and remained in charge until 1860. Reverend J. R. Dimm was his immedi- 
ate successor, but resigned in 1863. Reverend D. S. Truckenmiller was pastor 
from 1863 to 1867, J. M. Rice from 18(57 to 1872, J. M. Reimunsnyder from 
1872 to 1876, William Kelly from 1876 to 1878, and E. A. Sharrets from that 
time until October 1, 1886, since when the pastorate has been vacant. 

The Presbyterian church at Light Street is not a regularly organized body. 
Its membership was originally connected with the Briarcreek church, but the 
distance from their homes to the place of worship prevented many from attend- 
ino". The Liarht Street church was built in 1853, but services have not been 
held with any degree of regularity in recent years. 

The Evangelical societies at Espy, Afton and Light Street are included in 
Bloomsburg mission, but were established while this territory was embraced in 
Columbia circuit. During the ministry of Reverend A. J. Irvine, he held occa- 
sional services in the Presbyterian church at Light Street, and in the winter of 
1866-67 conducted a protracted meeting, which resulted in sixty conversions. 
Among the members of the first class were James Pullen, Thomas Bear and 
James Meradis. Measures were at once taken to build a chui'ch, and this was 
highly necessary as well as feasible in view of the membership that had been 
formed upon the first revival effort. August 4, 1869, the corner-stone was laid; 
the dedication occurred in the following winter. Afton became a preaching 
place in 1866. Worship was at first held in the school-house, but when this 
privilege was withdrawn, a church was built. The corner-stone was laid in May, 
1872, and the conseci-ation of the church occurred in the following September. 
In the winter of 1875-76 Reverend J. A. Irvine was invited to preach in Espy. 
February 1, 1876, he began a protracted effort, in which one hundred persons 
were converted. Two classes were formed under the leadership of Will- 
iam Schechterley and William Heidley,with John McKamey and Clark Price as 
exhorters. Reverend H. W. Buck is the present pastor of Bloomsburg Mis- 
sion, which embraces these appointments. 



BRIAKCEEEK TOWNSHIP. 191 

CHAPTER VIII. 
BRIAKCEEEK TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH OF BERWICK. 

BERWICK-ON-TWEED, a borough of Northumberland county, England, 
has existed fi'om an early period of British history. It presents to-day, 
in its Gothic cathedral, fortified walls and massive battlements the characteris- 
tic features that might have impressed the visitor of two centuries ago. The 
general appearance of the town has sufPered no material change. Its circumfer- 
ence of fortifications has proven an effective barrier to the extension of its lim- 
its. Consequently the population not employed at home has been compelled to 
emigrate, and thus sever with reluctance endearing associations with the quaint 
old town. In different states and widely separated localities, those who thus 
went forth conferred its name on the settlements they established. 

Evan Owen was among those who sought to ameliorate their condition by re- 
moving beyond the seas. He was an ardent advocate of the doctrines of Fox, 
and was warmly welcomed by his co-religionists iipon his arrival at Philadel- 
phia. When the land office was opened by the Penns in 1769 for the disposal 
of their recently acquired purchase, he was among the first to take advantage 
of the opportunity thus offered to secure lands at a merely nominal cost. In 
relying upon the fidelity and sagacity of the woodsman or explorer employed 
to seek out the best land he was not disappointed, as the selection at Nesco- 
peck falls was certainly judicious. In 1772 he performed the journey from 
Harris' ferry to Fishing creek in a river boat, accompanied by Benjamin Doan 
and others, with the intention of establishing a Quaker village. The troublous 
times that ensued compelled them to relinquish the idea. In 1780 Owen re- 
turned and continued his journey above the mouth of Briarcreek, some dis- 
tance fi"om the locality where he had previously settled. He finally decided 
upon a point opposite the mouth of Nescopeck creek as the location of the 
prospective town. Six years, however, elapsed before it was laid off, and dur- 
ing this period several families arrived and formed a small hamlet, conferring 
upon it the name of Owensville. In 1786 the streets were surveyed, and cor- 
ners established by blazing on the trees. The propriety of their names — Oak, 
Vine, Mulberry, Pine, Chestnut and Walnut — is thus explained. When the 
complicated and cooflicting titles of Connecticut and other claimants were ad- 
justed, part of the area originally embraced in the town plot was diverted from 
Owen's possession; it was included in Salem township, which in 1786 be- 
came part of Luzerne county upon its erection. The same year the town- 
was formally named Berwick by the proprietor, who thus expressed the at- 
tachment he still retained for his former home; like Berwick-on-Tweed, it was 
also in Northumberland county, and on the bank of a river already famous in 
history. 

The visitor to Berwick cannot fail to be impressed with the beauty and vari- 
ety of natural scenery, which characterize the surrounding region in every di- 
rection. Northward the outline of Lee mountain is visible from the knob to 
its terminal point at Shickshinny; the Summer hills, geological formations of 
an anomalous character, appear in the foreground. South of the Susquehanna 
the Nescopeck range can be distinguished throughout a wide extent both 
east and west, while the river hills in the distance apparently approach 



192 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

the line of its base. The deep gorges of the Catawissa, Nescopeck and "Wap- 
wallopen creeks relieve the monotony of an otherwise unbroken trend. Above 
the mouth of the latter " Council Cup " rears its crest and maintains a majes- 
tic silence concerning the mighty questions once deliberated there by a race 
that has long since disappeared before the advancing tide of civilization. The 
location of the town itself reflects credit on the excellent judgment of the pro- 
prietor. An elevated situation and perfect drainage preclude the idea of 
the mephitic miasms from the stream below seriously affecting the general 
healfchfulness of the place. 

The first inhabitants of Berwick appeared upon its soil during the period 
that intervened between Owen's first visit and the laying off of the town.* 
Two brothers, John and Robert Brown, had but recently arrived from Eng- 
land when Owen, who was then in Philadelphia, induced them to remove to 
his land on the Susquehanna. They reached Catawissa with no adventures other 
than those usually incident to the overland journey, but were compelled to trans- 
port themselves and their goods from that point to their destination in canoes, 
and this occasioned no little inconvenience and delay. A landing was effected 
at the Nescopeck rapids. The bluff was ascended with difficulty by an Indian 
path which marked the course of the road since opened. The household goods 
and meagre supply of provisions were deposited at the summit, and then they 
sat down on the trunk of a fallen tree and rested. But the satisfaction of having 
at last arrived at their destination could not idly be enjoyed. To add to the mul- 
tiplied labors of the day, rain began to fall before provision had been made 
for such an emergency . In recounting these particulars John Brown was wont 
to relate that their wives, overcome at the dismal prospect of thus passing 
the night without shelter, relieved their feelings in tears. There is a tradition 
current to the effect that the Browns passed the winter with only the temporary 
protection afforded by pulling the tops of trees together and covering them with 
bark; but this is altogether improbable, as the men were carpenters and well 
prepared to erect comfortable cabins. They did so at OQce; John Brown lo- 
cated on the north side of Front street, near Market, and Robert, nearly oppo- 
site, on the west side of Market. These were the first houses erected in Ber- 
wick. In 1786 Evan Owen built the next on the site of the St. Charles hotel. 
Samuel Jackson, his relative by marriage, located on the opposite corner. Jo- 
siah Jackson was a hatter by trade, and conducted his business on Front street 
below Market. James Evans, a millwright by occu.pation, became the next 
resident. John Smith and Henry Traugh complete the niimber of those who 
arrived at Berwick about 1786. It appears that Owen had just returned from 

*Thomas Cooper, one of the Pennsylvania Commissioners under tlie act of 1799, known as the "Compro- 
mising Law, " in the performance of his duties wrote as follows: 

Northumberland, January 18, ]8it3. — A part of the town of Berwick stands on a tract of land taken up 
under Pennsylvania by Evan Owen, who laid out that town, and who, I understand, is now at Lancaster mak- 
iog his coui plaints on the subject, aud who, to my knowledge, most egregiously exaggerates the importance of the 
case as will soon be perceived. A part of this tract and of the town of Berwick is included in the ''town of Salem." 
General .Steele, Mr. Wilson and myself directed Mr.Sambourne, the surveyor, to run out the lines of interfer- 
ence. They can give evidence respecting it. Mr. Sambourne's return to me makes the business quite insignifi- 
cant, but whether more or less, I liad to decide on principles that have no relation to the quantum of the dis- 
pute. 1 held this case under advisement on the following ground; It appeared in evidence before me by the 
voluntary deposition of Evan Owen himself, that he made his commencement of settlement on the tract of 
land whereon the town of Berwick now stands, on the 10th day of May, 17S7, the confirmiiiglaw having passed 
on the 27th day of March preceding. It apeared to me that this confirming law was public and legal notice to 
him of an opposite and older title then recognized by the legislature and that he settled at his peril. He 
took up the land and settled it, knowing of a precedent title. 

THOMA.S Cooper. 

This communication would seem to establish a later date for the settlement of Berwick than that givea 
above. In the act of January 29, 1818, for the incorporation of Berwick, it is expressly stated that in 1786, 
Evan Owen laid out the town. It is also a well authenticated fact that certain of the first buildings were in 
these streets, as then located, which would hardly have been the case if settlement had followed this survey. 
Moreover, the land under dispute was merely that small, triangular portion of the original town plot included 
in the "Town of Salem, " aud it is not improbable that settlement may have been male here in May, li87 
"which does not conflict with the author's statement regarding settlement in the present limits of the town. 



BEIARCREEK TOWNSHIP. 193 

an extended journey through the lower counties selling lots and endeavoring to 
induce families to remove to his town. He was fairly successful. Among 
others who became residents in consequence of these efforts was Joseph Stack- 
house, a wealthy farmer from Bucks county. In the rear of his residence on 
Second street he planted the first fruit trees brought thither, with great care 
;and trouble. The square between Second and Third, Mulberry and Vine, ulti- 
mately became a hixuriant orchard. Thomas Cole from New Jersey ; James 
Herrin, from Northampton county ; Benjamin Doan and Jacob Cooper, from 
Montgomery county, were also among those who removed to the town on the 
personal representations of the proprietor. 

The first indications of settlement and improvement in Briarcreek town- 
ship became apparent about this time. A number of families removed from 
mount Bethel, Northampton county, near the Delaware river. Among the 
number appear the familiar names of Freas, Bowman, Hutton, Rittenhouse, - 
Cauley and Mack. They emigrated in a body and entered the region in 1793, 
journeying by way of Bethlehem, Nazareth and Beaver Meadows. Mutual 
assistance was rendered in the work of clearing the land and providing tempo- 
rary shelter. The tract upon which John Freas located comprised farms now 
-owned by Levi Garret and Henry Bower. On the land of the former a rude 
log cabin was built, the main room of which was used as a dwelling and an ad- 
dition as a stable. Daniel Bowman and Wesley B. Freas own the tract origi- 
nally occupied by Thomas Bowman. A substantial brick and stone structure, 
which superseded the log cabin first erected, was built in 1802 and was the 
first house of such material in this section of coiintry. Jesse Bowman settled 
on the river road at its intersection with Briar creek. William Rittenhouse 
secured the title to an extensive tract on both banks of the creek to a considerable 
distance above the junction of its north and west branches. It embraced the 
farms of Samuel Conner, William Hughes, Joseph Eck and William Freas. 
The Bower, Millard, Evans, Engle, Adams and Wartz families were also among 
those who arrived at an early period and located in various parts of the town- 
ship. Jacob Mack, who possessed considerable knowledge of building, superin- 
tended the erection of many of the first houses. 

Certain features of the domestic and social life at this period strikingly illus- 
trate the simplicity of the general style of living. The spinning-wheel and 
loom were of primary importance in every household. Linsey-woolsey and 
cassinette, homespun fabrics of coarse texture but excellent durability, were 
the usual materials for clothing. Wooden spoons and bowls, pewter knives 
and forks, constituted the table furniture. The gun and rod were indispensa- 
bly necessary in providing for the wants of a family. A general partnership 
seems to have existed among the citizens. The two fisheries, ' ' Tuckey Hoe ' ' 
and ' ' Jacob' s Plains ' ' were the exclusive property of no one. Every bear 
killed was taken before Justice Owen and divided equally among the different 
families. When strangers appeared in their midst the elastic dimensions of the 
rude log cabin were so expanded as to comfortably shelter them. In 1805 a 
market house was built in the center of Market street, between Second and 
Third. The structure rested on massive wooden pillars, and was elevated suffi- 
ciently to allow the passage of horses and wagons beneath It was used 
for town meetings, elections, church and school purposes. The inhabitants 
of Berwick utilized the water of the river in performing the oper- 
ations of the laundry. When the women repaired thither on wash 
days, the smoke and steam rising in artistic confusion from the kettles, 
and the appearance of so many garments of various colors may have suggested 
the idea of the decorations incident to a patriotic demonstration. Before the 



194: HISTORY or COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

tanneries had been established in the vicinity leather was scarce and shoes cor- 
respondingly high in price. As a measure of economy, church-going maidens 
did not put on their shoes until within sight of the church, and removed them 
after service, going home bare-footed. One of the early preachers did not 
fully approve of this, and administered a caustic rebuke. He justified the se- 
verity of his censure by alluding to a direct command with regard to duly rev- 
erencing "holy ground." The first marriage solemnized in Berwick was that 
of Annie Brown and Jesse Bowman. That the social custom thus inaugurated 
has become quite popular may be inferred from the fi'equent recurrence of 
these pleasant and interesting occasions. 

At the period of Berwick's first settlement, Northern Pennsylvania was a 
region of magnificent distances. The means of communication with distant 
points were slow, tedious, and inadequate. As the population, productions 
and wealth increased, there was an urgent necessity for better roads and more 
direct routes to important points. The citizens of Briarcreek manifested a 
deep interest in promoting internal improvements of this character. In 1787 
Evan Owen was appointed to superintend the construction of a road laid out 
from Nescopeck falls to the Lehigh by authority of the state. Two years 
later the work was completed, and the Indian trail which marked the proposed 
route improved so as to be passable for vehicles. March 19, 1804, the Susque- 
hanna and Lehigh Turnpike and Road Company was incorporated. The old 
Nescopeck road was transformed into a graded pike in 1805 at an enormous 
expense. Andrew Shiner of Berwick was one of the contractors, and Christian 
Bowman first traversed the road to Easton. The Susquehanna and Tioga 
Turnpike Road Company was chartered in 180G " for making an artificial road 
by the best and nearest route from Berwick, on the north-east branch of 
the Susquehanna, or from the mouth of the Little Wopehawley, to that point 
on the north line of the state which is nearest Newtown, on the river Tioga 
in the state of New York." It was finally completed to Towanda in 1818, at 
an immense expenditure by the state and individual investors. Among those 
prominently identified with both these enterprises were Nicholas Seybert, 
Andrew Shiner, Jesse Bowman, Jacob Mack, McKinney Buckalew and John, 
Bostian. 

A connecting link between these two thoroughfares of travel, the bridge 
across the Susquehanna, was early deemed important and necessary. The ini- 
tiatory movement was made in 1807, when the legislature authorized the for- 
mation of the "Susquehanna Bridge Company at Falls of Nescopeck." Au\ 
organization was efPected five years later with Abraham Miller, Sr., presidents 
John Brown, treasurer, and a board of managers consisting of Silas Engle,/ 
Thomas Bowman and Elisha Barton. The contract for the construction of the* 
bridge was awarded to Theodore Burr. When completed in 1814 it cost 
$52,000. The length was 1,260 feet, and the structure rested on piers of 
heavy planked timber. It was entirely desti'oyed by an ice fiood in the winter 
of 1835-36. The managers forthwith delegated Jesse Bowman, one of their 
number, to represent the interests of the company before the legislature. An 
appropriation of 110,000 was secured, and in 1837 the present bridge was 
erected. The efforts of Josiah T. Black, Samuel F. Headley, A. B. Wilson 
and Robert McCurdy, contributed largely to the celerity with which this was 
accomplished. 

A connected line of travel Avas thus established between Towanda and 
Easton. These roads, like many similar enterprises, although advantageous ta 
the section of country traversed, have not been productive investments to stock- 
holders. The benefits conferred have not been commensurate with the capital 



BRIARCBEEK TOWNSHIP. 195 

tjonsuraed in their construction. It was a period, however, of high speculative 
excitement, not confined to the limits of any geographical section, or to any 
class of the people. 

The position of Berwick, at the terminal points of two turnpikes, and at 
their intersection with the route traversed between points on the river rendered 
it a place of considerable importance. The effect on its growth in size and 
population was at once apparent. The log cabins first erected were gradually 
superseded by structures of an improved and more substantial appearance. The 
first frame house was built by Robert Brown, and is still standing opposite Odd 
Fellows hall. The first brick dwelling was erected in 1816 by H. Seybert, and 
is at present known as the St. Charles hotel. Brick buildings at the corner of 
Mulberry and Front, and on Front between Market and Mulberry were built 
by Thomas Kichardson and Samuel F. Headley about the same time. 

John Brown opened the first hotel on the corner of Second and Market 
streets; the scrupvilous care with which neatness and cleanliness were main- 
tained rendered it the favorite stopping place of travelers on the river road. 
John Jones was the next hotel proprietor; he was succeeded by Abraham 
Klotz and Frederick Nicely, and during the latter' s ownership it was first 
known as ' ' Cross Keys. " At a period anterior to the construction of the 
bridge, William Brien conducted a public house above its approach on the 
Berwick side. He also established a ferry, which was patronized by those who 
crossed the river. John Jones, at the sign of the ' ' Golden Lamb, ' ' and 
Samuel F. Headley, at the corner of Front and Mulberry, complete the list of 
hotel keepers at this period. 

The uniform prosperity enjoyed by this class of persons was largely derived 
from the stage travel. The time at which this began cannot be definitely de- 
termined. It did not assume a permanent character until 1810, when a mail 
service was connected with the stage. Previous to that time the postmaster 
at Wilkes-Barre designated certain private houses at Nescopeck and Berwick, 
and a post-rider distributed mail agreeably to his directions. Berwick first ap- 
pears as a post-village in 1797 ; Jonathan Hancock carried the mail in 1800; and 
William Brien was the first regularly appointed post-master, receiving his com- 
mission several years later. In 1811 Conrad Teter was awarded a government 
contract for establishing mail coaches between Sunbury and Painted Post. He 
transferred that portion of the route between Sunbury and Wilkes-Barre to 
Miller Horton, by whom the first coaches between those points were controlled. 
In 1824, Miller, Jesse and Lewis Horton opened a new era in stage coach 
travel. They assumed control of a mail route from Baltimore to Owego, by 
way of Harrisburg and Sunbury. Four-horse coaches, substantial, comfort- 
able and attractive, rolled into Berwick every day. The crack of the driver's 
whip and the blast from his horn relieved the monotony of life in the other- 
wise quiet village. John Jones, tavern keeper, farmer and lime-bui'ner, be- 
came stage proprietor as well, by operating a line of coaches to Easton. The 
journey to that point required two days. Joshua Dodson drove the first stage 
coach from Berwick to Elmira. A week was required to reach that point and 
return. Joshua Kindy was toll-collector beyond Berwick on the Towanda 
road. Philip Abbot and George Root deserve honorable mention in connec- 
tion with stage coach travel. The latter, a trusted and skillful driver, served 
in that capacity more than forty years. 

The turnpikes, the bridge and the stage enterprises did not so fully engross 
the public mind as to divert its attention fi'om the equally necessary consider- 
ations of organized government. In 1797 the township of "Green Brier- 
Creek" was formed, comprising the area included between the Susquehanna 



196 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

and the line of Briarcreek's northern boundary extended to Little Fishing- 
creek. This was formerly included in Fishingcreek township, and prior to> 
1789 in Wyoming. The erection of Centre in 1844 reduced Briarcreek to its. 
present limits. The borough of Berwick was separated from it in 1850, pre- 
vious to which time elections for school officers were not held separately. 
When the borough was incorporated, January 29, 1818, burgesses, councilmen 
and high constables were the only elective officers for whom provision was 
made. The borough limits, as originally described, included the whole of 
the town plot as laid off by Evan Owen; subsequently, the eastern boundary 
was so changed as not to exclude that portion embraced in Luzerne county. 
Although the borough organization was a measure of unquestioned wisdoms 
and prudence, it was decidedly in advance of the general sentiment of th& 
citizens, and lacked character and efficiency during the first period of its. 
history. 

While the internal improvements already noted were absorbing the interest 
of the masses, the attention of others was directed to a question of equally 
serious import — the navigation of the Susquehanna. This stream was declared 
a public highway by the provincial assembly in 1771, and a sum of money ap- 
propriated to render it navigable. The Dui'ham boats, in which the first fam- 
ilies ascended the river to Berwick, derived their names from Durham, a towns 
on the Delaware below Easton, where they were made. They were sixty feet 
in length, eight feet wide, and two feet deep, and drew twenty inches of water 
under fifteen tons burthen. When manned by four men with setting poles, a 
boat progressed at the rate of two miles an hour against the current. Yarioua 
improvements were attempted in the construction of boats. Isaac A. Chap- 
man built a "team" boat at Nescopeck, and named it "Experiment." It, 
was launched in July, 1824, but was unwieldy in size and shape, and was. 
abandoned. The farmers of Briarcreek, with those of the whole section, 
resorted to rafts, arks, and other varieties of river craft in transporting their 
wheat and flour to Baltimore. In April, 1826, the "Codorus," a steam- 
boat built at York Haven and commanded by Captain Elger, passed Berwick on 
its way to Wilkesbarre and Binghampton. A crowd of people collected oa 
the shore and cheered with much enthusiasm the craft that moved against 
the current with such apparent ease. The following month Captain Collins in 
the "Susquehanna," a boat of larger dimensions than the "Codorus," made^ 
the second attempt to navigate the "North Branch" by steam. On the after- 
noon of May 3, 1826, the falls of Nescopeck were reached. These rapida 
were regarded as the most dangerous and difficult yet encountered. The mem- 
orable disaster that occurred at this point is thus described by Colonel Joseph 
Paxton, of Catawissa: "With our rich pine we succeeded in raising a full head 
of steam, and set off in fine style to ascend the rapids. The strength of the 
current soon checked our headway, and the boat, flanking towards the right 
bank of the river, struck a rock. I stood on the forward deck with a long asb 
pole in my hand, and was in the act of placing it in the water hoping to steady 
her, when the explosion took place. Two young men standing near were- 
blown high into the air, and I was hurled several yards into the water. I 
thought a cannon had been fired, and shot my head off. ' ' All that remained 
of the unfortunate "Susquehanna" floated with the current. The mangled 
bodies of her passengers and crew, some dead, others disfigured beyond recog- 
nition but still clinging to life, were taken into Berwick, where every kindness, 
was bestowed upon the unhappy survivors. This disaster conclusively demon- 
strated the impracticability of navigating the river by steam. 

The construction of a canal was at once discussed as the only feasible 



\ 



BRIARCREEK TOWNSHIP. 197 

means of transporting the increasing productions to the seaboard. July 4, 
1828, the patriotic demonstrations at Berwick were characterized by an unus- 
ually interesting featiu'e. The excavation for the " North Branch " canal was be- 
gun in the presence of a large concourse of people from various places along 
the river. Several furrows were plowed by Nathan Beach and Alexander 
Jameson. The former held the plow; the latter drove the oxen. The "Ber- 
wick Gtiards ' ' appeared upon the scene in full military uniform. The loose 
earth was removed with shovels, a blast was fired and a mass of rock shattered; 
the discharge of a cannon and several exhibitions of pugilistic skill added to 
the interest of the occasion. Berwick was not benefitted morally by the con- 
struction of the canal, if an inference may be drawn from the fact that there 
were fourteen drinking places in the place during that period. The first canal- 
boat, the ' ' Wyoming, ' ' passed Berwick on the river in 1830, before the canal 
was opened for navigation. It is problematical whether the "Wyoming" may 
be called a canal-boat with propriety under such circumstances. The follow- 
ing year the " Luzerne " passed the town in the canal. In 1835 the " George 
Denison ' ' and ' ' Gertrude, ' ' packet-boats, were launched by Miller Horton 
and A. O. Cahoon, respectively, for the transportation of passengers between 
Wilkesbarre and Northumberland. The Lackawanna and Bloomsburg rail-road 
was opened through the town in 1858; and in 1882 the North and West 
Branch railway became a valuable addition to its commercial facilities. 

The manufacturing industries of Briarcreek at an early period present no 
special features. William Rittenhouse built the first mill in this region. It is 
still in existence, but has not been operated for many years. It stands within 
the angle formed by the confluence of the north and west branches of the creek, 
and receives its water-power by means of dams erected in both streams. Mill- 
ard' s fulling mill was locally important at one time. Evan Owen attempted to 
utilize the water power of the river, and built a grist mill on its bank, but the 
attempt was a failure. James Evans engaged in a similar undertaking with 
better success, locating his establishment on Briar creek. Some half dozen 
houses clustered around this mill constitute the village of Evansville. George 
Mack established a foundry in 1825, and operated it on a small scale for some 
years. The homes of the operatives here employed form the scattered village 
of Foundryville. The first representatives of their respective vocations in Ber- 
wick were Benjamin Doan, tailor; Abel Dally, chair-maker; Hiram Inman, tin- 
ner; Henry Traugh, tanner; the Browns, cai-penters; Burlingame, cooper; 
Aquilla Starr, blacksmith; Bush, cloth-dyer; Joseph Stackhouse, butcher; 
Polly Mullen, weaver; Samuel Herrin, cabinet-maker; John Snyder, saddler; 
James Evans, wheel-wright; Roxana Cortright, milliner; Sleppy and Company, 
gunsmiths, and Marshall, silversmith. 

The initiatory step in conferring upon Berwick its present prominence in 
manufacturing circles was made in 1840, when M. W. Jackson and George 
Mack established a foundry at the corner of Third and Market streets. Their 
works comprised one building forty feet long and twenty-five feet wide, with a 
shed in the rear in which agricultural implements were manufactured. Fifteen 
men were usually employed. The machinery consisted of a blower and lathe, 
operated by horse-power. Robert McCurdy succeeded to Mack's interest in 
1843, but retired three years later. Louis Euke was associated with Mr. Jack- 
son fi'om 1846 to 1849, and during this time the manufactui'e of heavy wagons 
received some attention. The firm of Jackson and Woodin was foi-med in 1849, 
W. H. Woodin being the new partner. The iron pipes, laid by the Berwick 
Water Company in 1850, were the first product of any magnitude manufact- 
ured at their works. Bridge castings were made for the Philadelphia and 



198 HISTOEY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

Erie rail-road in 1858, and the number of operatives increased to fifty. Twenty 
four-wheel cars were built in 1861, thus inaugurating the most important 
branch of the subsequent business. Two men were able to build one car in a 
week. Improved machinery was secured, and the capacity increased to five 
cars a week, and ultimately to one a day. Additional shops were there erected, 
and in 1865 one hundred and fifty men were employed. A destructive fire re- 
duced the works to ashes on the morning of March 17, 1866. The following 
day it was decided to rebuild. The hours that intervened marked a critical 
period in the history of Berwick. The result was awaited with anxiety by 
every citizen of the town. It was everywhere discussed with approving com- 
ment. A period of building activity ensued. In 1869 two hundi-ed and fifty 
men were employed at the shops. In 1872 the "long switch" was built, con- 
necting the works with the Lackawanna and Bloomsburg rail-road. March 1, 
1872, the Jackson and Woodin Manufacturing Company organized, with C. R. 
Woodin, president; C. G. Jackson, vice-president; Grarrick Mallery, treasurer; 
M. W. Jackson and W. H. Woodin, executive committee. The Berwick Roll- 
ing Mill Company was organized the same year; M. W. Jackson, C. G. Jack- 
son, G. B. Thompson and B. F. Crispin were its first officers. The pay-rolls 
of these two establishments aggregate several hundred thousand dollars in the 
course of a year. Thus have the insignificant proportions of the industry es- 
tablished in 1840 expanded to their present comprehensive magnitude. 

To say that the growth of Berwick has been directly resultant from that of 
its manufacturing interests would be the expression of a platitude. In illus- 
tration of this it may be stated that the population was four-hundred and fifty- 
two in 1840; four-hundred and eighty-six in 1850; six-hundred and twenty-five 
in 1860; nine-hundred and twenty-three in 1870; two-thousand and ninety -four 
in 1880; and at this time (1886) probably more than three-thousand. 

The extent and importance of the business interests of Berwick followed in 
the wake of its increasing population. John Jones opened the first store about 
1800. William Brien followed with the second, at his hotel. George Payne 
and Thomas Richardson removed from Boston in 1807, and both became mer- 
chants. The former located on the corner of Market and Second streets ; the 
latter on the west side of Second between Market and Mulberry. Other busi- 
ness houses of local prominence at different periods were those of Matthew Mc- 
Dowell, J. & A. Miller, Wright & Slocum, Robert McCurdy, J. & E. Leidy, 
Stowers & Ellis, J. & J. Bowman, Clark, Deilly, Scoville, Rittenhouse & 
Shuman, Headley, McNair & Co. and George Lane. January 27, 1818, the 
legislatui-e authorized John Brown, John Vennet, Samuel F. Headley and 
Sherman Clark to organize the Berwick Water Company. Water was brought 
from Briar creek, two miles distant, in wooden pipes. The supply from 
this source was inadequate, and in 1841 George Mack. Samuel F. Headley and 
A. B. Wilson projected hydraulic works and perfected arrangements for pump- 
ing water from a spring below the hill. In 1848 the Water & Hydraulic 
Companies were consolidated. The decayed wooden pipes were replaced with 
cement and iron mains. Upon the reorganization of the company in 1883 the 
general condition of its distributing service was greatly improved. An insti- 
tution of more recent origin and scarcely less importance is the First National 
Bank of Berwick. June 3, 1864, articles of association were properly drawn 
and signed by M. W. Jackson, P. M. Traugh, Jesse Bowman, S. B. Bowman, 
M. M. Cooper, Francis Evans, F. Nicely, A bram IMi ller. W. H. AYoodin, M. 
E. Jackson, William Lamon and Henry Lamon, A charter was granted by 
the comptroller of the treasury November 10, 1864. December 1, 1865, an or- 
ganization was effected, with M. W. Jackson president, and M. E. Jackson, 






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BRIARCREEK TOWNSHIP. 201 

cashier. The capital stock, originally fifty-thousand dollars, was increased, 
Jamiary 3, 1865, to seventy-five thousand dollars. 

The din of peaceful industry has not always, as now, been unbroken by the 
mingled discord of military parade. The old ''battalion days " are remem- 
bered by the older citizens as topics of absorbing interest at the time of their 
occurrence. In the latter part of May in each year, infantry and cavalry, a 
motley crowd of men and boys in citizens' attire, paraded and maneuvered to 
the roll of the drum and the shrill notes of the fife. An ancient piece of ord- 
nance, primed, polished and mounted, represented the artillery. The popula- 
tion was in attendance en masse ; training day was the gala occasion of all the 
year. James Pratt drilled the infantry; Matthew McDowell organized the 
first company. John M. Snyder and John Bittenbender are remembered as 
colonels, George Kelekner and Christopher Bowman as majors. 

Berwick furnished a full quota of soldiers to the late war. A company of 
thirteen enlisted in May, 1861, and twenty-three for three years' service a short 
time afterward, while others joined the ranks at intervals during the war. A 
regiment passed through the town in April, 1861, and was greeted with en- 
thusiasm. The remains of twenty-six soldiers repose in the Berwick cemetery. 
Two of this number, Moses Davis and James Pratt, were veterans of the revo- 
lution, three of the war of 1812, two of the Mexican war, eighteen served in 
the war for the union and one was a member of the National Guards. The 
military prestige of the town is still maintained to a certain extent. The 
Jackson Guards were organized in 1871, but disbanded in 1880. April 1, 1886, 
Julius Hoft, formerly a student at the Prussian military academy, organized 
the Berwick Guards, a juvenile company, C. C. Jackson, captain. Jackson 
Post, No. 159, Grand Army of the Republic, was chartered January 26, 1886, 
with the following members : George A. Buckingham, J. T. Chamberlin, Sam- 
uel Simpson, D. W. Holly, Abner Welsh, Reuben Moyer, George Keenor, W. 
H. Morton, John Withers, R. H. Little, W. C. Barnard, Minor Hartman, 
Martin McAlister, Leroy T. Thompson, Tighlman Mahorter, S. C. Jayne, A. 
D. Seeley, W. J. Scott, Michael Thornton, John Wooly and E. D. Lepkicher. 
John H. Styer, Camp, No. 25, was instituted May 29, 1*882, with D. C. Smith, 
captain; E. P. Wolfe, first lieutenant; Harry Low, second lieutenant; David 
Thomas, chaplain; Augustus Low, surgeon; George Hoppes, orderly sergeant; 
Harry Barnard, sergeant of the guard; David Thomas, quarter- master; Jerome 
Pifer, color-sergeant; Albert Low, corporal. 

The various secret societies are also represented. Berwick Lodge, No. 246, 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was instituted July 23, 18-47, with Isaiah 
Bahl, N. G. ; O. H. P. Kitchin, V. G. ; Aaron Deitterich, secretary; James 
S. Campbell, treasurer. Besides these persons the names of Stewart Pearce, 
G. W". Nicely, William Brewer and B. S. Gilmour appeared among the list of 
first members. A hall was built in 1868-69 at a cost of twelve thousand dol- 
lars under the supervision of Hudson Owen, H. R. Bower and David Baughey. 

Knapp Lodge, No. 462, Free and Accepted Masons, was organized March 
2, 1872, with John H. Taylor, W. M. ; F. E. Brockway, S. W. ; G. B. 
Thompson, J. W. The original members were John H. Taylor, Frank E. 
Brockway, George B. Thompson, C. G. Jackson, A. B. McCrea, H. C. Freas, 
C. R. Woodin, Samuel Hetler, Hudson Owen, Daniel Reedy, W. H. Woodin, 
Adrian Van Houten, R. H. Little, J. W. Driesbach, George W. Fisher, J. F. 
Opdyke, J. F. Hicks, S. B. Bowman, N. W. Stecker, Benjamin Evans, Will- 
iam Ross and Nicholas Seybert. The following persons have been Past 
Masters since the organization: John H. Taylor, F. E. Brockway, Joseph F. 
Hicks, Henry C. Augstadt, Jacob F. Bittenbendei", W. A. Baugher, B. F. 



202 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

Crispin, Jr. , R. G. Crispin, John Everard, W. S. Heller and D. H. Thornton. 

Washington Camp, No. 105, Patriotic Order Sons of America, was estab- 
lished in 1869, but disbanded in 1878. Febriiary 17, 1880, it was reorganized 
with the following members: N. W. Dickson, W. A. Ross, C. A. Croop, 
S. C. Marteeny, F. R. Kitchin, C. E. Ross, H. C. Learn, F. S. Hart- 
man, Anselm Loeb, Will H. Owen, W. M. Hampshire, Conway Dickson, 
J. W. Kurtz, J. S. Hicks, Charles W. Freas, F. P. Hill, George B. Kester, 
J. C. Deitterick, John W. Morhead, J. C. Reedy, J. M. Witman, William F. 
Rough, M. E. Rittenhouse, A. J. Learn, F. G. Hull, J. E. Frey, and H. Z. 
Hempfield. In April, 1886, the lodge first occupied its present comfortable 
quarters on West Front street. The membership is more than one-hundred 
and is steadily increasing. 

The schools of Berwick date from an earlier period than its military and 
business institutions. The first school in Briarcreek township was opened in 
the old stone church building. In 1810 this school was removed to a build- 
ing erected for school purposes at Foundryville. Cordelia A. Preston, Daniel 
Goodwin, Morris Hower and John Arney were teachers at these places. The 
first school at Berwick was opened in 1800 by Isaac Holoway in the Quaker 
meeting-house. Prior to 1837 this building and the market-house were the 
only houses used for school purposes. David E. Owen, Doctors Dutlon and 
Roe, David Jones and James Dilvan are remembered as teachers prior to 1818; 
between that date and 1837, Messrs. Comstock, Hoyt, Richards, Crosby and 
Haik were their successors. Berwick Academy, ' ' for the education of youth 
in the English and other languages, and in the useful arts and sciences, and 
literature," was incorporated June 25, 1839, with Marmaduke Pearce, John 
Bowman, Thomas McNair, A. B. Wilson, George Mack and A. B. Shuman, 
trustees. Among the instructors connected with this institution were J. H. 
Rittenhouse, George Waller and Joel E. Bradley. A biiilding was erected in 
1839 on the site of the market- house. It was removed in 1872 and the pro- 
ceeds applied to public school purposes. The interest of the citizens in edu- 
cational matters is tangibly expressed in the commodious brick structures on 
Market and Third streets. The former was erected in 1872, the latter in 1886. 
D. C. McHenry has served as school director continuously since 1859, with 
the exception of one year. Timothy Mahoney became principal of the high 
school in the autumn of 1858; Michael Whitmire in 1859; Joseph Yocum 
in 1860; Henry Keim in 1861; J. G. Cleveland in 1862; Samuel E. Furst in 
1863; Reece W. Dodson in 1864; William Patterson in 1865; J. H. Hurst in 
1866; S. C. Jayne in 1867; H. M. Spaulding in 1868; H. D. Albright in the 
four years following and in 1874; J. G. Williams in 1873; C. F. Diffenderfer in 
1875; A. H. Steesinl876; W. E. Smith in 1877 and the four succeeding terms; 
J. T. Bevanin 1882; L. T. Conrad in 1883; Amelia Armstrong in 1884 and 
1885, and Henry G. Clark, the present jDrincipal. 

The various religious bodies were early represented in Briarcreek township. 
The Friends were the first to erect a house for worship. October 21, 1799, the 
ground was purchased upon which the brick structure that succeeded it is 
situated. The following entry appears in the minutes of Catawissa monthly 
meeting, November 11, 1800: "Friends of Berwick laid before this meeting 
in a serious manner, in writing signed by Aquilla Starr, a request for the 
privilege of holding a meeting for divine service on the first day of the week at 
the eleventh hour." April 25, 1801, the request was favorably considered 
but the meeting thus established has long since been discontinued. Evan Owen, 
Joseph Stackhouse, Andrew Shiner, William Rittenhouse. Joseph Pilkington 
and Joseph Eck were prominently identified with the afPairs of this meeting. 



BRIARCREEK TOWNSHTP. 203 

A union house of worship was built in 1805 by the Lutheran and Keformed 
congregations of Briaicreek valley. This was the lirst effort in this direction 
made by either denomination in the county. A constitution for the joint owner- 
ship of this building was framed in 1807. Keverends Plitt and Adams were 
pastors at that time. The English element of the Lutheran congregation sub- 
sequently separated from it and became a distinct organization. The Reformed 
congregation has usually been connected in pastoral care with the Orangeville 
church. 

In the minutes of the Central Pennsylvania Conference for 187(3 the follow- 
ing appears from the pen of B. H. Creever, D. D., regarding the origin of 
Methodism in this section: 

In Brier creek valley, Columbia county, Penn., a mile or more from the north branch 
of the Susquehanna, and within four miles"of Berwick, may be seen a stone building forty 
feet front, as measured by the eye, and nearly or quite square. It is severely plaui, and 
might easily escape the eye of a traveler; but modest as it is, it is monumental, and, his- 
torically considered, is invested with an abiding interest. This plain house was the first 
completed church edifice belonging to the Methodists, within what are defined as the pres- 
ent limits of the Danville district. It was erected in 1^08. 

As a shrine of religious worship it has long been deserted; but, as a lingering fra- 
grance hangs about the broken vase, so, around this deserted temple, linger still its sacred 
memories— memories of holy joy that once thrilled the hearts of its worshipers, and of 
gospel triumphs once celebrated within its walls. 

Events and incidents, thus commemorated, possess more than a local or passing in- 
terest; with others of similar import in adjacent territory, they constitute no unimportant 
part of the early history of a great denomination. The country extending for miles from 
this venerable shrine is in the highest degree beautiful, consisting of highly cultivated 
farms, held by prosperous people. When this church was built, the primitive forest of 
the river country had been but barely grazed by the axe (»f the adventurous frontiersman. 
Hemlock, pine, beech and maple towered aloft everywhere, in solemn grandeur, from 
Northumberland to the farthest reach of Wyoming. 

In the rear of the church is a rural burial ground, where lie— like warriors asleep on 
the field of their triumphs — many of tlie moral heroes who did valiant service in the heroic 
era of Methodism. At a short distance from the church is a farm house, which likewise 
possesses historic interest. Like the sanctuary, it is of .stone, and so survives, while more 
perishable structures hav.e disappeared. It is of unusual elevation, having in some sort 
a third story. This was the home of Thomas Bowman, who, with his brother Christian, 
emigrated from Northampton county and settled here in the wilderness in 1793. This third 
story was a recognized place of worship, and became famous among the scattered saints 
years before the erection of the church. 

Here occurred, in 180.5, the first great revival of religion in the "North Branch " coun- 
try, so far as it is embraced in this sketch. A spirit-baptism anj^where at that day was the 
signal for the gathering of God's people from great distances, and so by an irresistible 
impulse they met here, coming— some on horse-back, more on foot— from a distance of 
thirty or forty miles. 

A direct and immediate result of this was the formation of a class at Berwick. 
The following persons were members: William Stahl, Jane Herrin. Rachel 
Traugh, Hugh Thompson, Nancy Thompson, Robert Brown, Samuel Steele, 
Sallie Steele, James Herrin, AVilliam Sisty, Mary Sisty, Andrew Petit and Ben- 
jamin Doan. Previous to this time Reverends William Culbert, James Paynter, 
Morris Howe and Robert Burch had preached occasional sermons. In 1806 Ber- 
wick appointment was attached to Northumberland circuit. In 1831 Berwick cir- 
cuit was established, embracing twenty- eight preaching places in Columbia 
and Luzerne counties. In 1867 Berwick became a station. The class leaders at 
this time were Jesse Bowman, Isaac Smith, Amos F. Creasy, W. H. Woodin, M. 
W. Jackson and C. R. Woodin. Jesse Bowman, M. W. Jackson, H. C. 
Freas, W. H. Woodin, M. E. Jackson, Paul Fortner, W. J. Knorr, E. B. 
Hull and Isaac Smith constituted the board of stewards. Jesse Bowman, M. 
W. Jackson, Paul Fortner, M. E. Jackson, H. C. Freas, W. H. Woodin. J. 
AV. Bowman, James Jacoby and Isaac Smith were trustees. J. A. Gere was 
pastor in 1867-68; F. B. Riddle, 1869-70; W. W. Evans, 1872-73; S. Creigh- 



204 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

ton, 1874-75; J. H. McGarrah, 1876-78; M. L. Smyser, 1879-81; W. W. 
Evans, 1882-85; E. H. Yocum, 1885. 

Services were held in the second story of the market-house during the first 
years of the history of this church. Subsequently a store-room was fitted up 
in a rude manner and used for this purpose. In 1811 Hugh Thompson ten- 
dered a room in his house on Second street for the use of the society. In 
1817 a lot on the corner of Mulberry and Third streets was secured and the 
brick structure now used as a dwelling erected thereon. In 1845, the second 
Methodist church building was erected on a lot donated by Robert McCurdy. 
Gilbert Fowler, Samuel F. Headley and AV. McCurdy were the building com- 
mittee. Reverend John Bowen was pastor at that time. February 19,1871, the 
present church edifice was erectedon the same site as its predecessor of a quar- 
ter century previous. Reverend Thomas Bowman, at present (1886) the senior 
bishop of the Methodist Episcopal church in this country and a native of Ber- 
wick, performed the ceremony of dedication. Houses of worship have also 
been built at Summer Hill and Foundry ville. 

The Evangelical AssociaHon has been represented in Briarcreek since 
1826, when Reverends Seybert and Noecker conducted religious services at 
the house of George Zahner. The Summer Hill church building was 
erected in 1 849. Prior to this Daniel Kahr, Simon McLane, James Dunlap 
and others continued to preach at private houses. The Evansville church was 
built in 1854. The organizations at both points are connected with Columbia 
circuit. Jacob Hartzel, John Young, George Hunter, A. H. Irvin, S. D. Ben- 
nington, P. H. Rishel, H. W. Buck, S. P. Remer, A. W. Shenburger^ W. W. 
Rhoads, I. W. Pines and D. P. Kline have successively served as pastors. 

The first service of this church in Berwick was held in March, 1870, at the 
town-hall by Reverend P. H. Rishel. A class had been organized somewhat 
earlier. It was composed of Isaiah Bower, Hannah Bower, George P. Clewell, 
Susan Clewell, Elizabeth Clewell and Fannie Kirkendall. The meetings of the 
class were held in the hall until January 18. 1874. During this period, pro- 
tracted meetings were conducted with frequency and success. In February, 
1873, it was formally decided to build a church edifice. Isaiah Bower was con- 
stituted the building committee. January 1, 1874, the l^rick structure on Second 
street between Pine and Chestnut was dedicated. M. J. Carothers, presiding 
elder, H. B. Hartzel and others participated in the ceremonies. In March, 
1875, Berwick and Beach Haven were separated fi'om Columbia circuit and 
constituted Berwick mission. W. M. Croman was appointed missionary. Un- 
der the pastoral care of Reverends J. A. Irvine, J. M. Ettinger, C. W. Buck 
and J. J. Lohr, the mission has become practically self-sustaining. 

The doctrines of the Baptist society were first promulgated at Berwick in 
1842 by Reverend Joseph Morris, who preached in the Methodist church 
building. The onlv adherents to this faith in Berwick at that time were Levi 
L. Tate and Mrs, Silas E. Craig. In September, 1842, W. S. Hall, of White 
Deer, Union county, succeeded Mr. Morris. Services were held in a store- 
house at the corner of Mulberry and Second streets owned by Saml. A. Head- 
ley, and fitted up for that purpose by him. Religious meetings were held contin- 
uously between September 10th and 15th, resulting in forty-two conversions. 
The following week the converts were baptized in the canal at the head of the 
lock in the joresence of a large concourse of people. At the conclusion of this 
ceremony the bridge was crossed, and the church formally organized in Will- 
iams grove on the opposite side. Levi L. Tate, John T. Davis and Abram 
Miller were elected deacons. Mr. Hall resigned the pastorate at the expiration of 
three years. During this period, a frame church edifice was erected; it has 



BRIARCREEK TOWNSHIP. 205 

subsequently been replaced by a brick structure of enlarged size and improved 
appearance. Reverends Rohrer, Worrel, Miller, Prentess, Brinsinger, Cattell, 
Caterall and Galloway have successively served this church. 

On Saturday afternoon, November 24, 1827, the Reverend Joseph M. Og- 
Jen, a Presbyterian clergyman, held a service preparatory to communion in the 
brick church building, which appears to have been regarded as a union meet- 
ing-house at that time. A congregational meeting was held at the close 
of the regular exercises and it was unanimously decided to form a district 
Presbyterian church. William Willson and Sarah Willson became members 
of this organization, having previously been connected with the church at Ab- 
ington. Pa. , Daniel Bowen was received from the old South Church, Boston; 
Isaac and Abigail Hart, from Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Mary and Eliza Polluck 
from the Deny church; the remaining members, Thomas and Eleanor Lock- 
art, Emanuel Kirkendall and Rachel Beach had been received into the church 
by Reverend John Patterson on a previous visit. It was resolved that the arti- 
cles of faith and covenant for admission of members at Wilkes-Barre and 
Abington be adopted and enforced in a similar manner. The organization was 
completed on the following Sabbath when Daniel Bowen, Isaac Hart and 
Thomas Lockart were installed as elders; and at a meeting of the session, 
February 19, 1828, a request was formulated for admission into Northumber- 
land Presbytery. 

July 20, 1839, Reverend David J. Waller entered a minute upon the 
record of this congregation, in which he stated that the church had been for a 
long time without pastoral care and, as far as the manifestations of life were 
concerned, was virtually extinct. The only knowledge of the facts above stated 
had been learned from the Reverend D. Gaston, of Conyngham, who sent Mr. 
Waller the record in which they were embodied. It contained the approval 
of the moderator of presbytery, and he accepted this as sufficient evidence 
of the e.xistence of an organization, although but two or three of its original 
members were any longer residents of the town. At Mr. Waller's request, 
Reverend A. H. Hand took part of his extensive charge, entering upon his 
duties at Berwick July 7, 1812. He at once agitated the erection of a church 
building, and with such success that on the 7th of October, 1843, the com- 
pleted structure was dedicated by Reverend George W. Yeomans, president 
of Lafayette College. Its appearance was greatly improved in 1881, when the 
building was completely remodeled and a tower of symmetrical proportions 
erected. The rededication occurred Jtily 10, 1881, when Reverends D. J. 
Waller, S. Mitchell. D. D., C. K. Canfield and L. M. Kumler participated in 
the ceremonies. Many pastoral changes occurred in the years that intervened 
between these two events in the history of this church. Mr. Hand resigned 
on account of ill health, and on the 14th of July, 1845, a call was extended to 
Reverend Alexander Heberton. He entered upon his pastoral duties the 1st 
of August of that year, and was installed November 25th following. Reverend 
T. K. Newton became pastor August IS, 1853, having for three years previous 
been seamen's chaplain at the island of St. Thomas. Reverend M. L. Kumler 
was installed as pastor July 10, 1881. His immediate predecessor was the Rev- 
erend James Dickson. Reverends James F. Kennedy, Morgan, Joseph 

Marr, Edward Kennedy, James M. Salmon and P. M. Melick have also sus- 
tained pastoral relations with this church. 

The Young Men's Christian Association of Berwick is an instiiution which 
affords rare opportunities for cooperative effort on the part of all evangelical 
denominations in svu-rounding voung men with healthful moral influences. 
The genius which had transformed the country village into a manufacturing 



206 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, 

town turned with equal energy and success to the solution of a perplexing 
problem of social life — how to restrain and direct the various classes of society 
which had populated its expanding limits and develop fi'om them a body of 
useful citizens. The practicability of organizing christian eflPort for the attain- 
ment of this object was quietly discussed. The movement assumed tangible 
form in 1878, when, on the 9th of June, a meeting of the clergy and citizens 
was held in the basement of the Methodist church edifice, C. H. Zehnder, sec- 
retary of Pennsylvania district, Y. M. C. A. , presiding. An organization was 
effected by the election of C. Gr. Jackson, president, and Isaiah Bower, vice- 
president. The Jackson & Woodin Manufacturing Co. manifested their inter- 
est in promoting the success of the Association in its incipiency by placing at 
its disposal the third floor of their building, free of all charges for rent, light 
or heat. A reading room was here opened between the hours of 7 and 9 P. M. 
In June, 1879, C. H. Zehnder was appointed executive secretary, and a jani- 
tor was employed to keep the rooms in order. J. F. Opdyke became presi- 
dent in 1880. The Jackson & Woodin Co. opened a reading room on the 
second floor of this building, and purchased one thousand volumes as a nucleus 
of a library. Mr. A. G. Kimberley was elected librarian, and devoted his 
whole time to the task of systematizing the workings of the library and render- 
ino- its results more effective. The various departments of the work were sus- 
tamed with such effect as to fully compensate the projectors for their efforts. 
John W. Evans became president in 1882, and C. H. Zehnder the following 
year. In June, 1883, the "'Young Men's Christian Association of Berwick" 
was incorporated, with M. W. Jackson, W. H. Woodin, C. E. Woodin, B. F. 
Crispin, F. K. Jackson, S. P. Hanly, L. F. Bower, S. C. Jackson and C. H. 
Zehnder, trustees. Prior to this time the association had been an experiment; 
its projectors observed with complacency their confidence in the success of its 
methods gradually infusing itself into the minds of those who had at first been 
doubtful. Its work had increased to such an extent as to require enlarged 
facilities for its unrestricted usefulness. 

The executive officers of the association realized their requirements and took 
immediate measures for the erection of a hall. The following year (1884) C. 
R. Woodin deeded to the trustees a lot on the corner of Market and Second 
streets, and by an additional donation of eleven thousand dollars placed the 
institution upon a firm financial basis. Mrs. Lizzie Jackson followed with a 
three-story dwelling house on Market street and two-thousand dollars. W. 
Tao-o-art, state secretary, made personal solicitations with the board of trustees, 
for^fiands to supplement these generous donations. The plan for a hall, sug- 
gested bv Mr. S. Fraser and approved by the board of trustees, embodies all 
the latest ideas in association architecture. The new building was formally 
dedicated April 7. 1885. The general secretary at that time was Mr. S. T. 
Dimmick, who entered upon his duties May 21. 1884. In August, 1886, he 
was succeeded in this capacity by Mr. W. N. Multer. The financial exhibit 
for the eighth year of the association (ending June 8, 1886) shows total assets 
of twenty'^seven-thousand nine-hunth-ed and thirty-one dollars and sixty-nine 
cents, larger in proportion to the population of the town than the assets of 
any other institution of a similar character in the world. A judiciously 
selected library of three-thousand, five hundred volumes comprises works 
of a religious* scientific, philosophical and miscellaneous character. The 
leading journals and magazines are constantly on file and are generally 
read by those who are interested in contemporary issues. The manage- 
ment has this season added to its advantages a curriculum of study embracing 
courses in vocal and instrumental music, the modern and classic languages, book- 



CENTRE TOWNSHIP. 207 

keeping and penmanship, social and parliamentary etiquette, and physical cult- 
ure. But the work of training mind and body is merely accessory to that 
higher culture of conscience which reaches its full fruition in the true nobility 
of christian character. If the question of adequate returns be asked there 
can be but one answer. The ablest mathematicians the world has ever produced 
could not compute the influence exerted by such institutions in molding indi- 
vidual character by surrounding pliant minds with a healthful, moral atmos- 
phere. 



CHAPTER IX. 

CENTRE TOWNSHIP. 



IN 1843 certain citizens of Bloom and Briarcreek petitioned the court for 
the erection of a new township to be formed from the adjacent portions of 
each. The court accordingly appointed Joseph Brobst, Isaac Welch and 
George A. Bowman commissioners to locate the boundaries agreeably to the 
terms of the petition. In the succeeding January, these commissioners sub- 
mitted their report with a plat of a township "to be called Centre," which 
was approved by the court, and its organization ordered. 

The township thus erected extended from the Susquehanna to the top of 
Lee mountain, which separates it from Fishingcreek and Orange; and from 
the valley of Briar creek on the east to Orange and Bloom, which then in- 
cluded Scott. The regularity of its western boundary is broken by the excision 
of its northwest corner in favor of Orange. Two distinct ranges of hills ex- 
tending in a direction parallel with the course of the river, diversify the sur- 
face. A narrow, rugged valley ^parates Lee mountain from the Summer hills, 
and between these and Lime ridge is one of the most fertile valleys of the 
county, in which the west branch of Briar creek takes its rise. South of the 
ridge the surface slopes gradually down to the level lands of the river ' ' bot- 
toms. ' ' 

This region was among the earlier settled sections of Columbia county. 
Here in the valley of the west branch of Briar creek, the Van Campen, Salmon, 
and Aikman families reared their homes, which were subsequently involved in 
the devastation which fell with savage cruelty upon the flourishing colony at 
Wyoming. In the year 1777 Alexander Aikman emigrated from New Jersey 
and built a cabin on the bank of a stream known from this circumstance as 
Cabin run. In the autumn he returned to Northumberland. The Van Cam- 
pens and Salmons remained, relying on the forts in the vicinity for protection. 
In the spring of 1778 the house of the former was burned. Joseph Salmon 
was a near neighbor. Recognizing in the smoke indications of the presence of 
an enemy, he hastened from the field to his own cabin to take his wife and 
child to a place of safety. Between it and the clearing was a marsh crossed 
by a corduroy bridge. It was not until he reached this point that he observed 
the cabin already surrounded by savages. He approached near enough to see 
that his wife and child were prisoners, but that apparently their lives would be 
spared. Unfortunately the Indians discovered him; he sought concealment in 
the bridge, and th>y were unable to dislodge or murder him there, although 
several attempts were made to burn it. Exasperated with this failure, they 



208 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

scalped his wife and then set her at liberty, while her infant child was inhu- 
manly killed before her eyes.* 

The Van Campens wei-e reserved for a fate even more sanguinary in its 
details of savage ferocity. In the spring of 1780 the Indian disturbances 
having apparently subsided, several members of the family left Fort Wheeler 
to make preparations for rebuilding the house destroyed two years previous. 
About the same time a small party of Indians and Tories, after committing 
various depredations in the neighborhood of Wyoming, pushed down the river 
to Fishing creek. March 30th they reached the head-waters of the west branch 
of Briar creek. 

As the spring opened, the Van Campens, who had taken refuge in Fort 
Wheeler, determined to go out to their place, rebuild their destroyed cabin and 
put in crops for their future support. They appear to have been an exception 
among the settlers in their freedom from apprehension of molestation by the 
Indians, and left the fort in the latter part of March, the party consisting of 
Moses Van Campen, his father, a younger brother, an uncle, and his son about 
twelve years old, and one Peter Pence. The sequel, as related by Van 
Campen, is as follows: 

We hadbeeu on our farms about four or five days when, on the morning of the thirtieth 
of March, we were surprised by a party of ten Indians. My father was lunged through 
with a war spear, his throat was cut and he was scalped, while ray brother was toma- 
hawked, scalped and thrown into the fire before my eyes. While I was struggling with 
a warrior, the fellow who had killed my father drew liis spear from his body and made a 
violent thrust at me. I shrank from the spear; the savage who had hold of me turned it 
with his hands so that it only penetrated my vest and shil-t. They were then satisfied with 
taking me prisoner, as they had the same morning taken my uncle's little son and Pence, 
though they killed my uncle. The same party, before they reached us, had touched 
on the lower settlements of Wyoming and killed' a Mr. Upson and taken a boy prisoner of 
the name of Rogers. We were now marched off up Fishing creek, and in the afternoon 
of the same day came to Huntington, where the Indians found four white men at a sugar 
camip who fortunately discovered the Indians and fled to a house. The Indians only fired 
on them and wounded a Captain Ransom when they continued their course till night. 
Haying encamped and made their fire we, the prisoners, were tied and well secured, "five 
Indians lying on one side of us and five on the other; in the morning they pursued their 
course, and leaving the waters of Fishing creek, touched the head-waters of Hemlock 
creek, where they found one Abraham Pike, his wife and child. Pike was made prisoner 
but his wife they painted and told Joggo, squaw, go home. They continued their course 
that day and encamped the same night in the same manner as the previous. 

It came into my mind that sometimes individuals performed wonderful actions and 
surmounted the greatest danger. I then decided that these fellows must die, and thought 
of a plan to dispatch them. The next day I had an opportunity to communicate my plan 
to my fellow-prisoners; they treated it as a visionary scheme for three men to attempt to 
dispatch ten Indians. I spread before them the advantages which three men would have 
oyer ten when asleep; and that we would be the first prisoners taken into their towns and 
villages after our army had destroyed their corn; that we should be tied to the stake and 
suffer a cruel death; we had now an inch of ground to fight on and if we failed it would 
only be death, and we might as well die one waj'' as another. That day passed away and 
having encamped for the night we lay as before. In the morning we "came to the river 
and saw their canoes; they had descended the river and run their canoes upon Little Tunk- 
hannock creek, so called. They crossed the river and set their canoes adrift. 

I renewed my suggestion to my companions to dispatch them that night, and urged 
that they must decide the question. They agreed to make the trial; but how shall we' do 
it. was the question. Disarm them and each take a tomahawk and come to close work at 
once. There are three of us; plant our blows with judgment, and three times three will 
make nine, and the tenth one we can kill at our leisure. They agreed to disarm them 

*Another version of this story, and proliably the correct one, is as follows: When Mr. Salmon reached 
the house, the Indians were on the point of killing his wife and child. He interposed and had some influence 
with the chief, who promised to spare their lives and assured him of a safe return if he would accompany them 
as a prisoner. He agreed to do so, and remained in captivity more than a year. He accompanied the chief on 
his expeditions, but the latter never mentioned his promise "of granting the release, nor did Salmon dare do so. 
After following the chief alone through a whole night, they reached the summit of the North mountain at day- 
break. Salmon recognized with joy the outline of Knob mountain in the distance. " Go," said his captor, " thus 
can Indians keep their i)romises." He did not hesitate to obey the command, and followed Fishing creek to 
his home, where he lived for many years. 



CENTRE TOWNSHIP. 209 

and after that on<; take possession of the guns and fire at the one side of the four, and the 
other two take tomahawks on the other side and dispatch tliem. I observed that would 
be a very uncertain way; the first shot tired would yive the alarm; they would discover 
it to be the prisoners and might defeat us. I had to yield to their plan. Peter Pence was 
chosen to fire the guns. Pike and myself to tomahawk. We cut and carried plenty of 
wood to give them a good fire; after I was laid down one of them had occasion to use his 
knife; he dropped it at my feet; I turned my foot over it and concealed it; they all lay 
down and fell asleep. About midnight T got up and found them in a sound sleep. I 
slipped to Pence, who rose; I cut him loose and handed him the knife; he did the same for 
me and I in turn took the knife and cut Pike loose; in a minute's time we disarmed them. 
Pence took his station at the guns. Pike and myself with our tomahawks took our stations. 
I was to tomahawk three on the right wing and Pike two oa the left. That moment 
Pike's two awoke and were getting up; here Pike proved a coward and laid down. It was 
a critical moment; I saw there was no time to be lost; their heads turned up fair; I dis- 
patched them in a moment and turned to my lot as per agreement, and as I was about to 
dispatch the last on my side of the fire Pence shot and did good execution; there was 
only one at the off wing that his ball did not reach; his name was Mohawke, a stout, bold, 
daring fellow. In the alarm he lumped off about three rods from the tire; he saw it was 
the prisoners who made the attack, and giving the war-whoop'he started to take possession 
of the guns; I was as quick to prevent him; the contest was then between him and myself. 
As I raised my tomahawk he turned quick to jump from me; I followed him and struck at 
him, but, missing his head, my tomahawlc struck his shoulder, or rather the back of his 
neck ; he pitched forward and fell ; at the same moment my foot slipped and I fell by his side; 
we clinched; his arm was naked; he caught me round my neck; at the same time I caught 
him with my left arm around the body and gave him a close hug, at the same time feeling 
for his knife but could not reach it. 

In our scuffle my tomahawk dropped out. ]\Iy head was under the wounded shoulder 
and almost suffocated me with his blood. I made a violent spring and broke from his 
hold; we both rose at the same time, and he ran; it took me sometime to clear the blood 
from my eyes; my tomahawk had got covered up. and I could not tind it in time to over- 
take him; he was the only one of the party that escaped. 

Pike was powerless. I always had a reverence for Christian devotion ; Pike was trying 
to pray, and Pence swearing at him, charging him with cowardice, and saying it was no 
time to pray, he ought to tight; we were masters of the ground, and in possession of all 
their guns, blankets, match coats, etc. I then turned my attention to scalping them, and 
recovering the scalps of my father, brother, and others, I strung them all on my belt for 
safe keeping. We kept our ground till morning and built a raft, it being near the bank 
of the river where they had encamped, about fift^een miles below Tioga Point; we got all 
our plunder on it and set sail for Wyoming, the nearest settlement. Our raft gave way, 
when we made for land, but we lost considerable property, though we saved our guns and 
ammunition, and took to land; we reached Wyalusing late in the afternoon. Came to 
the Narrows; discovered a smoke below, and a raft laying at the shore, by which we were 
certain a partj^ of Indians had passed us in the course of the day, and had halted for the 
night. There was no alternative for us but to rout them or go over the mountain; the 
snow on the north side of the hill was deep; we knew from tlie appearance of the raft ihat 
the party must be small; we had two rifles each; my only fear was of Pike's cowardice. 
To know the worst of it, we agreed that I should ascertain their number and give the 
signal for the attack; I crept down the side of the hill so near as to see their fires and packs, 
but saw no Indians. I concluded that iheyhad gone hunting for meat, and that this was a 
good opportunity for us to make off with their raft to the opposite side of the river. I 
gave the signal; they came and threw their packs on the raft, which was made of sniall, 
dry pine timber; with poles and paddles we drove her briskly across the river, and had got 
nearly out of reach of shet, when two of them came in; they fired; their shots did no injury; 
we soon got under cover of an island, and went several miles; we had waded deep creeks 
through the day, the night was cold; we landed on an island and found a sink-hole, in 
which we made our fire; after warming we were alarmed by a cracking in tlie crust; Pike 
supposed that the Indians had got on the island, and was for calling for quarters; to keep 
him quiet, we threatened him with his life; the stepping grew plainer, and seemed coming 
directly to the tire; I kept a watch, and soon a noble raccoon came under the light. I 
shot the raccoon, when Pike jumped up and called out: "Quarters, gentlemen! Quarters, 
gentlemen!" I took my game by the leg and threw it down by the tire: "Here, you cow- 
ardly rascal," I cried, "skin that and give us a roast for supper." 

The next night we reached Wyoming, and there was mucli joy to see us; we rested one 
day, and it being not safe to go to Northumberland by land, we procured a canoe, and 
with Pence and my little cousin, we descended the river by night. 

Fort Jenkins was erected in 1778, and became an important place of retreat 
for the settlers along the river. It appears that the fort was merely the house 



210 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

of a Mr. Jenkins, barricaded and surrounded by a stockade. In September, 
1780, a party of Indians from the Chillisquaque, having passed through the 
Fishing creek valley below Knob mountain, crossed the Summer hills through 
the defile of Cabin run and burned the cabin built by Aikman three years pre- 
vious. Fort Jenkins had been evacuated by its garrison, who retreated to a 
point farther down the river. The Indians burned the fort, which was never 
rebuilt. In an appendix to the " Pennsylvania Archives," the following partic- 
ulars concerning it are credited to a communication from Jacob Hill under date 
of October 2, 1855. "Its location was about twenty rods from the river, and 
about half the distance from the " North Branch canal. " It stood upon the very 
spot where my house now stands. There are no remains left above ground, 
but I think there might be some pieces of the logs found buried in the ground. 
There is a very low spot between my house and barn, which is said to have been 
the well inside the fort. There is also another such spot near my house, 
and about four rods from the former which is said to be the cellar of 
a house built by Jenkins; and in digging the cellar for my house my 
hands found a quantity of stone which I took to be the foundation of 
some building, among which were some brick of rather singular dimen- 
sions, four or five feet under ground. The fields in the vicinity are scattered 
with arrows such as Indians use." Upon the cessation of hostilities the sense 
of security and repose, so welcome to the weariecf settlers after the harrass- 
ing experiences of the preceding years, attracted to their depleted ranks a class 
of pioneers whose characteristic energy and perseverance gradually removed 
the traces of war and bloodshed. Alexander Aikman returned from New Jer- 
sey, whither he had removed with his family. In 1782 Benjamin Fowler, a 
young Englishman who had participated as a British soldier in the surrender of 
Cornwallis at Yorktown the previous year, traversed the distance fi'om New 
York to the Briar creek valley on horseback. Here he formed the acquaintance 
of a Miss Fowler, whose family had but recently entered the region. He con- 
ceived a strong attachment for her, and amid the multiplied labors of his first 
year on the frontier, found time to learn that his feelings were reciprocated. 
The marriage that ensued might be chronicled as the first in Centre township, 
if there had been a clergyman in the vicinity to perform the ceremony. Under 
the circumstances a journey was made to Reading, where the wedding was 
celebrated. 

In 1792 Frederick Hill purchased from Jenkins a tract of land embracing 
the location of the old fort. On the site of the original building: he erected a 
house and opened the Fort Jenkins hotel, then the only public house in the 
present limits of the county. The following year a number of families from 
Mount Bethel, Northampton county, attracted to the region by reports of its fer- 
tile soil, located in the valley of Briar creek. Among ihose who settled within 
this township were John Hoffman, Nehemiah Hutton and James Cauley. The 
same year Henry Hidlay, having secured the title to "Mendham," a tract 
"situate three miles northwest of the Susquehanna," removed his family and 
household goods thither in a covered wagon. These families journeyed from 
Easton by a road recently opened from that point to Nescopeck falls, across the 
Broad, Buck and Nescopeck mountains. 

Travel between different points along the river had increased to such an ex- 
tent since the opening of the Fort Jenkins hotel, that Abram Miller, in 1799, 
established another. From its position midway between Bloomsburg and Ber- 
wick, it was afterward known as the Half- Way house. When a stage-line was 
established between Sunbury and Wilkesbarre, its land-lords became widely- 
known for their hospitality and for the celerity and promptness with which an 



CENTRE TOWNSHIP. 211 

exchange of horses could here be made. Thomas Miller succeeded his father, 
but the establishment reached the zenith of its prosperity under the manage- 
ment of Samuel Harman, who was proprietor at a period when stage travel was 
necessary for a large class of people. When the canal was opened, the 
packet, a long, narrow boat drawn by six horses, was regarded as a more 
rapid and comfortable conveyance than the coach, and received a fair degree of 
patronage during the summer months. The decade immediately preceding the 
construction of the rail-road, was the most profitable one in the finances of stage 
proprietors. The volume of travel was such as to give a lucrative business to sev- 
eral companies. Since the opening of the railroad in 1858 the Half- Way house 
has ceased to be a place of popular resort, as the conditions under which it be- 
came such no longer exist. To the imaginative observer the quaint appearance 
of its broad porches still suggests the hurry and confusion of the old stage-ex- 
change. 

/ The name of Abram Miller is also associated with an early industry of Cen- 
tre township, and one that has adapted itself to the changing characters of the 
circumstances under which it has been conducted. The tract purchased by him 
in 1799 embraced a portion of lime ridge, in which the strata of limestone 
were but thinly -covered by soil, and appeared in some places at the surface. 
Quarries were opened and the stone reduced to lime. This was conveyed to 
different points by means of flat-boats and wagons. A considerable portion was 
used in constructing the first brick buildings of Wilkesbarre. When the man- 
ufacture of iron was begun at Danville, Roaringcreek, Hemlock creek, Shick- 
shinny and Wilkesbarre limestone for smelting purposes was obtained at this 
point. The canal-boat superseded the batteau as a means of transportation. 
The limestone was thus taken to Lackawanna in 1841, then at the head of nav- 
igation, and from there by a gravity railroad to Scranton, where it was used in 
considerable quantities for some years. The Millers, Abram and Thomas, oper- 
ated quarries at the west end of the Centerville surface strata, John Jones its 
eastern, and John Knorr its central portion. Since 1854 Low Brothers have 
controlled three-fourths of the product. The quarries are practically exhausted 
at sorae places, although still operated to a limited extent. 

The village indications on the map of Centre are somewhat misleading. 
Two or three locations are dignified as postoffices, where no villages are visible 
to the naked eye. An aggregate of dwellings variously known as Centreville 
and StoneyJ:own is somewhat more tangible. About 1845 several lime-kiln pro- 
prietors, desirous of securing better shipping facilities, purchased twenty-four 
acres of land bordering the canal. After erecting suitable wharves, the re- 
mainder of the land was disposed of to quarry hands as building sites on 
which some fifteen or twenty cheaply constructed dwellings were built. The 
name Lime Ridge applies exclusively to some half-dozen more substantial res- 
idences subsequently erected to the west of these. During the greatest activity 
of the lime business Centreville was a thriving hamlet, and still does consider- 
able business, though many of its residents are now transferred from the quar- 
ries to canal-boats. Two stores, which conduct a thriving local trade, and two 
church buildings add to the attractiveness of the place. The denominations 
represented here are the Evangelical and the Methodist. The condition of the 
former is not as flourishing as formerly, a large proportion of the membership hav- 
ing moved to other points. The latter was organized in 1832 by Isaac Low, 
George Sloan, Henry Trembly and Aaron Boon, in a school-house at some distance 
from the village. Ten years later its present house of worship was built. A 
second structure for Methodist services was dedicated at Fowlersville, No- 
vember 3, 1867. The congregations at both places are connected with the 
Mifflinville circuit. 



212 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

The only society represented at Centreville is Centre grange, No. 56. 
Tlie Briarcreek Farmers Mutual Insurance Company was organized by its 
membership January 11, 1875, with Levi Aikman, president; Samnel Neyhard, 
secretary; and George Conner, treasurer. These persons have held their re- 
spective offices continuously to this time (September, 1886), and have condiicted 
the company's affairs through a decade of prosperous usefulness. 

Briarcreek Presbyterian church has existed fi"om a period compared with 
which the societies above mentioned are of but recent origin. Its history 
begins with the early settlement of the township. By indenture of August 19, 
1796, Henry Hidlay conveyed to Andrew Creveling, George Espy and Conrad 
Adams, trustees of the Briarcreek Presbyterian society, an acre of ground for 
the location of a house for worship. It is probable that the latter was erected 
the following year, but this cannot be positively stated. The following names 
constitute a list of pew-holders, August 17, 1807: William Sloan, rJohn Freas, 
Moses Oman, William Hutchison, William Parks, Samupl Webb, Hugh Sloan, 
Samuel Bellas, Alexander Aikman, William Aikman, William Henderson. Ben- 
jamin Boone, Andrew Creveling, Daniel McCartey, John Kennedy, William 
Marr, John Bright, Samuel Creveling, James Hutchison, Joseph Brittain, 
Joseph Salmon, Ephraim Lewis, William Oman, Josiah McClure, James Fowler, 
Benjamin Fowler, John Stewart, Henry Hidlay, Levi Aikman and John 
Brittain. In 1792 the Presbytery of Carlisle appointed Reverend Henry to 
supply this congregation. Two years later, he was succeeded by Reverend 
John Bryson. Asa Dunham was pastor from 1798 to 1816. Reverends Hen- 
derson, Crosby, Lewers. Patterson, Bryson, Hudson, Waller, Hand, William- 
son, Newell, Salmon, Melick, Dickson, Spear and Cantield have successively 
been the pastors of this organization. August 28, 1838, a new structure was 
dedicated on the foundation of the old one. In the burial ground adjoining 
are the graves of many of the original members. 

Lutheran and Reformed congregations have also worshiped in the Briar- 
creek church building. Reverend Isaac Shellhammer in 1816 was the first 
to minister to the latter. At a later date Reverend William Fox organized the 
former. With the Centre English Lutheran church, it forms part of Briar 
creek charge. Reverends Sharrets, Dim and Bergstresser were its first pastors. 

Whitmire Evangelical church and Briarcreek Baptist society, complete the 
number of religious organizations in the township. The first meeting of the 
former was conducted by James Fowler and Emanuel Kohe in David Fowler's 
house. Its first church building was erected in 1819; the second was dedicated 
August 29, 1880. The latter religious body was admitted to Northumberland 
Baptist Association in 1851, with John H. Worrell, pastor, and thirty members. 
It has generally been connected with the Berwick church. 

FORT JENKINS. 

For the following interesting facts in relation to Fort Jenkins and the 
site on which it stood, the editor is indebted to Mr. C. F. Hill, of Hazleton, 
who has been at great pains to furnish the following details, not elsewhere to 
be found in any published work: 

The following letter is from the Hon. Steuben Jenkins, of Wyomini^, Pa., who is a 
recognized authority on early history of this portion of the state, especially of Wyoming 
valley. He writes as follows: 

Wyoming, October 2, 1886. 
Bear Sir: 

In reply to yours of the 28th ultimo, I can add but little to the account of Fort Jen- 
kins which Avill be found on pages 380, etc. of the "Appendix" to the Pennsylvania 
Archives. You are right in suggesting that Van Campen was " Big Indian" and his nar- 



CENTRE TOWNSHIP. 213 

rative is a tissue of brag and falsehood, mingled with a little truth that makesjthe false- 
hood the greater deception. None of his statements are to be relied on. On Friday, 
16th April, 1809, accompanied by Henry Woodhouse, Esq., of Wyoming, and W. W. 
Smith, president' of the board of county comm'rs of Luzerne county, I visited the site of 
Fort Jenkins. We found the site about a mile below Willow Grovestation, on the Lack- 
awanna & Bloomsburg R. R., and just opposite the lower part of the town of Mifflinsville, 
on the opposite side of the river. The situation was high and dry and commanded a 
fine view of the country around and of the Susquehanna river, on the east. The location 
was beautiful and well adapted for defence. We were shown by the wife of Jacob Hill, 
who occupied the premises, the place of the well and one of the ditches of the fort. They 
are situated between the house and the barn, somewhat nearer the barn than the house. 
The land around it is of the first quality for farming purposes. The Hill family were not 
able to give us much of the history of the fort. They only knew that a family by the 
name of Jenkins came there before tlie revolutionarj' war, built a blockhouse, which in 
the early part of the war was converted into a fort; that they got tired of the place, there 
were so many Indians about, and built a boat and in that went off and left it, and the 
Hills afterward bought the place of them. After we had examined the premises around, 
we passed on down to upper Lime Ridge, where we fell in with an old man who gave us 
this account of the fort and premises: 

" Sometime before the revolutionary war, two brothers by the name of Jenkins built a 
blockhouse, which was afterward converted into a fort, by setting up saplings sharpened at 
the upper end, making a kind of stockade; that the Indians had a town on the opposite 
side of the river, at the mouth of a small stream; that during the war the Indians became 
troublesome, and under cover of an island in the river, they passed over to the island un- 
seen, and from that point had shot and killed one of the brothers as he was down at the 
river. The other brother, with the women and children, got into a boat and passed down 
the river to Sunbury, and from there over the country to Berks countv, or Philadelphia, 
where they traded their title to the Fort Jenkins property to James Wilson, attorney at 
law, Philadelphia, who conveyed the same to Jacob Zoll, of Hamburg, Berks county, 
15th of July, 1796, who conveyed the same to Frederick Hill, of Richmond, Berks county, 
17th of June, .1797, the ancestor of the present owner. An entry under date of Thursday, 
September 14, 1780, in the journal of Lieut. John Jenkins, says: ' This day we heard 
that Fort Jenkins and Harvey's Mills were burnt.' This fort need not be confounded 
with 'Jenkins Fort,' in Wyoming, which was built by John Jenkins, Esq. The one at 
Wyoming is invariably called 'Jenkins Fort.' while the one about which I have writ- 
ten is invariably called ' Fort Jenkins." This lati,er was built as a 'blockhouse,' of hewed 
logs, closely laid together, and stockaded by the provincial authorities of Penns3'lvania, 
on land owned by James Jenkins, a merchant of Philadelphia — himself and family after- 
ward of Northumberland, Pa., at and near which place, and in Buffalo valley, they carried 
on merchandising, milling, farming and iron smelting. The following memoranda of 
title would seem to fix the dates when Jenkins obtained the land at Fort Jenkins and 
when he parted with it. I have in my possession a patent issued by John Penn, dated 
25th Feb., 1775, in behalf of himself and Thomas Penn, for a tract of land called 
■ New Orleans,' situate on the westerly side of the N. E. Branch of Susquehanna 
river, county of Northumberland, beginning at a marked black oak at the side of the 
N. E. branch of said river; thence by Wm. Chambers' land N. 30° W. 304 perches; 
thence by vacant land S. 61° W. 166 perches to a pine, thence by Rev. Doctor Francis 
Allison's land S. 30° E. 312 perches to a white oak on the river, thence up said river to 
the beginning, containing 304f acres. Surveyed for Daniel Bees, 24 Oct., 1774, on war- 
rant dated 24 Oct., 1774, who assigned to Jaines Jenkins 25 Feby., 1775." 

This is enough to give you dates, etc., besides what you have, and I will end this 
part of the case here. Hon. Samuel Freeman Headly gave me the following in reference to 
the fort: 

"James Pratt was wounded at Fort Jenkins by a shot in the hip. He kept the 
ferry. As he was coming up from the river to the fort some person pursued him. There 
was a girl by the name of Utley outside of the fort milking a cow; he called to her to run 
for her life; she ran for the fort and arrived in it in safety; date not known. At the time 
of the invasion of Wyoming by the combined forces of the British tories and Indians, 
Capt. Clingman was in command at Fort Jenkins with a force of ninety men. He was 
sent for by express, the urgency and danger of the situation made known to him and his 
assistance with his command earnestly solicited, but he failed to respond. The force were 
Pennamites who felt no interest in defending the settlers, but rather were willing they 
should be destroyed, and so they left them to perish. 

Fort McClure was about a mile above the mouth of Fishing creek on the Susque- 
hanna. Fort Jenkins was where I have stated, some six or seven miles above, and these 
were all the forts there were on the west side of the Susquehanna above Northumberland. 

Abraham Pike remained after the revolutionary war and settled in Lehman township, 
about 12 miles from Wilkesbarre and died a town pauper about 1834. Van Carapen had 



214 



HISTOKY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 



no farm. He settled on land under Pennsylvania, but I do not know tliat he ever owned 
what might be called a farm. . , . j. .^oa » . .^■. 

My grandfather, Lieut. John Jenkins, in his diary says:— 1780, Apr. 4, " Pike and two 
men" from Fishing creek and two boys that were taken by the Indians made their 
escape by falling on the guard of ten Indians, killed three and the rest took to the woods 
and left the prisoners with 12 guns and about 30 blankets." 

Col. Franklin, April 4, says:— Pike and others returned, made their escape at Wysox 
on the ist; killed 3 Indians and took all their arms. Van Campeu. after describing the 
conflict with the Indians says, in his Falstafflan way, "Nine Indians were lying dead 
upon the ground." (Life, &c., of Van Campen, Page 305.) 

Van Campen was of Low Dutch descent and came there from Delaware river and 
was a neighbor of the Van Gordons, the Van Ashtines, Van Leers, etc. Two of the family 
were residents of this place for many years, leaving for Illinois about 1840. One Garret 
was a biacksmith, the other, Aaron, a general laborer. They were both great story tellers, 
and none too honest in general. Pike was a wanderer, settling and staying anywhere, 
never pretended to farm or own lands. Heave it for you to reconcile V. C. with the facts. 

I would like the Jenkins surveys, deeds and title to the fort. 

Yours respectfully. 

To C. F. Hill, Esq. Steuben Jenkins. 

Hazleton, Pa. 



Pine 



Vacant 
W. .3G1. 



B. O. 



I'an / Reese 
.3043; / and allow. 



■ New Cirleans' 



Fort .Tonkins. 



'St. James'' 



N. E. Branch of Susquehanna. 



A draught of a tract of land called "New Orleans," situate on the westerly side of the 
northeast branch of the Susquehanna river, below and joining land surveyed for William 
Chambers in the county of Northumberland, containing three hundred and four acres and 
three-quarters of an acre besides the usual allowance of 6 per cent for roads, etc., surveyed 
the 26th day of November, 1774, for Daniel Reese in pursuance of a warrant dated the 24th 

dav of October, 1774. t^ ^ ^ r> c 

By CiiAS. Stewart, Bep. our. 



CENTEE TOWNSHIP. 215 

To Johu Lukeus, Esqr., S. Gen'l. 

In testimony that the above is a true copy of the original remaining in my office I 
have hereto set my hand and seal of office at Philadelphia'this 18th July, 1796. 

Daniel Brodhead, S. O. 

The following is a brief of title to a tract of land in Centre Township. Columbia Co., 
Pa., called "New Orleans" on which js the site of Fort Jenkins. 
Surveyed the 21st day of October, 1774; Warrant dated 34th day of October, 1774. See 

copy of survey herewith. 

New Orleans. 
Patent James Jenkins dated the 25 February, 1775. 

In pursuance of a warrant dated the 24th October, 1774, there was surveyed for Daniel 
Reese a certain tract of land called "New Orleans," situate on the westerly side of the 
north east branch of Susquehanna river in the county of Northumberland. Beginning 
at a marked Black Oak at the side of the north east branch of the Susquehanna river, 
thence by William Chambers' laud north thirty degrees west three hundred and four 
perches to a marked Black Oak, thence by vacant land south sixty-one degrees west one 
hundred and sixty-six perches to a marked pine, thence by the Reverend Doctor Francis 
Allison's land south thirty degrees east three hundred and twelve perches to a marked 
White Oak at the side of the aforesaid branch, thence up along the side of said branch to 
the place of beginning, containing three hundred and four acres and three quarters and 
allowance, etc., under one penny per acre to Penn's. 

Daniel Reese by deed dated same day conveyed to James Jenkins. lurolled in Pat 
Book A. A. 15, page 107, the 27th Feby.. 1775. 

St. .Tames. 

Patent James Jenkins dated 25lh Feby., 1775. Inrolled in Pat. Book A A 15 naee'lOS 

the 27th Feby., 1775. ' ' ' ^ ^ - ' 

Warrant dated 24th October, 1774, to William Chambers, a certain tract of land called 
St. James, situate on the westerly side of the north east branch of Susquehanna river in 
the county of Northumberland, beginning at a marked Red Oak at the side of the north 
east branch of Susquehanna river, thence by Philip Johnston's land and vacant land north 
thirty degrees, west three hundred and twelve perches to a marked White Oak, thence by 
vacant land south sixty-one degrees, west one hundred and sixty-eight perches to a marked 
Black Oak, thence by Daniel Reese land south thirty degrees, east' three hundred and four 
perches to a marked Black Oak at the side of the north-east branch aforesaid, thence up 
along the side of the said river one hundred and sixty-nine perches to the place of 
beginning, containing three hundred and three acres and three quarters and allowances, 
etc. 

Wm. Chambers by deed dated 24 Oct., 1774, granted to Philip Johnston. Philip John- 
ston by deed dated 25th Feby. instant granted the same with appurtenances unto James 
Jenkins in Fee under One penny per acre. 

I do hereby certifv the above to be true extracts taken from the records this 14th day 
of July, 1796, for Nath. Irwin, Esq., M. R. 

(Seal.) C. Hunt. 

InroUment office 

of Pennsylvania. 
Daniel Rees of the 1 Consideration 100 £ a certain warrant obtained out of 

county of Philada the Proprietary's land office for 300 acres more or less 

Deed Poll | on the North East Branch of the Susquehanna and 

to y below and joining lands granted to William Chambers 

James Jenkins of the in Northumberland County, 

city of Philada | 

Merchant. J 

D»ted Feby 25th 1775. 

Witnesses Phil Johnston Wm. Gray. 



John Penn in behalf 1 Tract of Land called New Orleans, 

of himself and Thos ! 

Penn Patent to [ 

James Jenkins. J Dated 25 Feby 1775. 



James Jenkins, and^Phebe, his 1 July 27th 1781. 

wife of the county of Lancas- | Tract Land called New Orleans 304f acres 

ter Pa. (^ Consideration 500 Pounds. 

Gentleman. Deed to j Acknowledged before the Hon. William A Atlee 

James Wilson of the city of \ one of the Justices of the Supreme Court of Pa Auo- 24 

Philadelphia Attorney. J 1781. 



216 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

Witnesses Stephen Chambers, 

Morgan Jenkins. 

Recorded in Northumberland County Oct 13 1781 Book B page 286. 



James Wilson and Hannah his 1 Date July loth 1796. 

wife Deed to 

Jacob ZoU of Hamburgh ^ 

Windsor Township county of | Two tracts of land New Orleans And St. James, 

Berks, Yeoman. J 400 acres. * 



Jacob Zoll "1 Dated June 17tli 1797. 

to Two tracts of land the whole of tract called New 

Frederick Hill of [_ Orleans 804| acres and part of the tract called St. James 

Richmond township in the said | in all 400 acres. 

county of Berks, Pa. | Consideration of 3500 Pounds Gold and Silver. 

Yeoman. J 

Witnesses Joseph Hoch, John Spyker. 

Acknowledged before James Diemer one of the Judges of the Common Pleas of Berks 
County Pa. June 20th 1797. 

Recorded on Northumberland County in deed Book K page 66 &c Jan. 33 1798. 

The following is a copy of a legal opinion given to Frederick Hill of his purchase 
from Judge Wilson, and evidently relates to the purchase of the Fort Jenkins Tract. 

"Frederick Hill, the purcluiser of a tract of land in Northumberland county the title 
of which is derived from Judge Wilson generally asks my opinion whether or not judg- 
ments against said Wilson can affect the aforesaid tract of land? 
~ " To this I answer, 

" 1. That judgments against Mr. Wilson in the Court of Common Pleas in Philadel- 
phia cannot. 

"3. That judgments in the supreme court of Pennsylvania against Mr. Wilson upon 
action brought within the original jurisdiction of said court cannot. 

"3. That judgments confessed in Northumberland county — or generally judgments 
rendered in said county will bind the land aforesaid. 

"4. That judgments upon actions removed from any county into the supreme court 
will also bind the said land. 

" But as Mr. Wilson has constantly resided in Philadelphia it is not probable that 
judgments of the 3rd and 4th description have been rendered against him, therefore, I think 
Mr. Hill safe in his purchase. June 3rd 1797. (signed) Jno. Spayd." 

Frederick Hill settled upon the site of Fort Jenkins in 1797 about seventeen years 
after the fort had been destroyed by the Indians. He was the son of Leonard Hill of near 
Kutztown, Berks county Pa. and was married to Catherine Connor a sister to John 
Connor the tanner, of Briarcreek. A good home had been built on the site of the de- 
stroyed fort by Judge Wilson to which Frederick Hill built a large addition and opened 
the Fort Jenkins Hotel, which he conducted until his death in 1823. In the year 1807 he 
was appointed a captain of the 6th company 113th Regt. Second Brigade of Ninth Divis- 
ion of the Militia of the counties of Northumberland and Luzerne. His commission bears 
date August the 3rd 1807, and was issued by the second governor of the State of Pennsyl- 
vania, Governor Thomas McKean. It is not known that a muster roll of Captain Freder- 
ick Hill's company is in existence although efforts have been made to find one; the fol- 
lowing is a copy of a report found among his papers which gives the names of a number 
of persons who belonged to his company. 

" Absendees of Capn. Freaderick Hills Company the 113Regemont of Northumberland 
County Millitea Commanded by CoUonel Leonard Ruppert for not Attending Muster & 
Fild Days in October 1807. 




/-^-^-^ ^.^^^ 



FISHINGCEEEK TOWNSHIP. 



219 



• 


m 


Is- 




1 James Evans 


1 

1 

1 
1 






1 John Palton 


Exempt 


1 Josiah Jackson 


1 Hezekiah Bierce 




1 Abraham Stackhous 




1 John Millard 




1 George Webb 




1 John M. c. Quowen 




1 James Herren 




1 William Stall 




1 Jacob Cooper 




1 Thomas Welch 




1 Mordecai Owen 




1 David Witmier 




1 John Snyder 








1 Thomas Iddinajs 








1 Sebastian Kisner 








1 Samuel Millard 




1 Henry Drach 


Freaderick Hill. 



Endorsed on the back as follows: 

"Return of Cap Freaderick Hill Company," 

"We Do Certify that the Within Names Is Un Croast Are Charged With fined— 

Andrew Ikler 
Henry Pettit 
James M Clure" 

The following receipt was also found among his papers: 

" 1 November the 18th 1808 
Received of captain Frederick Hill one Dollar for Repairing'the Drum I say Received 
by me. George Kelchner. " 



CHAPTER X. 



FISHINGCREEK TOWNSHIP. 



THE signification of names by which political divisions are designated is sug- 
gestive of their origin. Upon the erection of Luzerne county in 1786, 
the formerly indefinite limits of Wyoming township were restricted to that por- 
tion of Northumberland north of the Susquehanna and east of Little Fishing 
creek. Contemporary custom conferred upon this region the name more spe- 
cifically applied to its distinguishing natural feature. The popular designa- 
tion was sanctioned by legal action in 1789. when this area was constituted the 
township which forms the subject of this chapter. The erection of Briarcreek 
in 1797, and of Greenwood in 1799, reduced its size without affecting its rel- 
ative dimensions. Sugarloaf was formed in 1813, and the northern boundary of 
Fishingcreek established as at present defined. Its western confines suffered a 

ao 



220 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

change in 1840 upon the ei-ection of Orange. The division line between Fish- 
ingcreek and Briarcreek became a topic of heated discussion, as the question 
at issue involved the making of roads over the Lee and Huntington mountains, 
and through the intervening Shickshinny valley. The northern or Hunting- 
ton range was finally decided to be the ' ' Knob ' ' mountain referred to in the 
description of the line as originally located. Huntington township, Luzerne 
county, adjoins Fishingcreek on the east. 

There is a general similarity in the topography of both these townships, 
but the circumstances of their settlement were widely difPerent. While the- 
Connecticxtt Susquehanna Land Company was populating the region at the 
head waters of Huntington creek, the land speculator, the squatter and the 
settler were gradually possessing the valley at its lower course, and secui'ing^ 
titles from the proprietary and commonwealth governments. Connecticut set- 
tlers transplanted the ' ' steady habits ' ' of their native state to the section east 
of the Luzerne county line; the pronounced Pennamite proclivities of their 
neighbors on the opposite side of the line appeared in marked contrast. 

It was not until the former had appeared in some numbers that settlement 
in Fishingcreek township actually began. In the summer of 1783 Daniel 
McHenry became the first settler in the valley of Fishing creek above Orange- 
ville. Originally a native of Ireland, and successively resident in New Jersey 
and near Milton, on the " West Branch," he secured the title to a tract of land 
above the present location of Stillwater on the representation of a brother who 
was connected with the land office. He visited his purchase in 1783, carrying 
with him a gun, axe, hoe and provisions sufficient to last six weeks. The gun 
afforded protection from the dangers of the unexplored forest; the blows of his 
axe and the crash of falling trees re-echoed through its dark recesses; and 
when the work of clearing a small plot had been accomplished, the woods- 
man and hunter became farmer as well, and used his hoe in planting Indian 
corn, drawing the loose earth into a small mound and depositing the grains 
therein after the Indian custom. Mr. McHenry removed his family to their 
new home the following year (1784); and here, September 13, 1785, John 
McHenry was born. This was the first birth of a white child in this county 
north of Knob mountain. 

The second family to enter this township appeared in 1786. Abram 
Dodder, from Muncy, having bought the confiscated lands of Mr. Bartram, 
a tory, with ' ' scrip ' ' at six cents per acre, removed thither and located on 
Huntington creek at the mouth of Pine creek. His father came two years 
later and settled near his son ; he died in 1790, and was buried in the Dodder 
cemetery near Jonestown. So far as known this was the first death and burial of 
a white person in this section. Ludwig Smith removed from Berks county about 
1800 and settled on Huntington creek adjoining the county line. A Mr. Craig, 
a former neighbor, continued to be such by occupying an adjoining tract. Henry 
Yaple, from Montgomery county, arrived in 1796, and Sebastian Kisner, a 
few years later. The former was a veteran of the revolutionary war. He was 
one of five brothers whose term of service was four years and nine months. 
Captain Weidman, his former commanding officer, owned land in this section, 
and transferred it to him at a merely nominal price. Sebastian Kisner re- 
moved from one of the lower counties and located on Huntington creek near 
Ludwig Smith in 1808. John M. Buckalew settled on the farm now owned 
by John M. Buckalew, Jr. Samuel Creveling and Samuel Cutter entered the 
township in 1810 ; Richard Brown, Benjamin Jones and John Paden became 
residents about the same time. . Subsequent settlement has gradually 
extended until the township has become quite as thickly populated as its agricult- 



nSHINGCEEEK TOWNSHIP. 2'21 

ural resources permit. Benjamin Jones and Richard Brown built a grist- 
mill on Huntington creek in 1810 and 1811. John M. Buckalew operated a 
saw mill in 1808. A woolen mill was established about 1820 by — Kennedy 
on Little Pine creek. It has long since ceased to be operated, and Fishing 
creek continues to be an exclusively farming district. 

The antagonism between the Yankee and Pennamite was expressed in the se- 
lection of a name for the first post-office. It was strenuously averred by the lat- 
ter that the stream known as Huntington creek (named in honor of a certain 
governor of Connecticvit) was the east branch of Fishing creek, and should 
be know by that designation. Accordingly the post-office of Fishingcreek was 
established in 1815 with Benjamin Jones as post-master. The name has not, 
however, received popular sanction. The stream will continue to be Hunting- 
ton creek as long as it has an existence. 

Fishingcreek was at this time the only intermediate post-office on a mail- 
route of which Shickshinny and Jerseytown were the terminal points. The next 
postoffices, at Stillwater and Pealertown, were established about ISrlO by James 
McHeni-y and Daniel Pealer, respectively. Daniel McHenry succeeded to the 
former in 1854: and is tie present incumbent. Pealertown was changed to 
Forks in 1855, v^hen Bernard Ammerman became postmaster. It was re- 
established under its former name in 1801; ten years later, J. M. Ammerman 
again became postmaster, and has continued the office to the present time under 
its old name of Forks. Van Camp post-office was established in October, 1857, 
with George M. Howell as postmaster. He has held this position since then 
continuously. Mail was first received by this route from Bloomsburg to Cam- 
bra. Runy on post-office was opened January 8, 1886, at the village of Asbury. 
Various names were suggested by the citizens, and successively rejected by the 
department. The name finally accepted is that of an ex-soldier and former resi- 
dent of the village. 

Jonestown derived some importance from its position on the old turnpike. 
In connection with the latter it may be stated that John M. Buckalew graded 
one mile for the sum of three hundred and fifty dollars; and that, 
although the prerogative of collecting tolls fi'om the travel on this road has 
not been exercised by the Susquehanna and Tioga Turnpike Road Company for 
years, it has not forfeited its corporate existence. Moreover, an item of some 
thousands of dollars invested in this road by appropriation of the legislature, 
still appears in the assets of the state. Asbury aspired to becoming the busi- 
ness center of the township, but the equally accessible positions of Stillwater 
and Pealertown prevented any one of them from reaching that distinction. Forks, 
Ikelertown and Bendertown also rejoice "in that strange spell, a name. " 

Christopher Pealer taught the first school in this township in connection 
with his occupation of weaving. Jonathan Colloy taught in a building erected 
for school purposes at Pealertown. A similar structure was also built near the 
location of Zion church. In 1885 Fishingcreek supported nine schools for a 
term of six months. The average attendance of pupils is about two hundred 
and forty- nine. 

The establishing of the first churches in this section was contemporary with 
the appearance of the different denominations in other parts of the country. 
The first services of a religious character were conducted by John and Christo- 
pher Bowman, Methodist Episcopal clergymen from Briarcreek. These serv- 
ices were held at the house of Al)ram Dodder, but the time at which they 
began cannot be definitely determined. In 1812 the names of seven of this 
family appear on a list of the membership of the Southold Huntington 
church. Preaching was continued at Dodder's until school -houses were built. 
The Jonestown Methodist church building was erected in 1880. 



222 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

John Andrews, Martin Andrews, Albert Ammerman and others removed from 
Rush township, Northumberland county, in 1836 and at once made arrange- 
ments for the holding of religious services by the Methodist itinerant clergy- 
men who were then in charge of Berwick circuit. The first meetings were held 
at John Andi-ews' house, on the road from Asbury to Huntington. Subse- 
quently, a schoolhouse west of Asbury was occupied. The church building 
was erected in 1848, Reverends John Tongue and William Gwinn being pas- 
tors at that time. The name of the founder of American Methodism was con- 
ferred upon the church previously organized, at the suggestion of John 
Andrews. The Stillwater church organization was being effected about this 
time in the house of Alexis Good, which stood on the bank of Fishing creek 
some distance fi'om that village. The meetings of the class were afterward 
held in the school-house at Stillwater. The corner-stone of a church edifice 
at that place was laid July 4, 1880. Both these churches are included in the 
Orangeville circuit. 

The following with reference to Reformed churches in this township, is pre- 
sented through the courtesy of Reverend A. Houtz, who has been in charge of 
Orangeville pastorate for some years, and has collated valuable data regarding 
the introduction of that denomination into this section: ' ' Occasionally, in the lat- 
ter part of his ministry (18'20-1822), Reverend Jacob Deiffenbach preached in pri- 
vate houses and in a school-house located where the old Pealer and Bellas 
graveyard is in Fishingcreek township. Tradition says he was a fine Ger- 
man preacher and an excellent singer. After his death Reverend John Nicho- 
las Zeiger, who resided below Wilkesbarre, preached here from perhaps 1822 
to 1825. His son occasionally filled his appointments. About the year 1825 
there was a Lutheran Reformed church built at New Columbus. The Re- 
formed congregation moved their place of worship to this church and procured 
the services of Reverend Isaac Shellhammer. Here they worshiped till 1840, 
'when they moved to the Creveling cross-roads school-housa. Here they re- 
maimed till 1852. The St. James church being now completed, they occupied 
iit and have continued there ever since. While the congregation was wor- 
shiping at the cross-roads school-house, the desire for some English preach- 
ings was expressed on the part of a few members. Accordingly Reverend H. 
Funk, who had already been preaching at the old log church where the pres- 
ent St. Gabriel church stands, was secured and he became the regular English 
pastor while Reverend Isaac Shellhammer remained their German pastor. 
They continued thus to have two regular pastors till the close of Reverend I. 
Shellhammer' s pastorate in 1858, when the transition from the German to 
the English language was completed. 

Rev. W. Goodrich became the immediate successor of Reverend H. Funk 
in 1854, and served this congregation with great acceptance and success till 
1865. During his pastorate of this congregation he baptized sixty- seven and 
confirmed sixty-four. In the spring of 1866 Reverend E. B. Wilson took 
charge of his congregation and served them till 1868, during which time he 
baptized fifteen and confirmed eight. On the 1st of August, 1869, Reverend 
A. Houtz took charge of the congregation, and up to the present time (1881) 
baptized fifty-seven and confirmed sixty-one. In December, 1878, this con- 
gregation was incorporated under the title of St. James Reformed Church , and 
adopted the constitution recommended by General Synod. 

" Thus the St. James congregation, at first like a tenant, moved from one 
place to another until it finally settled down permanently in its present house 
of worship. In its progress it has absorbed kindred interests and elements, 
and nowhas the form of a solid phalanx. Its membership is composed of sub- 



FISHINGCREEK TOWNSHIP. 223 

stantial material. Here all are attentive aud devout in their worship. Here 
all, from the least to the greatest, sing. Here are found unity of feeling, sin- 
gleness of purpose, and great church attachment. Here parents generally bring 
their children to their church, have them baptized, catechized and confirmed. 
The members of this congregation are noted for their liberal support of their 
pastor and benevolent objects, also for their attendance; those coming three 
and four miles are as regular as those living near. This is a model congrega- 
tion, and has commended itself to the observing and unprejudiced community. 
Within the last four years the congregation added a number of improve- 
ments to their church Ibuilding, and surrounded the graveyard with a neat 
picket fence." 

He thus speaks of Zion Reformed congregation: " The first regular Re- 
formed service in this neighborhood was held in 1842 by Reverend D. S. To- 
bias in the old Stucker school-ho\ise located where the Zion graveyard is in 
Fishingcreek township. Previous to this time the few Reformed families in this 
locality worshiped either at the old IVIcHenry log church, located a short dis- 
tance west of Orangeville, or at the old log church at New Columbus. In the 
winter of 1843, or about that time, Reverend Tobias was assisted by one Rev- 
erend Loader in holding a protracted meeting. There lieing good sleighing 
the people came from near and far in great sled loads. As the school-house 
was too small they obtained permission to hold their service in the old church at 
Stillwater. After occupying this church one week, they were denied further 
privilege, and they were obliged to return to the school-house. During this 
revival a number made a profession of religion who subsequently became the 
virtual founders of the Zion congregation. This Stucker school-house contin- 
ued from 1842 to 1857 as a preaching point, and the congregation, without 
church organization, was served by Reverends D. S. Tobias. H. Funk aud 
W. Goodrich. On the 17th of February, 1857, the Zionchiu'ch was dedicated, 
and on the following Saturday the Zion congregation was organized with thirty 
members: They were principally from Orangeville and St. James congre- 
gations. ' ' 

Stillwater Christian church (Disciples) was among the first of that denom- 
ination established in this section of the country. In 1835 Reverends John 
Ellis, J. J. Harvey and John Sutton associated themselves together to prop- 
agate its doctrines, and established preaching places from Union county to 
Luzerne. Mr. Sutton visited Stillwater at the request of certain persons 
there residing and preached occasionally during the two succeeding years. The 
success which attended his work was such that in 1838 a monthly appointment 
was begun and sustained. In compliance with the general desire of his people 
he made his residence among them. The material of an old log school house was 
purchased, and when rebuilt constituted the first parsonage in this region. 
On Friday, August 10, 1838, Reverends Sutton, Richards, Harvey, Philips and 
McConnell inaugurated a protracted meeting. It continued for some days, 
resulting in twenty conversions. Sabbath, Atigust 17, three persons were bap- 
tized; the ceremony was again performed four weeks later and twelve more ac- 
cessions were made to the church. The interest in the revival culminated 
December 8, 1838, when, after a sermon by Reverend J. S. Thompson, an or- 
ganization was effected with twenty-nine members. The design of the organiza- 
tion is thus expressed: " That the believers in Christ may the better support the 
truth and in a united capacity let their light shine as a city set upon a hill 
that cannot be hid ; that they may watch over each other for good and not for 
evil; that they may meet together and improve the gift that God has given 
them, exhorting and teaching, comforting and strengthening each other in the 



224 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

faith of the gospel; and that they may thus grow up together, an holy tem- 
ple in the Lord, their living Head." August 11, -1839, Moses McHenry and 
Benjamin Morriss were deputed to present to the Pennsylvania Christian Confer- 
ence a request for admission into that body. August 26, 1841, and August 
80, 1861, that body met with this church. The discussions on both occasions 
resulted in disseminating their doctrines and strengthening the church. Octo- 
ber 23, 1842, the lirst house of worship was dedicated. Reverends Rodenbaugh, 
Hance, Miller and Sutton being present. The last service was held here May 
27, 1877. A new structure marks the site of its predecessor. The following 
elders have been regularly in charge of this chiu'ch: John Sutton, Theobald 
Miller, Jacob Rodenbaugh, J. J. Harvey, J. G. Noble, Zephaniah Ellis, E. 
E. Orvis and D. M. Kinter. It has been for years the religious center of this 
denomination in this region. 



CHAPTER XL 
SUGARLOAF AND BENTON TOWNSHIPS. 



SUGARLOAF. 



AN interesting and peculiar characteristic of the population in the ex- 
treme northern part of Columbia county is the tenacity with which the 
descendants of the original settlers have remained in the locality of their birth, 
while the Qu.aker settlers in the valley of Roaring creek and at Catawissa, with 
others of a different nationality and faith north of the Susquehanna, have been 
supplanted to such an extent that their family names are in many instances no 
longer represented. The larger proportion of the population of this section 
is descended from those hardy pioneers who first reclaimed its soil for civili- 
zation. The passing years have witnessed the appearance of successive gener- 
ations of Hesses, Coles, Kiles, Fritzes and McHenrys, apparently well content 
to remain where their ancestors had lived and where the circumstances of birth 
had placed them. 

One hundred years ago there lived in Williams township, Northampton 
county, a wealthy fanner whose name was John J. Godhard. He was an Eng- 
lishman, a patriot and a member of the Episcopal church. His wife had died 
previous to the time at which this history commences, leaving her unfortunate 
husband to support, protect and educate a large family of daughters. If any 
part of the skill in the culinary arts displayed by their descendants in this sec- 
tion has been inherited from them, it may be correctly inferred that their edu- 
cation was rather useful and serviceable in its character than ornamental and 
liberal, while the symbol of an unknown quantity, which appears as their re- 
spective signatures to an old deed, affords additional evidence to the same effect. 
The custom of the period, as well as a virtual expedienc)'^ in this case, con- 
strained the father to consent to early matrimonial alliances for his children, 
and thus relieve himself in a measure from the exercise of that care and solici- 
tude of which they had always been the recipients, but which could not always 
be extended in view of the casualties of life. The son-in-law who particu- 
larly concerns this sketch was William Hess, while four grand-daughters of Mr. 
Godhard became respectively the wives of Philip Fritz, Christian Laubach, 



( 



SUGARLOAF TOWNSHIP, 225 

Ezekiel Cole and John Kile. With the exception of Mr. Fritz, who was en- 
gaged in business in Philadelphia, they were all engaged in farming in Will- 
iams and Forks townships, both of which border upon the Delaware river, 
while the Lehigh forms a mutual boundary. A considerable part of the area 
of both consists of the ' ' diy lands, ' ' which are not remarkably fertile though 
fairly productive. 

There was a strong tide of emigration fi'om this section of country — Berks 
and Northampton counties in Pennsylvania, and the contiguous portion of New 
Jersey on the opposite side of the Delaware — to the lower valley of the ' ' North 
Branch." It was a hazardous undertaking for those who inaugurated this 
movement; but, relying on the favorable nature of their reports, those who fol- 
lowed could do so with much more certainty and satisfaction. Among this 
number was John Godhard. He sold his plantation on the Lehigh some time 
prior to 1789, and invested the proceeds in a tract of much greater extent at the 
head-waters of Fishing creek. It appears that this purchase was made at the 
instance of Philip Fritz and William Hess. The former had seriously im- 
paired his health by too close application to business, and wished to seek its 
recovery by engaging in other pursuits. The latter had a family of twelve sons 
and six daughters, for whose maintenance the limits of their farm on the ' ' dry 
lands ' ' seemed far too contracted. There were other members of Mr. God- 
hard' s family and those among his neighbors who were also interested in the 
new country, the security of which, since the fortunate issue of the late war, 
seemed to invite immigration. It was prudently resolved to personally inves- 
tigate the advantages claimed for this region before finally deciding to make it 
their home. Accordingly Mr. Godhard and those of his family already men- 
tioned by name, with William Coleman, Matthias Rhone, Benjamin Coleman 
and others of their neighbors, made a jom-ney on horseback to the valley of 
Fishing creek. They explored that stream from mouth to source, minutely 
examining the quality of soil, character of the land with regard to water, and 
the diflPerent varieties of timber which constituted its forests. This latter cir- 
cumstance was regarded as an infallible criterion of the other two, indicating 
the presence of a fertile or a sterile soil, and affecting the permanent character 
of the springs of water. The price uniformly asked for lands was two dollars 
an acre. It is hardly necessary to acquaint the reader with their final decision, 
which seems unaccountable at the present day. It must be borne in mind, 
however, that the river could not confer a great degree of benefit as a highway 
of traffic upon a region for whose productions there was no market; while the 
canal and railroads which parallel its course had scarcely an existence in the 
most progressive minds. The best judgment of the prospective settlers di- 
rected them to the region at present known as Sugarloaf and Benton townships 
as one of fertile soil, equable climate and abundant game. 

The following year (1 792 in all probability) the actual immigration occurred. 
The route pursued was the Susquehanna and Lehigh road from Easton to Nes- 
copeck falls, laid out by Evan Owen in 1787. In their progress up Fishing 
creek they passed a few houses in the vicinity of Light Street, one at Orange- 
ville, the Klines above the Knob, and Daniel McHeniy at Stillwater. William 
Hess owned a tract of land four miles in length, extending fi-om Coles mills to 
North mountain. He built a log cabin near a small spring, the site of which 
vis on land in possession of Andrew Laubach. His sons, George, John, An- 
drew, Tobias, Conrad, Frederick, Henry and Jacob took up their residences 
in the valley of the creek above their father in the order of their names. John 
Kile and Ezekiel Cole located in the immediate vicinity of William Hess. 
Christian Laubach settled at first in Montour township (then Mahoning) prior 



226 HISTORY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

to 1795, and about two years thereafter removed to Sugarloaf township. John 
G. Laubach, his grandson, has succeeded to his land. When Leonard Rupert, 
the near neighbor of Christian Laubach in Montour township, had returned from 
assisting to move his effects to the North mountain country, he is reputed as say- 
ing that that region was certainly at the end of the world. Whether it was or 
not, Philip Fritz followed his relatives thither in 1795 and took possession of 
' ' Fritz' s Hill. ' ' Jonathan Robbins arrived in the same year from Bethlehem 
township, Huntingdon county, New Jersey. He located upon land now owned 
by David Lewis and planted an orchard at that place with seeds brought from 
his former home. Two brothers of Mr. Robbins, Daniel and John, also settled 
in this region. Godfrey Dilts and William Bird, from New Jersey, David 
and Jacob Herrington from New York, became residents of this section at a 
later period. James Seward, Jesse Hartman, James A. Pennington, Ezekiel 
Shultz, William Shultz and others have crossed from Fairmount township, Lu- 
zerne county. The population of Sugarloaf in 1800 consisted of the Hesses, 
Kiles, Laubachs, Robbins and Coles. Excepting a comparatively small element 
of the inhabitants the same remark applies equally well to-day. 

The North mountain country has always sustained an excellent reputation 
among the patrons of gun and rod. The Fishing creeks and their numerous tribu- 
taries were literally alive with trout, if the stories of old residents may be cred- 
ited. The successful angler was not, as now, an exceptional personage ; nor was 
the shooting of a deer or bear an unusual occurrence. The chase was pursued 
by some for adventure and by others for profit, while with the majority of hunt- 
ers the two motives were combined. An incident of more than ordinary in- 
terest at the time occurred in the winter of 1836, and forcibly illustrates a 
phase of hunting experience of which it can be stated that there has not been 
a similar occurrence in this region. At this time much of Sugarloaf township 
was a wilderness, and game of all kinds was plenty. A deep snow fell in Feb- 
ruary, and after successively thawing and freezing, a crust was formed on the 
surface, which, as it was not strong enough to bear the weight of either deer 
or hunters, greatly impeded the progress of the former, while it placed the lat- 
ter at no serious disadvantage. On a morning in the month of March, John 
Hoover, John Harp and Joseph Dugan, residents in Luzerne county, crossed over 
into Columbia on a hunting excursion. They traveled all day, and became so 
fatigued and exhausted that but one of their number, John Harp, was able 
to exercise himself sufficiently to keep warm. W'hen he found that his 
comrades could go no farther he left, them to seek assistance and finally reached 
the house of Robert Moore, to whom he made known their unfortunate con- 
dition, but was unable to conduct him to them. 1VL-. Moore started with 
food and stimulants and reached the perishing men by following Mr. Harp' s 
tracks. Hoover was able to eat and drink, but Dugan was not. Both were 
unable to walk, and as Mr. Moore could not carry them himself he was obliged 
to leave them in order to get assistance. When he returned, Dugan was not 
able to speak, although he still showed faint signs of life. He expired soon 
after being removed to Seward's tavern, but his comrade recovered. The 
place where the men lay in the snow was a few rods west of where Alem White 
now lives. 

An instance of how two planters gratified their feelings of revenge, quite nat- 
ural under the circumstances, and were well remunerated for so doing, 
occurred at an earlier date. The object of their vengeance on this occasion was a 
panther, and this animal in general seemed to have been most destructive in its 
incursions upon the cattle and sheep of the farmers. Frederick and Henry Hess 
found one of their cattle mangled by one of these unwelcome visitors, and took 



SUGABLOAF TOWNSHIP. 227 

prompt action to punish tlie marauder. A steol trap was baited, and on the- 
following morning the brothers had the satisfaction of seeing this wily thief 
successfully ensnared. It was beyond the county line that the trap had been 
set; in order to secure the bounty of ten dollars, a crotched stick with a noose 
attached was thrust over the neck of the brute, which dragged the trap, nolens 
volens, a mile or farther into Sugarloaf township, and was then killed. John 
McHenry was the most famous representative of that class of hunters who were 
such as much from practical considerations as fi'om a keen enjoyment of the 
chase. Born in 1785, he shot his first deer at the age of thirteen years, and 
his last seventy years afterward, having killed in that time upwards of two- 
thousand deer and a number of wolves, panthers, bears and smaller game. 
He took pleasure in recounting the varied experiences of his life, and was urged 
to have them compiled into a connected biography. The old gentleman failed 
to comprehend the interest such reminiscences would possess, and only replied 
that ' * it might help young hunters. ' ' He preferred the ' 'still hunt, ' ' and could 
pursue the game with a stealth, caution and cunning rarely equaled. The only in- 
stance in which he admitted that his life was endangered was in an encounter 
with a bear at a narrow defile in the mountains. The brute had received the 
contents of one barrel of his gun, but was only infuriated by the wound. Ris- 
ing upon his haiiDches he advanced upon the hunter in a threatening manner. 
IVIr. McHenry took aim with his usual precision, but to his surprise and dis- 
comfiture, the gun missed fire. He threw the weapon aside and advanced with 
his tomahawk for a life or death struggle with his dangerous foe. Several well 
aimed blows dispatched him, and his glossy coat was added to the trophies of 
his veteran antagonist. The latter, with numerous other professional hunters, 
spent several months of each year in the woods. They preserved the salable 
portions of the deer they had killed, usually by suspending them some distance 
from the ground on stout saplings bent over for that purpose. The saddles 
were collected and hauled to Philadelphia, where they were converted into 
money or such supplies as were needed in ' ' back country ' ' households. The 
mutual confidence placed in each other by these hunters, in thus leaving their 
game exposed and unprotected for days and weeks, suggests thoughts of a 
practical honesty which is not universally characteristic of human nature. 

The chase did not so completely absorb the energies of the people as to 
leave no time for the pursuits of a farming community. Agricultural imple- 
ments were simple in construction, serviceable, durable and easily replaced. 
It may siirprise certain of the present generation to learn that much of the land 
was first broken with wooden plows, manufactured at the smithy and carpen- 
ter shop in the neighborhood. The first step in the transition to the present 
construction of the plow was the substitution of an iron point for one of wood, 
and the addition of a coulter to further strengthen the implement. Subse- 
quently the wooden mould board was covered with sheet iron, which was re- 
garded as a great improvement. John Knopsnyder was an expert workman in 
making plows. His services were not required for pitch-forks and harrows, 
which every farmer could make for himself. Grain drills and cultivators date- 
their introduction from a comparatively recent period. The general status of 
Sugarloaf township as a farming region has been greatly elevated within tho 
past few years. A Grange is well sustained, and numbers among its member- 
ship the most progressive farmers of the region. Buckwheat is a staple agri- 
cultural product, and the flour manufactured here is well-known in various, 
sections of the country. 

Cole's mill was built some time in the last decade of the last century. The 
summer of the previous year was extremely dry. Vegetation suffered and 



228 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

small streams were literally absorbed by the intense heat. There was at this 
time a mill on a branch of Hvintingdon creek in Luzerne county. The volume 
of water in that stream was reduced to such an extent that the mill could not 
be operated. Catawissa thus became the nearest milling point, and continued 
such during the following winter, which was one of unusual severity. The 
farmers at the head-waters of Fishing creek resolved to have a mill, and they 
got it. Four generations of Coles have successively owned the mill of that 
name, and as many difPerent structures have occupied its original site. Like 
the Irishman's knife, which received a new handle one year and a new blade 
the next, but still continued "the same ould knife," the Cole's mills of to-day 
are nominally identical with the Cole's mills of nearly a century ago. 

A circiimstance in this connection illustrates the manner of laying out roads 
at this period. While Ezekiel Cole was building the fi-amework of his mill 
with a sound of axe, chisel and hammer, quite unusual in the quiet depths of 
the forest, a party of hunters from Huntingdon heard the noise from a neigh- 
boring mountain (or hill, in deference to popular usage), and descended to as- 
certain its cause. They were agreeably surprised to see the almost completed 
structure, and returned in a few weeks with their ox-teams and sled loads of 
grain. No serious delays occurred in crossing the country, although it was 
covered with a hitherto unbroken forest. They avoided ravines and water 
courses as much as possible, as the dense undergrowth and heavy timber there 
found would have greatly hindered their progress. They ascended hills by 
the steepest way if that was the most direct route to the summit, as there was 
then less danger of upsetting, and the view from the eminence thus gained aided 
in directing their course. The axe was used in removing obstacles where it was 
absolutely necessary; corduroy roadways were constructed in marshy places; 
and thus the first road eastward through Sugarloaf was laid out. It need 
hardly be stated that it was hilly to a remarkable degree. It was traveled ex- 
tensively for many years, but finally gave place to an easier and more direct 
route. The ox- teams have also been superseded to a great extent. People 
usually traveled on horseback to weddings, venison dinners, church, and in 
attending other social occasions. The carriage of the period would correspond 
to the spring wagon of the present, excepting the springs, which were " D " 
shaped, seasoned white oak, and placed directly under the seat. Elliptic 
springs were introduced about 1840 and at once became popular. The next 
addition to the traveling facilities of this region will far surpass anything in 
that direction that has yet been attempted. When the railroads under con- 
struction have been completed, the unrestricted development of farm, forest 
and mountain, will work such changes as must be relegated to the future his- 
torian for discussion. 

Herrington' s Foundry was established by Newton R. Herrington in August, 
1866. The building is 26x50 feet, and they originally made sled shoes and 
plows. In 1882 a saw-mill was built in connection by the same party, and 
now they make plows, sled shoes, mill gearing, bells, shingles, etc. The ca- 
pacity of the shingle and circular saw-mill is 4,000 to 5,00(3 shingles per day, 
if kept busy. Here they intend to continue the business in all its branches, 
and the place will be known as Pioneer Station, Coles Creek. 

While the past has witnessed gratifying progress in the material prosperity 
of the people, their educational advantages have correspondingly increased. 
Philip Fritz taught the first school in Sugarloaf township in a log building 
which marked the site of Saint Gabriel's church. The first house for school 
purposes was built on West creek. The public school system was established 
in 1837 with John Laubach, William Roberts, Matthias Appelman, Henry H. 



SUGARLOAF TOWNSHIP. 229 

Fritz, Samiiel Krickbaiim and William E. Koberts as directors. Eighty-eight 
voters were present at the election. Two schools were started, Hess' and 
Cole's creek. In 1885 there were seven schools in the township. 

There are three post-offices in Sugarloaf — Cole's Creek, Guava and Central. 
Central was established in 1836 under the name of Campbell, through the ex- 
ertions of a doctor of that name. Upon his removal the office was discontinued 
until 1850, when Peter Hess was commissioned as postmaster. Joshua B. 
Hess succeeded to that position in 1861, Henry Hess in 1876, and Elijah 
Hess in 1886. Cole's Creek was formerly known as Sugarloaf. Ezekiel Cole, 
Alinas Cole, Benjamin Cole and Norman L. Cole have successively been incum- 
bents as postmasters. Guava was established May 11, 1883, at Andrew Lau- 
bach's store. He has continued in charge of the office. These points are on 
the mail route from Benton to Laporte, Sullivan county. 

While the industrial, social and educational character of the people was being 
formed, religious bodies were assuming a permanent and influential condition. 
The Sugarloaf ' ' log church ' ' was the only structure of its kind in the two 
townships during the first fifty years after their settlement. It was begun in 
1810 and finished two years later, though not dedicated until July 15, 1828, 
when Right Reverend Henry M. Onderdonk performed the ceremony of con- 
secration agreeably to the ritual of the Protestant Episcopal church. The 
following names appear in ' ' An account of the subscribers to the building of 
Saint Gabriel's church on a settlement had on the 26th day of December, 1812: " 
Caleb Hopkins, W^illiam AVood, Ezekiel Cole, Matthias Rhone, James Peter- 
man, John Keeler, Philii? Fritz, Jacob Cough, Conrad Hess, Henry Fritz, 
Uriah McHenry, John Kile, William Ozborne, George Hess, William Hess, Sr., 
Daniel Stone, Jacob Hess, John McHenry, Tobias Hess, John Knopsnyder, 
Andrew Hess, Cornelius Coleman, Frederick Hess, John Roberts, John Hess, 
Daniel Robbins, Levi Priest, George Rhone, Jonathan Robbins, William 
Edgar, Benjamin Coleman, Abraham Kline, Sr. , Jacob Rine, Conrad Laubach, 
Peter Yocum, Abraham W^hiteman, William Hess, Jr., Samuel Musselman, 
Paul Hess, Jonathan Robbins, Henry Hess, William Waldron, William Yorks, 
Christian Pouts, Edward Roberts, Casper Chrisman, Emanuel W^hiteman, 
Daniel McHenry, Jesse Pennington, John Emery, William Willson. Thomas 
Miller, Frederick Harp, Benjamin Stackhouse, Silas Jackson, John Whiteman 
•and Jacob Whiteman. The structure was built of hewn pine logs, with gal- 
leries around three sides of the interior. After being occupied sixty-four years 
as a place of worship it was burned to the ground on Palm Sunday, April 9, 
1876. It was jointly owned by Presbyterians, Episcopalians and Lutherans. 
The Episcopal chui'ch organization was effected July 1, 1812, when Christian 
Laubach and James Peterman were chosen wardens and William Willson, Jacob 
Rine, John Roberts and Matthew Rhone were constituted the vestry. Rever- 
ends Caleb Hopkins, Eldridge, Benjamin Hutchins, James De Pui, 

Burns, George C. Deake, Harding and John Rockwell have been con- 
nected with this church as regular pastors. On Easter Monday, April 17, 1876, 
a meeting of the congregation was held in the grove to consider ways and 
means for the rebuilding of Saint Gabriel's. Reverend John Hewitt of Blooms- 
burg presided, and Jacob H. Fritz was chosen secretary. On motion Thomas 
B. Cole, John Moore, Montgomery Cole, Benjamin Cole and John Swartwout 
were constituted a building committee. The corner-stone of the new structm'e 
was laid May 23, 1876. A number of clergymen was present, and Colonel 
John G. Freeze delivered an eloquent address. The dedication occurred May 
1, 1877, Bishop Howe officiating. Reverend T. F. Caskey, now in charge of 
the American chapel. Dresden, preached on this occasion. Saint Gabriel's is 
Ihe only Protestant Episco]>al j^arish within a radius of twenty miles. 



230 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

Three other denominations, the Church of Christ (Disciples), Methodist 
Episcopal and Methodist Protestant are also represented. Elders John 
Ellis, J. J. Harvey and John Sutton introduced the doctrines of the sect first 
mentioned in the autumn of 1836, when they held a protracted meeting in 
Hess' school-house. It resulted in a number of conversions; four persons, 
John Kile, Richard Kile, Kebecca Cole and Sarah Steadman were baptized 
near Guava on the 8th day of December, 1836. These were the first 
accessions to this faith in Columbia county. 

In 1855 Elijah Fulmer, a local Methodist Episcopal preacher, conducted 
a revival at the school -house near Central post-office. A number of persons 
were converted and a class was formed. Ten years later, during the pastor- 
ate of the Reverend John A. DeMoyer at Berwick, he conducted a protracted ef- 
fort, and at its close began to agitate the building of a church. This was 
forthwith accomplished, and the church named Simpson chapel, in honor of 
Bishop Simpson. The appointment at this place is filled by the resident pas- 
tor at Benton. A second class was formed some time since, and with the aid of 
other persons in the neighborhood, the ' ' Lower Hess' ' church was built. It 
is now the place of worship of a flovirishing Methodist Protestant society. 

The necessity for separate political organization, and the obvious con- 
venience and advantage of such an arrangement became apparent with the- 
gradual but permanent increase of the population. In April, 1812, a petition 
was laid before the court requesting a division of Fishingcreek township. It 
was granted and the name ' ' Harrison ' ' conferred upon the new division by 
authority of the court. The record does not show in what manner this was 
supplanted by " Sugarloaf," although it is obvious that the latter was sug- 
gested from an important natural product of the region. The record of elec- 
tions begins as follows: " October 1, 1813 — This day a meeting was held at 
the house of Ezekiel Cole in and for this township of Sugarloaf for the pur- 
pose of voting for by ballot, agreeably to law, the several township officers, 
to wit — one assessor and two assistant assessors; nineteen voters present;; 
the candidates were as follows: for assessor, Philip Fritz, John Keeler, 
Uriah McHenry and James Peterman ; for assistants, Philip Fritz, JohnKeeler^ 
Alexander Colley and Matthias Rhone. Philip Fritz was clerk of the meet- 
ing. At the second election, March 18, 1814, twenty-one individuals availed 
themselves of the highest prerogative of citizenship. The several candidates 
were, for constable, John Kile and Daniel Robbins; for auditors, Philip Fritz, 
Christian Laubach, James Peterman and Alexander Colley; for supervisors, 
Philip Fritz and William Willson; for overseers of the poor, John Roberts 
and Conrad Hess; for fence viewers, Jacob Rine and William Hess, Jr. ; for 
judges of the meeting, Alexander Colley and Christian Laubach. There were 
at least fourteen office holders, two thirds of the number of voters. This waa 
certainly the golden age with aspirants for political honors and emoluments, 
in this section. 

BENTON. 

The first move for the erection of Benton was made in 1 845, but the Court. 
rejected the petition and also one of similar import in January, 1850. The im- 
portunity of the petitioners was at length effectual, and in April, 1850, the^ 
ninth township from the original area of Fishingcreek was formally erected. 
It was named in honor of Thomas H. Benton, then in the zenith of his power,, 
and warmly admired by his political coadjutors in this region. The eastern 
boundary of Benton was formed in 1786 upon the erection of Luzerne county; 
its western limit was established in 1799 as the eastern line of Greenwood; 



BENTON TOWNSHIP. 231 

the line of separation from Fishingcreek was marked out in 1813 as the 
southern boundary of Sugarloaf ; and the division of the latter in 1850 was 
effected agreeably to the terms of the petition by virtue of which Benton was 
erected. 

Nothing of striking importance characterized the settlement of the latter 
township.* Benjamin Coleman bought land from Daniel McHenry about 1791, 
and was the first to improve what is known as the John Laubach farm. Jona- 
than Colley settled on Fishing creek prior to 1797, as is shown by the fact 
that his name appears in a list of purchasers at a vendue which occurred in 
that year. The first house in which he lived was built across the brook from 
Swartwout' s mill, where an old orchard of his planting marks the place. He 
was formerly a resident of Norristown, and was accompanied by- — Peterman and 
Jesse Pennington. The latter built the first saw-millf on the waters of the 
upper Fishing creek. Joshua Brink, from New Jersey, settled upon a farm with 
which his name is still associated in that locality. Robert and John Moore en- 
tered this region when they were young men and tried the experiment of 
keeping " bachelor' s hall " on their lands at the sources of Raven and Little Pine 
<5reeks. A descendant of the former remarks that this was only a temporary 
expedient as they soon dissolved partnership and each began life on an indi- 
vidual basis. 

William Eager, Samuel Rogers and John Keeler removed from Orange county, 
N. Y., and settled on adjoining farms. Daniel Whiteman, Peter Robinson and 
Jonathan Hartzel were among those who formerly lived here, but have moved to 
Seneca county, Ohio. Daniel Jackson improved a tract of land which em- 
braced the site of the town of Benton. He lived upon it from 1800 to 1833, 
when his right of possession was successfully disputed by a rival claimant. It 
appeared that the lands for which Mr. Jackson held the title were situated on 
another Fishing creek in a distant part of the state. His house for many 
years comprehended all of the village of Benton that then existed. It now 
comprises about forty dwellings, two excellent hotels, a number of stores, a 
school building and two churches. Its central location in the midst of a fertile 
farming district and the prospect of soon becoming a rail-road point insure 
the continuance of its importance as an inland business town. 

Having thus outlined the settlement of this valley, certain contemporary 
features of social and domestic life should also be noticed. The following 
observations of a writer of this section apply equally well to both townships 
included in this sketch. " It was not an uncommon thing to find a family 
consisting of parents and fi'om six to a dozen children living in a house about 
twenty-two feet square with rooms and loft, the latter reached by a ladder. 
In the lower apartment were one and sometimes two beds (besides the trundle- 
bed, which in the day time was pushed under the other), a bureau, a table, a 
few chairs, benches and cooking utensils. In the chamber were the beds for the 

*The Penn Manor Lands here surveyed Kovember 8, 1769, and consisted of two separate tracts of five 
hundred and thirty acres each. The warrantee names were James Athill and Francis Hopkinson. The war- 
rants were Issued March 6, 1770, and the returns made the 13th day of the same month. These lands were said 
to be " situate on a large branch of Fishing creek, eight or ten miles above the end of Fishing creek moun- 
tain," or about two miles north of the town of Benton. "Putney Common" is the name applied to this manor 
in the original survey. 

fOn the night of ,Tuly 2, 1848, the waters of Fishing creek rose to an unprecedented height, destroying 
this mill and inflicting much damage upon property along its course. A waterspout burst upon the mountain 
side near Central P. O. Trees were uprooted, huge boulders removed from their foundations, and such lesser 
obstacles as decayed logs and uneven surface completely obliterated. Where the full force of the deluge was 
experienced, the country presented the appearance of having been carefully swept. Aaron Lewis was living at 
this time in the valley of the creek but some distance from its channel; a jam of logs and defcm diverted the 
stream from its former channel, and placed his farm buildings at the mercy of the torrent, the violence of which 
swept away the foundations of his house and compelled its Inmates to seek safety on the roof. Not until five 
o'clock in the afternoon of the next day had the waters subsided suflBciently to permit their rescue. A few 
rods from the site of Swartwout's mill was a similar structure owned by Isaiah Cole. It was entirely destroyed 
and one of the mill stones has not been found to this day. 



232 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

larger children, surrounded with barrels, boxes and heaps of grain of various- 
kinds. And yet, as limited as the whole concern appeared to be, there waa 
room enouo-h for all, so easy is it to adapt ourselves to circumstances. There 
were buildincrs of larger dimensions, better divided and more comfort- 
ably arranged, but, compared with the spacious and beautiful residences that 
now dot the valley in all directions, their number was insignificant. Nor waa 
their furniture more elaborate, judging by the standard of the present. Cook- 
ing stoves began to be introduced about 1835, the old ' ten plate ' serving for 
room stove if there was any place to put it. The great wide fireplace, with 
its trammels of pot-hooks and hangers, was found in every house. Here the 
good mother and grown up daughters — over a roaring fire made of a huge 
back-loo-, front-stick and a pile of other wood— fried the meat, baked the 
cakes, and boiled the mush for the family. Plain chairs, bottomed with hick- 
ory or oak splints, were the only kind used; even the rocking-chair was of the 
same style and material." The wants of the people were simple and readily 
supplied from the circumstances that surrounded them. Within the house^ 
the whirr of the spinning wheel and the clatter of the loom attested the re- 
quirements of assiduous industry. Inclination as well as necessity compelled 
the stronger members of the family to develop to their fullest extent the re- 
sources of forest and stream. Maple sugar and syrup were staple com- 
modities. The sugar season was anticipated with the degree of interest now 
felt in an approaching wheat harvest. It was scarcely less important, and 
would be equally profitable if it could be made to yield the returns realized 
fifty years ago. 

*Benton schools date from 1799, when Isaac Young opened a school in the 
vicinity of Benton village. Upon the close of this school another was opened 
in a private dwelling upon the site of Eli Mendenhall's barn, above the village. 
The first houses for school purposes were two in number, one being situated 
on West creek, and the other below the village. Hon. Alexander Colley sus- 
tained the same relation to public matters in general in this section as Philip 
Fritz in Sugarloaf. He was a surveyor, a school teacher, a member of the 
legislature, and at the time of his death, in 1881, was the last surviving mem- 
ber of the first school board. 

The propriety of mentioning post-offices as educational influences may per- 
haps be questioned, but in sparsely settled districts, where it is impossible to 
maintain schools more than five or six months in a year, the general intelligence 
of the people is directly proportional to the circulation of newspapers. Postal 
facilities were extended to this section in about 1836, when a mail route was es- 
tablished from Fairmount springs in Luzerne county, to Taneyville in Lycom- 
ing, by way of Cole's creek, Campbell and Davidson. James N. Park was 
contractor, but Orrin Park usually carried the mail, traversing a distance of 
forty miles on foot, and experiencing considerable hardship in breaking roada 
in winter, and danger in walking foot-logs over rapid streams. Not until 1848^ 
twelve years later, had the amount of mail matter become too great to carry oa 
foot. July 1, 1852, the route fi-om Pealertown (now Forks), was undertaken 
by Mr. Parks. Stillwater, Benton, Cole's creek. Central and Davidson were 
the intermediate points. Daniel Hartman was first postmaster at Benton. 
Raven Creek P. O. has appeared upon the files of the department since No- 
vember 11, 1872, when Peter Laubach was commissioned to conduct it. O. 
M. Smith succeeded him March 9, 1886. During Mr. Daubach's incumbency 
it was on the line of the route fi'om Muney to Cambra. A daily mail h^as since 
been established from Stillwater via Van Camp and Cambra. July 17, 1886, 
R. T. Smith was appointed to take charge of Taurus post-office on the road from 



BENTON TOWNSHIP. 233: 

Fairmount Springs to Raveu Creek. The usual difficulty was experienced in 
selecting a name, and the projectors were finally compelled to go beyond the 
pale of civilization in their search. This office is connected with Raven Creek 
by a tri -weekly messenger seiwice. 

The organization of religious societies in Benton did not begin until the 
character of the people in other respects was practically established. The 
Methodist Episcopal church is represented by two churches, the Presbyterian, 
Church of Christ (Disciples), and Methodist Protestant by one each. The con- 
gregation last mentioned was disbanded a few years since, and the chiu'ch 
property is about to be sold by the general conference of that denomination. 
The building was erected in 1872 through the exertions of the Reverend A. E. 
Kline, then in charge of Pine creek circuit. The Christian church at the vil- 
lage of Benton was organized about the year 1849 by John Sutton with thirty 
members. Robert Colley and Elias McHenry were elected elders and have 
served continuously in that capacity to this time, 1886. A meeting-house was 
built in 1856. Reverends Theobald Miller, Jacob Rodenbaugh, J. J. Harvey, 
J. G. Noble, Zephaniah Ellis, E. E. Orvis, C. M. Cooper and D. M. Kinter 
have been pastors of this church. Mr. Ellis was the author of "The White^ 
Pilgrim, ' ' a poem widely coj^ied by the press at that time. 

The Methodist congregation at Benton village has worshiped in the frame 
church building erected by them in 1872, prior to which time the West creek 
church was occupied. A class of sixteen was formed in 1870, with William Y. 
Hess as leader. The place of worship of the Hamlin church was built in 1879, 
near the site of a similar structure built in 1845. The first class was formed 
about ten years previous with Charles Snyder, leader. Both congregations are 
embraced in Benton circuit, which formerly formed part of Bloomingdale. 
Reverend Gideon H. Day was the first pastor in charge of the former after the 
division. Reverend John F. Brown was pastor when the Benton church was 
built, and H. B. Fortner when "Hamlin" was rebuilt. Reverend S. P. 
Boone, the present resident minister at Benton, is a native of Luzerne county, 
and acquired his education at New Columbus academy and at GaiTett Biblical 
Institute, Evanston, Illinois. He was a teacher eight years prior to his en- 
trance into the ministry. He is a man of progressive ideas and enthusiastic 
devotion to his work, which explains the success which has everywhere at- 
tended his efforts. 

Presbyterian services were probably held at Saint Gabriel's church in 
Sugarloaf as early as 1812; but, as no record was preserved, particulars can- 
not be given. In 1859 a number of persons fi-om Cole's mills and the sur- 
rounding neighborhood petitioned the Presbytery of Northumberland, then in 
session at Berwick, for a church organization in that vicinity. In response to 
which, John Doty, Esq., Reverends D. J. Waller and John Thomas were ap- 
pointed a committee to inquire into the propriety of such action. They met 
at the "log church " on Friday, August 12, 1859, and proceeded to organize a 
church consisting of Earl Boston, Frederick Laubach, James Willson, Simon 
W. Tubbs, Freas Conner and others. July 1, 1872, a congregational meeting^^ 
was held at Hamlin church, where services had been held for some time previ- 
ous, as it was more convenient for many of the members. It was decided to 
build a new place of worship, and to change the name to " Raven Creek Pres- 
byterian Church." Peter Laubach, Samuel Willson, Samuel Krickbaum and 
William R. Mather were constituted a building committee. November 7, 1874, 
the completed structure was dedicated. The congregation has usually been 
connected with the Orangeville pastorate. 



234 HISTOEY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

CHAPTER XII. 
GREENWOOD AND JACKSON TOWNSHIPS. 

GREENWOOD. 

GREENWOOD, one of the original snbdivisions of the county, and the 
fourth in order of time erected within its present limits, embraces an 
area of considerable extent between Little Fishing and Green creeks. In a 
strictly topographical sense the name is applied to a valley extending east and 
west between these streams, from the hills of Pine and Jackson to the more 
regular elevations at the south, known as the Mount Pleasant hills. The larger 
portions of the township of that name, and of Jackson, were embraced in the 
boundaries of Greenwood as originally defined in 1799; previous to that date, 
the region was included in Fishingcreek, and still earlier in the extensive 
township of Wyoming. 

It was during this early period of the political organization of Northum- 
berland county that Greenwood valley ceased to be public land, and received 
its first white inhabitants. Benjamin Chew, a prominent citizen of Philadel- 
phia, secured successive warrants at various dates for sm-veys in the Green creek 
valley, and eventually became owner of a tract the area of which approximated 
two -thousand acres. This tract was the largest in the county held by a single 
individual. The site of the town of Millville was originally possessed by 
William and Elizabeth McMean. Their applications for warrants were dated 
April 3, 1769, and the corresponding surveys were among the first in this re- 
gion. This part of the township was also the first to receive settlement and 
cultivation. The title to the McMean tracts and others adjoining passed to 
Reuben Haines, a Philadelphia brewer, and from him, in 1774, John Eves 
purchased twelve- hundred acres of land for the sum of one-hundred and forty- 
five pounds. There is a difference of opinion as to the time when he became 
a resident of the valley of Little Fishing creek, but the preponderance of evi- 
dence seems to indicate that he settled upon his land before the title was ac- 
quired or the purchase concluded. 

If this view is correct, his first visit to the region was made in 1769. 
Leaving his homo at Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle county, Delaware, and 
crossing Lancaster county, he reached the Susquehanna at I£arris' ferry. Fol- 
lowing the river to Sunbury, he crossed to the east bank of the " West Branch, " 
■which he followed to a settlement near the present site of Milton. Here he 
made diligent inquiry concerning Little Fishing creek, and the location of 
lands then owned by the McMeans. He was unable to glean any information 
from the settlers, but two Indians offered to giiide him thither; they followed 
the Indian trail from ' ' ye great isle ' ' to Nescopeck, until they reached the foot 
of Fairview, an eminence overlooking Millville. When they had ascended to its 
summit, his guides pointed to the valley below, and Eves knew that he had at 
last reached the vicinity of his future home. After examining the timber and 
soil they returned that day to the Susquehanna, whither he continued his 
joiu'ney to Mill Creek Hundi-ed. 

The next summer he returned, and with his eldest son, Thomas, built a 
small log cabin in a ravine to the west of Little Fishing creek. The following 



GEEENWOOD TOWNSHIP. 237 

spring he made his third journey fi'om New Castle county, accompanied this 
time by his family. They followed the same route as he on his first joui'ney, 
but, from the mouth of the Chillisquaque, were obliged to cut a road through 
the woods. Shortly after their arrival at the cabin, built the previous summer, 
an incident occurred which caiised some regret concerning the trouble taken in 
bringing hogs from Delaware. These animals found shelter in a bank of 
leaves among the branches of a fallen tree. The porcine community was one 
night invaded by an enemy from the forest, and one of its numbers died a vio- 
lent death; the next day the di-ove went into the woods, apparently upon their 
usual foraging expedition, but failed to return at night. Some months later it 
was ascertained that they crossed the Susquehanna, and fi"om all appearances 
were progressing in a bee-line to New Castle county. The first effort to intro- 
duce hogs into Greenwood, was thus a failure. The abundance of all kinds 
of game, however, prevented any serious inconvenience in consequence. 

The family at Little Fishing creek were not utterly isolated, although 
their nearest neighbors were in the valley of the " West Branch. " Parties of 
Indians from Wyoming traversed the trail on visits to their dusky brothers 
at points farther west, passing and repassing the solitary farm, and bringing 
its occupants into constant contact with every phase of savage character. The 
opportunity to receive them with uniform courtesy and kindjiess was well 
improved. The presence of the family on an exposed frontier at a time when 
others found safety only in flight, and the refusal of John Eves, with others of 
the society of Friends, to take up arms when the war of the revolution began, 
caused the provincial authorities to suspect him of being a tory. Spies were 
sent to inquire into the matter, but the charge could not be substantiated. It 
was not sym})athy with the British, biit exceptional wisdom and kindness that 
secured for them an immunity from the ravages of the border warfare. 

The day after the Wyoming massacre, J.uly 4, 1778, a friendly Indian gave 
timely warning of the approach of danger. By noon of that day the house- 
hold goods were on the wagon, and by nightfall the party reached Bosley's 
mills, a stockade on the site of Washingtonville. From this point the journey 
was pursued to Mill- Creek Hundred. 

In 1785 or 1780, the settlement of Greenwood valley was again begun. On 
their return the Eves found their buildings a mass of charred ruins, and the 
fields overgrown with biishes. Two houses and a mill were built, the latter 
being the first in the township. Piles at the side of the old mill race are still 
in a good state of preservation after the lapse of a hundred years. Others 
began to enter the township about the same time. Among these families 
appeal- the familiar names of Lemon, Lundy, Link, Battin and Oliver. The 
Lemons located about the center of the township. The Lundy family built a 
house in which Reuben S. Kich. a descendant, now lives. Jacob Link, in 
1797, opened the first tavern in the township. In the same year four brothers ♦^ 
Thomas, Samuel, John and W'illiam Mather, removed from Buffalo valley to 
Green creek. Joshua Bobbins, Archibald Patterson. George and William Mc- 
Michael, native Scotchmen, settled in the same locality. 

The first road through this region followed the course of the Indian trail 
fi'omthe " West Branch" to Berwick. Until 1798 the trail itself constituted the 
only highway to the " North Branch. " In that year a road was sui-veyed from 
the river across the Mount Pleasant hills. At this early date, and to a greater 
extent dui'ing certain periods since, the Green and Little Fishing creeks have 
been the channels by which the timber on their banks has found its way to the 
Susquehanna, and thence to the mills at Harrisburg and Marietta. During 
autumn and winter, trees were felled, and logs collected where the banks of the 

2 I 



238 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

streams were high and steep. They were here built into rafts of such shape 
that when the stream's current had risen to a suiScient height these coxild be 
pushed mto the seething torrent below. Skillful piloting was required to con- 
duct them safely to the broader channel of the river. Sometimes the fasten- 
ings of a raft would burst asunder, and the logs and driftwood form a compact 
dam, diverting the waters of the creeks into the meadows on their banks; or 
perhaps the jam would break, and the pent-up volume of water rush madly on 
with overpowering velocity. The sluggish appearance of these streams in the 
summer months cannot convey an adequate idea of their importance in years 
past in connection with the lumber industry. As early as 1820 an effort was 
made to obviate the danger of thus transporting the principal commodity of 
the region by opening another road to the river. It was not until 1856 that 
the final success of this project was assured. The legislature in that year 
made an appropriation for the construction of a road from Bloomsburg to 
Laporte, in Sullivan county, through the valley of Little Fishing creek. The 
extensive travel which has ever since passed over this highway proves its 
necessity and importance. The year 1856 begins an era of rapid development 
and improvement in the whole township, but particularly in the struggling vil- 
lage of Millville. 

It had an existence, however, long before the first inception of the state 
road in the minds of its original projectors, and has completed the first cen- 
tury of its history, darting the beginning at the time when the Eves' mill was 
built. Thomas Eves succeeded his father in the ownership of the mill, and 
built the first house in the village on the site of a structure recently erected 
by Josiah Heacock. In this house, in 1827, David and Andrew Eves opened 
the first store in the township. Four years later David Eves was commis- 
sioned postmaster; Andrew Eves succeeded him; James Masters held the 
position from 1842 to 1849; George and William Masters were in charge from 
the latter date until 1886, from which it appears that during a period of more 
than fifty years but two families were represented in the list of incumbents. 
The mail was brought from Berwick until October, 1879, at first once, but 
afterwai'd twice, a week. Subsequently, a route was opened from Bloomsburg 
to Sereno, and mail received at Millville three times a week. A daily mail 
has since been established. 

The business interests of Millville are represented by a number of stores, 
factories and planing-mills. In 1813 John Watson started a woolen factory. 
The plant comprised two carding machines and a fulling-mill. Wool was 
brought here by farmers to be cleaned and carded; the process of weaving was 
performed at their houses, after which it was returned in the shape of " home- 
spun," to be colored and pressed. Chandler Eves succeeded Watson, and 
built a large brick structure on the opposite side of the water- course from 
the site of his first building. UnfortiTuately, it has not fulfilled its promise of 
an extensive manufacturing establishment. The wagon factory established by 
Charles Eves in 1837 has had a different career. The wagons here made 
have always sustained an excellent reputation for durability and superior finish. 
Under the management of John Eves, the present proprietor, the quality of 
the work has not deteriorated from its high standard of excellence. Henry 
Getty and William Greenly started a planing-mill in 1881; Shoemaker and 
Lore followed with another three years later. The lumber here manufactured 
finds a market in the vicinity, or is shipped to various points. It is probable 
that these industries will be important and permanent factors in furthering 
the growth of the town. 

A striking feature of the business enterprise of this village, not often found 



GREENWOOD TOWNSHIP. 'DV.! 

in places of its size, is the " Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Millville. " 
It was incorporated September 7, 1875. and organized the following month 
with Joseph W. Eves, president, and Ellis Eves, secretary. They have held 
their respective offices continuously to this time (September, 1886). For the 
six years preceding July 31, 1886, there was no assessment whatever, not- 
withstanding the low rate at which policies are issued. Nothing further need 
be advanced in proof of the prosperous condition of the company' s finances. 

Amid all this business activity, the social necessities of the people have not 
been neglected. The Millville Reading Circle was organized in the winter of 
1882-83, and met at the houses of its members. In order to increase and ex- 
tend its usefulness, it was subsequently merged into the ' ' Good Intent Liter- 
ary Society." A large library has been collected through the co-operation of 
the citizens and public schools. 

Several fraternal and beneficent societies are also represented. Millville 
lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 809, was organized August 20, 1872, with twenty-one 
members. Its first officers were ElJis Eves, William Burgess and John Richart. 
After an existence of ten years the interest had abated to such an extent that 
the charter was relinquished. Valley Grange, No. 52, is one of the oldest in 
the state. It was charterefl with twenty members, February 4, 1874, having; 
been organized the previous year. The library owned by the association com- 
prises a number of judiciously selected works. The grange numbers one-hun- 
dred members, and exerts an influence in the direction of more general intelli- 
gence among the agricultural community. 

J. P. Eves Post, No. 536, Grand Army of the Republic, was mustered Sep- 
tember 3, 1886. by M. M. Brobst, A. D. C. as P. C, assisted by M. L. Wagen- 
seller, of Post No. 148, Selinsgrove, William Mensch, T. F. Harder and J. M, 
Seitzenger, of Hoagland Post, No. 170, Catawissa. The following is a list of its 
members: James W. Eves, Henry J. Robbins, George W^. Belig, B. F. Fisher, 
Isaac M. Lyoos, John Shaffer, J. C. Eves, W. G. Manning, Emanuel Bogart, 
Jacob Derr, Henry J. Applegate, John Thomas, D. F. Crawford, Charles M. 
Dodson, William L. Caslan, W. H. Hayman, Richard Kitchin, George W. 
Perkins, John Applegate, Harvey Smith, John Krepneci and John M. Mor- 
dan. [J. P. Eves, in whose honor the post has been named, was a member of 
Company I, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. 
He was wounded at the battle of Fredericksburg and died in the field hospital. 
His remains found their last resting place in an unmarked grave on the banks 
of the Rappahannock.] 

Greenwood township comprises, in addition to Millville, three villages of 
minor importance : Rohrsburg. lola and Eyer' s Grove. Rohrsburg is so named 
from Frederick Rohr, a Prussian who had fought against Bonaparte, and who 
secured the site of the town in 1825 fi'om Samuel Sherts. It was included in 
one of the Chew surveys. In 1826 the wheel-wright shop of Robert Campbell 
comprised all of the village that then existed. In 1828 Peter Venett opened a 
store in this shop, and, at a later date, Shoemaker and Rees became the second 
merchants of the place. Rohrsburg Grange, No. 108, was organized February 
12, 1874 with thirty members. The report of its secretary for the quarter 
ending June 30, 1886, showed a membership of eighty-four. A commendable' 
degree of energy is displayed in testing and discussing various methods of 
conducting farming operations. 

Industries of varied character have been established in the vicinity of 
Rohrsburg. A flouring-mill below the town on Green creek was built by 
Joseph Fullmer of Limestoneville, but this original structm-e has long since 
disappeared. In 1832 a fulling and carding-mill was operated on the same 



240 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

stream by Joseph Sands. For many years lumbering was a thriving business. In 
1820, four brothers, Joseph, Jonathan, Isaac and William Lemon, started a 
«aw-mill on Green creek below the village. They owned a tract of timber 
extending three miles in the direction of Millville. In 1847 Kester Parker es- 
tablished a pottery on the Greenwood road. It is still operated with a fair 
degree of prosperity. 

Eyer's Grove and lola are situated on the Bloomsburg and Laporte road 
and Little Fishing creek. The former comprises fifteen dwellings, a store 
and mill built in 1860 by Jacob Eyer on the site of a similar structure, erected 
in 1807 by Robert Montgomery. At the latter place, in the winter of 1828, 
Joseph and John Bobbins established a milling business. 

The industrial development of Greenwood and growth of villages in 
consequence have been outlined at some length. No large town has grown 
within the limits of the township; no great manufacturing enterprise has ever 
been attempted. The development of the lumber interests has largely resulted 
from individual enterprises, and received capital and encouragement fi'om the 
immediate vicinity. Greenwood valley is a region of great fertility. The 
presence of an intelligent agricultural community, and the prospect of im- 
proved facilities for the transportation of its products, indicate a steady and 
permanent prosperity. 

It is a natural inference and a correct one that the township has religious 
and educational advantages commensurate with the wealth and intelligence of 
its people. ^ Six denominations of Evangelical Christians are represented in 
eleven different church organizations. The Society of Friends is first in order 
of time. A meeting house was built at Millville in 1795, and the indulgence of 
holding services at this place granted by Exeter (Berks county) monthly meet- 
ing. At a meeting of a body similarly constituted at Catawissa, May 21, 
1796, Jesse Haines and Jacob Clayton, on behalf of Fishingcreek Friends, 
requested the continuance of this indulgence. It was granted, and William 
Ellis, Thomas Ellis and John Hughes were appointed to the supervision of 
affairs at that point. In 1799, at the instance of Catawissa Friends, the Phila- 
delphia Quarterly established the Muncy monthly meeting, alternate sessions 
of which were held at Fishingcreek. In 1856 the name was changed to Fish- 
ingcreek monthly meeting of Friends, held at Millville. 

In 1832 Roaringcreek Friends suggested to Philadelphia yearly meeting the 
propriety of establishing a half-yearly meeting at Millville. The matter was 
referred to a committee consisting of John Foulk, Amos Basly, Ruth Pyle 
and Mary Pike, and on their recommendation Roaringcreek and Muncy were 
united into "Fishingcreek half-yearly meeting. " October 18, 1834, this body 
convened for the first time. Thomas G. Rich was appointed clerk. William 
Watson, James Millard, James Stokes and Benjamin Kester were elected dele- 
gates to the ensuing yearly meeting at Philadelphia. In 1845 an effort was 
made to incorporate Fishingcreek and Centre Chester county into Centre yearly 
meeting, but this was never effected. 

Since 1795 it does not appear that Fishingcreek Friends have deviated 
fi'om an established regularity in their appointments for religious services. 
These have been attended and supported during this period by successive gen- 
erations of the families by whom they were commenced. A record of this char- 
acter, unbroken for nearly a century, cannot be claimed by any other religious 
organization in the county. 

Methodism also found adherents among the early settlers of Greenwood 
valley. The first service was held in 1809 in Thomas Eves' mill. A class of 
eleven members was formed, among whom were William, Lydia, John and 



GREENWOOD TOWNSHIP. 241 

Mary Bobbins, Elizabeth Richie, Mary Richie and Jacob Evans, who was ap- 
pointed leader. For sixteen years they held meetings in William Robbins' 
barn. A house of worship was built in 1825, and after thirty-five years of use 
was abandoned as unsafe. In November, 1882, the corner-stone of a new build- 
ing was laid. The site of the first structure was at the forks of the roads from 
Millville to Rohrsburg. The adjoining burial ground is known as Greenwood 
cemetery. The second and third Methodist church buildings were erected in 
1850 at Rohrsburg and lola. The pastors at this time were Reverends Joseph 
S. Lee and George H. Day. Eyer' s Grove and Chestnut ridge appointments 
were formed in 1860 and 1881, respectively. 

The Presbyterian church of Rohrsburg has been a regiilarly organized body 
since 1843. Previous to that date the Presbyterian element of the population 
worshiped at Orangeville, and attended occasional services at school-houses 
in the vicinity. Finally application was made to the Presbytery of Northumber- 
land for aid in efPecting an organization, and Reverends Williamson, Thom- 
son and Boyd were appointed to that service. Philip Sipley, Elias Smith, 
James Wilson and Charles Fortner were among the original members of the 
congregation thus formed, which for seven years met for service in William 
Mather's barn. In 1850 the church edifice still occupied was completed. This 
church forms part of the Orangeville pastorate. 

The Christian church at Rohrsburg was the third and last religious body 
formed at that place. August 4, 1870, Elder J. J. Harvey organized this con- 
gregation with a membership of thirty-one. Services were held in Appelman' s 
shop until the following year, when a house of worship was completed. This 
society is also represented at Millville. In 1870 and 1871 Elders Harvey and 
Radenbaugh held occasional services in the school-room of the seminary. 
February 21, 1880, a number of citizens assembled here to consider the feasi- 
bility of erecting a church building for the use of all denominations. S. B. 
Kisner, R. M. Johnson and Josiah Heacock were appointed a committee to 
superintend the financial requirements of the work. In November of the 
same year the " Free- Church " was dedicated. At this place, in the autumn 
of 1881, Reverend F. P. Manhart organized the Millville English Lutheran 
church; a charge was formed embracing St. Paul's, in Pine township, and 
Cady's church, in Lycoming county. 

The most recent addition to the number of religious bodies is the Green- 
wood Evangelical church. April 22, 1 880, Reverend W. H. Lilly conducted 
its first service at the house of Eli Welliver. The following year, through the 
efforts of David Albertson and Wilson Kramer, a church building was erected. 
The appointment is embraced in Waller circuit. 

The religious and educational institutions of a community are reciprocally 
related in various ways. With the Quaker settlers of Greenwood, schools and 
churches received an eqiial degree of attention. One end of their first meet- 
ing house was partitioned from the rest and used exclusively for school pur- 
poses. In 1708 Elizabeth Eves instructed the children of the vicinity in this 
room; Jesse Haines and John Shirely were among her successors. The first 
scho®l-house in the eastern part of the township was situated on the farm of 
Jacob Gerard. The school was subsequently removed to a building erected 
for its iise where Catharine McCarty now lives. 

If the Friends deserve honorable mention in connection with the early 
schools, much more should their later educational efforts receive favorable 
comment. In the year 1851 a number of citizens of Millville, influenced by 
a desire to provide for their children better educational advantages than the 
public schools could confer, erected a suitable building by their joint efforts 



242 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

and planned an institntion known as the Millville High- School. In the follow- 
ing year, William Burgess, a man of broad culture and liberal views, was 
called to the principalship of the school. He opened it in the autumn of 1852 
with an enrollment of thirty, and continued at its head for twelve years. Dur- 
ing this period, although the school as such was a complete success, it became 
involved to an extent that threatened to result in its permanent suspension. 
To avert this impending danger, the Greenwood Seminary Company was or- 
ganized March 30, 1861, with a capital stock of five-thousand dollars. It 
assumed the liabilities of the former management; made extensive improve- 
ments and additions to the buildings, and established the school on a firm 
financial basis. 

Professor T. W. Potts, of Chester county, took charge in 1865. July 17, 
1866, the property was leased to C. W. Walker. Three years later William 
Burgess returned and remained until 1872, when he resigned to accept an 
appointment on an Indian reservation tendered him by President Grant. He 
•was succeeded by R. H. Whitacre. During the winter of 1874-75 Florence 
Heacock, of Benton, conducted the school. March 6, 1875, the trustees leased 
the property to the Fishingcreek monthly meeting of Friends. Professor 
Arthur W. Potter was employed as principal. Two years later the property 
reverted to the trustees, and R. H. Whitacre was again placed in charge. 
During the succeeding seven years the seminary was conducted only in the 
.summer. John M. Smith, Harold Whitacre, M. C. Turwell and A. L. Tustin 
mere the teachers during this period. 

At the opening of the present school year (1886) the Fishingcreek monthly 
aneeting of Friends has again become lessee of the property. The buildings and 
grounds have been improved in appearance, courses of study have been prepared, 
and every arrangement completed for the accommodation and instruction of a 
large number of students. The management has not been disappointed. 
August 16, 1886, the school opened with seventy-five pupils. Anna C. Dor- 
land, of Philadelphia, is principal. Her assistants are Roland Spenser and 
Frances Foulk. A normal class is under the tuition of Lizzie Hart, of Doyles- 
iown, Sidney B. Frost and George L. Mears, of Philadelphia. 

Among those who have attended this school may be mentioned B. Frank 
Hughes, of Philadelphia; Charles B. Brockway and Thomas J. Yanderslice, of 
Bloomsburg, and J. B. Knittle, of Catawissa, all of whom have at various 
times been members of the state legislature. It remains to be seen whether the 
record of the seminary in the future will approach its usefulness in the past. 



The unwieldy proportions of Greenwood interfered with the convenient 
transaction of township business to such an extent that in April, 1837, a 
proposition to annex its northern portion to Sugarloaf was laid before the court. 
It was not favorably considered however. The petitioners met with better 
success the following year by requesting the formation of the new township of 
Jackson from the contiguous portions of Greenwood and Sugarloaf. Fishing 
«reek became its boundary on the east, and Little Fishingcreek on the west. 
This arrangement continued in force until January 31, 1840, when the area 
formerly included in Sugarloaf was reannexed to it, thus reducing Jackson to 
its limits as at present defined. 

Settlement does not appear to have advanced to this region until other por- 
tions of the county were marked by the presence of an aggressive population. 
To a certain extent this may be attributed to the nature of the tenure by which 



JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 243 

the lands were held. The Asylum Land Company, a syndicate of land specu- 
lators, secured a large tract embracing the whole of this township and the ad- 
joining portions of Sugarloaf, Greenwood and Pine, and of Lycoming and 
Sullivan counties. The character and methods of such corporations at this 
period were not such as to recommend them to prospective settlers. This class 
of people feared, and not without reason, that after paying for lands on the 
representations of unscrupulous agents, they might find the titles defective, 
or perhaps fail to find their lands at all. The existence of these circumstances, 
the utter absence of good roads, and the distance from markets seemed insuper- 
able obstacles in the way of advancing settlement. Not until 1800 did the 
smoke from a cabin reveal the location of a human habitation. Jacob Lunger 
removed from Northampton county in that year and settled on Green creek. 
In the autumn of 1805 Abram Whiteman made an improvement at the head 
waters of that stream, about four miles ficm the North mountain and the same 
distance from the southern boundary of the township. Jonathan Robbins, 
formerly a resident of Bethlehem township, Huntingdon county, New Jersey, 
entered this township about 1810, having rct'led in Sugarloaf, in 1795. In 1811 
Paul Hess located north of Waller on a Irictof two hundred and forty acres. 
At this time Levi Priest was living southeast of that village, and George Far- 
ver on land bought in 1809 by John Conrad Farver of James Barber. These 
families comprised the population of the township at this time. Subsequent 
immigi'ation was drawn principally from Greenwood, although several families 
removed from New Jersey and the lower counties. The familiar names of 
Yorks, Golder, Waldron, Everhart, Campbell and Parker may be mentioned 
among this number. 

An incident in connection with the early settlement should not be passed 
unnoticed, as it afPords a striking illustration of the dangers incident to pio- 
neer life, and the courage which characterized the early settlers. Abram 
Golder, Sr., had gone into a swamp near the present residence of Daniel 
Young, for the purpose of cutting hoop-poles. His only defensive weapon was 
a small hatchet, but no danger was apprehended, although it was known that 
bears and other wild animals infested the region. He had scarcel*^ begun his 
work when a panther crossed his path. True to his instinct Mr. Golder' s dog 
attacked the animal, while he himself called for a gun. Not waiting for it, 
however, he seized a large pine-knot, and when an opportunity was presented 
struck the panther's neck with such force that it fell dead at his feet. The 
■animal measured eight feet from the nose to the tip of its tail. Mr. Golder' s 
presence of mind was equaled only by the skill with which he delivered his 
blow. 

The first well constructed road through this section was opened from Unity- 
ville, in Lycoming county, to Benton in 1828. The first post-office, Polkville, 
was established on this road in 1848, at the house of John P. Hess near his 
present residence, one-half mile west from Waller. Lot Parker succeeded Mr. 
Hess in 1863, and the office remained at his house until 1860, when D. L. 
Everhart became postmaster. At the expiration of his term of 5ffice it was dis- 
continued several years and was next established at Waller on the mail route 
from Benton to Muncy. The village comprised at that time a church building, 
school-house and store. The number of buildings has since increased to thir- 
teen, while the fine location and central situation warrants the prediction that 
it will become a place of considerable local importance. Postal conveniences 
were extended to the southern part of Jackson in 1878, when the enterprising 
citizens of that region secured the services of a caiTier to bring their mail from 
Rohrsburg. December 22, 1879, Derr s post-office was established with A. J. 
Derr as postmaster at his store. 



244 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

The introdiiction of cliiu'ch and school organizations followed in the wake 
of increasing population. John Denmark was the first teacher, and conducted 
his vocation in a log dwelling near the location of the Union church building 
at Waller. This school was opened in the winter of 1821-22. A school-house 
was built in this vicinity the following year, and here John Keeler and William 
Yocum continued the work begun by their predecessor. The first house for 
school purposes in lower Jackson was built in 1825. Cornelius McEwen, Helen 
Calvin, Joseph Orwig and Peter Girton successively taught at this place. The 
township maintains four schools for a term of five months. The appearance 
of the buildings and grounds compares favorably with similar school establish- 
ments in thickly settled localities. 

The different religious denominations represented did not secure houses of 
worship until a comparatively recent period. As early as 1819 the township 
was visited by ministers of the Baptist denomination on their missionary tours 
through this section. Joel Rodgers and Elias Dodson, the former a licentiate, 
the latter an ordained minister, regularly held monthly services, preaching in 
houses, barns, in the open air, in the woods and in school-houses, when thev 
were erected. Subsequent to this Samuel Chapin, Brookins Potter and 
Merrit Harrison made excursions fi'om Huntington, Luzerne county, and main- 
tained the appointments in Jackson for several years. They all labored with- 
out compensation. They were plain, earnest men, and supported themselves 
by farming at their homes. Elders William S. Hall and J. Edminster, 
preached occasionally, 1845-49. In 1852 Reverends A. B. Runyon and F. 
Langdon visited Jackson and held a series of meetings which resulted in a 
number of conversions. For some years previous to this time efforts had been 
made to build a house of worship. Upon the death of John Christian in 1849, 
who was deeply interested in this, the work stopped. Finally, September, 11, 
1853, the completed structure was dedicated. In the autumn of 1848 Rever- 
end John S. Miller held a protracted meeting, and thirty or forty accessions 
were made to the church. The necessity of an organization became apparent. 
March 24, 1856, the Benton Baptist church was organized with a membership 
of nineteen* resident principally in Jackson, although twenty-two persons had 
been converted at the former place the preceding winter through the efforts of 
Reverend E. M. Alden. The following summer this church was admitted into 
the Northumberland Baptist association. Reverend J. Shanafelts succeeded 
Mr. Alden in 1859. The violent political agitation of the succeeding six years 
resulted in virtually disbanding this congregation. Reverends Alden, Fur- 
man, Zeigler, Stephens and Tustin preached occasionally. May 5, 1866, at 
the instance of Mr. Furman, a meeting was held at Benton to consider the pro- 
priety of attempting a reorganization. It was at once decided to do this. 
John R. Davis and Theodore W. Smith were elected deacons, and John F. Derr, 
clerk. March 6, 1869, the name was changed to "Jackson Baptist church," 
which it still retains. The Sunday-school was organized in 1870. The resig- 
nation of Mr. Tustin in 1872 severed his connection with this church. Rever- 
end Benjamin Shearer was pastor from 1873 to 1882. Mr. Tustin again be- 
came pastor in 1882, but was succeeded in the winter of 1885-86 by Joseph 
W. Crawford, a licentiate of the Northumberland Baptist association. Consid- 
ering the difficulties under which the existence of this church has been 
maintained, there is much encouragement in its present prosperous condition. 

The Church of Christ (Disciples) of lower Jackson was organized in 1858 
with eleven members, among whom were Luther German, Iram Derr, Thomas 
W. Young, and Absalom McHenry, all of whom had formerly been connected 
with the churches at Benton and Stillwater. The following persons have sue- 



MOUNT PLEASANT TOWNSHIP. 245 

cessively been its pastors : John Sutton, J. J. Harvey, A. Reutan, Edward E. 
Orvis, Charles S. Long, C. W. Cooper and D. M. Kinter. Luther German 
and Iram Derr have been elders of this church since its organization. The 
church edifice in which this body worships was built in 1879, and dedicated in 
November of that year by Reverend C. G. Bartholomew and John Ellis. 

The Evangelical Association is represented in this township by two organi- 
zations. The -older, at upper Jackson, was established by Reverends James 
Dunlap and Jeremiah Young. The former preached at "Hilltown" (Waller) 
in 1846. The first class was formed by Reverend James Seybert and consisted 
of George Hirleman, Henry Wagner, Michael Remly, David Remly and Freder- 
ick Wile. At this time the congregation was embraced in Columbia circuit, 
which included the whole of this county. The union church building at Waller 
was built in 1854. The Evangelical class at lower Jackson was formed in 
1876 with nineteen members, and D. B. Stevens class leader. Reverends 
James T. Shultz and C. D. Moore are at present in charge of Waller circuit. 
It is to be regretted that church buildings in this section were erected with an 
undenominational ownership. Though a necessary expedient at the time, this 
has done much to retard the growth of the different churches. 



CHAPTER XIII. 
MOUNT PLEASANT AND ORANGE TOWNSHIPS. 

MOUNT PLEASAKT. 

PREVIOUS to August, 1789, the region at the junction of the two Fishing 
creeks was included in Wyoming township, Northiimberland county; 
during the succeeding ten years, in Fishingcreek ; fi'om 1799 to 1818, in Fish- 
ingcreek. Greenwood and Bloom. In January, 1818, the township of Mount 
Pleasant was erected, a comparatively small area north of Big Fishing creek 
being received from Bloom, and all that part of the township northward to the 
Mount Pleasant hills, from Greenwood and Fishingcreek. 

It was while the latter township comprehended this whole area that it began 
to show the results of settlement and improvement. Those features of the re- 
gion which most favorably impressed the land-buyer were its strong growth of 
timber and inexhaustible supply of water. The nature and quality of the tim- 
ber, particularly, was such as to insure a fertile soil and invite improvement 
and cultivation. Although distinguished at a later period by a strong German 
element, the population of the region soiith of the Mount Pleasant hills was 
originally composed of English people fi'om New Jersey. They werefrom Sus- 
sex county, in that state, and followed their neighbors who had located in the 
vicinity of Jerseytown. Not until the close of the revolution, however, and 
the establishing of peace and security on the border, did this section receive 
the attention of those who subsequently made it their home. It appears that 
Peter Eveland and Jacob Force were among the first to permanently locate 
here, the former near Welliversville, the latter at Kitchen's church, in the 
north-east part of Mount Pleasant township. Abram Welliver's land adjoined 
the farms of both of them, and embraced the site of the village which bears 
his name. Frederick Miller, a German from Northampton county, was the 



246 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

proprietor of the village of Millerstown, but did not enter the township until a later 
period. John Mordan, who had lived in the same township of Sussex county, 
New Jersey, as Eveland and Force, followed them to the Mount Pleasant hills 
but removed a few yiears later to Little Fishing creek, where he built the 
first saw-mill in the present limits of the township. John Kester located on 
the hill above the village of Mordansville. In 1798 a road was surveyed over 
the Mount Pleasant hills to the Greenwood valley beyond; from that time un- 
til 1856 it was the only highway from north to south in the region, The po- 
sition of the township near the growing towns of Bloomsburg, Orangeville, 
and Millville prevented the growth of any important villages on its own terri- 
tory. Its exclusively agricultural resources and the inconvenience of distrib- 
uting any products that might be manufactured, have not favored the estab- 
lishment of industries of this character. 

Quiet country villages have, however, clustered round each of the two ho- 
tels that formerly received the travelers on the Mount Pleasant road. Welli- 
versville, first known by that name when Thomas Wolliver was commissioned 
postmaster in 1857, comprises several substantial farm-houses, and the shops 
of two mechanics. At Millerstown the first post-office in the township was 
opened in 1831 by Frederick Miller, in the days when every package or letter 
was receipted to the sender, and the date of its delivery, its destination and 
the amount of postage paid, reported to the department at Washington. Sub- 
sequently the office at this point was discontinued; it was again established in 
1873 under the name of Canby, the year the gallant general of that name 
was treacherously killed. At this point a dozen houses, a place of worship and 
a school-building suggest thrift and prosperity. 

The last village to make its appearance was Mordansville, the nucleus of 
which was the saw-mill of John Mordan, built in the early years of the town- 
ship' s settlement. The Mordansville woolen-mills, established in 1858 by Jo- 
seph E. Sands and Thomas Mather, have made the place a well known point. 
Mr. Sands became sole proprietor in 1860; on his death, in 1881, Charles S. 
Sands succeeded to the business. During the first years it was in operation 
farmers brought wool here to be carded, and after spinning, and weaving the 
cloth, returned it for the finishing touches of the fulling and pressing ma- 
chines. Mr. Sands' enterprise and energy did not long submit to a process 
of manufacture subject to so many delays. He early introduced improved 
machinery, and was thus enabled to perform every process of the manufact- 
ure. The product of these looms found a ready sale in the coal regions of 
this state, and continues to do so wherever introduced. He established, also, 
the only store that still exists in the township, and secured for the community 
a post-office, known first as Bear Eun but subsequently as Mordansville. In 
addition to these features of the place, it comprises a number of private 
houses, two saw-mills, and the shops of various mechanics. 

The church buildings of Mount Pleasant township, three in number, are 
located near the old Mount Pleasant road. Two of the congregations are 
Methodist Episcopal, and one an English Lutheran. The former are known 
as the White and Kitchen appointments. The Kitchen church-building was 
erected in 1859, but services for many years previous had been held in the 
Welliversville school-house, and, previous to its erection, in the house of Har- 
man Kramer. White's church-building was erected in 1875, during the pas- 
torate of Reverend Frank P. Gearhart. The White^^Oman, Shipman, Melick 
and Hilbern families were connected with this organization during its eai'lier 
history. 

The English Lutheran church of Canby was organized November 18, 1859, 



ORANGE TOWNSHIP. 247 

in the Millerstown school -house by Keverend E. A. Sharrets, of Espy. The 
present house of worship was built two years later. The congregation is con- 
nected with the Espy charge of the Susquehanna synod. 

The early schools of the township, as well as its villages and churches, 
were formed near the old Mount Pleasant road. Peter Oman, desirous of pro- 
viding some educational advantages for his children, employed an instructor 
to teach them at his own house. Children of neighboring families were also 
received into this school. Subsequently three houses were built, located re- 
spectively on lands of Joseph Gilbert, Aaron K ester and Andrew Grouse. 
The substantia] appearance of some of the school-houses of Mount Pleasant, 
and the taste exhibited in the arrangement and shading of the grounds, evince 
a progressive spirit among some of its citizens. 



Orange is situated in the southern part of the fertile Fishing creek valley. 
There are two townships westward to the Montour county line; it is also 
the third township from Luzerne county. Its position in that part of the county 
«of Columbia north of the Susquehanna river is as nearly central as the irreg- 
ular form and unequal area of the different townships permit. As elsewhere in 
its course Fishing creek here follows a winding channel, the current in 
some places splashing and foaming as it widens over a primitive bed of red- 
shale or a sand-bar of its own creation; in others, quietly meandering along 
the base of wooded hills and in the shade of overhanging trees, whose reflec- 
tion in the clear depths of the stream below is not disturbed by the slightest 
ripple on its surface. In this township the volume of the stream is consider- 
ably increased by the waters of Green creek, which enter it just above Orange- 
ville, and several miles farther in its course by Stony brook, a smaller tribu- 
tary stream. At the point of its junction with the former Fishing creek makes 
a bold curve around the Knob mountain. 

This elevation is an interesting and peculiar feature of the topography. 
Rising abruptly from the low valley of the stream, the mountain continues in 
an unbroken trend for miles to the east. It is but a natural surmise that 
its regular crest formed the division line of the townships at its base; and this 
indeed it did at the time when Bloom and Fishing creek met each other, and 
Mount Pleasant adjoined both just across the creek. Now, however, the western 
extremity of the Knob has ceased to be a boundary, and overlooks on all sides 
the hills and valleys of the township of Orange. It is only since 1840, how- 
ever, that this order of things has existed. Previous to that date the part of 
Orange south of Fishing creek and a line which passed just north of the 
present limits of the town of Orangeville was embraced in Bloom township ; that 
portion west of Fishing and Green creeks, in Mount Pleasant; and to complete 
the enumeration of the townships iu which Orange was originally included, the 
part east of Green creek and north of the Knob was within the limits of Fish- 
ingcreek. A few years previous, in deference to the wishes of the electors of 
the locality, about the same area had been formed into the election district of 
Orange. Previous to this change primary meetings were held at Light Street, 
while Bloom was the voting plac^ for the whole region. The obvious incon- 
venience of this arrangement suggested the propriety of the change, and the 
erection of the new township met with little opposition. 

The earliest mention of people living in this part of the Fishing creek val- 
ley occurs in connection with Salmon's capture by the Indians in the year 
1780. It is said that the same party of savages with whom he joui'neyed as a 
prisoner murdered a family who then lived at the foot of Knob mountain on 



248 • HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

the bank of the creek. The rangers who followed from Sxinbury buried the- 
mangled corpses where they were found, on the east bank of the stream. 
Since then the channel has gradually crossed to the west side of the swamp, 
whose subsequent drainage has opened for cultivation quite a wide strip of 
land formerly covered with water. While plowing here a few years since 
some workmen discovered a human skull, and on further excavation unearthed 
two complete skeletons, which, however, ci'umbled to ashes when removed 
from their rude coffin of decayed logs. The people would fain associate the 
appearance of these "fearful guests" with the Indian outrages of 1780, and 
there seems a degree of probability that their view is correct. 

Following the coiu'se of the stream, the savages camped for the night 
under a spreading white oak tree on the point of land at the junction of Green, 
and Fishing creeks. The next morning two of their number left the camp, 
crossed Fishing creek, and after an absence of several hours returned with 
their blankets filled with a dark-looking substance apparently cut with toma- 
hawks. They proceeded to melt it, upon which it was seen to be lead ore of a 
very good quality. This has induced the owners of the knob to make investi- 
gation concerning the presence of an out-crop of this valuable ore; but no dis- 
coveries of any value have as yet rewarded their efforts, although the Indians 
certainly obtained lead from such a deposit. The occurrence has always 
existed in the traditions of the locality, and seems fairly probable. 

About the year 1785 the region around Knob mountain was again invaded, 
this time by a party of peaceful immigrants. They journeyed from New Jer- 
sey across the Broad mountain to the present site of Berwick, and thence west- 
ward to the mouth of Fishing creek. Following its course north-ward they 
cut their way through the almost impenetrable wood from Light Street, then 
represented by a single house, and the farthest settlement from the river in the 
valley; pushing farther to a distance of three or four miles they reached their 
destination, and established their camp under the same tree and on the same 
ground occupied by hostile savages more than a decade before. The waters of 
the creeks subsequently washed away the point of land between thern; and irt 
a freshet about twenty-five years ago the tree itself was carried away by the 
resistless current. A sand-bar now occupies the place where it once stood. 

The party consisted of Abram Kline, his vvife, and a family of grown sons, 
some of whom were also married and accompanied by their families. They 
lived in their wagons and a tent beneath this tree diu'ing the first summer until 
a cabin was built. This first structure erected by them is still standing on the 
land of Hixson Kitchen, An important article of food was the milk from 
their cows. They felled * ' lin-trees, ' ' the leaves of which served for both grass 
and hay. During the second and third summers the united labor of the 
family had cleared a tract of considerable extent, and some wheat and corn 
was raised. The nearest mill was at Sunbui'y, thirty-five miles distant. When 
the wheat had been thi'eshed and cleaned it was put into sacks, which were 
securely fastened to the backs of several horses. The man in charge led the 
foremost horse, while the bridles of those behind were united by a rope to the 
load of the animal in front. Thus equipped the "caravau" wound slowly 
through the woods to the river, where the grain was transferred to a batteau or 
raft, and thus completed its journey. Subsequently a mill was built at Cata- 
wissa, and was a great convenience. Matthias, Isaac and George Kline built 
cabins for their families and farmed the region between the creeks just abov& 
their father's homestead. Thus was established what was, at this time, th& 
out-post of civilization in the Fishing creek valley. 

It was not until 1796, however, that Abram Kline, being firmly convinced 



ORANGE TOWNSHIP. 249 

that the region was fertile and the climate healthful, secured a title for his 
laud. By a waiTant of April 3, 1769, the tract had originally been surveyed for 
Hester Barton. This was one of the earliest surveys in the Fishing creek val- 
ley. Hester Barton subsequently married Paul Zantzinger, fi'om whom, under 
date of April 21, 1796, the title passed to Abram Kline. The tract was of 
considerable extent, and adjoined the lands of Randall Mitchell, Jonathan Mc- 
Clure and Charles Smith in right of William Anderson. Including several 
tracts on both sides of Green creek, which the Klines secured by patents, their 
lands comprised an area of six and seven hundred acres. 

Other owners of lands north of Fishing creek were George Cutts, William 
Montgomery, Catharine Razor, Frederick Yeungling and Andrew Grouse. 
South of that stream were the tracts of Whitehead Jones, Thomas Christy, 
Richard Peters, Enos Randall and Abner Kline. 

Abram Kline and his sons did not long remain the only settlers within the 
present limits of Orange township. The Whites, Parks and Gulps followed ' 
from New Jersey; George and Frederick Rantz, James VanHorn, the Neten- 
bachs and Weremans came fi'om Berks and Northampton counties. Peter 
Blank and Andi-ew Larish came fi-om New Jersey about 1800, and Samuel 
Staddon about the same time from Lancaster county. Ludwig Herring and 
the Vance and Patterson families arrived among the last years of what may be 
called the early history of the township. 

To lessen the labor of building houses and barns Abram Kline constructed 
a saw-mill before he had been in the region many years, in all probability prior 
to the year 1800. The demand for sawed lumber, however, did not reach his 
•expectations, and the mill decayed from disuse. It was abandoned and nearly 
all traces of it were obliterated seventy years ago. This mill was situated near 
the present site of Laurel-Hill cemetery. 

A few years afterward two Jews built a grist-mill several miles farther 
down on the site of a modern building now owned by John Hoffman. This 
mill was owned for many years by General McDowell of Berwick. Another 
old mill was built by Henry Geiger, but sold by him to Jacob Seidle in 1822; 
Wesley Bowman, the present owner, came into possession twenty-two years 
later. 

The road opened by the Klines fi-om Light Street to their homes was soon 
extended by the settlers who followed them to the settlements farther north in 
the Fishing creek valley. The trading point for all this region was Blooms- 
burg, as no town then existed farther up the valley of the creek. But in 1822 ^" 
Clemuel G. Ricketts, a native of Fairview county, Ohio, conceived the idea of 
planting a town at the foot of Knob mountain. The advantages of this loca- 
tion for a commercial center lirst presented themselves to his mind; all the 
travel from upper Fishing creek passed this point, the base of the mountain and 
the channel of the stream being but little farther apart than the width neces- 
sary for a road- way. There was here a level plot of ground, hemmed in by the 
mountain, creek and surrounding hills, but amply large enough to accommodate 
the prospective growth of the town. With a sagacity, penetration and energy 
rarely equaled he began the work of laying out his town within a few months 
after entering Columbia county. He purchased fi-om Henry Dildine and 
others, heirs of Andrew Dildine. the ground on which the town of Orangeville 
now stands. This deed was dated March 15, 1822. The tract was included 
in a much larger one, originally patented to Thomas Minshall. His executors, 
William Crabbe and John Ewing, by indentui-e of May 14, 1793, conveyed it to 
Henry Dildine and John Frutchey, executors of the will of Andi-ew Dildine; 
and from his heirs, as above stated, it came into possession of Clemuel G. 
Ricketts. 



250 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, 

When, in 1822, he bought the site of the town, a log building occupied' 
the site of the house owned by the late John Covanhoan. This was a farm, 
house and was occupied by Abraham Eveland. Another was farther down, 
along Spring run, just where the stable of the Orangeville hotel has since^ 
been built. The lower timbers of this house were so rotten that it wa» 
necessary to support the corner with a stout prop. The former tenant, 
Harman Labour, having vacated it, the proprietor of the town took pos- 
session and occupied it with his family until a more substantial habitation 
could be erected. In the meantime, however, the course of the road, which 
here made a curve round the foot of the mountain, was so changed as to 
be exactly straight; and, on either side, lots of convenient size w^ere laid 
off and offered for sale. Two of these, situated where Spring run crosses 
the road, a short distance from the house occupied by Eicketts, were bought 
by Elisha Boon, who at once erected a dwelling house and tannery, thus be- 
ginning a manufacturing industry when the town as yet hardly had an exist- 
ence except in the mind of the proprietor. He pushed his new house to com- 
pletion as rapidly as possible, and in the same year (1822), having purchased 
the stock of goods of an Espy merchant, he removed them to bis house and 
opened the first store in Orangeville. Ludwig Herring was employed to bring 
a wagon load of goods from Philadelphia, and in the following year repeated 
the journey quite frequently. 

Daniel Melick built the third new house, which was at once occupied by 
Philip Snyder and Solomon Siegfried, from Northampton county. The house 
is still standing, and is now owned by Mrs. Hayman. On the corner now 
owned by Alexander B. Stewart, Clemuel G. Ricketts built the next house, in 
which David Fausey opened the first hotel. Just opposite, the proprietor now 
completed a brick residence known at present as the Orangeville hotel. John 
linger removed to the village in 1824, and built many of the first houses. 

Some interesting stories are related of the experiences of the people with 
bears and wolves. It appears that the fastnesses of the Knob mountain were^ 
the favorite haunts of these animals. Occasionally a black bear would come- 
down from the mountain, walk through the "town " with the most perfect un- 
concern and self-possession, and break into the swamp below; for at this time 
between the road and creek there was a dense growth of underbrush, with 
here and there the bare, naked top of a dead pine rising above the foliage and 
the mire below. On one occasion the little daiighter of a farmer who lived 
just above the store was sent to bring the cows. She ran down the road a 
short distance and returned with the news that she had seen somthing big and 
black which was not a cow. The first traveler over the road in the morning- 
reported having seen the tracks of a bear. For weeks afterward the mothers 
could not repress a feeling of uneasiness when their children were out of sight. 
It does not appear, however, that any loss of life resulted from the depredations 
of these fierce brutes. 

The number of houses in the town having increased to five or six, the estab- 
lishment of a post-ofiice was agitated. This involved the choice of a name as 
a necessary preliminary. The sages of the village having, as usual, congre- 
gated in the store, the question was fi'eely discussed. Knobtown was suggested 
as significant of the locality; Rickettsville, as a deserved compliment to the 
founder, and " The Trap" in consideration of his foresight in locating the 
town where it intercepted all the travel from the region above. Mi. Ricketts 
observed that some of the old residents might enjoy hearing the familiar 
names of their former homes, and it appeared that some of those farther up the 
creek had come from Orange county, New York, and others fi'om Orange, New 



ORANGE TO\YXSHir. 251 

Jersey. Thomas Mills, his clerk, thereupon suggested the name Orangeville, 
which was at once adopted, and has clung to the place ever since. 

Elisha Boon continued his tannery for many years. A distillery was once 
in operation on the same ground now occupied by the Methodist church-building. 
Benajah Hayhurst began the manufacture of farming inplements soon after. 
William Schuyler succeeded to the business in 1853, and continued it for 
twenty years. After passing through various hands and experiencing succes- 
sive reverse and prosperity, the manufacturing industry is now conducted by 
White and Connor. The Orangeville plows and grain-threshers have a high 
reputation wherever introduced. Alfred Howell in 1853 opened an under- 
taking establishment. In 1855 James B. Harmon became proprietor and ex- 
tended the business in various directions. He introduced the first hearse 
ever used in the region, and manufactured furniture for many years. The 
town at present comprises more than a hundred substantial homes, numerous 
stores and three church -edifices. 

All of the latter were preceded in the time of their erection by the old Mc- 
Henry chiu'ch-building. It was situated about two miles west of Orangeville. 
Andrew Larish gave land for the church site soon after he entered the region 
in 1800; the church -building was erected about 1810, and was used as a house^ 
of worship by the Reformed, Lutheran and Presbyterian congregations for 
more than a quarter of a centixry. Among those who preached here were Rev- 
erends DieflFenbach of the Reformed chiarch; Baughey and Benninger of the 
Lutheran, and Patterson and Hudson, Presbyterians. In 1818 Harman 
Fausey fenced off a part of his farm for a burial ground. It had however been 
a place of interment five years previous. Edward McHenry came into posses- 
sion of the farm in 1828, and increased the size of the grave-yard. The placa 
took its name from him. Among those buried here are Enzius Vance, Archi- 
bald Patterson, Frederick Rantz, Andi'ew Dildine and others of the first set- 
tlers of the region. 

In 1837 the roof of the church-building collapsed beneath the weight of 
a heavy snow. The <fuins of the building were removed shortly afterward to 
make place for a school-house. But the ravages of time cannot destroy the 
good that has resulted from the services of worship held in this rude log 
church. 

During the succeeding year there was considerable discussion as to where 
the new church-building should be located. The influence of Clemuel G. 
Ricketts resulted in the choice of Orangeville. The three denominations 
who had worshiped at McHenry's again united their means and in 1839 erected 
the union church building, at a cost of one-thousand six-hundred dollars. The 
churches had now increased in membership, and from this point may be con- 
sidered separately. 

The Presbyterian appointment was at this time a preaching station of the 
old Briarcreek charge. Occasional services in the Orangeville school-house 
were held by pastors on their way to McHenry's. Reverend David J. Wal- 
ler, Sr. , of Bloomsburg, became pastor in 1838, and from that time services 
were held with a greater degree of regularity than formerly. The church was 
formally organized in 1842, with Samuel White, John B. Patterson and John 
B. Edgar, elders. The other original members were their wives, Sarah White, 
Ann Charity Patterson and Elizabeth Edgar. Isaac Kline and Mary Kline, 
John White and Lucy White, Ann Kline, Ruth Dildine and Mary Welsh com- 
plete the list of the original members. Mary Welsh is the only one still in 
connection with the church. It was Isaac Kline, the father of Colonel Hiram 
R. Kline, who raised the subscription for the building. Reverend Charles 



252 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

Williamson became pastor in 1843, and Reverend George W. Newell four years 
later. The latter still lives at an advanced age in Nebraska. He was suc- 
ceeded in 1858 by Reverend W. P. Teitswortli. In 1861 Reverend Nathaniel 
Spear settled here, preaching also at Rohrsburg and in Benton township. In 
1876 Reverend David J. Waller, Jr., was called to the pastorate. He re- 
mained for a year and a half, when he resigned to take charge of the Blooms- 
burg State Normal School. He was followed in 1877 by Reverend C. K. Can- 
field, the present pastor. Since that tinie the membership has increased fi'om 
forty-eight to one-hundred. The present handsome church edifice was built 
in 1885 and dedicated during the following year. 

The Reformed congregation at Orangeville was formerly part of the Blooms- 
burg charge. When the Reverend AVilliam Goodrich resigned his position as 
its pastor in 1865, the Orangeville charge was formed; it embraced the congre- 
gations at Orangeville, St James and Mount Zion. April 1, 1866, Reverend 
E. B. Wilson was called to this pastorate at a salary of five-hundred dollars a 
year; he served until his death, in May, 1868. He is buried in the cemetery 
at Arentdsville, Adams county. Though not an educated man, his rare abil- 
ity made him peculiarly useful at a time when the charge needed a strong 
guiding-hand. For three years the charge was without a pastor; the removal 
of many prominent members created discouragement. In August, 1869, Rev- 
erend A. Houtz, the present incumbent, became pastor; since then its condi- 
tion has materially improved, its membership has increased, and the contribu- 
tions to benevolence made more systematic and regular. 

The Orangeville Lutheran charge was organized by Reverend P. Berg- 
stresser; he arrived at the place in September, 1857. As directed by the Sus- 
quehanna Conference (since grown to the Susquehanna Synod) he organized 
a charge consisting of the congregations at Orangeville, Rohrsburg, Zion's 
and Briarcreek. 

The Orangeville Methodist Episcopal church was formerly embraced in 
the Bloomsburg circuit. In 1852 the Orangeville circuit was formed, with 
Reverend Albert Hartman as first preacher in charge. * Twenty-three years 
previous, however, in 1829, Reverend J. W. Dunahay preached the first ser- 
mon ever delivered in Orangeville, from the twenty-first verse of the third 
chapter of Revelations. Religious services were held in the school-house 
until 1848, when a brick church building was erected opposite Snyder's mill. 
The growth of the church in numbers and wealth rendered the building of a 
new house of worship a feasible, as well as a necessary, undertaking. At a 
meeting of the trustees January 10, 1880, it was decided to begin the enter- 
prise. The present location at the corner of Pine and Mill streets was selected 
two weeks later. On Sunday, April 10, 1881, the corner-stone was laid; Sep- 
tember 11 of the same year the new structure was dedicated; Reverends T. 
O. Clees, Elial M. Chilcoat and A. B. Hooven have been pastors since that 
time. 

During the same pastorate Reverend T. O. Clees built a tasteful frame 
striicture at the McHenry appointment; it is now the place of worship of a 
growing congregation. 

Mountain Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 264, of Orangeville, has an existence 
nearly as old as any of its church buildings. It was instituted September 17, 
1847, with Abraham Covel, N. G. ; George W. Lott, V. G. ; Joseph E. Sands, 
secretary; and Elijah G. Ricketts, treasurer. 

November 12, 1870, Oriental Lodge, No. 460, F. & A. M. of Orangeville 
was instituted. The original members were James B. Harmau, Miles A. 
Williams, Frederick Laubach, John F. Brown, Alick H. Megargall, Jeremiah 



ORANGE TOWNSHIP. 'ioo 

Comstock, Hiram C. Eves. Jacob M. Harmaii, Nathaniel Spear, John Heacock, 
Orville A. Megargall and Peter Laubach. It was chartered December 7, 18G9. 
Both these societies hold their meetings in the Odd Fellows' hall. 

The early school history of Orange township, as well as its early settle- 
ment, is associated with the Kline family; for it was on the farm of Hiram K. 
Kline that the first school was taught. Among these early teachers were 
Daniel Kake, Philip Doder and Jonathan Colley. George Vance opened a 
school in a log building which stood below Orangeville, at a later period. 
Among those who subsequently taught here was Clemuel G. Ricketts. The 
first school house in Orangeville was built in the year 1824, and stood at the 
intersection of Mill and Pine streets. It was a place for the holding of re- 
ligious services as well. Among the first teachers were Abraham Kline and 
Ira Daniels. 

The growth of a population of more than ordinary intelligence and enter- 
prise has resulted in tlie establishment at Orangeville of an institution of learning 
far superior to the average village high-school. The Orangeville Male and 
Female Academy was incorporated by act of assembly dated March 11, 1858. 
Pursuant to the directions of the charter a board of trustees was elected- 
This first board consisted of George W. Lett, Samuel Achenbach, Michael C 
Vance, James S. Woods, Wesley Bowman, Hiram R. Kline, and Edward 
Lazarus. They appointed Reverend Peter Bergstresser first principal. He pre- 
pared a course of stiidy contemplating a period of three years for its completion. 
On May 1, 1860, the Orangeville Male and Female Academy was opened in 
the public school building with thirty-two students. Reverend Bergstresser 
continued as principal two terms, when the conflicting duties of his pastorate^ 
and school-room compelled him to relinquish the latter. At his recommenda-^ 
tion John A. Shank, a graduate of Wittenberg College, Springfield, Ohio^ 
was elected as his successor. 

The trustees, meanwhile, had formed a stock company for the purpose of 
obtaining funds for the erection of a school building. This was completed and 
occupied by Professor Shank and his school in the autumn of 1861. The at- 
tendance was large, and the school enjoyed a fair degree of prosperity in every 
way. At the beginning of the next year, 1862, Reverend H. D. Walker, s 
Baptist clergyman, was placed in charge. Two years later, in 1864, he was- 
called upon to take charge of a number of soldiers' orphans. He rented the 
academy building and grounds from the trustees, and transformed the institu- 
tion into a "Soldiers' Orphan School." He also erected a building on a lot 
adjoining the academy grounds for the occupation of the children. Prior to 
its completion they were received into private families, and every provision for 
their comfort made by the citizens of the town. The "Home" was occupied 
in the spring of 1866. Under the efficient government of the principal and 
matrons, Mrs. Charles Walker and Priscilla Snyder, the appearance of the 
school children was always neat and cleanly. The general management of the- 
school and its results compared favorably with the reports from other schools; 
of a like character in the state. But the supervisor of orphans' schools. Colo- 
nel John F. MacFarland, in consequence of untrue reports to which he gave ai 
too-ready belief, ordered the removal of the children and suspension of the 
school. The summary execution of his directions caused quite an excitement 
in the village. Nor did it end here. Reverend Wajker carried his case before 
the bar of the state senate, and secured from that body an appropriation of 
ten- thousand dollars to remunerate him for the pecuniary loss he suffered fi-om 
the unwarranted action of the supervisor. There was nothing in the record of 
this orphan school of which the village of Orangeville need feel ashamed. 

22 



256 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

In 1870 Professor Isaac E. Schoonover became principal of the apademy, 
which had now been virtually suspended six years. He remained in charge 
four years and a half. In 1875 Reverend Alfred Houtz, the present Reformed 
pastor, succeeded him; John Aikman and Francis HeiTing taught the yearly 
term of 1876 and 1877. Reverend Charles R. Canfield was principal from 
1877 to 1882; Professor Francis Heck from 1882 to 1884; Professor James F. 
Harkens, of Juniata county, is the present principal. 

The school has had a checkered career, but in the main has done good 
work. It has ceased to be governed by a board of trustees, and the property 
is now owned by Silas A. Conner, a public spirited citizen who has materially 
improved its appearance. Although its patronage is confined to a comparatively 
limited area, in moulding individual character and elevating the tastes and 
social life of the immediate community, it has done a work the importance of 
which can hardly be estimated. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

HEMLOCK AND MONTOUR TOWNSHIPS. 



HEMLOCK. 



AT the November session of the court in 1801, Hemlock was erected out of 
Mahoning township, both being then in Northumberland county. It is 
therefore one of the twelve townships embraced in Columbia county when it was 
originally organized. A part of Hemlock, as at present constituted, was included 
in Montour county by the provisions of the act first defining the boundary line. 
The act of January 15, 1853, however, provided for a revision of the line, and 
fixed the present western limits of this township. 

In the earliest warrants for surveys, this region is mentioned as Wyoming 
township, Northumberland county. Hemlock creek is here mentioned, but 
the location is more definitely fixed by reference to Fishing creek, a larger 
stream. The extreme northeast corner of the township was surveyed, in 
pursuance of a warrant granted to John Nicholson, southward along Little 
Fishing creek; Robei-t Bogard, William Oike, Philip Hahn, David Lynn and 
Elizabeth Gray were the warrantees. The land at the forks of Fishing and 
Hemlock creeks was surveyed for William Patterson; north of this, and east 
of the Hemlock, were the tracts of Evan Owen, Michael Bright, Henry Funk, 
Philip Gable, Samuel Emmitt, Sebricht Wagner, Alexander Johnson and 
James Ellis. West of the Hemlock, Margaret and Daniel Duncan, Thomas 
Barton, Daniel Montgomery, Nathaniel Brader, Peter Brugler, Andrew Walt- 
man and John Lilly secured large tracts. 

Peter Brugler entered this region about the year 1788 or 1790, being among 
the first to permanently locate within the present limits of the township. His 
iand extended across its western end, from Frosty valley into the Liebenthal, a 
-deep, narrow valley, through which the west branch of Hemlock creek finds its 
way. This track embraced about six-hundred acres. The house he built on 
the southern slope of Frosty valley was destroyed by fire some years since. On 
one occasion while out hunting, he had an adventure which illustrates how 



HEMLOCK TOWNSHIP. 257 

much the life of the pioneer sometimes depended on cautious but decisive 
action. 

The ground was covered with snow to the depth of several inches. He had 
followed a deer for some distance, when, on turning a hill, he came upon what 
at first appeared to be an entirely different trail, but the discovery of his own 
footsteps proved that he had made a circuit, and reached the same trail he had 
previously traversed, and at the same instant he noticed before him in the 
snow the prints of an Indian moccasin. Their contrast with his own tracks 
may have caused a momentary fear, but this only intensified the keenness of his 
faculties, as the certainty of his danger became conclusive. He remembered 
having seen a hollow tree when he first passed over the trail. It required but 
a few minutes to reach it and conceal himself within its dark recess. The 
stealthy tread of the pursiiing savage could be plainly heard at a short distance, 
and presently his duslcy form emerged from the pines into full view. Brugler 
waited till his rifle was well aimed at the eye of the Indian. The sequel must 
be inferred. In relating the story he never went beyond this point. 

A few years after the coming of Brugler, Peter and Philip Appelman entered 
the township. Peter Appelman succeeded to the ownership of part of the Dun- 
can tract, but was misinformed regarding the location of his land, and built a 
house before the mistake was ascertained. Margaret and Daniel Duncan se- 
cured patents for their land under date of December 17, 1774, but subsequently 
disposed of both to George Clymer, a Philadelphia merchant. It was fi'om him 
that the Appelmans received their titles; pai^t of the tract was sold to Hugh 
McBride, in whose family it remains to-day. 

Other German families who came with the Bruglers and Appelmans, or fol- 
lowed them in the course of a few years, were the Ohls, Hartmans, Neyharts, 
Whitenights, Leidys, Girtons, Menningers, Merles, Grubers, Yocums and 
Haucks. They emigrated from the older counties of Berks and Northampton, 
and the adjoining region of New Jersey across the Delaware. They journeyed 
over the Broad and Little mountains by a road which has since been known as 
the Lehigh and Susquehanna turnpike. Berwick was its northern terminus, 
and practically the end of the journey. Sunbury and Catawissa were the points 
from which supplies were first obtained. The Germans purchased their land 
from the patentees; few of them received it direct from the state. These first 
owners were the predecessors of the more recent land jobbers, but their profits 
were in most cases merely nominal. 

Henry Ohl, a soldier of the revolution, entered the township in 1804, from 
New Jersey. He bailt a house on the land now owned by his grandson, Sam- 
uel Ohl. It has long since disappeared. Ludwig Neyhart's land is now 
owned by Lewis Gh'ton. The old house was built in a hollow near where Mr. 
Girton's buildings have since been erected, but nearer the springs. Michael 
Menninger located his buildings on a hill above Little Fishing creek. Heniy 
Warrich was the owner of an adjoining tract. The house he built is still in 
use on the farm of John Girton. In the Liebenthal a saw-mill was erected at 
an early day, but all trace of it disappeared fifty years ago. 

The township of Hemlock is, to the casual observer, almost exclusively 
agricultural. The hills of the Fishing creek, the Liebenthal and Frosty valley 
present nothing in appearance more striking than fields of waving grain or 
forests of hemlock ; but on the slope of Montour ridge, deep seams and f uitows, 
certainly not the water-courses of exhausted springs, arrest the attention and 
awaken interest. From these drifts, however, the only mineral wealth of the 
township, iron ore, has been removed until it is practically exhausted. 

The first discovery of the ore was made about the year 1822 on the land of 



258 HISTORY or Columbia county. 

Robert Green, by Henry Young, a farm laborer. He noticed the peculiar 
color of the ground he was plowing, and procured a pick and shovel to ascer- 
tain how deep it continued so. An examination revealed its true character and 
value and led to the immediate commencement of drift mining. The entire- 
pr-oduct, until 18-14, was hauled across the river to be smelted at Bittler's Es- 
ther furnace and the Penn furnace. But in that year the Bloomsburg Rail- 
Road and Iron Company began to operate their works, and for ten years 
received nearly all the ore that was mined in Hemlock township. Since 1854 
the firm of McKelvy and Neal, now William Neal and Sons, have divided the 
product with them. 

The company first mentioned owns the ' ' Bank ' ' and ' ' Farrandsville ' ' 
farms. The latter was purchased fi-om the Farrandsville Iron Company, which 
mined several hundred tons of ore, and had it forwarded over the canal to their 
works in Centre county, some time prior to 1844, but never manufactured a 
ton of iron. The ore was here unloaded and forgotten, apparently, until a 
few years since, when an enterprising boatman reloaded it and brought it 
back to Bloomsburg. The Bloomsburg Rail-Road and Iron Company also re- 
tains the ore in land purchased by them from Caleb Barton, but now owned by 
Edward W. Ivey. It is land bought from Charles R. Paxson and Leonard B. 
Rupert, and is the Robinson farm now owned by Daniel Yocum. 

William Neal and Sons have succeeded McKelvy and Neal as lessees of 
the land of Daniel, Isaac and Sylvester Pursel. A few years since, having 
exhausted the surface basins, a shaft was sunk on the north side of Montour 
ridge. Mining in this way is attended with so much expense as to render it 
unprofitable. But for the fact that the hard ores thvis obtained are needed to 
mix with others of a difFerent character, the shaft would be abandoned en- 
tirely. 

The ore drifts of the Montour ridge have contributed largely to the 
wealth and prosperity of the whole region. The villages of Buckhorn and 
Wedgetown were built for a class of laborers for whom there is no longer em- 
ployment. It is not probable that Hemlock township has any resources whose 
development will necessitate a return of this floating population. 

Seventeen years ago, however, when even the most sanguine were forced 
to admit that the drifts had passed their period of most profitable production, 
the bluffs on Little Fishing creek began to be looked upon as the probable 
site for the opening of another industry. A quarry at this point had for years 
supplied the furnaces at Bloomsburg with limestone; just above this, from the 
appearance of the shale on the perpendicular surface of the bluff, Reverend 
Thomas, a clergyman from Northampton county and interested in the manu- 
facture of slate, conceived the idea that suitable material was here avail- 
able. In the year 18G9 the Thomas Slate Company, thi'ough William Milnes, 
its president, purchased twenty-three acres of land along Little Fishing 
creek. On this land a building was erected, valuable machinery arranged 
therein, quarries opened, and the manufacture of roofing-slate and slate-man- 
tels begun on an extensive scale. The fine quality and superior finish of their 
mantels created an encouraging demand. But the death of Mr. Milnes caused 
the suspension of the works within a few years after they were first operated. 
The plant has been allowed to I'ust and rot for the past twelve years. There 
are no indications that the manufacture will ever again be resumed, although 
such an occurrence is possible, as slate of superior quality certainly exists. 

The circle of local manufactures is thus narrowed to three flouring mills. 
The Red mill, built some years ago, has recently come into the possession of 
I. W. McKelvy, who has enlarged and improved it. Near it there were at 



HEMLOCK TOWNSHIP. '259 

one time two establishments known respectively as Groetz's tannery and Min- 
shall's fulling-mill. But the pursuits here conducted, though locally import- 
ant at one time, can now be ref eri-ed to only as ' ' lost arts. ' ' 

Although the village of Buckhorn has been built as the result of the dis- 
covery of ore, there is associated with its name a story that begins many 
years before that occurred. It is said that before any settlement had been 
made in this section the antlers of a deer, fastened between the forked branches 
of a white-oak sapling, marked the course of an Indian trail through this re- 
gion. This tree stood on the edge of a swamp, within three miles of Cata- 
wissa. When, subsequently, it became necessary for the pioneers of the up- 
per Fishing creek valley and North mountain to communicate with the forts 
on the Susquehanna, a path was blazed through the woods, crossing the 
Indian trail at the Buckhorn tree. The sight of this tree to the weary traveler 
from the distant settlement, was an assurance of his nearness to friends and 
safety. Other way-marks disappeared; the blazing on the trees became quite 
indistinct; and the trees themselves succumbed to decay; but the sapling 
grew apace, and gradually locked the antlers in a vise-like embrace. It 
finally completely concealed them in the widening circles of its yearly growth. 
The story of the buck' s horn within was received with questioning credence 
from the " oldest inhabitants. " A few years since, along-billed bird made 
an opening to the hollow interior of the tree, revealing the antlers, and also 
establishing the fact of its early usefulness and later imprisonment. It was 
removed, and a part has been preserved in a museum at Allentown. 

Just opposite this tree, where the house of Isaac Pursel now stands, 
Vaniah Rees built the first house in the village. It was a hotel, and received 
the patronage of the stage line from Bloom to Muncy. He bought land from 
James and Robert Dill, and laid out the town. In 1832, twelve years after 
Rees built his hotel, Hiigh Allen erected another on the site of the present 
one. Rees built the third house at the opposite end of the village, and in 
1836 opened the first store. He subsequently built about twelve houses, 
nearly one-third the present number. 

Hugh Allen was the first postmaster. Noah Prentiss carried the mail 
from Bloom once a week for many years. About 1850 Israel Bittler was 
commissioned to carry it twice a week. In 1866 a tri-weekly service was 
begun by Jacob Crawford, but not until 1883 was the daily mail established. 
In 1843 Marshall Shoemaker succeeded Allen as postmaster. The office has 
been in the same building ever since, except one year. 

The village comprises a number of well built houses, two stores, a hotel, 
carriage-shop, school-building and two houses of worship. N. Patterson Moore, 
proprietor of the carriage-shop, has been justice of the peace for fifteen years. 
Previous to this Jacob Harris filled the office for twenty-one years. Henry 
Ohl was the first justice of the peace in Hemlock township after the forma- 
tion of Columbia county. 

The school-building, erected some years since at a cost of thi-ee-thousand 
five-hundi-ed dollars, compares favorably with others of a similar character any- 
where. It was originally intended that the school here conducted should be 
a township high-school, but this design has never been fully carried out. Under 
the principalship of Josephus Grimes, the first principal and present county 
superintendent, and his successors, it has done much to raise the standard of 
teachers and teaching throughout the entire township. 

The first school in Hemlock was opened in 1801, the same year that the 
township was erected. It was held in a dwelling house on the road leading 
from Buckhorn through Frosty valley. A Mr. Davidson was the first teacher. 



260 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

Another was opened shortly afterward by Thomas Vanderslice, and a third in the 
Liebenthal, just within the present limits of the township. It was widel}' known 
as a place for social gatherings and singing- schools. John Nevins was one of 
its early teachers. Other old teachers were Henry Ohl, Jacob Wintersteen and 
Charles Fortner. The present well-built school-houses, and the improved 
methods of teaching generally pursued, certainly indicate a progress which 
has kept the system abreast of the times. 

It is probable that the school in Frosty valley was opened before religious 
services of any kind had been held in the township. It is said that Reveren d 
Frederick Plitt, a German Lutheran minister from Philadelphia, followed 
those of his nationality and faith across the mountains and into the valleys 
where they had planted their homes. He ministered to the settlers in the 
Hemlock region; his successors, Reverends Ball, Frey, Weaver and Oyer, 
preached occasionally in the old school-house a short distance from Buckhorn. 
TJie first house of worship, however, built by contributions from persons of all 
denominations, but dedicated as a Methodist church, was completed in the 
year 1848, and occupied a lot of ground formerly owned by John McRey- 
nolds. Reverends Funk, Price and Consor, of the German Reformed, Evan- 
gelical and Methodist denominations, respectively, preached in this building 
in the years immediately after its erection. Only the Methodists, however, 
were regularly supplied with religious services. Among the Reverend Con- 
sor' s successors were Reverends Hartman, Taneyhill, Buckingham, Gearhart, 
Ross, Bolton, Warren. McClure and Chilcoat. 

The old church building, having been in continuous use for twenty years, 
began to show indications of decay. Reverend T. O. Clees, the pastor in 
1868, began to agitate the necessity of immediately replacing it by a new 
structure. With characteristic energy he pushed the work to completion, and 
in the following year dedicated an edifice costing seven-thousand dollars. 
Thomas J. Vanderslice, John Appelman, Jacob Richart and John Kistler, trus- 
tees, secured the funds for both this building and the parsonage. The latter 
was erected several years later on a lot adjoining the church property. The pas- 
tors of this church in recent years have been Reverends Bowman, Brittain, 
Ale, Savage, and W. H. Tubbs, the present incumbent. 

The Frosty valley Methodist congregation, as part of the Buckhorn cir- 
cuit, has had the same pastors as the Buckhorn church, since its organization. 
It worshiped in a school-house until 1869, when a substantial fi'ame church - 
building was erected on the road from Bloomsburg to Mooresburg, three 
miles from Buckhorn. December 23, 1878, Elisha Brugler conveyed to Henry 
Hodge, William McMichael, John Gulliver, Samuel Runsley, Peter Brugler 
and Pooley, trustees, the ground on which the building had been completed 
nine years before. The membership has been weakened considerably in recent 
years by the removal of persons formerly at work in the mines on the Montour 
ridge. 

Reverend William J. Eyer, the Lutheran minister mentioned above, began 
to hold religious services in the old Methodist church immediately after it was 
built, and continued to do so for some years. It was his successor, Reverend 
E. A. Sharrets, who first organized its scattered membership into a regular con- 
gregation. In the winter of 1859-60 he held a protracted meeting which re- 
sulted in the conversion of forty-three persons. The organization was effected 
in the spring of 1860 and numbered sixty-three members. 

In 1867 Reverend Sharrets was succeeded by Reverend J. M. Rice. Dur- 
ing these seven years neither a complete organization nor regular religious serv- 
ice had been maintained. Sunday, Oct. 20, 1867, a re-organization was 



MONTOUR TOWNSHir. 261 

effected by the election of James Emmitt and Peter Werkheiser, elders, and 
George Wenner and John H. Miller, deacons. "Christ's Evangelical Lutheran 
Congregation of Buckhorn, ' ' became part of the Espy charge, and took meas 
ures to provide for the support of a regular pastor. The aggressive spirit thus, 
displayed was further manifested in the appointment of a committee to select 
a suitable lot for a church building. One month later, at a congregational 
meeting called for the purpose, the present location of the house of worship 
was chosen, and James Emmitt, Peter Werkheiser, Sr., JohnH. Miller, Reuben 
Bomboy and George Russell constituted a committee to solicit contributions for 
the enterprise. On the 2yth of November, 1869, the new edifice was dedicated 
by Rev. E. A. Sharrets, president of the Susquehanna synod. The cost, about 
five-thousand dollars, was fully provided for. Succeeding pastors have been; 
Reverends B. F. Selleman, H. C. Haithcox, J. M. Reimunsnyder, William 
Kelley and E. A. Sharrets, who began his second pastorate April 28, 1878, and 
has been in charge ever since. 

MONTOUE. 

The position of Montour is best indicated by reference to the county 
line, the Susquehanna river and Fishing creek. It adjoins the county of 
the same name, while the Montour ridge separates it from the township of 
Hemlock on the north. From the county line it extends east to the Fishing^ 
and Hemlock creeks, and from the Montour ridge south to the river. East of 
Fishing creek, the north bank of the Susquehanna for some distance is a level 
area of exceptional fertility; but west of the mouth of that stream an elevation 
abruptly terminating at the water's edge appears in striking contrast. Between 
these river hills and the Montour ridge at the opposite side of the township is 
the Dutch valley, so named because of the nationality of the first occupants of 
its soil. 

When it is stated that these first settlers were of German origin, it need 
hardly be added that they emigrated from Berks and N(nthampton counties. 
The first to make their appearance were the Ruperts. They followed the same 
route as those who preceded them to the region of Roaring creek and Cata- 
wissa. Leaving the city of Reading in the sjjring of 1788, they crossed the 
mountains of what is now Schuylkill county over a rough wagon track or bridle- 
path, since known as the Reading road. From Catawissa the journey, though 
comparatively short, was extremely dangerous. The contents of the wagons 
were placed in canoes and thus taken to the opposite side. The wagons were 
transported in the same way, two canoes being required for this purpose. The' 
two wheels on each side were placed in one of them, while the rowers took 
their places between the wheels and under the wagon. A landing was effected 
as desired just below the mouth of Fishing creek. A rude log cabin, appar- 
ently used by a "squatter" for a short time and then abandoned, was occu- 
pied until a more substantial habitation could be erected. This "house,"' 
which stood near the present site of the Paxton mansion, was considered a 
marvel of frontier architecture in size and finish. It comprised three rooms 
instead of the single apartment usually constituting a dwelling. Built in 
1788 it was occupied by the Ruperts for thirty years, and a portion has since 
been incorporated in one of the farm-buildings of the Paxton estate. Thus, 
in 1788 did Leonard Rupert become the first permanent occupant of any part 
of Montour township. The tract of land he owned comprised the site of the- 
village which bears his name. Originally siirveyed in pursuance of warrant 
No. 1,000, issued April 8, 1769, to John Spohn, it was patented February 4, 
1784, a half interest having been previously secured by Michael Bright, the: 



'2<>2 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

owner of large tracts of laud iu different parts of the state. The original 
j)atent designates the tract "Partnership," and locates it "on the North 
Branch Susquehanna, at the mouth of Fishing creek." Michael Bright was 
Leonard Rupert's father-in-law, and transferred the title to him in 1801, thir- 
teen years after his first occupation of the soil. Among those who followed 
him were the Tucker, Frey, Dietterich, Blecker, Lazarus Hittle and Leiby 
families, who located in the region beyond the river hill, appropriately known 
as ' ' Dutch valley. ' ' 

Although separated from its nearest town by the broad channel of the Sus- 
quehanna, the region at the mouth of Fishing creek was not necessarily en- 
tirely secluded. On the other hand its j^eople had rare facilities for learning 
what was transpiring at other places in the outside world. In 1786, and dur- 
ing the subsequent twenty-five yearg, Sunbury and Wilkesbarre were the seats 
of justice in the valley of the "North Branch," and the only towns of any im- 
portance in that section of the state. The constant stream of travel between 
these two points found a road near the river, its shortest and easiest route. 
From Danville to the moiith of Fishing creek, however, the course of this 
highway avoided the almost impassable river hills, and traversed the Dutch 
valley in their rear. At the muuth of Fishing creek the stream was crossed 
by a ferry. Although not a regular public-hoixse, Leonard Rupert's establish- 
<ment was practically rendered such by the hospitality of its proprietor. The 
.distinguished ])ersouages of the day, judges and lawyers, with others of every 
.character and occupation here found a ready welcome. 

A ferry was established at the exact points of the river now crossed by the 
railroad bridge. Its first proprietor was William Hughes, and afterward a Mr. 
Clark. As they objected to paying Mr. Rupert for the use of his lands at 
the terminus on his side of the river, he established a ferry of his own, 
which eventually absorbed its rival. In 18'29 the "North-Branch " canal was 
^opened and the packet became a formidable rival to its predecessor, the stage- 
coach. The work of excavating a channel at the base of the river hills, and 
ihe building of an aqueduct across Fishing creek, were among the most diffi- 
cult works of their respective characters accomplished throughout its entire 
extent. In the summer of 1853 the rail road bridge across the Susquehanna 
was begun. September 5, 1854, the first train passed over it, and Rupert sta- 
tion, on the Catawissa, Williamsport and Elmira rail road, was established. 
Wesley Fleming was appointed first freight agent at this point, and still 
remains in his original capacity after thirty-two years of continuous service. 
As the only rail-road point in Columbia county, north of the river, Rupert be- 
came a place of some importance, although it comprised, when the rail-road 
was opened, but two houses, the Paxton mansion and the lock-keeper's house. 
Four years later, January 1, 1858, the Lackawanna and Bloomsburg rail-road 
was opened to Rupert, which was for some months its southern terminus. But 
before discussing the subsequent growth of the town, it is necessary to state 
an important circumstance in the history of the township in general. 

One of the results of the opening of the "North-Branch " canal was an in- 
crease in population more rapid in proportion to the relatively shorter time re- 
quired to perform the journey from the lower counties. And a result of this 
was the formation of the township of Montour. The agitation of the pnblic- 
.•school question, however, was the immediate cause of the change in the politi- 
cal organization of the county. Originally embraced in the extensive town- 
ship of Turbot, the "region on the North Branch Susquehanna at the mouth 
of Fishing creek" was subsequ.ently included in Mahoning and Hemlock, and 
i:i 1837 erected into the township of Montour. It appears that some of the 



MONTOUR TOWNSHIP. 263 

anost prominent citizens of the township thus formed had tried in vain to secure 
efficient schools under the act of 1834; failing to do so, they sought a separate 
organization, with results, educationally, highly satisfactory. Having made 
this necessary digression, the account of the growth of the village of Rupert 
from the time it became important as a rail-road point may be resumed. 

Three years after the completion of the Lackawanna and Bloomsburg rail 
road, W. M. Monroe established a powder-keg manufactory at its junction with 
the Catawissa road. From a comparatively small beginning, this enterprise 
has grown to considerable local importance. With improved machinery and 
a full force of workmen, it has a capacity of one-thousand kegs per day. They 
lind a ready sale at the Dupont powder- works at Wapwallopen, in Luzerne 
■county, and Wilmington, Delaware. 

It* was several years after this, however, that what promised to be the 
most important industry of the place was begun, by the establishment of ex- 
tensive paint works. The Susquehanna Slate Company had begun the manu- 
facture of paint at their slate works some distance from Rupert on the Fish- 
ing creek. In order to extend this branch of their business and avail them- 
selves of the rare facilities of Rupert for the shipment of their product, the 
plant was removed thither in 1871, and the manufacture of paints begun, un- 
der the firm name of Reay and Drehr. The works had been in operation but 
ten days when a destructive fire reduced them to ashes. While the ruins were 
yet smoking, new buildings were begun and pushed to completion with energy. 
Owing to the financial depression of 1885 and the following year, the manu- 
factory was temporarily suspended. 

Beside the two industries mentioned, Rupert comprises about twenty-five 
dwellings, a store and hotel, the "Rupert Marble Works," and the coal-office 
of Paxton & Harman. It combines a beautiful and healthful location with 
exceptional convenience of access to all parts of the country. Its educa- 
tional and religious interests are represented by a commodious school-building 
and a house of worship — the only one in the township. 

The original predecessor of the Rupert school-house was a rudely framed 
building occupied by contractors while constructing the aqueduct across Fish- 
ing creek. Harriet Rupert opened a school here in 1831, but removed it to 
a more comfortable and suitable building on her father' s land. The present 
school appliances and methods in Montour township compare favorably with 
others in rural districts anywhere. Until 1884 the school -building was the 
place of religious services as well. In June, 1870, Reverend Creever of 
Bloomsburg delivered the first Methodist sermon in Rupert in the dwelling 
house of James Farnsworth. From 1869 to 1872 Reverends Barsaux, Irvin, 
Shuneberger and Hertz conducted Evangelical services in the school-house. 
In September, 1884, the corner-stone of a Methodist Episcopal church was laid 
with appropriate ceremonies by Reverend G. W. Stevens, then pastor at Buck- 
horn. It was completed the following winter. Its general appearance is 
tasteful, substantial and attractive. 



264: HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XV. 
MADISON AND PINE TOWNSHIPS. 

MADISON. 

THIS township embraces that part of Columbia county west of Little Fish- 
ing creek and Pine township, north of Hemlock, east and south of the 
adjoining counties of Montour and Lycoming. A striking feature of the to- 
pography is the "divide,'' a continuation of a spur from the Muncy hills. It 
extends in a direction nearly parallel with the course of Little Fishing creek, 
and defines the basins of that stream and of the Chillisquaque. The latter 
here takes its rise, and flows in Madison, through the fertile Jerseytown 
valley. This is the only area of any extent in the county drained by a tribu- 
tary of the ' ' West Branch. ' ' 

"'Frozen Duck" is the literal meaning of the Indian designation, Chillis- 
quaqufe. The contribution of this people to the history of the region about its 
source is not, however, confined to the single circumstance of bestowing upon. 
it this name. The Indian trail from the " WestBi-anch" to Nescopeck crossed 
the "divide" several miles above Jerseytown; one of the early surveys locates 
an Indian town about the point where Lycoming, Montooi' and Columbia meet, 
and therefore partly in Madison township ; and even after the whites had begun 
to occupy the soil in considerable numbers, the savage clung tenaciously to a 
region that had once been a favorite hunting ground. A thrilling incident of 
their struggle for its possession, and one of the last outrages committed in the 
region was the murder of the W^hitmoyer family. 

In the year 1775 this family, with two others, the Billhimes and Wellivers^ 
made their apj)earance at the head-waters of the Chillisquaque. All came- 
from the region in New Jersey on the opposite side of the Delaware from 
Northampton county. In their journey they crossed eastern Pennsylvania to 
Harris' ferry, and followed the Susquehanna and ' ' Frozen Duck ' ' to the Jer- 
seytown valley. Michael Billhime located on Muddy run. where he built a 
cabin and cleared six acres of land. Daniel Welliver fixed his residence on Whet- 
stone run, an affluent of Little Fishing creek. The "Whitmoyers settled a 
short distance west of Jerseytown. The dangers incident to frontier life were 
early realized by the Billhimes and Wellivers, who retired to a place of greater 
security; but their unfortunate neighbors remained in fancied and apparent 
safety. On a morning in the month of March, 1780, there was unusual stir at 
their solitary cabin. It was evident from the preparations made that certain 
members of the family were about to leave in order to establish a sugar camp 
and it would have been a happy circumstance if the departure of all had 
taken place. Some time diu'ing the day, a party of hostile savages passed 
through the region, leaving in their rear traces of the tomahawk and firebrands. 
It is disputed whether three or five of the Whitmoyers were murdered. The- 
son returned the following morning in quest of a needed utensil, or perchance 
with a premonition of the tragedy already enacted. Turning with a shudder 
from the melancholy spectacle which met his gaze, he fled in haste to Fort 
Augusta. The next day a party of rangers reached the spot and buried the- 



MADISON TOWNSHIP. 265- 

dead. Their graves are still pointed out on the old road from Jerseytown to 
Washingtonville. 

In the autumn of the same year, the Billhimes and Wellivers returned from 
New Jersey. They came by a route different from that taken on their previ- 
ous journey. Following the Delaware some distance northward, and crossing^ 
the ranges of the Blue Ridge and Kittatinny in a north-westerly direction, the 
North Branch of the Susquehanna was reached through the Nescopeck Gap. 
Daniel Welliver was accompanied by three cousins, John, Adam and Christo- 
pher, and in course of time this family became numerously represented. The 
purchase of the latter included the site of Jerseytown. John located where 
the Whitmoyers had previously lived, and Christopher occupiad an adjoining 
tract. Michael Billhime found his former residence in possession of a " squat- 
ter," and was obliged to make a second clearing on Spruce creek. Joseph 
Hodge and Peter Brugler, former neighbors in J ersey, continued to be such by 
securing titles to contiguous su^rveys. In 1785 Thomas Pegg settled on the 
Chillisquaqiie two miles south-west of Jerseytown. Three years later Phineas 
Barber became owner and occupant of a tract on the opposite side of that 
stream. The following year Hugh Watson became a resident of the vicinity. 
John Funston located one mile west of the village, and Evan Thomas about 
the same distance east on the Millville road, near the lands of Richard Demott, 
who had entered the region several years previous. Lewis Schuyler, an ex- 
revolutionary soldier, came to the neighborhood in 1794, and permanently 
fixed his residence in the valley of Spruce creek five years later. This seems 
to have been regarded as a desirable locality, for in 1794 Jacob Swisher, and 
in 1796 George Runyon also became residents here. The former was ap- 
pointed justice of the peace by Governor Snyder, and continued in that capac- 
ity until the ofiice became elective. Other early settlei-s were James Laird, 
Thomas Laird, John Smith, Henry Kitchen and Hugh McCollum. The trials 
and inconveniences of this pioneer community were lessened to each of its 
members in being shared by all. A mitigating circumstance was the fact that 
the larger proportion of families represented had previously resided in Sus 
sex county. New Jersey, and there foi'med the acquaintance of each other. 
Those who were not among the first to enter the region did not on their arrival 
have the feelings of ' ' strangers, in a strange land. ' ' They were constrained 
to leave Sussex by gratifying reports of a fertile soil and equable climate at the 
frontier settlement, which appropriately bore the name of their native state. 

From a comparison of the dates above given with the time at which other 
portions of Columbia county received settlement, it appears that Madison is 
one of the earliest settled townships north of the Susquehanna. A person con- 
sidering the relative value of the river land and the Jerseytown valley at the 
present day, would doubtless conclude that this order should have been re- 
versed. The comparison in 1780, however, was between the swampy, malarial 
region near the mouth of Fishing creek, and the healthful, undulating, and 
well watered hill country further north. At this period, and to a certain extent 
since, the quality of the timber was regarded as a criterion of the quality of 
the soil. At Sussex, in Jersey, the best lands were invariably covered with 
luxuriant forests of pine and oak. The natural inference from this circum- 
stance explains the priority of settlement and improvement at localities which 
would not now be regarded as preferable. The indefinitely increasing value 
of the river lands between Fishing and Briar creeks, and the growth of a 
thriving town contiguous to an apparently irreclaimable swamp, were contin- 
gencies which no foresight could then determine. 

Jerseytown valley vyas not exempt from the ubiquitous operations of the 



"266 HISTOKY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

land speculator. The class of individuals which originally owned the largei 
portion of its area secured their titles without the remotest idea of ever be- 
coming resident proprietors. In the immediate vicinity of the village William 
Wilson, John Rogers, Jasper Yeates and Benjamin Humphreys were the war- 
rantees. One of the most singularly shaped surveys ever recorded in the land 
office was that of Joseph Codd. In proof of its irregular form it may be 
stated that thirty-four corners and ten adjoining surveys are mentioned in a 
description of its boundaries. Some of the hrst settlers secured titles from 
the warrantees; others ''squatted" on the land, and were not disturbed in its 
possession. The notorious carelessness and indifference of the latter with re- 
gard to its ownership have resulted in legal complications which might other- 
wise have been avoided. There was not, however, any apparent fear of defective 
titles to discourage settlement. The population increased; the opening of a 
road from Bloom to Muncy, and of another from Berwick to Milton, both of 
which passed through this region, gave a new impetus to the improvement of 
lands and farm bu.ildings. 

The growth of population called for a separation from the old and extensive 
township of Derry. Accordingly at the April sessions, 1817, of the Columbia 
county court at Danville, the new township of Madison was erected and its 
organization ordered. The president of that name was just completing his 
second term. The compliment thus bestowed indicates the political faith of 
those who conferred it. The democratic majorities in the township through a 
series of years would seem to signify hereditary tendencies in the expression 
of political prefei'ences. The complexion of the township in this respect has not 
ibeen changed by the reduction of an area originally including Pine and part of 
West Hemlock to its present limits. 

The stage line from Bloom to Muncy in the years immediately following 
received a fair degree of patronage. At the former point it connected with 
other lines for Reading, Sunbury and Wilkesbarre. The Muncy hills and 
the valley at their base may have been a pleasant region to traverse in summer 
and autumn; but this was amply compensated by the almost impassable con- 
dition of the road in winter and spring. The wheels of the vehicle sank in the 
mire to their hubs. When further pi'ogress became impossible, the impatient 
passengers alighted unceremoniously, and gave vent to their feelings in vigorous 
and energetic efforts to assist the team in surmounting the obstacle. Some- 
times the coach obstinately refused to move, and a fence rail was hastily im- 
provised as a lever to pry the wheels from the mud. When this was ultimately 
accomplished, the journey could be pursued until an occurrence of a similar 
character relieved its monotony. 

The village of Jerseytown reached its present proportions during the most 
prosperoiis period of stage travel. The first store in the township was opened 
lay John Funston on the site now occupied by Conrad Kreamer, and formed a 
nucleus for subsequent growth. Evan Thomas was the first blacksmith and 
hotel proprietor of the place. Jacob McCollum began the manufacture of 
leather in 1826; Hugh McCollum succeeded to the business in 185Gand E. W. 
McCollum became proprietor twenty years later. James Masters, who settled 
on Spruce creek in 1788, built the first saw-mill in this section and operated 
the first carding machine north of Danville. No grist-mill has ever existed in 
Madison as none of its numerous streams affords adequate or reliable motive 
power. Besides the tannery above mentioned Jerseytown comprises about 
forty dwellings, two stores, a church building and school-house. 

The predecessor of the latter was the first of that character in this region. 
The school opened here in 1799 was taught by Mr. Wilson. In 1810 Thomas 



PINE TOWNSHIP. 267 

Lane opened another in a dwelling on the land of Leonard Kisner. A third 
opened in 1815 whore the Reformed church has since been built, and a fourth, 
conducted in the eastern part of the township, completed the number of early- 
schools. 

Organized religious bodies appeared in Madison at a later period than the 
schools just noted. Many of the early settlers, the Demotts, Runyans, 
Hulits, Hodges, Wellivers and Swishers were members of the Baptist society, 
and retained their religious preferences in their new homes. September 27, 
1817, Elders John Wolverton of Shamokin, Smilej of White Deer, and Simeon 
Coombs of Middleboro, Massachusetts, organized the Little Muncy (Madison) 
Baptist church in the union meeting house of Moreland. This society is one 
of the oldest within the present limits of the Northumberland Baptist Associa- 
tion. Its representatives at the formation of that body in 1821 were Heniy 
Clark and Silas E. Shepard, pastors; James Moore, Richard Demott, James ^ 
Hulit and Powel Bird, lay delegates. In 1845 the Madison church edifice was 
erected. Elder Clark remained in charge until 1829; his successors were J. 
Green Miles, Joseph B. Morris, Henry Essick, A. B. Runyan, Henry C. Munro 
and R. M. Hunsicker. 

In 1826 the German element of the population erected a church building 
on the exact site of a structure in which the Reformed congregation now wor- 
ships. Many of those connected with this body reside in the adjoining town- 
ship of Hemlock. Reverend Jacob Dieffenbach organized ' ' Heller ' ' church 
about 1820; among his successors were Daniel S. Tobias, Henry Funk and 
William Goodj'ich. 

The Methodist and English Lutheran denominations were the last to secure 
a representation in the township. The Jerseytown appointment of the former 
is connected with the Washingtonville circuit. A house of worship was erected 
in 1882. Vandine Lutheran church was organized in 1869 by Reverend George 
Eicholtz of Lairdsville, Lycoming county. A building for religious services 
was erected in the following year. Reverends Miller, Bodine, Battersby and 
Hutchison have successively preached at this place. 

PINE. 

The exteme northern and western parts of Columbia county comprise an 
extent of surface drained by Fishing and Green creeks. The chief features 
of this region are the mountains and foot-hills in which niunerous tribu- 
tary streams find their sources. That part of this district adjoining Ly- 
coming county, and bounded on the south and east by Little Fishing creek, is 
embraced in the political division the name of which appears at the head of 
this chapter. Although possessing the general characteristics of the entire 
sections. Pine township has peculiarities distinctively its own. The Muncy 
hills and their forests of waving hemlock and pine overshadow apparently 
insignificant streams and shallow water courses which have, by centuries of 
constant attrition, deeply seamed their ribs of rock. The picturesque and 
diversified character of the landscape is presented in a most favorable aspect 
when the last rays of the setting sun gild the clouds above the horizon and 
irradiate from the foliage which forms it, bringing into exquisite harmony an 
infinite variety of contour, elevation and color — the frame of a picture of 
wooded hills, verdant slopes and winding brooks scarcely less beautiful. 

Natural beauty of scenery, although desirable, was not an essential feature 
of a prospective agricultural region. It was its economic resoiu'ces, a fertile 
soil and the growth of timber to indicate it, that engrossed the interest of the 



268 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

farmer, or attracted his attention. Thus neglected by the class of persons 
known as permanent settlers, that part of Cohimbia county to the northwest 
of the headwaters of Little Fishing creek remained a wilderness long after 
the adjoining valleys of Jerseytown and Greenwood had been marked by the 
presence of an aggressive and enterprising population. 

During this period, however, it was not unknown nor entirely unoccupied. 
The deer, panther and bear, here found a secure retreat; and even here they 
were eventually pursued by hunters of undoubted bravery, prominent among 
whom appears the name of Peter Brugler. It appears that he removed from 
New Jersey to Spruce creek for the sole purpose of gratifying a decided pre- 
dilection for the enjoyment of the chase. He discovered the deer-lick above 
Sereno which bears his name, and kept the matter secret for some years. Not 
content with this as his exclusive property, he "salted" the earth at a locality 
more accessible, and so well imitated the natural deposit as to completely de- 
ceive the deer. On one occasion a companion had a narrow escape fi'om death 
in an encounter with a panther. He had emptied the contents of his gun into 
the animal' s flank, but this only served to make it more furious. The hunter 
had only time to reload before the brute sprang toward him and seized the 
end of the rifle barrel between his teeth. At this instant it jvas discharged 
and took effect in his throat. The iron was perceptibly indented by the death 
grip of his teeth. The reminiscences of a farmer in the vicinity of Millville 
present some curious incidents of his experience at a later period, when wild 
animals had been partially exterminated. He rode into the brush one evening 
in search of his cows, which had failed to return at their usual hour. On a 
rising ground beside Little Fishing creek he found the herds with erect heads 
and dilated nostrils, apparently in great fright and about to stampede. At a 
short distance from the rest stood one of the number with his head firmly 
planted against a tree, bellowing furiously. It was discovered that in this 
position he held the body of a wolf in which signs of life were not extinct, 
but which was speedily dispatched by a blow from a cudgel in the hands of 
the farmer. 

Beside the patrons of gun and rod the hills of Pine were visited by the 
shingle makers from Muncy. who built lodges in the forest but made no effort 
at improvement and cultivation. The first work of this kind was reserved for 
John Lyon, a native of Sussex county, New Jersey. Emigrating to Green- 
wood in 1790 he remained there until six years later, when he crossed the 
Muncy hills to their summit, the region known as the pine ' ' flats. ' ' At this 
place, on the land now owned by Jeremiah Fowler, he made the first improve- 
ment in the township. In the course of a few years he was followed from 
Greenwood by David Hamilton and Daniel Whipple, who settled some dis- 
tance above Sereno. Hamilton's cabin was on the site of a bark-house at James 
Ritchie's tannery. The next comers were Joshua and Samuel Davis, with 
their families, originally from the same region in Jersey as Lyon. They 
built the first saw-mill in Pine township, on the same site as the present one 
at Sereno. Subsequently Jno. Thomas built another on Little Fishing dVeek, 
and these two mills did all the sawing that was done in Pine at an early day. 
Much of the timber was merely cut into logs and rafted down the creeks and 
the Susquehanna to Harrisburg and Marietta. There are neither adequate 
shipping facilities nor reliable water-pcwer to justif}' the establishment of an 
extensive lumber manufactory, and hence the population of Pine has not been 
materially benefited by the development of its timber resources. In 1853 
Henry Battin built the California mill, and about the same time Zebulon 
Robbins embarked in a similar enterprise. The latter bought three-hundred 



PINE TOWNSHIP. 269 

acres of land formerly embraced in a track of several thousand acres owned by 
Frederick Veates. 

He was a member of a corporation known as the Asylum Land Company, 
which owned the larger portion of Pine township. To evade the requirements 
and restrictions of the land laws, warrants were obtained for the prescribed 
four-hundred acre tracts, although the real owners were members of this pow- 
erful syndicate of speculators. These warrants were issued December 29, 
1792; the names that appear most frequently among the list of holders are 
Montgomery, Cornelison, McHenry, Giiiin, Mackey, Sample and Strawbridge. 
Some of this land has never been patented. However, under the management 
of the company which first acquired possession, no conflicting titles or bound- 
ary disputes involving any great interest have ever resulted in consequence. 

At the time when William Montgomery as deputy surveyor was marking 
ofP these tracts, the region was included in Derry township, Northumberland 
county; from 1817 to 1853, in Madison, in Columbia. By act of assembly 
approved January 15 of that year, the township of Pine was erected, its bound- 
aries fixed and its organization ordered as one of the provisions of the act pro- 
viding for a readjustment of the division line between Columbia and Montour 
counties. This new feature of the political organization of the former was 
not however, entirely resultant from the division process. The geographical 
isolation of that part of Madison, thus separated from it, and the numerical 
minority of its citizens when voting on questions of roads or schools had cre- 
ated a wish for the change some years previous. 

Since this time (1853) the village of Warnersville has not perceptibly in- 
creased in size. It practically began in 1837 with the erection of a tannery by 
Edward Ritchie, which is still in operation. During Buchanan's administra- 
tion the post-ofiice (named Sereno at the suggestion of John Starr) was removed 
to lola; but in 1861 Francis B. Masters, the present postmaster reopened it. 
The village comprises a store, several dwellings and a school-house. In the 
predecessor of the latter, John Masters, in 1830, opened the first school in 
Pine. The schools in the township compare favorably with those in more 
thickly settled localities. 

lola Lodge, No. 711, Free and Accepted Masons, was organized at lola 
July 5, 1870, by C. F. Knapp and others, members of Van Camp Lodge at 
Bloomsburg. The charter members were Wilson M. Eves, N. G. ; John Lore, 
V. G. ; John Leggatt, treasm-er; William Burgess, secretary; W. H. Hay- 
man, assistant secretary; Ira C. Pursel, S. W. ; Isaac K. Titman, J. W. ; 
William Lowtou, O. G. ; Benjamin Lore, L. S. S. ; Amos Harlan, R. S. S. 
It was removed to Pine Summit, October 1, 1881, at the dispensation of the 
Grand Lodge. The present officers are Samuel Williams, W^illiam Kingston, 
J. R. Fowler and J. F. Crist. 

St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran church was organized in 1879 by Reverend 
N. A. Whitman; May 4, 1880, a house of worship was dedicated by O. D. S. 
Marcley, his successor. The officers at this time were John Bruner, P. W. 
Sones, Samuel Eckman and A. E. Girton. Owing to a change of faith among 
its members the congregation disbanded. At this time, September, 1886, 
there is no regularly organized religioiis body in Pine township. 



270 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XVI. 
CATAWISSA AND FRANKLIN TOWNSHIPS. 



CATAWISSA. 

CATAWISSA was formed from Augusta in 1785, and originally covered thft' 
triangular area now embraced in the townships of Beaver, Conyngham, 
Franklin, Locust, Maine, Mifflin, Mayberry, in Montour county, and part of 
Union, in Schuylkill. Practically, it has been reduced to its present limits by 
the formation of Roaringcreek in 1832, Franklin in 1843, and Maine in 1844. 
It is the oldest political subdivision of the county, having completed the first 
century of its history. 

Authorities differ as to the nationality of the aboriginal tribe which con- 
ferred upon the mountain, creek and town their beaiitiful and euphonious 
designation. Redmond Conyngham, who has extended his researches into- 
everything relating to the primitive history of the region, states that "The 
Piscatawese, or Gangawese, or Conoys had a wigwam on the Catawese, at Cata- 
wese, now Catawissa. " Stewart Pearce asserts that the Shawanese, after suc- 
cessive immigrations from New York to Florida, from there to the Wabash, 
and from that region to the Susquehanna valley, established a village at Cata- 
wissa in 1697, or about that time. The orthography of the word affords no 
additional light on the subject. Catawese occurs in the different dialects of 
the Shawanese and Delawares, and always with the same meaning, "pure 
water. ' ' 

The first Europeans who visited Catawissa were not interested in attempt- 
ing to dissipate the obscurity which involved its primitive history. James Le 
Tort, an adventurous Indian trader, found the valley of the Susquehanna a 
profitable field for his operations. The provincial authorities fi-equently 
employed him on diplomatic missions to chiefs of the various tribes. In 1728 
he bore the governor's compliments to the celebrated Madame Montour and 
several Delaware chieftains, presenting to each a ' ' strowd match coat "as an 
expression of continued friendship. The communication in which Le Tort 
acquainted the executive council with the views of the chiefs, though throwing 
no light upon local affairs, still possesses special interest, inasmuch as it con- 
tains the first mention of any part of Columbia county. It is herewith 
inserted: 

CATAWA6SE, May ye 13, 1728. 
We always thought the Governor knew nothing of the fight betwene the Shawaynos 
and the White People. We desire the Governor to warn the back Inhabts Not to be so 
Ready to attack the Indians, as we are Doubtful they were in that unhappy accedent, and 
we will use all Endeavaurs to hender any Such Like Proceeding on the part of the 
Indians. We Remember very well the League between William Pen and the Indians, 
which was, that the Indians and white people were one. and hopes that his Brother, the 
present Governor, is of the same mind, and that the friendship was to continue for three 
Generations; and if the Indians hurt the English, or the English hurt the Indians, itts the 
same as if they hurt themselves; as to the Governors Desire of meeting him, we Intend 
as soon as the Chiefs of the Five Nations Come to meet the Governor, we will Come with 
them; but if they come not before hereafter, we will to Philadelphia to wait on the Gov- 
ernor. We have heard that W^illiam Pen Son was come to Philada., which We was very- 
Glad of. James Le Tokt. 




^^^^2^^-^ 



CATAWISSA TOWNSHIP, 273 

After the visit of the French trader, the place is not again referred to un- 
til 175,4, when Conrad Weiser, in a letter from Shamokin, mentions Oskohary, 
supposed to be identical with the Catwasse of Le Tort, and the Catawissa of 
the present. Lapackpitton, a Delaware chief who figured prominently in the 
settlement of disputes at the close of the French war, made his residence at 
the village, which was known for some time by his name. Local tradition as- 
signs to this dusky warrior the character of "• Hunkee Punkee," in J. W. Alder's 
'• Indian Legend." It appears that Minnetunkee, his daughter, was disposed 
to encourage the advances of a lover whose prospective position as a member 
of the family was not received with complacency by her father. On a summer 
evening he followed them to the summit of an eminence known as "Lovers 
Leap, ' ' and announced his presence in a manner characteristic of Indian nature. 
The younger brave, mortally wounded by an arrow, fell over the precipice. 
The plash of the river as the body parted its waters had scarcely subsided 
when the maiden, with a cry expressive of defiance, triumph and despair, 
threw herself fi'om the dizzy height, and followed her lover to a watery grave. 
The sequel harmonizes with generally recognized ideas of the succession of 
events. The whole tribe removed fi-om a locality rendered to them intolerably 
sad by this tragic occurrence. 

The region of ' ' pure water ' ' did not long remain unoccupied. A number 
of English Quakers from Maiden creek and Exeter, in Berks county, planted 
their homes in the Catawissa valley. Following the route generally traveled from 
Reading to Sunbury, and the valley of the "North Branch" from that point, 
they finally reached their destination after days of exhausting labor, and nights 
of weariness and insecurity. The natural advantages of the locality had been 
early recognized by land-jobbers and others who preferred to be proprietors 
without being residents. Among those who succeeded to their titles, or estab- 
lished claims as warrantees, were AVilliam Collins, William Hughes, James 
Watson, John Lore, John Mears, Isaiah Willits and John Lloyd. It was 
between 1774 and 1778 when these persons arrived. Moses Eoberts in 1774 built 
the first house in the vicinity of Catawissa. 

Subsequent additions to their number represented a different nationality. 
Some were Germans, but a few were English. They journeyed on horseback, 
and followed an Indian trail over the Broad, Bhie, Locust and Little moun- 
tains. Among those who reached Catawissa in 1782 were Michael Geiger, 
Joseph Mclntyre, John Furry, Thomas Wilkinson, George Huntzinger and 
Conrad Wamphole. About this time a party of Indians re-established a wig- 
wam at the old site of Lapaclq^itton' s town, greatly to the annoyance of the 
settlers. Thomas Wilkinson inciured their displeasure by interfering with 
their fishing operations, and on one occasion was compelled to seek shelter in 
the river. He was unable to swim, but waded out into the channel where the 
depth was sufficient to cover him. He was obliged to raise his head above the 
water in order to breathe, and whenever he did so, became a target for several 
practiced Indians who had taken a commanding position on the bluff. Al- 
though thus subject to the greatest danger he reached the opposite shore in 
safety, much to the chagrin of his foes, who thenceforth believed that he bore a 
charmed life. His explanation to the effect that he was only ' ' gauging the 
water," created some merriment over the incident, and secured for him the 
name of ' ' Tom Ganger. ' ' 

Another occurrance was more tragic and less jocose in its details and re- 
sults. July 26, 1782, a party of Indians made a descent upon the German 
settlement, the exposed condition of which invited attack. John Furry had 
settled on the west side of the river. His family consisted of two daughters 



274 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

and four sons. The three older sons, John, Jonas and Lawrence, were absent, 
having gone for flour to the mill at Sunbiiry. On their return they found their 
parents and sisters killed and scalped. Their mangled remains were interred 
under an apple tree near the house. The brothers buried their household 
goods and farming imj^lements in the ground and returned to Reading. The 
panic seemed contagious, for several other families became alarmed and fol- 
lowed them. The sequel of this story would seem to verify the old adage that 
" Truth is stranger than fiction." Years afterward Jonas and Lawrence Furry 
were in Montreal, and there formed the acquaintance of Henry Furry, a pros- 
perous trader. The similarity of names was at once noticed. Mutual ex- 
planations followed; his indentity as their brother was readily established. 
He described to them the tragic death of their parents and sisters and the 
brutal treatment he had received on the joiu'ney with his captors to Tioga. At 
that place he was ransomed by a Frenchman, and treated by him with kind- 
ness and consideration. 

Notwithstanding the general alarm the Quakers remained, and in 1787 
William Hughes laid out the town of " Hughesburg, alias Catawissey, in the 
county of Northumberland, state of Pennsylvania, North America," on the 
"bank of the north-east tract of the river Susquehanna near the mouth of 
Catawessey creek, about twenty miles above Sunbury and about one-hundred 
and six miles from Philadelphia." William Gray and John Sene were thesur 
veyors. Water, Front, Second, Third and Fourth streets extend east and west, 
parallel with the course of the river; Lumber, South, Main and Pine cross 
these, and are named in order from the creek. The proprietor provided that 
lots were to be disposed of by lottery, and this seems to have been customary, in 
order to prevent partiality. It does not appear that this was done, for in 1789 
John Mears secured titles to sixty-five lots, and became virtual proprietor. It 
is well authenticated that William Henry, by virtue of his warrant for its sur- 
vey in 1769, was the original owner of tlae tract in which the town plot was em- 
braced; but Edward and Joseph Shippen were the patentees, and from them 
the title was transferred to Hughes. In 1796 James Watson laid out 
"Roberts addition," extending Second, Third and Fourth streets, and opening 
Walnut and North, parallel with Pine. 

The size of the town plot was the* considerably in advance of its pop- 
ulation or business interests, although the latter were of considerable local im- 
portance. In 1780 Isaiah Willits established a tannery at the corner of Third 
and South streets. Knappenberger and Willits were proprietors of a ferry, 
and landed their flat where the bridge approaches have since been constructed, 
(ireorge Hughes and William Mears were justices of the peace. The Watsons, 
Jacksons, Lounts, Lloyds andHayhursts were familiar to the whole community 
as substantial, hospitable farmers. In 1774 the first mill in the county was 
built on the site of the Paxton mill on Catawissa creek. It was a primitive 
structure and was frequently out of repair; at such time Sunbury was the 
nearest milling point. In 1789 Jonathan Shoemaker built a grist mill on the 
north side of this stream. This was then the only mill in a radius of many miles, 
and at once received an extensive patronage. In 1799 Christian Brobst erected 
a second and larger mill a short distance above Shoemaker's. It was com- 
pleted in 1801, and when a boat began to ply regularly between points on 
both branches of the Susquehanna, Catawissa became an important and well- 
known point. 

Another circumstance to which this may be attributed was the existence 
there of a store, one of the first between Sunbury and Wyoming. Isaiah Hughes 
was proprietor. The building occupied by him is still standing on the river 



CATAW'ISSA TOWKSHir, 'J < 5 

bank at tlie foot of South street. The second merchant was Joseph Heister, 
whose store was located on Water street several doors below Main. John 
Clark was its second proprietor. He was a man of courage and determination 
as may be inferred from the following incident: He was making a journey to 
Philadelphia on horseback to make his usual purchase of goods when a robber 
seized the bridle of his horse and summarily demanded his money. The mer- 
chant was unarmed, but his ready wit was equal to the occasion. He di'ew a 
spectacle case from his pocket and opened it. In the darkness the sharp click 
of the lid produced the desired effect. The horse plunged forward while the 
highwayman was both deceived and nonplused. 

At this period the shad fishery was of considerable local importance. Salt 
was brought from Reading and exchanged for fish which sjld for six cents 
apiece. The circulating medium was extremely scarce, a result of which was 
that nearly all business was transacted by barter. New stores were opened at 
irregular intervals, as the growth of population or enterprise of the proprietors 
justified it. Among those who will be remembered as merchants during the 
early histoiy of the town are Thomas Ellis, Stephen and Christopher Baldy, 
David Cleaver, Jacob Dyer and Samuel Brobst. In all of their stores there 
was an assortment of every variety of merchandise — dry goods, groceries, hard- 
ware, drugs, etc. 

The importance of a bridge across the Susquehanna was realized by public 
spirited citizens at an early period. The original projectors were Christian 
Brobst. Joseph Paxton, Leonard Rupert, Philip Marling, William Baird, 
Isaiah N. Willits and Richard Dennett, of Columbia county; Cadwallader Evans 
and Samuel Wetherill, of Philadelphia; J. K. Boyer. Lewis Reece and Gabriel 
Heister, of Berks county; James Linton and Daniel Seager, of Lehigh; Daniel 
Graff and James McFarlin, of Schuylkill, and Samuel Baird, of Montgomery. 
The site at first proposed was the present crossing of the Catawissa railroad. 
March 15, 1816, the legislature passed an act authorizing the opening of books 
to receive subscriptions. It does not appear that flattering progress was made 
in organizing the company for eight years later. Thirteen additional commis- 
sioners were appointed for that purpose, among whom Columbia county was 
represented by David Cleaver, William McKelvy, John Barton, William 
Miers, Jacob Rupert, James C. Sproul and John Derr. 

With the citizens of the county the success of the project was a matter of 
primary importance; the only bridge within its limits crossed the river at Ber- 
wick, a point where it failed to confer material benefit on the large proportion, 
of the population south of the river. Although disappointed for twelve years, 
those most interested at Catawissa continued to present this consideration with 
unabated persistence, and finally, in 1828, secured an appropriation of five- 
thousand dollars fi'om the treasury of the state. Half of this was to be paid 
when the abutments and piers had been constructed, and the remainder when 
the entire work had been completed; but no part could be secured iintil ten- 
thousand dollars had been paid by individuals, and an amount additional sub- 
scribed sufficient to finish the bridge. George Taylor and Jacob Alter, of 
Philadelphia; Philip and John Rebsome, of Muncy; George Keim, George* 
Getz and Henry Foster, of Berks county; John C. Appelman and Samuel 
Brooke, of Schuylkill; Benjamin Beaver, Peter Schmick, George H. Willits, 
Stacy Margerum, John Barton and William McKelvy, of Columbia, were 
appointed to reorganize the company and establish its finances on a firm basis. 
The North Branch canal was at this time in course of construction; it was 
plainly apparent that the bridge was a necessity if Catawissa was to derive 
any benefit from that line of traffic, and this consideration induced many to 



276 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

subscribe to the stock of the company. The bridge was finally completed at 
a cost of twenty-six-thousand dollars, and opened for travel January 15, 1833. 
In view of the inconvenience of reaching the county-seat (then at Danville), 
it was not built, as originally proposed, to the moiith of Fishing creek. Sub- 
sequently the stock in the bridge held by the state was sold, and the proceeds 
applied to the construction of a public road on the berme side of the canal 
between Rupert and the bridge approach on the north side of the river. 

The bridge has repeatedly suifered fi-om the freshets and ice floods which 
periodically threaten life and property in the Susquehanna valley. In 1846 
five spans were destroyed; they were rebuilt the following year. March 17, 
1875, the entire structure was swept away. A Howe trass, thirty feet above low 
water mark, was constructed the same summer on the piers of its predecessor. 
It was opened for travel November 22, 1875. 

The slowness and vacillation which characterized the bridge scheme did 
not prevent Chi'istian Brobst from planning an enterprise, the futiu-e develop- 
ment of which he scarcely comprehended. He conceived the idea of a rail- 
road from Catawissa to Tamaqua, and in 1825 traversed the distance between 
the two points on foot, studied the topography of the Quakake valley, and 
concluded that the plan was feasible. With Joseph Paxton he interviewed 
prominent capitalists of Reading and Philadelphia and interested them in the 
scheme. He induced several who seemed favorably impressed with his repre- 
sentations to accompany him on horseback over the proposed route. Mon- 
cure Robinson, a civil engineer, was one of the party. March 21, 1831, an 
act was passed by the legislature authorizing Christian Brobst and Joseph 
Paxton, of Catawissa; William McKelvey and Ebenezer Daniel, of Blooms- 
burg, and others at Philadelphia and Reading, to receive subscriptions for 
the stock of the Little Schuykill and Susquehanna Railroad Company. The 
terminal j)oints of the road were to be Catawissa and the Broad mountain 
where the Wilkesbarre state road intersected the Little Schuylkill. The 
mountains were to be avoided by traversing the valleys of Mosser's run and 
Catawissa creek. 

Energetic measures were at once taken to execute these plans. Edward 
-Miller, an experienced engineer, surveyed the line. Contracts were issued for 
'grading and building bridges. Capital was furnished by the United States 
bank of Philadelphia. W^ith the collapse of that institution, in 1838, and of 
other corporations dependent upon it for financial support, the projectors of 
the railroad were compelled to abandon their enterprise. For fifty years the 
unfinished embankments and bridges reminded unfortunate investors of the 
alluring prospect which prompted their erection. 

March 20, 1849, the original corporation was reorganized under the name 
fof the Catawissa, Williamsport and Erie railroad Company. During the 
succeeding five years, the road was finally completed. The first locomotive 
that ever appeared in Catawissa was the ' ' Massachusetts, ' ' which was brought 
from Philadelphia by canal and transported across the river on a flat. Sunday 
July 16, 1854, the first passenger train entered the town. William Cable was 
vGonductor and John Johnson, engineer. 

Unfortunately the new company was not financially prosperous, and in 
pursuance of an order from the supreme court of the state, its property was 
sold; March 21, 1860, its purchasers were constituted the Catawissa Rail-Road 
■Company. In November, 1872, the Philadelphia and Reading Rail-Road 
Company became lessees. In 1858 the Lackawanna and Bloomsbiirg Rail- 
Road' became an available line of transportation from Catawissa. In 1870 
ca third road, the Danville, Hazelton and W^ilkesbarre, was opened through the 



CATAWISSA TOWNSHIP. _: i < 

town. • The latest acquisition to its commercial facilities was the North and 
West Branch Railway, completed in 1882. 

It is a matter of surprise that extensive manufacturing industries have not 
been established at a place commanding such advantages. The Penn furnace, 
operated by Fincher and Thomas, and a nail factory conducted by Thomas 
Hartman on a small scale at the time when a laborious and tedious hand pro- 
cess was employed, were formerly of some local importance. The only estab- 
lishment of any magnitude that now exists, the Catawissa wood-pulp mill, haa 
had an existence of three-quarters of a century. It was established in 1811 by 
Benjamin Sharpless. It appears that he lived near Sunbury, but resolved tO' 
remove to Ohio and settle there. He visited a brother on his journey and 
found him amassing wealth manufacturing paper. Returning to Catawissa, he 
embarked in a similar business in company with John Clark. The Shoemaker 
mill was purchased, and, with small expenses and trifling alterations, adapted 
to the prospective industry. Raw material became finished fabric after under- 
going a slow and laborious process. The first stage was the reduction of 
straw or rags to pulp; this was removed from the vat with a wire sieve and 
poured over a felt cloth ; when a certain number of alternate strata of pulp and 
felt had accumulated, the water was extracted by powerful pressure; the sheets 
were then dried, folded and pressed, when they were ready for the trade. Af- 
ter passing through different hands, the mill has come into possession of Mc- 
Cready Brothers, of Philadelphia. It was completely destroyed by fire in 1882. 
In the structure as rebuilt, the manufacture of wood pulp receives exclusive 
attention. The general management is entrusted to E. B. Giiie, a gentlemen 
of extensive business experience and thorough acquaintance with all the details 
of the manufacture. 

The development of the railroad scheme of Christain Brobst and Joseph 
Paxton has been briefly outlined. If the existence of the road is to any extent 
due to the sagacity and persistence of Catawissa' s citizens, it is also true that 
the town has been amply compensated for their efforts. This is rather a coin- 
cidence than the expression of any feelings of gratitude or obligation the rail- 
road or its management might be supposed to have entertained. It had not 
been operated six months until the superintendent found it impossible to move 
the trains south from Catawissa that could be brought to that point from the 
northern terminus of the line. This is due to the altitude at which the moun- 
tain is crossed, the slope of which begins at the Susquehanna. AiTangements 
were therefore made for the general forming of trains at Catawissa, which thus 
became the home of nearly all the operatives employed in the freight service of 
the company. Extensive repair shops were also established there in 1864. 
They have become an important factor in furthering the growtli of the town. 

The rapid increase of population in consequence created a tendency among 
property holders to advance rents, and a demand for homes. Two institutions,, 
the Catawissa Land and Building Company, and the Catawissa Mutual Build- 
ing Fund Association, were oi'ganized in 1865 and 1870, respectively, to 
assist their stock-holders to obtain homes. Although their operations have 
been severely criticised, they were, in the main, conducterl in the interest of 
the class of persons it was proposed to benefit. A result of their existence 
was a period of considerable building activity, extending from 1869 to 1873. 
The number of dwellings was still inadequate, and in 1882 F. L. Shumart 
purchased the Zarr farm, and laid off " Shumantown. " Poplar, Shiiman. 
Zarr and Mill streets extend northwest from the creek. Cemetery street 
crosses these at right angles, and is deflected fi-om its course at the cemetery, 
where it intersects the public road. There was au immediate extension of the 



278 HISTOHY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

town over this addition to its bxiilding area. The efforts of citizens in thus 
establishing homes is an earnest of an improved condition of society in every 
respect. 

In 1870 the population of the township was one-thousand, six hundred 
and fourteen; in 1880 it had increased to two-thousand and four, and at that 
time four- fifths of this number were residents of the town. It is estimated 
that a census at the present time would show a population of two-thousand- 
five-hundred. Strenuous efforts have been made for years to secure legal en- 
actments for the erection of Catawissa into a borough. Township govern- 
ment is notoriously inadequate. It makes no provision for police regulations, 
the lighting and grading of streets, or the promotion of internal improvements 
of any kind. When this is recognized and judiciously considered, incorpor- 
ation will logically and promptly follow. 

Private enterprise, however, has to some extent supplied this deficiency. 
Sidewalks have been constructed along the principal streets, and lamp-posts, 
erected and supplied at private expense, are found here and there in the town. 
Soon after the laying out of the village a market house was erected, but this 
appears to have been too far in advance of the ideas of the people. It early 
fell into disuse, and became the resort of the village cows and hogs. Thence- 
forward it was chiefly noticeable for its fleas, and was generally declared a 
nuisance, though tliere was sufficient influence to save it fi'om destruction. 
Sometime after 1820 its demolition was determined upon, and one night a 
loud explosion called out the startled inhabitants to find that the market house 
had been blown up. Some fruitless attempts were, made to discover and pun- 
ish the perpetrators, but no immediate effort was made to replace the building. 

In 1831 it was propo5ed to erect a town-hall and market house in Main 
street at the intersection of Third, on the site of the old structure. Discus- 
sion on this proposition became acrimonious and personal; the project was 
defeated, and no attempt to revive it has since been made. A more unfortu- 
nate result of this difference of opinion was the dissolution of the only fire 
■company which has existed in the village. The " Catawissa Fire Company" 
^was organized May 17, 1827, at Stacy Margerum's hotel, with Joseph Paxton, 
president, and Ezra S. Hayhurst, secretary. The latter, with Christian Brobst, 
Oecrge Hughes, Stephen Baldy, George H. Willits and Jacob Rupert, was 
appointed a committee to ' ' draft an essay of a constitution. ' ' Four days later 
the "essay" was adopted and signed by fifty-four persons. Meetings were 
held quarterly at Margerum's; an assortment of buckets, ladders, hooks and 
chains was secured and distributed so as to be conveniently accessible in an 
emergency. The utmost harmony prevailed until the building of a hall was 
suggested. In Febniary. 1882, after re| eated adjournments the organization 
was unceremoniously disbanded. 

The volume of business transacted at Catawissa has been constantly aug- 
mented since 1864. Large general stores have not yet been superseded by 
special and exclusive lines of merchandising. The Catawissa Deposit bank 
(originally incorporated May 26, 1871, as The Catawissa Deposit and Savings 
bank) has been known by its present name since April 12, 1872. It was or- 
ganized in that year with John K. Robbins, president and B. R. Davis, cashier. 
The capital stock is fifty-thousand dollars. The Catawissa Water Company, 
chartered June 29, 1882. is another prominent business feature of the village. 
F. L. Shuman, P. H. Shuman, William H. Rhawn, Gideon E. Myers and 
Reuben Shuman were the first board of directors. The water is obtained 
from Catawissa creek and distributed to every part of the town. 

Various fraternal and becevolent societies are numerously represented. 



CATAWISSA TOWNSHIP. 279 

Lieutenant H. H. Hoagland, Post No. 170, Grand Army of the Republic, was 
organized in October, 1868, with the following members: M. M. Brobst, 
Samuel Waters, Daniel Walters, John G. Forborg, Thomas Harder, I. W. 
Willits, Clark Harder, Henry Thomas, Arthur Harder, T. P. Hause, B. B. 
Schmick, George W. Waters, John R. Brobst and John Reicheldeefer. In 
1876 it was disbanded for want of a quorum. June 16, 1880, a reorganization 
was effected. M. M. Brobst, D. W. Spalding, G. W. Reifsnyder, I. W. Wil- 
lits, John R. Brobst, I. H. Seesholtz, D. ^Y. Walter, John McCoy, J. G. Wa- 
ters, B. B. Schmick, Joseph P. Hause, T. E. Harder, Theodore Fox, John 
Wotstine, Joseph Walter. John Getkin, M. V. B. Kline, Thomas F. Harder, 
C. F. Harder, Daniel Giffin and J. C. Fletcher constituted the membership at 
this time. The Post is in a flourishing condition with encouraging prospects 
of future usefulness. 

Concordia Lodge, No. 60, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was chartered 
September 24, 1838. The first officers were Owen D. Leib, N. G. ; John F. 
Mann, V. G. ; Michael Farnsworth, secretary, Joel E. Bradley, assistant, and 
Christian A. Brobst, treasurer. Meetings were held at the house of the latter 
on Main street until April, 1882, when the Pine street school building was oc- 
cupied. It was purchased the previous year. 

Catawissa Chapter, Holy Royal Arch Masons, No. 178, was instituted Feb- 
ruary 19, 1855 with James D. Strawbridge, H. P.; John K. Robbins, K. and 
J. Boyd McKelvy, S. 

Catawissa Lodge, No. 349, Free and Accepted Masons, was granted its 
charter by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania December 5, 1864. Its first 
officers were John Sharpless, W. M. ; W. M. Monroe, S. W., and Walter Scott, 
J. W. 

December 8, 1869, the Catawissa Masonic Association was organized by the 
following persons, members of the chapter and lodge: I. W. Seisholtz, George 
S. Gilbert, M. V. B. Kline. Walter Scott, AV. B. Koons, J. B. Knittle, W. H. 
Abbott, C. Ellis. I. Monroe, John K. Robbins, C. B. Brockway and John 
Thomas. A hall was erected in 1870 at a cost of $15,000. The association 
subsequently became involved, financially, and was obliged to sell its property. 

Catawissa Council, No. 96, Order of United American Mechanics, received 
its charter fi'om the state council October 1, 1866. The following persons 
were original members : Simon Raup, Charles Garner, J. Q. A. Brobst, Henry 
S. Geiger, Valentine Metz, Jacob Millard, Nathan Northstein, John Getchey, 
C P. Reese, Gideon Haldeman, John M. Gordon, Adiy Bowers and Charles 
H. Kateer. 

The Catawissa Silver Cornet Band Association became a corporate body 
April 7, 1869. The names of Mom'oe Seitzinger, Jeremiah S. Cornelius, 
Allen J. Brandt, Emery Getchey, Charles Schmick, Perry Walters, A. Z. 
Lewis, J. M. Walsham, Luther Eyer and F. D. Berninger appear in the list 
of its first members. 

Washington Camp, No. 132, Patriotic Order Sons of America, was organ- 
ized April 3. 1870, with the following members: W. H. Inhoff, Jacob Cool, J. 
K. Rhawn, Harry Yeager, Charles H. Bibby, Samuel H. Young, C. P. Pfah- 
ler, C. D. Hart, George L. Kostenbauder, W. K. Russel, P. A. Brown, 
Thomas E. Harder, Dennis Waters. William F. Bibby, Jacob Morrison, 
Thomas B. Cullihan, A. W. Stadler, Charles D. Cool, W. H. Abbott, O. D. 
Kostenbauder and J. Kostenbauder. 

Catawissa Grange, No. 216, Patrons of Husbandry, was chartered April 30, 
1874. Among its first members were Matthias Hartman, Josiah Roberts, E. 
M. Tewksbury, Solomon Helwig, Martin T. Hartman, Samuel Fisher and John 



280 * HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

S. Mensch. May 25, 1883, the Caiawissa Grange and Hall Association was 
incorporated. A commodious brick structure was erected the following year 
at a cost of six-thousand dollars. June 13, 1884, the hall was dedicated by 
James Calder, D. D. May 28. 1884, a stock company was formed for its 
management with William T. Creasy, president, E. M. Tewksbury, secretary, and 
William J. Martin, treasurer. It may be proper to mention in this connection 
several agricultural discoveries for which Catawissa is noted. The Catawissa 
monthly raspberry has been propagated from a single plant discovered in the 
Friends burial ground some years ago. Blossoms and berries appear at the 
same time from July to October. In 1872 J. K. Sharpless originated the 
Sharpless seedling strawberry, and in 1878 William J. Martin discovered a new 
variety of an extensively cultivated cereal widely known as Martin's amber 
wheat. 

Sylvania Division, No. 23, Order of Railway Conductors, was organized 
May 18, 1881, with the following members: John W. Dent, P. S. Eobison, 
Samuel L. Bowers, William H. Berger, James F. Miller, Lewis C. Reifsnyder, 
Peter Runker. Benjamin F. Ryan, Theodore Schmick, George W. Forrer and 
John W. Fenstermacher. 

Mountain Grove Lodge, No. 324, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, was 
organized July 14, 1886. The members at that time were Daniel Geiger, 
James Kelley, Jeremiah Haley, Charles Brown, George D. Bowman, Jame& 
Fisher, Charles E. McAfee, George E. Mensch, Ham. Yeager, William R. 
Smith, Ira B. Ervin, Boyd Longenberger, Frank Perry, John L. Getkin, John 
I. Chambers, George W. Ervin and G. W. Linn. 
N The Quakers who first settled Catawissa shared in that devotion to their 

faith which characterized its adherents at this period. Their meeting-house 
may be seen on a knoll a short distance from the confluence of the creek and 
Susquehanna. It is a log building, nearly or quite square, and no entrance is 
visible from the front. It presents a weather-beaten but substantial appearance. 
The furniture of the interior is severely plain and not suggestive of comfort or 
elegance. In the rear of this structure is a burial ground surrounded by a 
stone wall. Within the inclosure are a number of trees, the massive trunks 
and spreading branches of which would seem to indicate great age. The majes- 
tic oaks, the low, wooden building and the quiet burial ground are invested 
with associations of the most sacred character. This plain structure was the^ 
first completed house of worship in the valley of the "North Branch " between 
Sunbury and W^yoming. 

How long it has been a place of worship cannot be definitely determined. 
It is the oldest building in Catawissa, and this statement implies an existence- 
of more than a century. In 1787 William Collins, W^illiam Hughes, James 
Watson, John Love and other Friends resident in the vicinity were granted 
permission to hold religious services here by the Exeter (Berks county) meeting, 
the ecclesiastical body in the jurisdiction of which they were embraced. At 
the Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting, November 2, 1795, Exeter Friends re- 
ported having for some time been considering the advisability of forming a new 
meeting within their limits. After due deliberation the proposed change was 
made and Catawissa monthly meeting established. April 23, 1796, the body 
thus instituted held its first session. It was attended by Ellis Yarnall, Arthur 
Howell, Henry Drinker, John Morton, James Cresson, David Potts, Thomas 
Lightfoot and Benjamin Scarlot, from Philadelphia; and by Amos Lee, Jacob 
Thomas, Owen Hughes and Thomas Pearson, fi'om Exeter. An organization was 
effected by the election of Isaac Wiggins as clerk. Among other business trans- 
acted was the appointment of Ellis Hughes and William Ellis to prepare suit- 



CATAWIS^A TOWNSHIP. 281 

able mfirriage certificates; and of James Watson, John Lloyd, Joseph Car- 
penter, Benjamin Warner, Thomas Eves, Reuben Lundy, Nathan Lee and John 
Hughes to care for the Friends burial ground. The meeting thus begun con- 
tinued for twelve years. Toward the close of that period the Friends had be- 
come 80 reduced in numbers that this body dissolved December 24, 1808. Since 
that time meetings have been held by the few Friends who still reside in the 
vicinity, but such occasions are neither frequent nor regular. 

The German element of the population also took measures at an early date 
to secure for themselves those religious privileges they had previously enjoyed. 
When Christian Brobst entered Catawissa in 1795 he was accompanied by Rev- 
erend Seely, a Lutheran pastor from Berks county. May 1, 1796, a commun- 
ion was held at Brobst' s recently built cabin. The following persons partici- 
pated: Michael Raup, Michael Hower, Daniel Geiger, Christian Brobst, John 
Wirts, Jacob Yocum, Conrad Geiger, Catharine Wirts, Barbara Brobst, Regina 
Hartel, Maria Gillihans and Catharine Hower. This is the first service of this 
kind held at Catawissa. January 1, 1796, the first baptisms recorded oc- 
curred. The subjects were Joseph, Edna and Maria, children, respectively, of 
Christian Brobst and Frederick Knittle and Daniel Yocum. 

Denominational distinctions were but slightly observed in those days. Rever- 
end G. V. Stock became Lutheran pastor in 1802, and Reverend John Dietrich 
Adams six years later is mentioned as occupying a similar position over the 
Reformed congregation. March 10, 1804, articles of agreement in the joint 
ownership and use of a house of worship for both denominations were signed by 
Michael Hower, Jacob Yocum and Harmon Yost, elders, Samuel Felter and 
Daniel Geiger, deacons. Christian Brobst presented a building site. In 
the same year the church building was completed and dedicated. It was a 
stone structure. 

The furniture and arrangement of the interior conformed to the usual style 
of the period in that respect. The galleries extending round three sides, and 
the nine-glass pvdpit would present a novel appearance if viewed at the pres- 
ent day. In 1853 this building was replaced by the brick edifice of which 
Saint John's German Lutheran congregation is now exclusive owner. Rever- 
end Frederick Plitt succeeded Mr. Steely in 1808; Peter Hall became pastor 
in 1817; Peter Kester in 1820; Jeremiah Schindle in 1831; William J. Eyer 
in 1838; William Laitzel in 1874; L. Lindenstreuth in 1878; and J. H. Nei- 
man in 1881. Mr. Eyer's pastorate covered a period as long as those of his 
predecessors combined. 

At his suggestion June 25, 1845, a meeting was held to devise means for 
the organization and government of that portion of the congregation which pre- 
ferred English services. Christian Brobst was called to the chair and Charles 
Witmer appointed secretary. It was decided to make the proposed division, 
and confer upon the new organization the name of Saint Matthew' s English 
Lutheran church. William J. Eyer, Stephen Baldy, Joseph Brobst, Jacob 
Kreigh, John Hartman and Peter Bodine were dii-ected to prepare a constitu- 
tion. July 13, 1845, the draft submitted by them was adopted; and 
November 19, 1850, the church became a corporate body. William J. Eyer 
remained in charge as pastor until 1851; J. F. Wampole and J. R. Dimm 
served in that capacity until 1867, when Daniel Beckner became regular pas- 
tor; Sylvanus Curtis followed in 1870; C. F. Coates in 1871; R. F. Kings- 
bury in 1872; E. H. Leisenring in 1875; F. P. Manhart in 1878; J. F. 
Deiner in 1879; D. M. Henckel in 1882; and U. Myers in 1883. In 1851 
a church edifice was erected; in 1884 this was remodeled at a cost of ten- 
thousand dollars. The rededication occurred October 14, 1884. Reverends 



282 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

Sharrets, Manbart, Schindel, Leisenring, Bodine, and resident ministers of 
other denominations, assisted the pastor. 

Reverends Diefenbach, Knable, Tobias, Fursch, Steeley, Daniels, Moore, 
Dechant and Derr successively followed Mr. Adams as pastor of the Reformed 
•congregation. During Mr. Dechant' s pastorate the joint ownership of Saint 
John's union church was dissolved. May 18, 1882, the corner-stone of a new 
Saint John's was laid. The building operations were directed by Mr. Dechant, 
who was entrusted with entire supervision over the work, financial and other- 
wise. May 6, 1888. the completed edifice was dedicated. The pastor was as- 
sisted by Reverends O. H. Strunch of Bloomsburg, and William C. Scheaffer 
of Danville. 

The history of Methodism in Catawissa is different from that of the denom- 
inations mentioned. The latter owe their existence to emigration from local- 
ities where they were already established ; the former dates its origin from a 
visit of Bishop Asbury, the founder of that religious body in America. Tradi- 
tion asserts that he stopped at Joseph Mclntyre's on a journey fi-om Sunbury 
to Wyoming; that he held services there which resulted in the conversion of that 
family and others: and formed a class, which in course of time became a regu- 
lar appointment. Asbury was followed by other intinerant missionaries — 
Nathaniel Mills, James Paynter and Benjamin Abbott. Services were held in 
Mclntyre's house and barn, where E. M. Tewksbury lives. In 1828 a church 
building was erected; July 4, 1869, a second structure was dedicated. At 
that time it formed part of Elysburg circuit, but has since been transferred to 
Catawissa. 

In the town of Catawissa Methodism has been represented since 1834 by a 
church building; the second structure was built in 1854, and a third in 1884. At 
ah adjourned Quarterly Conference held November 4, 1888, the following action 
was taken — " Resolved, that it is the judgment of this Quarterly Conference 
that we enter at once upon the work of building a new church; and that a 
committee be appointed to take subscriptions for that purpose. ' ' Pursuant to 
which, Reverend R. E. Wilson, J. M. Smith, L. B. Kline, H. F. Clark and 
C. C. Sharpless were authorized to solicit subscriptions. February 16, 1884, 
a building committee was appointed composed of R. E. Wilson, H. F. Clark, 
W, W, Perry, J. M. Smith, C. C. Sharpless, Jesse Mensch and L. B. Kline. 
Saturday, July 12, 1884, the corner-stone was laid. Sunday, February 15, 
1885, Doctors Vincent and Upham dedicated the structure in the presence of 
a large concourse of people. 

The services of the Protestant Episcopal church were first held in Cata- 
wissa in 1860 by the Reverend E. N. Lightner, rector of Christ church, Dan- 
ville. Some years later the Reverend T. H. Cullen, rector of Saint Paul' s 
church, Bloomsburg, held services monthly, and administered baptism to a few 
adults and infants at various times. In 1870 his successor, the Reverend John 
Hewitt, conducted bi-monthly services in Masonic hall, alternating with the 
Reverend J. M. Peck of Danville. During this time the Right Reverend 
William B. Stevens, bishop of the diocese, officiated at two confirmations. 
In May, 1871, Saint John's parish was formed. George S. Gilbert, Walter 
Scott, Isaac H. Seesholtz, William H. Abbott, AV. B. Parkins and — Jones were 
elected wardens and vestrymen. They immediately applied to the convention 
of the diocese of Pennsylvania for a charter, but for some reason failed to 
secure it. Catawissa being geographically within the limits of the Central 
Pennsylvania diocese, that body at its first annual convention received the 
parish into union with itself June 12, 1872. A short time previous, the Rev- 
•erend Joseph L. Colton was called to the rectorship. April 2, 1872, he 



CATAWISSA TOWNSHIP. 283 

(entered upon his duties, and opened a parochial school. In January of this 
year, the church purchased the property of the Catawissa Seminary Company, 
but worshiped in Masonic hall until the necessary alterations had been made 
in its interior furnishing. The communion was tirst celebrated in the town 
agreeably to the ritual of the Protestant Episcopal church the first Sunday in 
June, 1872. Two weeks later the congregation worshiped in its own building. 
July 21, 1878, Mr. Colton's connection with the parish ceased with his resig- 
nation. December 31, 1881, Reverend Charles E. Fessenden resigned after 
a rectorship of six months. The Reverend L. Zahner, of Bloomsburg, has 
conducted occasional services since then. 

The educational history of Catawissa, as well as its religious record, was 
begun by the society of Friends June 24, 1797. John Mears informed the 
monthly meeting that a siim of money raised by general subscriptions among 
Philadelphia Friends had been placed in his hands, for the purpose of establish- 
ing a school at Catawissa ' ' for the education of children in useful learning, ' ' and 
that he had expended part of it in the purchase of a lot of ground, the title to 
which was held in trust by John Lloyd, Robert Field, Charles Chapman and 
Ellis Hughes. The following year the gratifying announcement was made that 
John Pemberton, a prominent citizen of Philadelphia, had bequeathed the 
sum of twenty pounds toward the encoaragement and support of the school, 
• ' to be applied to the instruction of children of members of oui' society in use- 
ful and necessai'y school learning." The school thus begun in 1797 was con- 
tinued with satisfactory results until the dissolution of the monthly meeting. 

The Germans also manifested a degree of interest in establishing and main- 
taining schools. In 1800 Martin Stuck, of Hamburg, Berks county, opened a 
school in Michael Geiger's dwelling near Mclntyre's. The following year 
he removed to a building erected for school pui'poses nearer Catawissa creek. 
He was employed by Peter Fornwald, Archibald Hower, Frederick Knittle, 
Thomas Fester and others. In 1804 Mrs. Mary Paxton opened a school in 
her house at Catawissa. In addition to the usual branches, she taught the 
girls to sew and knit. Elijah Barger and Ellis Hughes were teachers about 
this time in the Friends' school. Messrs. Kent and Ely, of New York, suc- 
ceeded to the patronage of Mrs. Paxton' s school when she closed it. In 1818 
Thomas Barger established the most extensive educational institution that had 
yet existed. His scholars came from Mainsville and other points as well as 
the immediate vicinity. The "institution" was conducted on the second 
floor of a spring- house. 

The year 1838 marks the beginning of a new era in the school history of 
Catawissa. The advent of the new regime is thus explained: 

Catawissa, March 16, 1838. 
To the School Board of Gataioissa Township: 

Gentlemen : At a meeting of the qualified electors of said district, held this day at 
the house of Stacy Margerum, in pursuance of an act of assembh' entitled: " An act to 
consolidate and amend the several acts relative to a general systeni of education by com- 
mon schools," passed the 13th day of June, 183(3, they, the said electors, determined by a 
majority of those then and there present and voting on the question, to accept of the sys- 
tem of common schools as established by said act, of which you will take notice, and 
govern yourselves accordingly. Witness our hands the date above mentioned. 

Ezra S. Hayhurst, 
Charles Conner, 
Secretaries of said meeting. 

Accordingly March 19, 1838, a meeting of the first school-board was held. 
"William Clayton. Isaiah John, Ezra S. Hayhurst, Caspar Hartman, Christian 
A. Brobst and Milton Boone constituted this first board of directors. They 
were called to or<ler by Cas]-»er Hartman. who nominated Christian A. Brobst 



284 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

for president, and Ezra S. Hayhurst for secretary. Both were elected unani- 
mously. A code of resolutions, fourteen in number, was presented by the 
secretary and adopted as rules of order. Messrs. Clayton, Boone, Hartman 
and John, agreeably to instructions from the board, divided the township into 
ten sub- districts. Provision was made for the erection of ten houses, the 
amounts paid ranging from one-hundred and eighty-five to two-hundred and tea 
dollars. More than foiir-thousand dollars were expended the first year. The 
taxation necessary to provide for this was regarded by many as onerous and 
unnecessary. At an election held March 19, 1841, the continuance of the sys- 
tem was sustained by a small majority. It was again submitted May 5, 1846, 
and this time there were but four dissenting votes. 

Although the system gave general satisfaction, there were those who de- 
sired better educational advantages than it could confer. After mature delib- 
eration on the part of those most interested, it was decided to establish a 
school "for the promotion of education, both in the ordinary and higher 
branches of English literature and science, and in the ancient and modern 
languages." To accomplish this, they secured a charter for " Catawissa 
Seminary." February 9, 1866, George H. Willits, Charles W. McKelvy, 
Samuel B. Diemer, George Scott, Isaiah John, Henry Hollingshead, David 
Clark and John K. Bobbins were its first trustees. Professors Lance, For- 
syth and Case were among the teachers. The general rasults of the school 
were satisfactory and beneficial; but on account of the limited patronage re- 
ceived, it was closed before completing the first decade of its history. 

Althoitgh not apparently a fortunate occurrence, this circumstance has in- 
directly advanced the educational interests of the community in general. 
When the seminary closed, intelligent and public spirited citizens began to 
direct their attention to the improvement of the common schools, which had 
retrograded from the high standard established by Joel E. Bradley in 1838. 
The question of replacing the dilapidated school-house with a structure of ade- 
quate size, and of lengthening the term, was agitated with energy and per- 
sistence. A director of pronounced views in favor of both changes was elected 
in 1877. The movement gained strength, and in 1879 its supporters had a 
controlling influence in the board. The ideas which actuated their policy of 
improvement are tangibly expressed in the imposing structure which Catawissa 
has dedicated to the cause of education. 

It is pleasantly located at the head of Main street and commands a view of 
the most picturesque section of the Susquehanna valley. The surroundings 
are eminently adapted to exert that unconscious influence on pliant minds 
which creates in them aspirations for what is beautiful, true and good in char- 
acter. The location is healthful, salubrious and agreeable. The building pre- 
sents an attractive, symmetrical and substantial appearance. A marble block 
in the brick wall is inscribed with the names of E. B. Guie, B. R. Davis, G. 
W. Reifsnyder, J. B. Yetter, L. Eyer and Dr. W. Walter, directors; W. 
W. Perry, architect, and Charles King, contractor. The interior is con- 
veniently and judiciously arranged. It was first occupied for school pur- 
poses in April, 1882. Charles H. Albert was principal and E. B. Guie^ 
first assistant. A library of well selected books, to which pupils have con- 
stant access, and a cabinet of philosophical and chemical apparatus add 
interest to every study embraced in the curriculum. The establishment of this 
institution, and its successful operation under the management of competent 
teachers and enterprising directors, reflect credit on the intelligence of the en~ 
tire body of citizens. 



FEANKLIN TOWNSHIP. 285 



FRANKLIN. 



At the January session of the court in 1843, certain citizens of Catawissa 
petitioned for a division of that township "on account of the great incon- 
venience of attending elections and other township business. ' ' The prayer of 
the petitioners was granted, and a favorable report having been received from 
the commissioners appointed to inquire into the matter, the new township was 
erected with the name of Franklin. Its limits included the area now embraced 
in the townships of Mayberry and Franklin. AV'hen Montour county was 
formed in 1850 it became one of its sub-divisions; but when, in 1853, the di- 
vision line was re-adjusted, Franklin was divided, the portion remaining in Mon- 
tour being erected into Mayberry township. 

Settlement in this region began at a later period than in the Catawissa 
valley. In 1783 John Cleaver, a Quaker from Chester county, visited friends 
who had located there and decided to purchase a tract on the opposite side of 
the river. He returned with his family in the spring of the following year, 
but was deterred fi'om completing his purchase by accounts of a Hood the pi'e- 
vious winter. The river rose to an unprecedented height, overflowing its 
banks and compelling families living on the " bottoms " to leave their homes. 
The Cleavers thereupon settled on the hills above Roaring creek. The Claytons, 
another family of the same religious preferences, followed them from Chester 
county to their new homes. At a later period German settlers also made their 
appearance. Frederick Knittle, from Richmond township, Berks county, 
located on the Esther furnace road. In 1795 Daniel Knittle became owner of 
an adjoining tract. John and Peter Mensch located north of Roaring creek, 
near the river. Michael Hoover settled on the hill road to Danville, and 
Christian Hartley on the site of Pensyl's mill. 

Catawissa has always been the town for this section. Its business interests 
are represented by two stores, located respectively at Parr' s mill and at Pensyl. 
A post-office is connected with the latter. It was formerly known as Willow - 
vale, but has been re-established under the name of Pensyl. 

The churches and schools attended by Franklin people were also located in 
Catawissa township. The following with regard to the latter appears in the re- 
port of William H. Snyder, county superintendent in 1876: After the school 
closed at Mclntyre's, a house was built just above the foundry to accommodate 
the settlers at the mouth of Catawissa creek. Mr. Stuck, who had taught at 
Mclntyre's, was succeeded in this school by Daniel Krist and Daniel Bigles. 
Several married men availed themselves of the opportunity to receive instruc- 
tion at this school. Near where Joseph T. Reeder lives, Joseph Horlecker 
opened a school which was called ' ' Clayton' s school, ' ' by which name it is now 
known. The one established below Esther furnace was taught by Samuel Bit- 
ler and James Stokes. 

The religious organizations. Bethel and Mount Zion churches, have been 
formed with a membership originally connected with the Mclntyre appoint- 
ment. The Bethel church edifice was erected in 1859, at which time David 
Zarr, Jonas Berninger, Joseph Hartman, John Teitsworth, Nicholas Camp- 
bell, William Reeder, Peter Yocum and William Kiesle were trustees. In 
1874 Mount Zion church was built. At this time the trustees were William 
Fisher, Joseph Reeder, Peter G. Campbell, Wellington Cleaver, Jackson 
Cleaver, John Hile, Joseph Fisher, Sylvester Cleaver and Eli Keilner. Both 
appointments are connected with the Catawissa circuit, and embraced in the 
Danville district of the Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist 
Episcopal church. 



286 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

CHAPTER XVII. 

MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP. 

THIS township was erected in 1799, in the last term of Thomas Mifflin's in- 
cumbency as governor of the state. It was one of the two political divisions- 
soxrth of the Susquehanna embraced in Columbia county at the time of its for- 
mation, and was originally formed from the eastern portion of Catawissa. By 
an act of assembly approved March 3, 1818, part of this territory was annexed to 
Schuylkill county. Practically, however, Mifflin was reduced to its present lim- 
ited area by the erection of Maine and Beaver in 1844 and 1845, respectively. 
It extends from the Susquehanna to the summit of Nescopeck mountain, and 
adjoins Luzerne county on the east. The foot-hills of the Nescopeck range 
extend in a south-westerly direction from the mouth of the stream of that 
name to a point where they are intersected by Ten-Mile creek. The triangu- 
lar area of level land between the base of these hills and the river is known as 
Mifflin "flats." 

The date of the earliest settlement in this region cannot be definitely deter- 
mined. There were some families here in 1779 who were probably recent set- 
tlers at that time. One of these families was murdered by a band of hostile- 
Indians in this year, and their more fortunate neighbors fled across the river 
to Fort Jenkins for protection. Whether they returned is unknown. The last 
Indian tragedy in this region occurred about the year 1785, and was perpetrated 
by a party of savages on their way to New York state. A family of three — 
father, mother and son — were murdered on the Mifflin ' ' flats. ' ' They had 
pushed some distance ahead of the body of immigrants with which they trav- 
eled, and who, upon reaching the summit of the hill on the following day, saw 
the smoke from the cabin and retired to Catawissa. Returning in a few days, 
they buried the dead in one grave. It appears that a neighbor of this unfor- 
tunate family, with a presentiment of danger, crept into a potato-hole or cave- 
cellar for protection; in the dead of night he came out to reconnoiter, and 
found the savages sleeping on the floor of his cabin. He retreated to his 
asylum and was not discovered. Of the subsequent permanent settlement, 
the first families came after the close of the war, and included the familiar 
names of Creasy, Angle, Gruver, Aten, Kirkendall, Brown, Koder, Bow- 
man and Kern. All these families came from Warren county. New Jersey, 
a section that gave to Columbia county many of its best citizens in the 
earlier years of its history. Those who appeared first followed the Head- 
ing road to Catawissa, and from that point made their way over the river 
hills. At a later period the. journey was made by way of Beaver mead- 
ows and the Sugar- Loaf across the Buck, Broad and Nescopeck moun- 
tains. The river "bottoms," now acknowledged to exceed in fertility any 
other part of the township, were regarded by the pioneers as pine "barrens." 
They turned from them to the surrounding hilly region, well watered and 
covered with a luxuriant growth of timber. 

Nicholas Angle located on Ten-Mile run* a mile from its source. West- 

* The name of this stream has no reference to its length. When the hill road from Catawissa was sur- 
veyed, ten miles had just been completed upon ascending the bill. The propriety of the name is thus cxt 
plained. 



MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP. 28T 

ward, at the base of Nescopeck mountain, Paul Gruver made an improvement, 
and in his neighborhood Thomas Aten and Jacob Schweppenheiser also set- 
tled. The latter built the first saw-mill in the township on a branch of Ten- 
Mile creek. On the ridge above this stream were the Creasys, John and David 
Brown and the Kirkendalls. John Brown, Sr. , in 1793 located in the valley 
of the creek on a tract of four- hundred acres purchased by his father for 
twelve dollars an acre. It included the Brown mill property, the Fr}'mire 
and Snyder farms. 

A considerable German element from Berks and Lehigh counties appeared 
subsequent to the arrival of the families just mentioned. Among the number 
the Hartzels, Hostellers, Zimmermans and Mensingers are still represented. 

In August, 1794:, John Kunchel and William Rittenhouse laid out a town 
on the Mifflin "flats," and conferred upon it the name of Pennsylvania's first 
governor. The original draft describes it as "situate on the south side of 
the river Susquehanna, opposite to three islands in Catawissa township, North- 
umberland county, about thirty miles above Sunbury, and the same distance 
below Wilkesbarre. " The last part of this description is significant. The 
erection of Northumberland county in 1772^ and of Luzerne in 1786, with their 
seats of justice sixty miles aj^art, made it probable that the formation of a 
county from the adjacent parts of each would eventually be necessary, and 
these enterprising founders, taking time by the fore-lock, sought to empha- 
size the eligibility of Mifflinsburg as the county seat of the future. While the 
population of the township was receiving constant additions in rapid succes- 
sion, the town of Mifflinsburg increased in size with a slowness which charac- 
terized the growth of other places in this section at the period. 

The floods of nearly a century have gradually but effectually denuded the 
islands of their once fertile soil, leaving a barren sand-bar to mark the loca- 
tion of each. At this point the course of the river is slightly curved away 
fi'om the ' ' flats, ' ' and the bank is steep and high. Front or First street 
extended along the river a distance of one mile. Market crosses it at a right - 
ansrle and extends the same distance through the center of the town. In the 
rear of Front are four parallel streets, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth. 
Ferry street is above Market, at the eastern limit of the town plot. West 
street forms the opposite boundary. Market and Third are one-hundred 
and thirty-two feet wide. Their intersection formed the public square, in 
which an acre of ground was reserved for the site of public buildings. All 
the corner lots on Fourth, ten in number, were reserved as locations for houses 
of worship. The public spirit of the proprietors was further manifested by 
appropriating two lots on Third for the respective locations of a German and 
an English college. Neither of these institutions ever progressed further than 
this incipient state, if we except a school opened in 1794 by David Jones in a 
hut which stood among the scrub oak and pine beyond the limits of the pros- 
pective town. 

The first house in the village was built by Peter Yohe, a German from 
Berks county, and occupied a lot adjoining Hess hotel. It is said that before- 
his first crop had matured, being reduced to the last extremity for food he went- 
to Wilkesbarre in a canoe, and there procured a bushel of corn. It may be in- 
ferred from this circumstance that he entered the region at a very early date. 
Other old houses stood at the south-west corner of Race and Third, on Market 
between Front and Second, and on Front above Market. Their respective oc- 
cupants were John Reynolds, Christian Kunchels and Michael Wehr. The 
landing of the ferry was some distance above its present location. Raftsmen 
on the river frequently replenished their supplies of rnm and provisions at 



288 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

the hotel of Matthias Heller, on Front street. Subsequently, Jacob Harman 
built another public house a short distance from the site of the present one, 
and here opened the first store in the township. About the year 1825 Clem- 
ent Millard, M. D. , a native of Philadelphia and nephew of Dr. Benjamin 
Rush, located in the town as its first regular physician. 

The sagacity of the proprietors in locating it midway between Sunbury 
and Wilkesbarre, and in making generous provision for religious and educa- 
tional institutions could not compensate for its commercial disadvantages. So 
apparent was this, that no attempt was made to accomplish their original de- 
sign when the new county was eventually erected. In 1808 an unsuccess- 
ful effort was made to induce the projectors of the Mauch Chunk and Towanda 
turnpike to locate its course through the town. The ' ' North Branch ' ' canal 
might have conferred substantial benefit on the place had it not been constructed 
on the opposite side of the river. To reap the greatest advantages from this 
line of trafiic, Captain Yants proposed the erection of a bridge, and with 
characteristic promptness and energy secured subscriptions to the amount of 
some thousands of dollars. Although a comparatively small amount in addi- 
tional pledges would have secured an appropriation from the legislature, the 
enterprise was never consummated. 

Failing to realize any pecuniary benefit from the town, the proprietors 
ceased to exercise any supervision over its afPairs. Many of the lots were oc- 
cupied and improved without any formal purchase, and are held to this day 
under no tenure save the right^of possession. The streets and commons orig- 
inally embraced one hundred acres. Many of the citizens curtailed the 
width of the streets by appropriating for cultivation those portions adjoining 
their lots. To such an extent had this been carried that in some places the 
public ways were scarcely wide enough for the passage of a single vehicle. 
Such proceedings demanded a vigorous protest from the conservative element 
of the population. Accordingly on the evening of Saturday, March 28, 1835, 
thirty-one citizens assembled in the school-house to take into consideration the 
propriety of opening the streets. Captain S. B. M. Yants was called to 
the chair, and Benjamin Seidle appointed secretary; John Keller, S. B. M. 
Yants, Benjamin Seidle, Samuel Harman and Charles Hess were elected a 
town committee for a period of six years. They were empowered to take 
measures for a re-survey of the town, to rent the public lots, and to call meet- 
ings of the citizens. Though not regarded as a legally constituted body, 
these town committees have never been opposed in the exercise of their prerog- 
atives. After five days' work in locating the corners of the streets, Ezra E. 
Hayhurst, the surveyor, produced a plat of the town in which the original 
■wide streets and broad commons were again a prominent feature. 

With no facilities for transportation until the construction of the North and 
West Branch railroad, Mifflinville has not been a desirable point for the lo- 
cation of industrial enterprises. On a small scale the manufacture of blasting 
powder was begun in 1855 by Matthew Brown and Samuel Snyder. Their 
mill had been in operation but three days when an explosion completely shat- 
tered the building and machinery. Such occurrences, from their fi-equency, 
eventually ceased to attract attention. The old stamping process was here 
used. The product found a ready sale in the coal regions of the state; but the 
manufacture has been abandoned, having ceased to be profitable since the open- 
ing of works on a larger scale at other points. Contrary to the wishes of its 
citizens, the rail-road station has been given the name of Creasy. The town 
comprises one hundred houses, six stores, a commodious school building and 
three church edifices. At Zion church, some distance in the country, an Evan- 




'cy^^ 



MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP. 291 

gelical congregation meets for worship. Considering the provision made for 
buildings of this latter character, it is a matter of surprise that more religious 
societies have not gained a footing. 

The Lutheran and Reformed congregations were the first to avail themselves 
of the generosity of the proprietors. April 19, 1809, articles of agreement for 
the erection of a union church building were signed by their respective rej^re- 
sentatives. It was begun the same year, but not completed until four years 
later. Among those who have ministered to the Reformed congregation may 
be mentioned Reverends Dieft'enbach, Sbellhamer, Tobias, Hoffman, Hutten- 
stein and Dechant. The Lutheran congregation was organized in 1809 by 
Reverend John Paul Ferdinand Kramer. His predecessor, Reverend Shelhardt, 
was one of the pioneers of his church in the Susquehanna valley. The Wolf, 
Hetler, Creasy, Brown and Gruver families formed the first organization. Its 
successive pastors were Reverends Kessler and Schindle; Isaiah Bahl fi'om 
1830 to 1862; William Fox from that date until 186_8; S. S. Henry, the suc- 
ceeding four years; Thomas Steck from 1873 to 18/9, and J. P. German in 
charge since August 1, 1881. In January, 1882, the union between the two 
congregations was dissolved. The Lutherans laid the corner-stone of a new 
structure August 14, 1883, and dedicated it December 2 of the same year. 
During the winter of 1859-00,* as a result of radical difference of opinion re- 
garding certain points of doctrine and discipline, a portion of the German 
Lutheran congregation separated from it and organized an English Lutheran 
church. Reverend E. A. Sharrets has been succeeded by Henry R. Fleck, 
David Truckenmiller, William E. Krebs, M. V. Shadow and J. E. F. Hassin- 
ger, the present pastor. A neat brick structure erected in 1860 has since then 
been used as a house of worship. 

About the time the German element was establishing a church home, 
Methodist services were held in the house of Samuel Brown, and when the 
growing nu.mber of adherents to this faith could no longer congregate here, in 
the barn of Henry Bowman. In 1819 Samuel Brown built a small frame house 
near the burial ground of his family. A gallery extended around three sides 
of the interior, and was reached by ascending a ladder; the pu.lpit had the ap- 
pearance of a bird's nest affixed to the wall some distance above the floor. It 
was scarcely large enough to contain the portly form of Reverend Marmaduke 
Pearce, but as this was one of the few appointments on his circuit with any 
house of worship whatever, he cheerfully submitted to this inconvenience. A 
frame church building erected in Mifflinville in 1831 was used for Methodist 
services during the following thirty years. In 1861 it was replaced by the 
house of worship now occupied. This congregation is connected with the 
Danville district of the Central Pennsylvania conference. 

The South Mifflin Mills were erected in 1869 by George Nungesser, who 
conducted them until 1881, since which time they have been operated by 
William J. Nungesser. The mills are equipped with three run of buhrs, and 
have a capacity of grinding 100 bushels of grain per day, and are supplied 
with water from Ten-Mile creek, which flows by the mill. The building is 
36.k45 feet, and three stories in height. 



24 



292 HISTOKY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

CHAPTEE XVIII. 
MAINE TOWNSHIP. 

PREVIOUS to 1799, what is now Maine township was included in the ex- 
tensive territory of Catawissa; for nearly fifty years after that date the 
portion adjoining Mifflin was embraced in that township, the western part of 
Maine still forming part of Catawissa. In January, 1844, by authority of the 
court, the township of Maine was erected, its boundaiy on the north being the 
Susquehanna, and on the south Catawissa mountain. 

It comprises a beautifully diversified area. The distinguishing features in 
this respect are the blufPs which overlook the Susquehanna; the Mifflin valley 
in their rear, at the base of the Nescopeck mountains ; the regular contour of 
this range, and its abrupt termination above the Catawissa creek; the valley of 
that stream, as it winds around the projecting spurs of the mountain of the 
same name, and the mine-gap road, where it ascends Catawissa mountain. 

It was while this region was known as Augusta township, and included in 
Berks county, that its first permanent settlers appeared upon the soil. In the 
year 1709 Samuel John emigrated from Wales to tlwchlan, Chester county. 
Samuel John, Jr., removed from his father's farm to Exeter, Berks county, and 
from this place, in 1772, his son, Isaac John, with Margaretta (Broug), his 
wife, having purchased three-hundred acres of land in the valley of Catawissa 
creek, removed, thus becoming the first residents within the limits of the 
township of Maine. During the summer of 1778 they were twice compelled 
to leave their farm, and, to increase their misfortunes, a loss of one-hundred 
pounds was incurred by the depreciation of Continental currency. They oc- 
cupied a log cabin, a story and one-half high, the door being in the roof, and 
reached by a ladder within and one without. It seems almost incredible, but 
it is a well attested fact that a family of ten children was brought up in this 
house, one of whom, Abraham, was the grandfather of Wesley John, the pres- 
ent owner of the land on which it was situated. 

Among those who followed Isaac John and pushed farther up the valley of 
the creek were Peter and John Klingaman, both of whom located in the vicin- 
ity of Mainville. Jacob Gearhart, from Allamingo, Berks county, made a 
clearing on the hill above the town. Jacob Bower, from Lehigh county, set- 
tled on a tract nearer the river. These persons were all in the region prior to 
1808, and complete the number of early settlers. The route followed by them 
from the lower counties was the Reading road ; from Catawissa a passage was 
opened by themselves into the valley of the creek at the gap between the 
Nescopeck and Catawissa mountains. John Hauck in 1815 erected the first 
iron furnace in Columbia county. 

The advantages of this location were the water-power available, an abundant 
supply of fuel and the short distance to the Reading road. The ore was brought 
in wagons from the bogs of Locust mountain; the most important deposit was sit- 
uated near the present site of the town of Centralia. It was hauled through Roar 
ingcreek, and thence by the Mine Gap road to Hauck' s furnace. It is said that 
at a spring at the foot of Catawissa mountain the teamsters were accustomed to 
pour water over the ore, in order to increase its weight. Such a deception 
could not be readily discovered, as the ore was naturally damp and heavy. 



MAIKE TOWNSHIP. '2iT6 

For several years this furnace was the only one in Columbia county. Its 
product was sent to Reading to be forged and returned for local consumption. 
In 1821 Ml'. Hauck built a mill near his furnace, the first in Maine township. 
In 1881 Abraham Creesemer became proprietor of both. Harley and Evans in 
1826 constructed a forge on the same stream. It was operated until 1883; 
but the fui'nace, abandoned as no longer profitable, had succumbed to decay 
some years previous. 

The Mainville Mills, grist and saw-mills, J. M. Nuss & Son, proprietors. — 
The grist-mill was erected in 1814, and after nearly three-quarters of a century 
still remains. The edifice is 45x50 feet, and three stories and a half in 
height. The old process was used up to 1885, but in May of that year the 
roller process was introduced, and the capacity of the mill is now fifty barrels 
per day. The miller is Nathan Houck, who has had an experience of twenty 
years in the biisiness. The mill is conducted by John M. Nuss & Son, who 
have operated it since 1876. A sawmill, which is run during the winter and 
spring, is also operated by this firm. 

The prospect of a successful manufacturing enterprise being established at 
Mainville was not always as discouraging as it has finally become. From 1832 
to 1838 the Catawissa rail-road was graded at various sections of the line m 
Maine township. The gap between Nescopeck and Catawissa mountains was 
crossed by a network of trestling, constructed at an enormous cost. Then the 
work suddenly ceased. In 1853, nearly twenty years later, work was resumed 
and the road was completed. In the mean time, however, the bridge timbers 
at the Catawissa crossing had become so rotten as to necessitate the removal of 
the entire stru.cture before even a track had been laid over it. A second rail- 
road, the Danville, Hazleton and Wilkesbarre line, was built through Main- 
ville some years later, and at a still later period the North and West Branch 
rail-road was constructed at the extreme northern boundary of the township, 
on the southern bank of the Susquehanna. On the Catawissa railroad 
stations are located at Mainville and Forensty; on the Sunbury, Hazleton and 
Wilkesbarre road (so known since the sale and reorganization of the Danville, 
Hazleton and Wilkesbarre), at Mainville and Mainville Trestling. Mainville 
has in consequence a degree of business activity. The place comprises twenty 
dwellings, three stores, a lumber yard, school-house and church edifice, in which 
a Methodist congregation worships. 

Previous to 1880 religious services were held in the school-building. At 
the Second Quarterly conference of the Mifflinville circuit, August 7, 1880, 
E. W. Low, Lafayette Creasy, J. J. Brown, C. L. Benscoter, J. D. Bodine 
and J. W. Shuman were appointed a committee to erect a house of worship at 
Mainville. John W. Shuman deeded ground for the location. October 10, 
1881, work on the building was begun. It was completed and dedicated the 
following year. Reverend C. L. Benscoter, pastor at that time, has been suc- 
ceeded by Reverends John W. Hoening and J. K. Dearor. 

The oldest religious societies in Maine township are the Lutheran and Re- 
formed. In 1813 they erected a rude log structure, the first predecessor of a 
commodious church edifice which replaced it in 1877. The corner-stone was 
laid July 15th of that year, and the dedication occurred November 11th fol- 
lowing. The corner-stone of the second church building was laid September 
23, 1832. This edifice was dedicated January 16, 1833. The burial ground 
near the church was deeded by Henry Fisher, Peter Bowman, John Neuss 
and John PeifFer. In a cemetery adjoining, many of the first residents of the 
township are buried. These churches have generally been connected with 
those of the same denomination at Catawissa. 



:294 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

The primitive striicture at Fisher' s was used for school as well as religious 
purposes. In 1824 John Watts opened a school here, which was continued by 
different persons until public schools were established. In 1820 the first school 
in Maine township was opened by Jacob Gensel, near George Fleming's card- 
ing mill, on Scotch run. During the term ending June, 1, 1886, five teachers 
were employed for a term of five months, at an average salary of thirty dollars 
per month. This compares favorably with reports from wealthier and more 
thickly settled localities. 



CHAPTER XIX. 
BEAVER TOWNSHIP. 



BEAVER TOWNSHIP, the fifth in order of time formed from the original 
territory of Catawissa, derives its name from a small stream, Beaver run, 
which flows through a valley of the same name, and empties its waters into the 
Catawissa creek after a course of ten miles frc>m its source at the Luzerne 
county line. The region drained by this stream is a comparatively narrow val- 
ley between Buck and McCauley mountains. The former terminates abruptly 
a short distance from the point where these two streams unite. The latter is 
an interesting and peculiar feature of the topography. Rising to a consider- 
able altitude above the surface of the valley at a point just within Columbia 
county, it extends westward in an unbroken trend for a distance of five miles, 
where, by a gradual slope, it sinks to the level of Catawissa creek; north- 
ward from the McCauley ridge is Nescopeck mountain — a natural and effective 
barrier, appropriately utilized as the boundary between Beaver and Mifflin 
townships. The regular and symmetrical proportions of these elevations ap- 
pear in strong contrast with the varying characteristics of the Catawissa range. 
Distinguished by the spurs and foothills which mark its northern slope, it en- 
closes Beaver township within its semi-circular convolutions. At its base the 
Catawissa creek meanders through a region of unbroken quiet disturbed only 
iby the plash of its waters, or the shrill whistle of a locomotive as it rounds a 
curve, or rumbles over a trestling above. A no less secluded retreat is the 
valley of Scotch run, a small tributary stream whose course marks the lowest 
depression between the Nescopeck and McCauley mountains. 

A region of alternating elevations and depressions, with no advantages of 
fertile soil or accessible location, did not attract settlement and improvement 
until the more desirable lands were no longer available. As early as 1774, 
however, Beaver valley was entered by Alexander McCauley, an account of 
whose mysterious disappearance is given in the history of Locust township. 
It is said that at this time his nearest neighbors were in the vicinity of Cata- 
wissa, excepting a community of beavers, who erected a dam on the stream, 
which derives its name from this circumstance, a short distance above its 
junction with Catawissa creek. The region known as ' ' Beaver swamps in- 
cluded the area drained by both the affluents of this creek, Scotch run and 
Beaver run. The beaver, bear and deer were followed to these fastnesses by 
a class of men with whom danger and distance were no unfavorable considera- 
tions. Alexander McCauley retired from the frontier in 1776, none too soon 
to escape the ravages of the border warfare; but Andrew Harger, his neigh- 



BEAVER TOWNSHIP. 295 

bor on Catawissa creek, with more courage than prudence, remained 
until summarily abducted by a party of hostile savages. For some days his 
captors pursued their journey in a northerly direction, their destination ap- 
parently being what was then known as Upper Canada. Without any apparent 
reason they turned about when they had reached a point in western New York, 
and after several weeks of suspense and anxiety Harger realized that he was 
somewhere in the vicinity of the north branch of the Susquehanna. He had 
now been in captivity nearly a year, but was not guarded as closely as at first. 
Embracing a favorable opportunity of escape, he made his way to the river by 
night, and concealed himself beneath a pile of drift wood. With a surprising 
degree of physical endurance, he kept his body beneath the water, while, 
through the crevices between the logs, his foes were plainly seen engaged in 
the search. For seven days he continued his joui'ney, subsisting on such roots 
and herbs as were nutritious, and on a maimed turkey he was so fortunate as to 
capture. Greatly emaciated, he at last reached a frontier settlement wiser 
by one year's experience as an Indian prisoner. 

No attempt was made to resume the settlement of the ' ' Beaver swamps ' ' 
until after the close of the revolution. No considerable number of people were 
yet residents at the time Mifflin township was formed, in 1799. Thomas Wil- 
kinson, an Englishman, lived in a cave along Catawissa creek near the site 
of an Indian town and burying ground, but does not appear to have extended a 
very cordial welcome to the settlers who followed him and invaded the solitudes 
he seemed to have regarded as his exclusive property. James Van Clargan, 
the Klingamans, Oaks, Parig, Mensinger, Swank, Longenberger and Fisher 
families were among the first to become permanent settlers. The Van Clargans 
cleared the farm now occupied by Charles Michael. The farms owned by 
the Klingamans were claimed by Daniel Oaks, an Englishman from New Jersey, 
but his rights were disputed by Reuben Eyerly. Oaks and all his family were 
one night burned in their house. Eyerly was seen in the neighborhood the 
preceding evening; there was not, however, sufficient evidence to criminate him, 
and he was set at liberty. He was subsequently hanged on a similar charge. 
About 1810 JohnDalins, a German from Lehigh county, made an improvement 
near Catawissa creek, at the foot of the mountain. Following the course of 
the creek John Rarig, Ludwig Mensinger and John Hoats, from Berks county, 
cleared the land on what is now the Catawissa and Ringtown road. John and 
Christian Shuman, from Catawissa, erected a tannery and saw mill on the site 
of the present tannery at Shumantown. 

The route followed by these persons from the southern counties was the 
Reading road to Catawissa, and from that point a way opened by themselves 
along Catawissa creek. This road was subsequently extended to Reading 
but was not improved until 1852, although traveled extensively long before 
that time. For many years the hotel of Adam Michael, at the foot of Buck 
mountain, was a prominent place of social resort. When Mifflin township was 
erected in 1799 Mifflinville was the voting place for the population of Beaver 
valley ; subsequently the Paxton election district, so named in honor of Colonel 
Joseph Paxton, was formed out of the region south of Nescopeck mountain, 
and a voting place was established at Michael's hotel; finally in November, 
1845, the township of Beaver was erected, comprising nearly the same area 
previously included in the separate election district. While these changes were 
being made in the political organization of the region, plans were being matured 
the execution of which promised to revolutionize the industrial character of its 
people. The object of those who projected these changes was the develop- 
ment of rich deposits of coal supposed to exist in the McCauley and Buck 
mountains. 



296 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

As early as 1S2<) the presence of coal in the McCauley mountain was an 
established fact. Ten years later Nicholas Biddle and others projected the 
Catawissa railroad, and graded various sections of the line in Beaver township. 
Not until 1853, however, was the road open to traffic and travel. The atten- 
tion of capitalists and others was then directed to the coal measures of the 
McCauley and Buck mountains thus brought within reach of transportation 
facilities. By an act approved May 5, 1854, the McCauley railroad company 
was incorporated, the rail-road projected being a line five miles in length to 
eonnect the coal veins of McCauley mountain with the Catawissa rail-road. By 
an act approved April 27, 1855, Charles B. Penrose, LeeW. Buffington, M.D., 
and John C. Sims were constituted the Columbia Coal and Iron company. By 
the provisions of its charter the capital stock was fixed at five-hundred thou- 
sand dollars, and its oj)erations confined to Columbia and Montour counties. 
By an act approved April 19, 1858, the McCauley rail-road company was con- 
solidated with the Columbia Coal and Iron company. The construction of the 
rail-road and of an extensive coal breaker was begun, a tract of land embrac- 
ing two-thousand four-hundred acres having previously been purchased. It 
embraces four tracts, originally surveyed for John Reese, John Brady, Jere- 
miah Jackson and Robert Gray, in pursuance of their warrants issued December 
7. 1793. In 1867 coal shipments from the McCauley colliery were begun. 
The same year Simon P. Case erected another breaker, and formed the Beaver 
creek Coal company. Five years later the coal deposits at both points were 
practically exhausted. In September, 1869, both breakers and the track of the 
McCauley rail-road were removed. The shaft of the Columbia Coal and Iron 
company is under lease from James Long, James Hunter and P. W. Shaffer, 
its successors, to Allen Mann, who operates it to a limited extent to supply lo- 
cal consumption. 

Although the mining of coal on the east side of McCauley mountain had 
resulted disastrously to the corporations which attempted it, Simon P. Case, 
having completed the construction of the Danville, Hazelton and Wilkesbarre 
rail-road, as pretended owner of a tract of land on the line of that road and the 
west slope of the McCauley mountain, leased the Glen City colliery to J. H. 
Losee for a period of ten years. After several years of litigation between 
Simon P. Case and George Longenberger, the latter secured a verdict in his 
favor as rightful owner of the Glen City colliery. The lease of J. H. Losee 
expired April 1, 1881, when the colliery was suspended for five years. In 1886 
James and Mary McAlarney completed improvements and repairs about the 
works, which resumed operations under favorable circumstances. Adjoining 
the Glen City colliery, Allen Mann and F. L. Shuman, as lessees of Long, 
Fisher and Shaffer, successors of the Columbia Coal and Iron company, ope- 
rated the McCauley colliery from 1873 to 1876. With reference to the develop- 
ment of the coal product of Beaver township, it is only necessary to state further 
that Coxe Brothers & Company are the operators of a colliery at Gowen, in 
Luzerne county, the excavations of which extend into Columbia county, fol- 
lowing the Buck mountain vein. The coal measures at this point have not, as 
yet, been exhausted. 

In addition to the rail -road above mentioned, Beaver is traversed by the 
Tide-Water Pipe-Line, the features of which, as a factor in distributing an im- 
portant commodity of the state, are of an entirely different character. The 
economy and convenience of transporting petroleum from the wells to shipping 
points by means of pipelines was realized by the proprietors of oil-wells at an 
early period in the development of the oil region of Pennsylvania. Until 1880, 
however, no pipe-line of any extent had been successfully operated. In that 



BEAVEK TOWNSHIP. 297 

year the Standard Oil Company practically demonstrated the feasibility of 
transporting crude petroleum long distances through iron tubes, the principle 
being to take advantage of the action of gravity upon the flov^ing liquid when- 
ever possible, and surmount the obstacles of varying elevation by powerful 
force pumps when necessary. With the object of lessening the expense of 
transportating oil to distributing points on the sea-board, the Tide-Water Pipe 
Line Company in 1882 secured the right of way for a pipe -line from Rixford, 
in McKean county, to Tamanend in Schuylkill, a distance of one-hundred and 
eighty miles. Notwithstanding the violent opposition of rival corporations, 
the enterprise was successfully consummated in the autumn of the same year. 
The course surveyed enters Columbia county after crossing the Muncy hills, 
passes several miles north of Jerseytown and about the same distance south of 
Buckhorn, crossing the Fishing creek and Susquehanna at the mouth of the former 
stream. The course of Catawissa creek is followed through the townships of 
Main and Beaver. The mains are six inches in diameter, the cost of construc- 
tion aggregating six-thousand dollars per mile. Although involving this enor- 
mous expense, the financial success of the enterprise may be inferred from the 
fact that it has reduced the cost of oil transportation to one-twentieth of the 
former freight charges. A telegraph lino connects the ofiSce of the general 
superintendent at Williamsport with the several pumping stations along the 
route. These are located at Eixford, McKean county; Olmstead, Potter 
county; County-Line and Muncy, in Lycoming; and Shuman's, in Columbia. 
The distance between the last named two is one-hundred miles; between Shu- 
man's and Tamanend, the terminus of the line, seventeen miles. Owing to 
the presence of a considerable elevation between Shuman's and Tamanend, the 
pumping apparatus is there constructed on a larger scale than at Muncy. The 
altitude to be surmounted, and not the distance, determines the amount of 
force necessary to propel the stream of oil. 

Shuman's pumping station is situated in Beaver valley, near the line of 
the Catawissa rail -road. The buildings and grounds comprise an area of five 
acres. The plant consists of an oil tank, furnace and boiler, a steam engine 
and pumping apparatus. The oil tank is thirty feet high and ninety-five feet 
in diameter; wrought-iron plates, a half-inch in thickness, and a canvass roof 
enclose an air-tight compartment with a capacity of thirty-five-thousand bar- 
rels. The two pumps are capable, respectively, of elevating fifteen-thousand 
«nd ten-thousand barrels of oil in twenty-four hours to an altitude of one- 
thousand three-hundred and twenty-five feet, the vertical distance from Beaver 
valley to the summit. A battery of three ' ' Riter and Conley ' ' boilers, and a 
• ' Murphy smokeless furnace ' ' generate the power which performs this work, 
while the machine which applies it is a Holly engine of three-hundred horse- 
power. By means of an elaborate system of gauges, the superintendent is 
enabled to compute with mathematical exactness the amount of work performed 
by every pound of coal or gallon of water consumed. The buildings through- 
out are equipped with every appliance of convenience and comfort. Clean- 
liness, order and discipline are everywhere apparent, the results of a rigid, 
personal supervision by Mr. F. G. Laner, who has now (September, 1886,) 
been superintendent for several years. The ceaseless whirr of the machinery 
is the only disturbing element in the quiet of the surrounding neighborhood. 

Beaver Valley Mills. — The present mill structure was commenced in 1876, 
the old building having been destroyed by fire while the proprietor, F. L. 
Shuman, was at the Centennial at Philadelphia. In 1881 Mr. Shuman sold 
the mills to Charles Reichart, who was the proprietor until December, 1885, 
when he sold to Dr. A. P. Heller of Millville, who bought for his son, Sher- 



298 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

man Heller, and April 1, 1880, the present fii-m, McHenry & Heller, was 
organized. The building is 36x40 feet, three stories high, and equipped with 
two run of buhrs, one chop stone, and the roller process for buckwheat. The 
power to move the mill is supplied from a dam across Catawissa creek. M.W. 
McHenry, one of the firm, is the miller. 

Failing to give more than a temporary impetus to the industrial pursuits of 
Beaver township, the erection of railroads has also failed to impart permanent 
benefit to the schools and churches of the region. In 1821 Isaac Davis taught 
the first school in the township, at Kostenbander' s mill. Four years later he 
opened another in his dwelling, in the southern part of the township. In the 
same year Henry Schell taught in a dwelling near Beaver church, and Adam 
Holocher near the old Michael hotel. Education was conducted by these peda- 
gogues with a primitive simplicity admirably imitated by their successors at 
the present day. 

The first Methodist sermon in Beaver was delivered in the year 1815 in the 
house of David Davis. Reverends Dawson, Rhoads, Taneyhill and Monroe 
continued these services, the last named clergyman in the winter of 1822-23 
organizing a congregation. Owing to a lack of harmony among its members, 
it was subsequently disbanded. The house of worship is now occupied by an 
Evangelical congregation. 

A union house of worship, built by the Lutheran and Reformed denomina- 
tions, has long been known as the ' ' Beaver Church. ' ' Both congregations, 
have had many pastoral changes, and are now served by the pastors at Ring- 
town, Schuylkill county. 



CHAPTER XX. 

ROARINGCREEK TOWNSHIP. 

ROARINGCREEK, the third township formed from Catawissa, embraced,, 
when erected in 1832, the townships of Locust and Conyngham in addi- 
tion to its present limited area. A semi-circular spur of the Little mountain 
forms the eastern boundary, and extends farther only a short distance until it 
is merged into the Catawissa range. This natural barrier separates Roaring- 
creek from the adjoining county of Schuylkill. It formerly included the head 
waters of both branches of the creek, from which circumstance with great pro- 
priety it received its name. When this designation was first applied to the 
stream cannot be definitely ascertained. Under its Indian name of Popeme- 
tunk, it is mentioned at various times by early visitors to the region; but in 
the earliest warrants for surveys the Indian name is nowhere mentioned, the 
stream being always referred to as Roaring creek. 

In the year 1850 the township was reduced to its present limits by the form 
ation of Montour county. There had for some time been a desire for a divis- 
ion of the township; however, as may be learned from the history of Locust, 
the provisions, under which the division was at first effected, failed to entirely 
satisfy those most concerned. By a re-adjustment of the county line it was 
proposed to again include in Roaringcreek the territory taken from it; but 
meanwhile both divisions of the original township had elected their respective 
officers. This arrangement was abandoned in view of the complications which 



KOARINGCREEK TOWNSHIP. 299 

woiild have inevitably resulted, and the township has been neither increased 
nor diminished since 1850. 

Among the first persons who located within the present limits of Roaring- 
creek were Samuel Hunter and Bezaliel Hayhui'st. The former secured a 
patent under date of July 25, 1774, for a tract of land known as "Trout 
Springs" farm. He died in 1784, having made his will in a house on the 
land now owned by John Whitner. From Alexander Hunter, who succeeded 
to the ownership of part of this tract, it passed into possession of George 
Randall, and from him to Abram Whitner, the father of the present owner. 
Other persons who secured tracts in the southern part of the township at the head 
waters of Roaring creek were Samuel Morris and Anthony Morris, Hugh 
and Michael Hughes, Francis Artilla and Barbara Artilla, Henry Hurtzel, 
Andrew Helwig, John Hemrninger, John Harmon, George Groh, George^ 
Duvald, Stephen Feabody and George Dewees. 

"Four Springs Farm," along Mill creek, was patented to Adam Zant- 
zinger November 9, 1784, although the warrant for its survey had been issued 
ten years previous to that date. It adjoined the lands of Jonathan Pearson, 
Bartholomew Wambech and the Wilson and Robinson tract. Christian 
Immel, Peter Minnich, Frederick W^agoner, William Lamon and Christian 
Shultz owned the mountain lands above the Mill creek. What has since proved 
to be the best farming land in the township was originally surveyed for Mat- 
thew McGlath, Charles Truckenmiller, John McKay, Jacob Shakespear and 
Thomas Fisher. 

Some of these persons, the Immels, Hayhursts, Hughes, and others, 
planted their homes here and are now resting in unmarked graves in the 
Friends' Roaringcreek burial-ground. Of scarcely a single tract can it be 
said that it remains in the family of the original owners. German families, 
the Whitners, Rarigs, Kunkles, Driesbachs, Houcks, Holstines, Kreischers 
and Songenbargers, followed in the wake of the Quakers, and rapidly gained 
the ascendancy in population and wealth. They followed the Reading and 
Sunbury state road from their former homes in Berks and Northampton 
counties to a point beyond Ashland where it was intersected by a turnpike lead- 
ing northward; this was traveled to Bear Gap, in Locust township, from 
which the distance to the upper branch of Roaring creek was comparatively 
short and easy. 

A road from Catawissa direct to Reading, entering the present limits of the 
township at its northern boundary, and, crossing the Little mountain in a 
southeast direction, gave to the people on this upper branch the same advan- 
tages conferred by the turnpike to the people at the Gap, and by the other 
Reading road to the farmers midway between the two. At first, wheat 
was the only article for which there was any market; the best white 
wheat had to be hauled to Reading in order to be worth forty or fifty cents a 
bushel. Subsequently, when the orchards first planted began to bear, dried 
apples became a valuable commodity. Stage coaches were run on this road 
for a few years immediately after it was opened, about the year 1812. The 
advantages of an easier and shorter route over the older Sunbury and Reading 
road as far as Ashland, and thence to Catawissa, caused their transfer to the 
latter road. The highway to Reading through the valley of upper Roaring 
creek has certainly done much to develop the timber resources of the region. 
It has been, and is still the route over which nearly all the produce of the 
farms finds a market in the mining towns of Schuylkill county. 

The first mill in the township was erected about the year 1816, shortly 
after this road was opened. James Hibbs, Senior, was the proprietor, and the 



300 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

place is still known as Hibbs' mill. March 13, 1793, in partnership with Jo- 
sepb Hampton, he bought a tract of land from John Nixon and Alexander 
Foster, Philadelphia merchants, who, under date of Sept. 26, 1783, had se- 
cured a patent for it. Judah Cherington in 1856 built the present mill, 
which is now owned by Peter Swank. Abner Hampton, a son of Joseph 
Hampton just mentioned, built a small mill on Mill creek some years after 
the Hibbs mill was built. It subsequently came into possession of William 
Heupka, who removed it and erected the present building. It is now owned 
by John Mourer. 

A few houses were built around Hibbs mill, eventually forming the village 
of Mill Grove. Judah Cherington opened the only store in the township in 1859; 
it is now owned by O. W. Cherington, who, as the result of his energetic per- 
sistence, opened a post-office a few years since. It is the only one in the 
township and certainly a great convenience to the people. 

The Hibbs name is also associated with the first school in the township. In 
the year 1816, in a dwelling owned by Mahlon Hibbs, a son of James Hibbs, 
Senior, Joseph Stokes opened a subscription school. In the following year 
Thomas Cherington, a teacher of thirty-six years' experience in Bei'ks county, 
entered the township. He was also a surveyor; a work on mathematics pre- 
pared by him and still preserved in manuscript form evinces considerable abil- 
ity and carefulness. It was for the purpose of instructing the family of his son 
Samuel, who was a mill-wright, that he was first induced to come over the 
mountains. He cheerfully took the children of neighboring families into his 
school, however, and continued it several winters. Samuel Cherington succeeded 
his father and remained a teacher for many years. In 1821 the school in 
Mahlon Hibbs' house was reopened by Charles Brush. David Chase was an- 
other early teacher. The first house used exclusively for school purposes was 
built in 1830 where number two school is now held. In this school-house for 
twenty -three years the only religious organization in the township held its 
services. 

The Roaringcreek appointment of the Methodist Episcopal church has had 
an existence of seventy years. Previous to the building of the school-house, 
people of this faith met in the barn of John Yocum, about a mile from the 
school -building, on the farm now owned by Elijah Horn. Mrs. Yocum' s fam- 
ily, the Maclntyres of Catawissa township, may well be called the leaders of 
Methodism in this whole section. Among those who worshiped here were 
Phoebe Dyer, J. J. Thomas, Joseph Jesse, and Ezra Yocum and Samuel 
Horn. The first preachers were Reverends Oliver Ege, Alem Brittain and 
Thomas Taneyhill. 

In the year 1853 measures were taken to erect a church-building. William 
Yocum, David Case, J. J. Thomas and William Rhoads, trustees, pushed the 
work with energy, and on the ninth day of June, in that year, the corner-stone 
was laid. The dedication service was held in the following autumn. The con- 
gregation since then has been served by Reverends Black, Tongue, Mendenhall, 
John Haughawant, Frank Gearhart, T. A. Cleese, S. V. Savage, John F. 
Brown and Jonathan Guilden. 

In 1873 William Yeager, who had but recently entered the township from 
Parks county, offered one-hundred dollars and an acre of ground to any de- 
nomination of Christians who would build a house of worship thereon. Two 
years later Reverend M. P. Saunders, of the United Brethren church, held a 
bush-meeting in the vicinity, which resulted in the conversion of fourteen 
persons. The Free- Will congregation. United Brethren in Christ, was organ- 
ized, and the erection of a church-buildinor on the land of Mr. Yeager at once 



LOCUST TOWNSHIP. 301 

begun. It was dedicated in the autumn of 1876, and a revival held the follow- 
ing winter increased the membership to sixty. The pastors since have been 
Reverends S. R. Kramer, H. S. Gable and G. W. Herrold, at present in 
charge. 

Roaringcreek is distinctively an agricultural township. It does not have 
the rare advantage of an exceptionally fertile soil, nor are the markets for its 
products as accessible or convenient as would be desirable. But, in the tran- 
sition from the log-houses and rude stables of fifty years ago to the substantial 
dwellings and barns of to-day; and in the contrast of the neglected, uninviting 
appearance of church and school buildings but twenty years ago with the com- 
fortable, attractive structures of the present, there are evidences of a material 
prosperity and certain progress, slowly apparent, but nevertheless permanent 
in its character. 



CHAPTER XXI. 
LOCUST TOWNSHIP. 



•^r^HE erection of Locust grew out of the controversy regarding the 
.i__ boundary between Columbia and Montovir counties. As at first defined 
Montour embraced nearly the whole of Roaringcreek township. But by a re- 
adjustment of the division line in 1853, Roaringcreek township, in Montour, 
became Scott, in Columbia. By this name it was known for about one month, 
"when, by act of assembly dated April 18, 1853, the name was changed to 
Locust. It is one of the eight townships originally embraced in Catawissa, 
when it was part of Northumberland county. 

In the year 1708 the proprietary government acquired the title to all the 
northeastern section of the state, the southern limit of this purchase in Col- 
umbia county being nearly identical with the southern boundary of Locust 
township. The earliest warrants for surveys in this section were issued the 
following year. In these early records this region is mentioned as the valley 
•of Roaring creek, in Augusta township, Berks county. From the older settle- 
ments of Maiden creek, Exeter and Reading, within the present limits of that 
county, the early Quaker settlers, after weeks of toilsome travel, reached the 
wilderness of Roaring creek. Their first point was Harris' ferry; from here 
the journey was continued, partly by water and partly by land, to Catawissa, 
which was practically their destination. 

Warrants for surveys in this township were early issued in rapid succession, 
but there were comparatively few actual resident patentees until after the revo- 
lution. On the cessation of hostilities, however, the increased quiet and secur- 
ity of the frontier is indicated by the coming of many more families in 1785 
than in any previous year. Among those now in the township were the Sid- 
dons, Bonsalls, Whiteheads, Hughes, Lees, Williams, Millards and Starrs. 

Their names are not even locally remembered. In their pronounced oppo- 
sition to all ostentation, they would not suflPer the erection of a marble slab to 
perpetuate their memory. But in the early development of this fertile valley 
they have written a histoiy of untiring toil for which few of them ever received 
any adequate return. 

Pioneer life in this section was not devoid of adventure. To the labor of 
redeeming the waste places there was added the tear of wild beasts and still 



302 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

wilder men. An occurrence that created wide spread interest at the time, was 
the disappearance of Alexander McCauley. He came from Edinburgh, Scot- 
land, in 1771, and settled in Beaver valley three years later. Fearing an 
Indian raid, his wife and three older daughters returned to Harris' ferry. 
They were followed in the fall by Mr. McCauley, his youngest daughter, Jean- 
nie, and her brother, still younger. In 1783 they returned to the farm. In 
the autumn of that year his horses strayed away, and he followed them 
through the woods into what is now Locust township. At a hoiise near 
Roaring creek he obtained information which induced him to continue the- 
search. He was never again seen. Twenty-five years afterward, twenty Span- 
ish dollars and a number of silver buttons were found in a deep ravine near 
Bear Gap. He was known to have carried such money, but any connection 
between his disappearance and this discovery can only be matter of conjectiire. 

In 1769 Samuel Mears arrived at Philadelphia and settled near Valley 
Forge. In the winter of 1777-78 several American officers were quartered at 
his hoiise, and General Washington was a fi'equent visitor. June 6, 1787, 
he secured from the commonwealth a patent for land in the Roaring creek val- 
ley, and at once removed thither. In March, 1794, his eldest son, Alexander 
Mears, was married to Jeannie McCauley, who as a young girl has been men- 
tioned as descending the Susquehanna eleven years before. The bridal party 
left the house of William Collins near Catawissa, and rode en horseback to. 
the prospective home of Mr. and Mrs. Mears. The ceremony was here per- 
formed, and was duly celebrated after the manner of the olden time. It was. 
one of the first marriages within the present limits of Locust township. Cata- 
wissa being the residence of the notary, and place of meeting for the Quakers, 
seems to have had a monopoly of these interesting occasions. 

The first roads were merely bridle-paths from house to house, converging 
to a rough wagon track leading to Catawissa. This was the only point from 
which supplies were to be obtained. That only a minimum quantity was needed 
is readily apparent when it is remembered that only home -spun was worn, and 
that the style of living was as simple as the avowed religious character of the^ 
people could make it. 

About the year 1798 Samuel Cherington, mill-wright of Maiden creek, 
erected a grist-mill and saw- mill for Thomas Linville on the site of the pres- 
ent one at Slabtown. It was the first in the present limits of the township, and 
was a great boon to the people. 

Shortly afterward he built a grist-mill for Nathan Lee on the site of one now 
operated by Jeremiah Snyder. The machinery for this mill was brought from 
Philadelphia. The money was carefully stowed in two wooden boxes, which 
were concealed between the linings of a wagon-top and thus taken to the city. 
This was the largest mill in the whole region. During an extremely cold win- 
ter just before the war of 1812, people resorted to it from all directions, as its 
strong water-power enabled it to continue after the ice had compelled others tO' 
stop. But at last it too stood still. Then Nathan Lee resolved on an expe- 
dient of which, too late, he saw the folly. He placed a mass of straw around' 
the water-wheels, and hoped, by firing it, to release them from their icy fetters. 
In one hour his mill and its bins of grain and meal were reduced to ashes. It 
almost resulted in a famine. 

About the time that these mills were built, and during the decade follow- 
ing, there was an influx of people from the same old county of Berks, but dif- 
fering widely fi-om the Quakers who preceded them. They were Germans, 
some of whom had but recently come to this country, and by several years of 
service in the lower counties were obliged to redeem their passage money 



LOCUST TOWNSHIP. 303 

before going farther. They entered the Roaring creek country by a road just 
opened fi-om Reading northward across the roountains. This was a shorter 
route, biit not an easy one by any means. Many of these people at once 
became proprietors. The price of land had appreciated from the twenty-five 
cents per acre, paid by the original patentees, to eight or ten dollars for culti- 
vated land. The German element rapidly supplanted the Quaker, and has 
retained its predominance to the present day. 

The road fi'om Reading did not cease to be useful when the emigrants' load 
■of goods and small di'ove of domestic animals had passed over it. It forth- 
with became his road to market; and Reading, on the Schuylkill river and 
canal, superseded Catawissa and Sunbury as the "town" for this section. 
■Great covered wagons loaded with grain and corn wound slowly over the 
mountains. Twenty bushels of wheat were load enough for two horses. The 
journey to Reading and return required eight or ten days. The price of wheat 
was five shillings (sixty-two and one-half cents) per bushel. 

About the year 1817 a sum of money was appropriated to improve the 
Reading road. Then a local strife of much bitterness ensued regarding its 
course in this township. Caspar Rhoads finally induced the viewers to decide 
on the upper road, which passed his hotel. The amount appropriated was not 
jet exhausted, and the lower road was also graded, to the satisfaction of all 
parties. A line of stage-coaches appeared in 1825, Joseph Weaver being pro- 
prietor. Benjamin Potts started an opposition line in 1839, and for some 
years both changed at Yeager's hotel in Slabtown. The opening of the Cata- 
wissa rail-road rendered them no longer profitable, and they were soon after- 
ward discontinued. 

The improvement of this Reading road led to the opening of the only man- 
ufacturing industry of any magnitude that has ever existed in Locust township. 
Directly after its completion, Esther furnace was built by Samuel Bittler. It 
was situated on land originally patented to Samuel Shakespear under date 
of August 17, 1773. The tract was located "on Roaring creek, nineteen 
miles from Fort Augusta, ' ' now Sunbury. David Shakespear inherited the 
land, and died in Newcastle county, Delaware. John Harland, as his execu- 
tor, deeded it to Jacob Yocum, from whom it passed to the Bittlers. There 
was neither iron ore nor limestone in the vicinity, but an abundant supply of 
wood for charcoal, and a location near the Reading road were thought to com- 
pensate for these disadvantages. The bulk of the ore was carted from the 
Fishing creek valley. The articles at first manufactured were stoves, and the 
first cast-iron plows used in the region. Subsequently it was enlarged and 
leased successively to Trego & Co. , Lloyd Thomas, and Fincher & Thomas. 
The opening of a canal along the Susquehanna made Catawissa the shipping 
point, and rendered the location less advantageous. 

In 1845 Samuel Diemer became lessee, and in 1861 proprietor. From him 
it has passed successively to John Richards, John Thomas, D. J. Waller, Sr. , 
and Caspar Thomas, and is now owned by Jacob Schuyler and J. B. Robison. 
A crumbling wall, overgrown with bushes, marks the place where the last blast 
was taken off twenty years ago. 

About the year 1840 a new element, the Welsh, made its appearance in 
Locust township. Among the families were the Watkins, Evans, Humphreys, 
Reeses and Joneses. They bought farms with money brought from Wales; but 
after building a church many of them removed to the west and Canada. 

The character of the early settlers of Locust township, its exclusively agri- 
cultural resources and the absence of any rail-road, have not favored the growth 
of towns. A small village, however, clustered around each of its old hotels; 



304 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

but since the stream of travel over the Reading road has been diverted in other 
directions, their growth has ceased, the erection of a new house, or opening 
of a new store occurring only at long intervals, as the clearing of the forests 
and increase of population required. 

The village of Slabtown was the first to receive a name. When Thomas 
Linvill began to saw lumber for the first houses, a few sheds were built of rough 
boards several rods above the mill. The name was suggested by their novel 
appearance, and is retained by the village that has succeeded them. Linvill 
bought his land from the Penroses, who secured it from James Lukens and 
John Pemberton, the original patentees. Lukens also sold a part of his tract 
to Andrew Trone, who built a log-house about the year 1797, a short time be- 
fore the saw-mill was built. He opened a tavern at once, but in 1804 sold it 
to John Yeager, who continued as landlord for many years. 

At that time Catawissa was the post-office for all this region. At Slabtown, 
however, there were postal facilities which were both appreciated and patron- 
ized by the farmers of the vicinity. In front of Yeager' s hotel, a box with a. 
sliding lid was fastened to a post. Persons going to Catawissa would look 
over its contents and take with them the out-going "mail; " on their return 
they would deposit what they had received at Catawissa in the box, retaining 
whatever was addressed to themselves, or to persons whom they would see on 
the road home. Everybody had access to the box. This postal service was. 
perfect in its simplicity, but its workings were hardly free from friction, unless 
the prying propensities of human nature have but recently been developed. 
The appointment of John Yeager as post-master and of a regular weekly car- 
rier, did not immediately result in entirely discontinuing the old way of dis- 
tributing the mail. About the year 1847 the post-office was removed to the 
rival village of Numidia; but in 1855 it was again opened, and has been con- 
tinued ever since under the name of Roaringcreek. The village at present em- 
braces about a dozen substantial houses, a store, hotel, school-house and church. 
Yeager' s tannery has been in successful operation since 1837. The Roaring 
creek is here spanned by an iron bridge, built in 1874, at a cost of one-thou- 
sand, five-hundred dollars. 

Shortly after Andrew Trone built his hotel oh Roaring creek, Caspar 
Rhoads built another about two miles father south, on the upper Reading road. 
Samuel Cherington subsequently built the mill now owned by William Snyder. 
The place has been known as Kernville since 1840, when John Kern became 
proprietor of the village hotel. July 12, 1884, the post-office of Newlin was 
established, but this new name has not yet entirely superseded the older one 
in popular use. 

Caspar Rhoads succeeded in having one course of the Reading road opened 
past his property, but the stage driver obstinately persisted in preferring the 
other. That the family might yet share in the profits of this travel, Isaae- 
Rhoads, his son, in 1832 became landlord of a public-house on the lower 
road, built three years previous by Benjamin Williams. The half-dozen 
houses built around it have since been known as Rhoadstown. A post-office 
under this name was here opened fi'om 1855 to 1864, when it was removed to 
Numidia. 

The latter village is geographically nearest the center of the township, sur- 
rounded by the finest farms of the Roaring creek valley. It is situated on 
land originally patented to Nathan Lee ; and it was his son-in-law, Peter 
Kline, who built the first house in the village. It was situated on the ground 
now occupied by Dr. Wintersteen' s garden. In 1832 a store was opened in 
this hotel. It was not the first in the township, however, as one had been 



LOCUST TOWNSHIP. 30 5- 

kept by John Yeager at Slabtown five years previous. About the year 1835- 
Elijah Price laid out the town and changed the name from Leestown to New 
Media. Subsequently Anthony Dengler built the present hotel and store. 
By his energetic efforts the post-office was removed to Numidia from Slabtown 
in 1847 ; the local strife was renewed at frequent intervals, and in 1855 the 
office for the southern part of the township was removed to Rhoadstown. It 
was again opened at Numidia in 1864, and has since remained there. 

A knowledge of the principles of Odd-Fellowship, gained from members of 
the order in other places, led to the formation of a branch of the society in Nu- 
midia. Good Will Lodge, I. O. O. F. , was chartered April 17, 1847, but this 
charter was destroyed by fire and another issued four years later. George F. 
Craig, N. G. ; Henry Apple, V. G. ; Harmon Fahringer, secretary, and Chris- 
tian Small, treasurer, are the present officers of the society. The lodge erected 
a hall some years ago at a cost of one-thousand dollars. This hall was also, 
used by another society until its meetings were discontinued a few years 
since. Camp No. 204, Patriotic Order Sons of America, was chartered De- 
cember 13, 1873. The twelve. original members were D. N. Bachman, Joseph 
C. Knittle, William H. Moms, John Fetterman, John Gable, W^illiam H. 
Billig, David Fetterman, Charles W. Fisher, John H. Helwig, Albert Sevan, 
J. H. Vastine, Daniel Morris, Franklin Fetterman and Harmon Fahringer. 

Numidia comprises a number of comfortable homes, and a store, hotel, 
carriage-shop and smithy, the usual and necessary features of a country village. 

The Quaker pioneers of this region were characterized by a simplicity of 
life which permitted few wants their own efforts failed to supply; but, however 
well contented they may have been with the natural wealth of forest and farm, 
their industry was rapidly developing; they had a desire for general intelligence 
among their children which was never to any extent gratified. As soon as their 
numbers had so increased as to render it necessary, they erected a school-build- 
ing and employed a teacher. The school-house was situated on the road from 
Newlin to Slabtown, near where the old Friends' meeting-house stands. Will- 
iam Hughes was one of the first teachers. In 1796 the school passed to the 
care of the Catawissa monthly meeting of Friends, by whom it was continued 
for twelve years. 

The German population did not seem so desirous of continuing this school 
as the Quakers had been to secure it. However, they patronized the meeting- 
house school, which was subsequently taught by James Miller, and also others 
which had meanwhile been opened at Slabtown, Kerntown and Esther Furnace.. 
Among the early teachers were Joseph Stokes, Alexander Mears, Joseph 
Hughes, Isaac Maish and a Mr. Crist. 

In 1839 the public school question was voted upon, having been previously 
submitted to the people several times. The result was the establishment of 
public-schools, accomplished, it is said, by a majority of only one vote. Nine 
buildings for school purposes were erected that year in the districts known as 
Numidia, Beaver, Miller, Fisher, Wynn, Leiby, Eck, Deily and Furnace. This 
number has since been increased to thirteen. All the present buildings are in 
good repair ; many of them are furnished with a degree of comfort, care and 
taste in strong contrast with the forbidding, neglected appearance of their 
earlier predecessors. 

The first church-building, as well as the first school-house, was erected by the 
Quakers. It was built in 1796 on land adjoining their school-building. The 
Exeter monthly meeting granted them permission to hold weekly meetings at 
least ten years previous; subsequently a preparative meeting was established, 
which in 1796 became part of Catawissa monthly meeting, and was known as 



306 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

the Roaringcreek preparative. In 1802 Amos Armitage was appointed overseer 
of this meeting in place of Joseph Hampton, who had held the office for some 
time. December 24, 1803, John Hughes and Thomas Linvill were appointed 
to assist Isaac Wiggins in the care and education of certain poor children of 
deceased Friends. December 12, 1804, Thomas Penrose succeeded Amos 
Ai'mitage as overseer. The latter, with Job Hughes, Isaac Penrose, James 
Hughes and Samuel Siddons removed to Pelham, Upper Canada, the following 
spring. Later in the same year Isaac Wiggins and Thomas Linvill removed to 
Yonge Street, Upper Canada, and John Lloyd to Shortcreek, Ohio. February 
2, 1808, Bezaleel Hayhurst succeeded to the office of overseer. In the same 
year he, with Thomas Penrose and Jeremiah Hughes, was appointed trustee 
to succeed Isaac Wiggins and Jacob Strahl. The title to the property was 
held in trust by these persons as long as any of their number was connected 
with this meeting; when the removal or death of some of them made such action 
necessary, a new board was appointed, to whom the title was transferred. 

In 1808 the Roaringcreek preparative meeting was attached to Muncy, the 
monthly meeting of Catawissa having been discontinued. In 1814, Muncy 
Friends having first made the request, the quarterly meeting of the society at 
Philadelphia established the Roaringcreek monthly meeting. This was a vir- 
tual re-establishment of the old Catawissa meeting under a new name, for it 
embraced Catawissa, Berwick and Roaringcreek, the original territory. 

Although miich reduced in numbers the Friends of the vicinity have held 
regular meetings in the Roaringcreek meeting-house until a few years since. 
For ninety years it has been a place of worship. The quiet of the burial ground, 
within its crumbling, moss-grown wall, and the quaint appearance of the 
house itself, suggest thoughts of a people whose peculiar religious ideas and 
customs were but the expression of a sincere and uncompromising regard for 
truth and virtue. 

In the year 1808 other religious teachdrs and preachers made their appear- 
ance. Reverend John Dieterich Adams, a Reformed minister from Sunbury, 
preached to the German people in a barn then owned by John Helwig, a short 
distance north of where Numidia has since been built. At the same place, 
and but a short time afterward, Reverend Frederick Plitt held services for the 
Lutherans. He rode on horseback from Philadelphia, and may be regarded as 
the pioneer minister of his church in Northern Pennsylvania. In October, 
1815, Rev. Jacob Dieffenbach succeeded Mr. Adams, whose inconsistent life 
made the change necessary. 

About this time measures were taken to build a house of worship. Caspar 
Rhoads, George Miller and Matthias Rhoads were appointed a building com- 
mittee. They bought a lot from Jacob Kline and began to build at once. In 
the fall of 1810 the new structure was dedicated. It had not been completed, 
however, and remained in an unfinished condition for fifteen years. 

For years after this religious services were held here once in every month 
by the two denominations, alternately. Denominational distinctions were not 
observed however; the whole church-going element of the German population 
attended all the services without regard to the liturgy used or the minister who 
preached. The privilege of hearing the Word expounded twelve times a year 
was too precious to be neglected. 

The succeeding Reformed pastors were Reverends Knable, Tobias, Fursch, 
Steeley, Daniels and Moore; the Lutheran ministers. Reverends Baughey, 
Benninger, Schindle and Eyer. Reverend Eyer' s pastorate began in 1837, and 
ended with his death in 1874, covering a period of thirty-seven years. Dur- 
ing his ministry and that of Reverend Moore the present brick church build- 



LOCUST TOWNSHIP. 309 

ing was erected. Reuben Fabringer, Leonard Adams, John Reinbold and 
Henry Gable were the building committee. Its cost was seven-thousand c"©!- 
lars. It was dedicated in the spring of 1870. Reverend William Litzel 
became pastor of the Lutheran congregation in 1874, and in 1878 Reverend 
L. Linderstreuth, who was succeeded in 1881 by Reverend J. H. Nei- 
man, at present in charge. Reverend George B. Dechant has been, since 
1872, pastor of the Reformed church. 

Unfortunately the relations between the two congregations in recent years 
have not been harmonious. In the spring of 1882 the officers of the Lutheran 
congregation established a Lutheran Sunday-school in the union church-building. 
In July, 1883, the officers of the Reformed church, in a written protest, ob- 
jected to the holding of a sectarian school in the house of worship jointly 
owned on the alternate Sundays, when its use for service belonged exclusively 
to them. An effort was made in 1885 to effect a peaceable settlement. It 
failed, however, owing to a want of unanimity among the Lutherans, and the 
matter has been referred to the civil court. 

A desire for religious services in English, on the part of persons not con- 
nected with the Society of Friends, led to the establishment of a Methodist 
congregation, or at least the holding of Methodist services, about the year 
1835 at the houses of Nathaniel H. Purdy and Michael Philips, near Rhoads- 
towti. The early pastors. Reverends Oliver Ege and Thomas Taneyhill, were 
stationed at Sunbury. 

Two of the Methodist congregations in Locust township form part of the 
Catawissa circuit. Previous to 1879 they were embraced in the Elysburg cir- 
cuit. The oldest, however, known as the Bear- Gap church, is still included in 
that circuit. It has existed as an organization forty-five years, and is at pres- 
ent served by Reverend H. B. Fortner. 

The Slabtown congregation worship in a building erected by the Roformed 
church in 18-48. Three years later a Methodist camp-meeting was held in 
the vicinity; it resulted in the conversion of the most prominent of the Re- 
formed members, and many others. The church-building thereupon became 
a Methodist place of worship, and as such it is used at the present day. 

In 1864 the Welsh chapel appointment was begun by Reverend Franklin 
E. Gearhart. George Wheary was one of the first members. Some of the 
Quakers, and many English speaking persons from German families, speedily 
connected themselves with the organization. Reverends Henry S. Mendenhall, 
John F. Brown, T. A. Clees, John Guss, John Z. Lloyd, Thomas Owens and 
W. S. Hamlin have successively served this and the Slabtown appointments. 
In 1871 the services were held in a school-house. The discomfort of this 
arrangement led to the erection of Trinity Methodist Episcopal church. It 
was completed at a cost of twenty- two hundred and fifty dollars, and dedi- 
cated in the autumn of 1872. Isaac Dyer, Daniel Levan, Thomas Seaborne 
and William Kline were the trustees at the time. 

The Welsh chapel mentioned above was built in 1850 on lands given for 
the purpose by James Humphreys and Michael Philips. The Welsh Baptists 
first occupied it, with Reverend William Jones as their first pastor. It is now 
a preaching point for the United Brethren church. This religious denomination 
was the last to make its appearance in the township. There are at present two 
other organizations in the township, St. Paul's and Fisher's. St. Paul's con- 
gregation was first served in 1866 by Reverend John Swank. The church-build- 
ing was erected that year on land deeded to the church by John Richards. 
Fisher's church has resulted from a bush-meetinor held in the summer of 1883 



310 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

by Reverend J. G. M. Herrold. Ground for a house of worship was secured! 
from Isaac Fisher. The new church-building will be completed before long. 

The increase in the number and efficiency of church organizations and 
schools has resulted from the changed condition of the people in general. The 
last twenty years have been marked by greater material prosperity than any 
two succeeding decades in the previous history of the township. Woodland 
has been cleared and brought under cultivation; judicious drainage has im- 
proved the farming land and increased its value, and with more comfortable 
homes there are also better facilities for the intellectual and religious instruc- 
tion of the people. 



CHAPTER XXII. 
CONYNGHAM TOAYNSHIP AND BOROUGH OF CENTRALIA. 

CONYNGHAM was the seventh and last township formed out of the origi- 
nal territory of Catawissa. After being embraced successively in Roar- 
ingcreek and Locust, the extreme southern part of the county, at the Febru- 
ary court, 1856, was erected into the township of Conyngham. It was named 
in honor of the president judge. Honorable John Nesbitt Conyngham, and by 
an unforeseen coincidence the township which perpetuates his name was 
formed at the last session in Bloomsburg over which he presided. The pro- 
priety of this tribute in appreciation of his upright character and unswerving 
integrity is attested by his eminent ability and untarnished record as an im- 
partial judge and an honorable man. 

Until the year 1830 Conyngham township, and indeed the western middle 
coal field, was known only as a wild, mountainous country, whose fastnesses 
were the haunts of the deer, the fox and the catamount. The region was not, 
however, entirely unknown. The Sunbury and Reading state road passed 
through Ashland, just at the foot of Locust mountain, and from that point a 
rough wagon track led over the mountains northward. About the year 180-4 
the Red tavern was built on the top of Locust mountain by John Rhodeburger. 
Subsequently, when inl816orl817 the bridle path was so improved as to be really 
a good road, there was an almost ceaseless stream of travel past the Red house. 
Stage-coaches dashed down the level grade above, while the echoing horn in- 
tensified the hurry and confusion of the always noisy tavern yard. Four host- 
lers emerged from the stable door, ready to grasp the bits and undo the fast- 
enings of the coach horses the moment they were stopped; others brought 
out the relay that had been resting, and the coach was ready to renew the jour- 
ney before the jaded passengers had scarcely become aware of the stop. A 
new driver mounted the box, deftly grasped the reins, uttered a quiet signal 
to start or noisily cracked his whip, and the coach disappeared in a cloud of 
dust. 

Nearly the whole of Conyngham township was surveyed about the year sev- 
enteen hundred and ninety-three. No one, at that time, would have supposed 
that beneath its rugged surface were the store houses of a vast mineral wealth. 
But during the succeeding thirty years rumors of discoveries of coal and iron 
began to be circulated and credited. The confirmation of these reports caused 



CONYJSGHAM TOWNSHir. 311 ' 

a fever of excitement among the capitalists of the period. On various pretexts, 
the land commissioners were induced to issue vi^arrants for the resurvey of 
some of the most vahiable portions of the anthracite coal region during 1830 
and the following years. There are tracts of land in this township which are 
covered by two and even three titles from the commonwealth. 

Among the first to foresee the possibilities of wealth to accrue from the 
mining of a commodity, then hardly known, was that sagacious financier, 
Stephen Girard. April 30, 1830, he purchased from Horace Binney, James C. 
Fisher, Joseph Sims, Archibald McCall, Samuel Coates, Henry Pratt, John 
Steele, Paschal Hollingsworth, George Harrison, Abijah Hammond and Alison 
Walcott, trustees of the bank of the United States at Philadelphia, an exten- 
sive tract of land on the waters of Catawissa and Mahanoy creeks and the 
Little Schuylkill river. It extended into the southeastern part of Columbia 
county. 

Stephen Girard at once pushed the construction of roads and bridges through 
his new domain. Though left in an incomplete condition these substantial 
archways have defied the storms and floods of fifty years. He expected to find 
iron ore, and amass wealth from its manufacture ; the discovery of coal has 
given the college which bears his name apparently inexhaustible resources, sur- 
passing even his most sanguine hopes. 

It was nearly a quarter of a century after the Girard purchase was made 
before any considerable quantity of coal was mined in Columbia county. The 
Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Company, the corporation which took the 
initiatory step in developing the region, and controls the most valuable coal 
land in the county at the present day, was not formed until 1842. In the year 
1854 Mine Hill rail-road was opened to Big Mine run. Two years later Mine- 
Run colliery shipped the first coal over this road from Columbia county. In 
the same year Locust-Run and Coal Ridge collieries were opened, the former 
being operated by Repellier and Company, the latter by Longstreet and Com- 
pany. The Hazel Dell colliery was completed in September, 1860; the Cen- 
tralia colliery in 1862. They were leased respectively by Robert GoiTell and 
J. M. Freck and Company. The Centralia breaker was bm-ned Sunday, Octo- 
ber 21, 1866, and twice subsequently. 

In 1863, on the Girard estate, the Continental colliery was opened by Rob- 
ert Carter and Company. It was leased successively by Goodi'ich and Com- 
pany and Gorrell and Audenried; it is operated by the Lehigh Valley Coal 
Company. Union colliery, on the same estate, was opened in the same year 
by John Anderson and Company. It is known as North Ashland, and is leased 
by the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company. In 1865 the Le- 
high and Mahanoy rail-road was opened from M*t. Carmel to Mahanoy City, 
through the property of the Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Company. In 
the following year the Mahanoy and Broad Mountain rail- road was made avail- 
able for coal shipments from the company's works. In 1867 the Locust Run 
colliery produced one-hundred and forty-seven thousand tons of coal up to that 
date, the largest annual yield of any colliery in the anthracite region. 

In 1869 Thomas R. Stockett was appointed chief engineer and agent of 
the corporation above mentioned. In 1872 he was succeeded by Lewis A. Riley. 
He resigned in 1880, and in 1881 Lewis A. Riley and Oompany leased the 
Centralia and Hazel Dell collieries. In the same year they erected the Logan 
breaker in South Conyngham. About the same time Isaac May and Company 
began to mine coal on Morris Ridge. 

From the geological report is compiled the following statistics in regard to 
the mine product for the year 1882, since when there are no reliable data avail- 
able: 



312 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 



Name of colliery, 1882. 


Location. 


Operator. 


Tons, 1882. 


1 


Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Co. 
Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Co. 
L. A. Riley & Co 


90,161 




83,941 


IJovb) Dpi I 




7,638 






Lehigh Valley Coal Co 


16,542 














A. H. Church 


35,854 






L. A. Riley & Co 


231,169 






L. A. Riley & Co 


88,283 






John Q. Williams 


2,000 








55.490 






Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Co. 


111,036 









In the development of the natural resources of Conyngham township, the 
sasnal order was reversed; capital was invested, and the work resolutely begun 
without any assurance that the product of the mines would reach a market, ex- 
-cept at such expense as to seriously diminish the profit of the enterprise. Un- 
til 1865, all coal shipments were made by the Mine-Hill rail-road, and were 
.accompanied with great inconvenience, as it penetrated the township but a 
;short distance. Not until the presence of an almost inexhaustible wealth was 
^practically demonstrated and the future of the region firmly assured, did it re- 
'.ceive really adequate facilities for its unrestricted development. 

The growth of the towns of this section has been parallel with the growth 
lOf the mining industry. Centralia, Locustdale, Montana and Germantown ac- 
commodate the population whose steady work and busy thought hew the 
veins of coal from the dark caverns of the earth, and separate the shining crys- 
^tals from the worthless conglomerate in the whirring machinery of the breakers 
above. 

When the Reading road was surveyed, a swamp, overgrown with brush- 
"wood and tall pines, marked the site of the town of Centralia. The land was 
level, however, a desirable feature as a location for the town. By subsequent 
drainage, the bogs have entirely disappeared and the place is decidedly 
healthful. 

The land was originally suiweyed for George Ashton and William Lownes, 
■ and subsequently came into possession of the Locust Mountain Coal and Iron 
Company. The first house was the "Bull's Head," a tavern built by Jona- 
than Faust in 1S41, about a mile from the Red tavern, and on the same Reading 
road. It intersected the Reading and Sunbury state road about two miles 
ifurther south. This hotel subsequently passed to Reuben Wasser, but re- 
tained its former name throughout its natural life as a stopping place for trav- 
elers, and for twelve years comprehended all of Centralia that then existed. 
Jonathan Faust did not own the land on which his house was built; he did not 
even buy the lumber, but appropriated it without compunction, and his right 
of possession was never disputed. In 1855 Alexander W. Rea, the first engin- 
eer and agent of the Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Company, built a cottage 
above the hotel, and removed thither from Danville. He made surveys for 
several streets parallel with the Reading road and others crossing it at right 
angles. On one of the latter a row of houses was built the same year. They 
were immediately occupied by employes of the company, but all have since been 
•removed. This was practically the beginning of the town. 

In 1860 Jonathan Hoagland opened the first store just opposite the "Bulla 
Head." Two years later he was appointed first postmaster. The name Centralia 
was suggested by Mr. Rea. For a few years previous the place had been 
known as Centreville ; the change was made at the instance of the postal author- 
ities, as an office of that name already existed in the state. 



CONYNGHAM TOWNSHIP. 313 

Three years later, in 1865, the Lehigh and Mahanoy rail-road, since known 
as the Lehigh Valley, was built through the town on what is appropriately 
known as Rail-Road avenue. With its entrance into the section several new coller- 
ies were opened and the town began to grow in size, population and wealth. In 
this very circumstance, however, there was an element of danger. The influx of 
people of different nationalities and conflicting creeds threatened to involve the- 
community in disorder and lawlessness, and demanded provision for a more 
stringent enforcement of the laws. 

Accordingly, at the February court, 1866, the borough of Centralia was 
incorporated. James B. Knittle was elected president of the town council ; 
L. S. Boner, town clerk ; and James Dyke, Chief Burgess of the town, an 
ofl&ce which he has held during the stormiest periods of its history. The per- 
sons thus elected officers of the borough, with other public spirited men, 
took measures to maintain and improve the state of order, and were, in 
the main, successful. 

An undertaking in which the projectors sought to prevent reckless and^. 
improvident expenditure by many of the operatives was the Centralia Mutual 
Savings Fund Association. It was organized Feb. 2, 1866, with E. S. Bet- 
terly, and a board of directors consisting of A. W. Rea, James Dyke, Henry 
W. Sable, Reuben Wasser, M. M. L'Velle, L. S. Boner, Joseph H. Dawes,. 
Edward Sweet, William James, William Peift'er, J. J. Hoagland, David Camp 
and John M. Belf ord. For a time its results were satisfactory and profitable ; but 
it subsequently became involved, and is now being closed by James Dyke. Al- 
though apparently a failure, it has certainly accomplished a good work. Many 
of the homes in Centralia trace their first inception in the minds of the owners- 
to the comfortable sum which had here slowly accumulated. 

One of the greatest disadvantages of the location of the town is the absetice- 
of an adequate water supply. To supply this want the Centralia Water Company 
was chartered in 1866. A reservoir was constructed on the side of Locust moun- 
tain, and wooden mains were laid to conduct the water to its consumers. In the 
course of a few years the pipes began to decay ; the expense of removing thenr 
and securing others of a more durable character seriously involved the company. 
Its property was sold on execution of Mayberry Hughes, and was bought by 
William Brydon Oct. 26, 1876. This transfer closed the first ten years of the 
company's history, and the result was total failure. From AVilliam Brydon, 
the property passed into possession of A. B. Fortner, Daniel C. Black, Ed- 
ward Williams, Jr., A. K. Mensch, A. B. Willard and John W. Fortner. In. 
their hands the property has been much impi'oved and pays a fair return. 

The water supply of this company is obtained from springs in the vicinity 
of the town. The exhaustive pumping process necessary to keep the mines- 
free from water threatened to seriously affect their permanency. To meet the- 
increasing need for an absolutely inexhaustible supply of water the Locust 
Mountain Water Company was chartered October 24, 1881, with a capital 
stock of fifty-thousand dollars, to which the Lehigh Valley Rail-road Company 
largely contributed. A large dam was built across Brush valley run and a 
reservoir on the top of Locust mountain, while three miles of undergroundl 
mains connect the two. The works were completed two years ago and re- 
move the possibility of any " water-famine " in the future. 

The borough organization, beneficial as it was in every respect, failed to curb? 
the spirit of ruffianism which asserted itself in the years which immediately fol- 
lowed. About the time it was effected, the Mollie Maguire troubles began in,' 
Schuylkill county. This organization, one of the most formidable that has- 
ever existed in defiance of law, rapidly extended over a large extent of the ad- 



314 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

joining counties. On the 17th of October, 1868, Alexander W. Rea was mur- 
dered on the road leading from Centralia to a colliery of which he was super- 
intendent. The object ostensibly was to rob him of some hundreds of dol- 
lars it was supposed he would have with him, as it was pay day. The mur- 
derers secured but ten dollars from his person and made good their escape. 
Ten years afterward, Hester, Tully and McHugh were tried and convicted as 
accessories before the fact. They were hung at Bloomsburg, March 25, 1878. 

This murder begins a period in the history of Centralia which had its par- 
allel in every town in the anthracite region. There was a virtual reign of ter- 
ror. Sentence of death seemed to be pronounced against every miner- boss 
who dared perform his duties and oppose the roughs. When the life of Alex- 
ander Rea, a man who had been identified with every project to benefit the 
miners and improve the town, could be sacrificed to the hatred and cupidity of 
designing villains, all security of life and property seemed to have disappeared. 
Many of the leading citizens fled. It was not safe to be in the streets after 
night-fall, and hardly safer to remain indoors. The outrages in Centralia 
reached a culminating point in 1874, when Michael Lanathan was shot in the 
streets, and Thomas Dougherty was murdered on his way to work. These 
tragedies occurred within a month of each other; both were shrouded in 
mystery, but every circumstance pointed with moral certainty to the "Ma- 
guires " as the conspirators and perpetrators. With the disclosures of Mc- 
Farland, the reign of law was once more established and Centralia shared in 
the feeling of security which soon became general throughout the whole region. 

Another phase of the lawlessness of the period was the frequent occurrence of 
incendiary fires. In March, 1872, a destructive fire consumed four blocks on 
the east side of Locust avenue. In the same year a half-square between Centre 
Raili-oad streets was reduced to ashes. Januaiy 12, 1873, a whole square on 
the west side of Locust was burned, leaving only three houses on that side of 
the street. In the four succeeding years, several business houses and private 
residences were burned, all of which with one exception were believed to be the 
work of incendiaries. 

Centralia has entered upon its period of greatest prosperity within the last 
few years. The discovery and development of rich veins of coal in the im- 
mediate vicinity give promise of labor for hundreds of men for years to come. 
It Comprises a population of about threa-thousand; a number of well established 
biisiness houses, distributing every commodity within the circle of the needs of 
any community; five congregations of evangelical christians, with an equal 
number of places of worship; a large and substantial school-building; and a 
number of benevolent and co-operative associations. The religious and social 
development of the people has made great advances in the past few years, and 
may be examined in detail. 

Methodism was introduced into Centralia in January of 1803, and was 
therefore the first denomination represented in the town. Morris Lewis was ap- 
pointed leader of a class of eight by Reverend W. M. Showalter, who was then 
pastor at Ashland. Two years later Reverend N. W. Guire, from the same 
place, organized the Methodist Episcopal appointment of Centralia, formed a 
class, and appointed William M. Hoagland, leader. In April of the same year 
the appointment was connected with the Mt. Carmel circuit of the East Balti- 
more Conference. Reverend J. M. Mullen was in charge the three succeeding 
years. During the summer of 1806 the church edifice was begun by John 
James and Joseph Steel. Assisted by others favorable to the cause, they ex- 
cavated the foundation without the expenditure of a single dollar. The corner- 
stone was laid in the autumn of 1866, by Reverend W. A. Stephens. In Feb- 



CONYNGHAM TOWNSHIP. 315 

ruary of the following year, the basement was completed and dedicated by Rev- 
erend J. B. Riddell. Daring the pastorate of Reverend J. A. Dixon, the Sun- 
day-school was organized. In March, 1869, Centralia station was established 
by the annual conference and C. D. McWilliams, S. R. Nankervis and A. C. 
"Crosthwait successively appointed pastors. In 1871 the andience room was 
dedicated. 

Several other appointments were annexed to Centralia about this time. 
Reverends H. B. Fortner and Samuel Barnes served as pastors until 1873, 
when Centralia again became a station with Reverend A. H. Mensch as pastor. 
Being unable to sustain itself, the annual conference of 1874 again connected 
it with its former circuit. Reverends G. W. Lamed, N. S. Buckingham, G. 
W. Marshall, T. H. Tubbs, J. P. Benford, R. L. Armstrong and J. S. Buckley 
have been pastors since then. In 1883 it again became a station, and since then 
has increased in membership sufficiently to warrant the erection of a new church- 
building. 

The next denominations to make their appearance were the Presbyterian 
and Protestant Episcopal. The former was organized July 31, 1867, by Rev- 
•erend S. W. Reighart. Reverend L. L. Haughawant became first pastor and 
ministered to a congregation of eighteen members. A church building was 
erected at a cost of three -thousand dollars. It is an attractive, substantial 
structure, and has a pleasant location. Reverend J. H. Fleming became pas- 
tor in 1871, and in 1874 Reverend J. Caldwell, who was succeeded in 1883 by 
Reverend J. F. Stewart, the present pastor. The Protestant Episcopal church 
•edifice was erected in 1867 at a cost of four-thousand dollars, contributed 
largely by Robert Gorrell and J. M. Freck. Bishop Stephens, of the diocese of 
Harrisburg, consecrated it. Reverend M. Washburn was the first rector; he 
resigned in 1870, when Reverend Charles E. D. Griffith took charge. His 
successors have been Reverends Robert H. Kline and D. Howard, the present 
incumbent. 

The parish of St. Ignatius' Catholic church, Centralia, is in the diocese of 
Harrisburg. Right Reverend J. F. Shanahan selected the Very Reverend 
D. J. McDermott to organize it. Before the erection of the see of Harrisburg 
the Catholic population of Centralia formed part of St. Joseph' s congregation at 
Ashland. Previous to Father McDermott' s advent no public service had been held 
in the town by a Catholic priest. He arrived in the place April 12, 1869, and the 
following Sabbath celebrated two masses in a school -house which has since 
been abandoned as unsafe because it stood on the verge of a " cave- in. ' ' The 
■congregation was organized but there was no ecclesiastical property of any kind 
belonging to the Catholics of Centralia, and there was no money, for the min- 
ers had been on an eight months' strike and had not yet resumed work. 

The first property was acquired by the donation of four lots from the Locust 
Mountain Coal and Iron Company. The corner-stone of the church building 
was laid by Bishop Shanahan July 18, 1869. It was completed the following 
November. Father McDermott completed the pastoral residence in the next 
year. The church edifice, rectory and cemetery cost twenty-two thousand dol- 
lars. In 1872 the number of souls in the congregation numbered fifteen hun- 
dred. In that year Reverend Edward T. Fields became pastor; he remained in 
charge until his death in 1884, when he in turn was succeeded by Reverend 
James I. Russell, the present pastor. He is assisted in the work of the parish 
by Reverend J. A. O' Brien. During the twelve years of Father Field' s pastor- 
ate his assistants were Fathers Davis, McShane, Kenney, McKenna and Barr. 

The Baptist denomination has secui'ed a representation. In April, 1886, 
Reverend B. B. Henchy, of Girardville, organized a congregation of twelve 



316 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

members. A church building will be completed in course of a short time. 
The new organization has shown an aggressive spirit, and will no doubt have a 
prosperous and useful career. 

The secret societies represented in Centralia are the Odd-Fellows, Patriotic 
Order Sons of America, Miners' and Laborers' Amalgamated Association and 
Knights of Labor. Centralia lodge, I. O. O. F. , No. 586, was chartered 
September 22, 1866, but this charter was burned, and another issued Novem- 
ber 25, 1872. A new hall is in course of erection on Centre street, above Lo- 
cust. Its estimated cost is four thousand dollars. It will have two floors, one 
of which will be furnished for public entertainments, thus meeting a long-felt 
want. The present membership is seventy-one. The officers are James Thomas, 
James Thompson, C. B. Spurr and Seth Thomas. 

Camp No. 106, Patriotic Order Sons of America, was organized in 1866 
with thirty-six members. Its first officers were J, P. Hoagland, president; C. 
G. Freck, secretary, and J. F. Scott, treasurer. It was reorganized in 1872, 
and rechartered February 17, 1883, with twenty-four members. This member- 
ship has since increased to sixty. 

District 16, of the Miners' and Laborers' Amalgamated Association, was or- 
ganized February 15, 1885, with one-hundred and seventy-five members. The 
district comprises four branches, and has a membership of about eight-hun- 
dred. Assembly 4641, Knights of Labor, was formed December 13 of the 
same year. April 17, 1886, Assembly 6364 was organized. These two have a 
combined strength of two hundred and forty members. 

The central location of Centralia in the coal-field of the township has 
caused more than half of its population to collect within the borough limits or 
on the land adjoining, thus preventing the growth of other towns in the vicin- 
ity. Several small villages have, however, gathered around the collieries at a 
distance from Centralia. Montana, Germantown and Locustdale were built in 
the years immediately following the opening of the coal-mines; but, for the 
reason just given, never approached in point of size their older neighbor, Cen- 
tralia. 

The village of Locustdale is situated in the adjoining counties of Schuyl- 
kill and Northumberland, as well as Columbia. The first buildings were erected 
in 1856 by George C. Potts and Company, the proprietors of the colliery still 
known by the name of its projector. The following year this colliery was first 
operated, and in 1858 the shipment of coal was begun. The growth of the 
village was energetically forwarded by J. L. Beadle, the first manager of the 
colliery. A. S. Morehead, of Pottsville, in 1859 opened the first store. Mrs, 
Mary Young was the next merchant. The first hotel, however, was built in 
1840 by Jacob Brisel before any prospect of a village was apparent. 

J. S. Beadle and William Rearsbeck invented a device for the ventilation: 
of coal-mines, first adopted by the Potts colliery in 1860, but now extensively 
used. 

The village of Montana was laid out in 1865 by Samuel Seidy. The Reno 
colliery, just opened by Morris Robison and Company, gave employment ta 
many laborers, and the town rapidly expanded to its present proportions. The 
Red tavern, a great place of social concourse during the old stage days, has 
not outlived its usefulness, but is still fairly patronized. The United Breth- 
ren church, organized in 1871 by Reverend J. G. Fritz of Mt. Carmel, North- 
umberland county, meets in the school-house. The membership has increased 
to thirty-two. A new church-building is now in course of erection. 

An enumeration of the villages of the township is manifestly incomplete with- 
out mention of ' ' The Shanties. ' ' A straggling collection of dilapidated houses; 



CONYNGHAM TOWNSHIP. 317 

at the site of the old Eepellier breakers appropriately bears this name; and 
about a dozen houses, of more substantial appearance, however, at the opening 
of an abandoned shaft of the same colliery have been known as Germantown, 
from the fact of several of the first, families being Germans. The oldest of the 
shanties was built on a Sunday in the summer of 1856, and the village of Ger- 
mantown the following year. It now comprises about a dozen houses and a 
school building, whose predecessor was one of the first built in Conyngham 
township. 

The first school-house, however, was situated above Montana, where the 
road turns to descend into Bush valley. It was built about the year 1840, but 
even then there was hardly population enough to warrant its erection. The 
work of education was here pursued under difficulties of which only the peda- 
gogue of that early day can form an idea. Unlike the generality of schools, 
then as now the attendance was discouragingly small. To the teacher this 
was a vital consideration, as his salary and the continuance of the school de- 
pended on the presence of a certain number of pupils. It is said that one of 
the first teachers was constrained under these circumstances to sometimes carry 
several small children to the school from their homes. It is possible, however, 
that even these difficulties would be an agreeable alternative if presented to 
the teachers of the over-crowded schools which have grown from this small 
beginning. 

The school at Locustdale was opened in 1859, with John Wagner as first 
teacher. The year previous, the first school building at Centralia was erected. 
It was subsequently engulfed in a " cave-in " of a coal mine. It was in this build- 
ing that the Methodist, Catholic and Presbyterian churches were organized. 
For ten years it was the only place for public gatherings in the town. The 
commodious building which has succeeded it indicates a progressive and lib- 
eral spirit among the citizens. 

Conyngham township is, in many respects, unlike any other portion of Col- 
umbia county. Geographically, it is isolated. Its people are compelled, in 
order to reach the county seat, to make a circuitous journey of sixty miles by 
rail, or resort to the less convenient modes of travel near akin to the stage- 
coaches of forty years ago. 

Topographically, it is characterized by the Little and Locust mountains, 
two parallel ranges. The crest of the former is a natural boundary between it 
and the adjoining township of Locust; the southern slope of the latter extends 
into Schuylkill county. Between the two, and extending completely across the 
township from east to west, is the Brush valley, a deep, dark ravine, whose 
almost impenetrable thickets attest the propriety of the name. The Brush val- 
ley run rises from a spring on the northern slope of Locust mountain; within 
a mile of this, to the south, are the head waters of the Big Mine run. These 
streams are branches, respectively, of the Shamokin and Mahanoy creeks, 
two of the most important tributaries of the Susquehanna river. Their re- 
spective basins are thus determined by Locust mountain. In no other town- 
ship of Columbia county is the surface so mountainous and rugged and utterly 
unfit for agricultural purposes. Nor has the mining of coal any where else 
become an exclusive industry. 

For this reason more than any other there is a marked difference in the 
general character of the people. While the Quakers and Germans were 
bringing the valleys of Roaring and Fishing creeks under cultivation, the 
new settlers hurried over the Locust and Little mountains, relieved when the 
bold outline of the latter was behind them against the southern horizon. And 
when, a half century later, the population that first developed the resources of 



318 



HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 



these mountains finally began to arrive, it differed in nationality from that 
which had preceded it, and passed to the farming region beyond. The his- 
tory of the people, their churches, schools and the towns they have built, is a 
history of a rapid growth of population with the successive opening of the dif- 
ferent collieries of the region. 





T. C. HARTER. M. D. 



Biographical 'Sketches, 



CHAPTER XXIII. 
BLOOMSBURG. 

CHARLES GILLESPIE BARKLEY, attorney at law, Bloomsburg. is a native of 
that place, born January 30, 1839. When young he obtained an academic education, 
then turned his attention to mechanics and learned the trade of a carriage-maker, serving 
nearly three years of an apprenticeship with William Sloan & Son. When his term of 
apprenticeship was nearly expired, while engaged in the work, he met with an accident 
which for a time disabled him. He then returned to educational pursuits and prepared 
for the work of teaching, in which he engaged in 1857. In May, 1863, he was elected county 
superintendent of common schools, and in this office, being re-elected in 1866 and 1869, 
served nine years. He was a member of the first and second town councils of the town 
of Bloomsburg upon its organization in 1870. By appointment, from time to time, of the 
superintendent of public instruction, he has been since May, 1874, and still is, a member 
of the board of trustees of the State normal school of the Sixth District located at 
Bloomsburg. He is a member of the F. & A. M. In the First Presbyterian Church of 
Bloomsburg he has held for some years the position of elder, superintendent of the Sun- 
day-school' and member of the board of trustees. In 1860 he entered upon the study of 
law with Col. John G. Freeze, and was admitted to practice in September. 1863. Since 
his retirement from the office of county superintendent, in 1872, he has given his entire 
attention to his legal profession. He married, June 3, 1864. Margery A. Wilson, a daughter 
of Samuel Bond Wilson and Margery (Strawbridge) Wilson, formerly of Washingtonville, 
Montour Co.. Penn. They have three children: Mary Garrison Barkley. Josephine 
Redfield Barkley and Jennie Wilson Barklev. Mr. Barkley is a descendant of the early 
settlers of this county and State, of Scotch and Irish ancestry. His paternal ancestor, 
Iddings Barkley, born at Churchtown, Lancaster Co., Penn., in 1781, of Scotch par- 
ents, married in 1803 Mary Jackson, a Quakeress, a native of a neighborhood then 
known as "The Forest," in Robeson Township, Berks Co., Penn. They (Iddings and 
Mary) lived at Pottsville, Penn., about two years, and in 1806 moved to a house at the 
•'Red Mill " in Hemlock Township, Columbia County, where the present mill house is 
built; thence to a houfee where the farm house of James Barton, deceased, now is, m 
Montour Township, and from the latter place they moved to Bloomsburg. where he built 
and lived in the house first erected on the lot now owned and occupied by I. W. Hartman. 
Subsequently he became the owner of the lot at the northeast corner of Second and West 
Streets, and for many years in a long story and a half frame house which stood on West 
Street a few rods back from Second,"he lived and carried on the business of a cabinet- 
maker. Some years prior to his death he built the brick dwelling on the same lot now 
owned and occupied by K. C. Ent. In this latter house his wife Mary died in 1854, and 
he in 1857. Iddings Barkley was an active and prominent citizen of the early days 
of the township and county, and held numerous positions of trust, both public 
and private. His son. John J. Barklej-, the father of Charles G., married December 18, 
1838, Rachel McBride of Hemlock Township. Columbia County. To them six children 
were born, Charles being the fifth. John J. Barkley died July 5, 1876, his wife Rachel 
having died April 8. precedinc:, both having lived useful and active lives in much esteem 
in the county. The maternal grandfather and grandmother of Charles G. Barkley, W ill- 
iam and Mercy McBride of Irish ancestry, soon after 1800 ^ settled upon a large tract of 
land, of wliich he was owner, in Hemlock Township, part of which, where the old build- 
ings formerly stood, is now owned and occupied by Hugh D. McBride, one of their chil- 
dren. William McBride was active and proiuinent in public and private life, but died a 
comparatively young man, his widow surviviua: him to old age. 



322 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

BARTON FAMILY. Thomas Barton was one of three brothers who emigrated 
from England to America early in the eighteenth century. He settled in Virginia, his 
brothers in Connecticut. Thomas was married in England to Hannah Clark, a daughter 
of Daniel Clark, and he had ten children: Daniel, Elisha, Theophilus, Roger, Undrel, 
Thomas, Clark. Amelia, Sarah and Isabella. Amelia was the wife of Abraham McMurtrie 
and was the only daughter who married; she lived in New Jersey and became the mother 
of a large family, some of whose descendants are now living in Columbia County. Elisha 
was born in Virginia June 21, 1743; immigrated to Pennsylvania; in 1766 married Mary 
Simonton in Northampton County, who died leaving one son, Thomas. His second mar- 
riage occurred July 10, 1771, with Anna McCarty, who was born in New Jersey March 
20, 1754. Her father came from Ireland, and her mother, Mary Paine, was a native of New 
Jersey. Elisha after his second marriage moved from Northampton County to North- 
umberland County, and from the latter to Columbia County about 1781, and located in the 
neighborhood of what is now Bloomsburg. He was a justice of the peace here and a 
farmer, and built what is known as the " Red Mill," and furnished the lumber gratis for 
the first Episcopal Church in Bloomsburg. He died September 12, 1816, and his widow 
January 11, 1828, and both are buried in the Episcopal churchyard. Their children were 
as follows: Mary, born December 16, 1772, married in November, 1795, to John Boone, 
and died November 2, 1796, of hydrophobia; Amelia, born October 2, 1774, died Septem- 
ber 15, 1796; Elisha, born September 21, 1777, married March 22, 1806. to Rachel Miller, 
died August 26, 1815; Isaiah, born June 21, 1780, married March 1, 1810, to Mary Thorn- 
ton, and died April 6, 1842; Hannah, born May 25, 1783, married in January, 1801, to James 
Boone, died July 6, 1859, in Geneseo, 111.; John, born May 10, 1785, married February 15, 
1816, to Mary C. Kreider, and died May 23, 1856; Anna, born January 6, 1788. married 
December 13, 1821, to Abraham Klotz, died January 30, 1864; Sarah, born May 22. 1790, 
died September 12, 1796; Caleb, born November 26, 1792: married in 1823; Mary 
Craig, died December 30, 1863; an infant (deceased); Cyrus, born Maj' 3, 1796, married in 
December, 1826, to Catherine Brewer, and died March 8, 1862; Betsev, born January 30, 
1799, married January 30. 1816, to William Robison, died June 9. 187f. 

CALEB BARTON, Bloomsburg. was born August 30, 1812, a son of Isaiah and Mary 
(Thornton) Barton, and a grandson of Elisha and Anna (McCarty) Barton. He was reared 
on the farm of his father, and in February, 1836, married Sarah, daughter of Peter Ru- 
pert, and by this union there were six children: Evelina B., born February 6, 1837, mar- 
ried to Dr. McReynolds; Mary (deceased); Thomas J., born September 28, 1841, married 
to Henrietta Guild; Catherine B., born March 10, 1842, married to Alfred Ale (reside in 
Warsaw, Ind.); Emma B., born May 24, 1844, married to John Moore (is now a widow 
and resides in Indiana); Anna B., born September 27, 1846, married to Thomas Webb, of 
Bloomsburg. The mother of this familj' died in September, 1854, and the father married, 
in February, 1862, Delilah Creveling, and he and wife now reside at Bloomsburg. Mr. 
Barton has followed agricultural pursuits all his life., and still owns a farm one mile from 
town, on the main road to Catawissa. where he erected a house in 1856, and resided until 
his coming to Bloomsburg in 1875. The old "white grist mill," owned by his father, is 
still the property of his descendants, our subject yet owning a share. When Elisha Bar- 
ton, the grandfather, first came to the county, he located on the present site of the red 
mill, which he built, and lived in his wagon until his cabin was erected. Mr. Barton is a 
member of the Methodist Church. In politics he is a Republican. The parents of Mrs. 
Barton, John and Charity (Moore) Creveling, were born, respectively, March 10, 1772, 
and December 1, 1773. The former was probably a native of this county, his ancestors 
coming from New Jersey and settling near Esp}', this county, at an early date. Mr. and 
Mrs. Creveling had ten children: Martha, born February 1, 1790, married to John Mel- 
lick, died December 2, 1853; Margaret, born December 17, 1801, married to Dr. Herman 
Gearhart; Jonathan, born June 26, 1803, died in 1807; Andrew, born January 22, 1806, 
married to Ann Henry; Moore, born May 5, 1808, married to Mary Fowler, died Decem- 
ber 13. 1881; John, born October 22, 1810, married to Sophia Roseberry; Jared, born 
January 24, 1813, died March 4, 1826; Delilah, born November 4, 1814, married to Caleb 
Barton; Nelson, born February 14, 18 — , married to Phebe Eck. Mr. and Mrs. Creveling 
died, respectively, August 27, 1827, and July 12, 1858, and are buried in Afton Cemetery 
near Espy, this county, formerly known as the Creveling burying-ground. 

MRS. MELVINA BARTON, a daughter of Daniel Snyder, and widow of Elisha C. 
Barton, was born July 1, 1818, in Bloomsburg. Elisha C. Barton was born in 1816 and 
was for several years a merchant with Leonard Rupert at Bloomsburg. He owned and 
operated a furnace at Paxinos, in Northumberland County, for six years, and later, while 
living at Lewisburg, owned and operated a furnace at Dry Valley. He died at Mt. 
Carmel, Penn., in 1878, leaving two children: Mary A., married to Jefferson M. John, of 
Shamokin, who died in 1877. He was a coal operator; read law at Sunburj', was admit- 
ted to the bar of that city, and practiced at Mt. Carmel. His two children are Helen and 
Barton. The second child of Mr. and Mrs. Barton is Matilda, who married Sanderson 
Lazarus. Elisha Barton was a stanch Republican, and himself and family early identi- 
fied themselves with the Episcopal Church. 



BLOOMSBURG. 323 

D. A. BECKLEY, superintendent of public schools, Bloomsburg, is a native of 
Mifflinburg, Union County, Penn., born December 25, 1833, a sou of Benjamin and 
Barbara (Stees) Beckley, the former of whom was long a merchant at Mifflinburg. 
Our subject obtained his early education in the academy of his native place, where he 
also prepared for college, and at the age of twenty or twenty-one years, became a 
student at Dickinson College. He graduated from that institution in 1859, delivering the 
German oration on that occasion. The same year he became principal of the Bloomsburg 
schools, holding the position for six years, and in 1865 was appointed by President Lin- 
coln (two days before his assassination) postmaster at Bloomsburg, and was removed in Oc- 
tober. 1866. "May 1, 1869, he was re-appointed by Gen. Grant, and held the office until re- 
moved by President Cleveland in June, 1885. He held the chairmanship of the Republi- 
can County Central Committee for Columbia County for ten years; was delegate to the 
noted conference nominating Grant for a second term, and also to the National Conven- 
tion at Cincinnati, which nominated Hayes. He was appointed by Gov. Hoyt in 1879 
chairman of the commission locating and building the Miners' Hospital near Ashland, 
this State. This was entirely an honorary position, and for three years occupied in its 
construction Mr. Beckley devoted a great part of his time. He is a Knight Templar; a 
member of the Royal Arcanum, Council No. 957, and is now Past Regent of the order at 
Bloomsburg. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for thirty-three 
years, and has served the church as Sunday-school superintendent for ten years, as well as 
in other official positions. Mr. Beckley was elected in 1885 superintendent of schools and 
re-elected in 1886. He has been twice married; first in 1860, to Miss Amanda Devling of 
Clinton County, Penn., who died in 1870, leaving two children, William and Annie. In 
August, 1873, Mr. Beckley married Ella Johnson, who has borne him one child, Jennie. 
In September, 1862, Mr. Beckley volunteered in the emergency service and served for 
about one month. His regiment was then ordered to Hagerstown, Md., arriving there 
while the battle of Antietam was in progress, but the emergency passing, it was dis- 
charged and returned home. In March, 1871, Mr. Beckley bought "the office of the Repub- 
lican, and two years later sold out, but retained his position as editor for ten years. He 
is a member of the board of trustees of the State normal school, having served as such 
for twelve years, and has always been active in his efforts to sustain and promote the 
best interests of that institution. 

LOUIS BERNHARD, watchmaker and jeweler, Bloomsburg. was born in Bavaria, 
Germany, in 1839. When he was a year old his parents immigrated to America, settling 
in New York City, and a few years later in Wilkesbarre, Penn. Here our subject 
passed his youth and early manhood, meanwhile obtaining a good education in the 
Wilkesbarre schools. Whenj seventeen years of age he began an apprenticeship at the 
watchmaking trade with John F. Jordan of that place, under whose instruction he re- 
mained several years, and in 1858 located at Bloomsburg, where he established the watch- 
maker's and jeweler's business, which he still continues. He exhibited at the county fair 
in 1859 a chronometer watch, all the parts of which were made by himself. This, with- 
out doubt, was the first watch ever made in Columbia County, and since then he has 
made many. During his residence in Bloomsburg he has had eleven apprentices, all of 
w^hom served their time and subsequently made a success of their vocation. Mr. Bernhard 
is also an architect, and has furnished plans for many buildings, among them the Lowen- 
berg & Cadman block, the Episcopal parsonage and his residence on Fifth Street. Even 
the iron fence surrounding his well kept and ornamental grounds was cast from designs 
drawn and furnished by him. In his house many evidences of his mechanical skill and 
artistic talent meet the eye, as he is also an artist in oil painting and a carver in marble 
and wood. Among the articles of the latter class may be mentioned a most elaborately 
finished case of black walnut, an astronomical clock of most intricate and perfect work- 
manship, which runs for two months after one winding, and valued at upward of $500; 
an elegant inlaid box for his drawing instruments; a large black walnut looking-glass 
framed elaborately carved, reaching from floor to ceiling; a center table, and many other 
handsome articles. His walls are hung with several oil paintings executed by himself, 
several landscapes representing some of the choicest scenery in the vicinity of Blooms- 
burg, also several copies of famous paintings, among them " Shakespeare and his Friends." 
AH of these paintings are well executed and denote a high order of artistic skill. He has 
also executed oil portraits of himself and wife and other members of his family. Mr. 
Bernhard has been a resident of Bloomsburg for nearly thirty years; is progressive and 
public-spirited, and has served his vicinity as a member of the council. He married in 
April, 1862. Anna J. Townsend, who has borne him six children: Annie J., Ida, Laura 
E., Louis F., Carl G. and Lillian Mabel. Mr. and Mrs. Barnhard are members of the 
Episcopal Church. He made a study of civil engineering at Wilkesbarre Academy, and 
completed his studies in New York City. 

GEORGE W. BERTSCH, merchant tailor, Bloomsburg, is a native of Mauch Chunk, 
Carbon Co., Penn., and a son of Daniel G. Bertsch. a merchant tailor of that place. He 
began to learn the trade of cutter and tailor with his father, and remained with him until 
1883, when he located at Bloomsburg. He carries a full line of gents' fine furnishing 



324 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

goods of every description. In clothing bis business is all order work; is now in its 
ifourth year in town, and has gradually increased until he now does one of the best trades 
in his line in the place. He was married, in October, 1884, to Miss Fleckenstine. Mr. 
Bertsch is a member of Washington Lodge, No. 265, F. & A. M., Council No. 957, R. A. 
He and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr.' Bertsch is an enterprising 
young business man of Bloomsburg, a thorough master of his business in all its branches, 
and makes a specialty of fine suits to order. For this class of work his long training un- 
der his father as a fashionable and scientific cutter makes him specially adapted, insuring 
the latest fashions and best fitting garments to his customers. In politics he is a straight 
Republican. 

FRANKLIN PIERCE BILLMEYER, Bloomsburg, district attorney of Columbia 
County, is a native of this county, boru December 31, 1853, son of Peter Billmeyer, who 
was sheriff at the time, residing in the old jail. The subject of this sketch obtained his 
early education at the schools of Bloomsburg and Bloomsburg Literary Institute, where 
he completed his preparatory studies for college. He entered Lafayette College in the 
second term (the Freshman class), in January, 1870, and was graduated from there in 
June, 1873. He was a member of the " Theta Delta Chi " fraternity, a popular student, 
a proficient in athletic exercises, class orator on public occasions, and was class historian 
and orator on graduating. After his graduation Mr. Billmeyer read law in the office of 
E. R. Skiler, was admitted to the bar in 1875, and the following spring began the practice 
of law at Bloomsburg. He has taken an interest in the politics of the county and State, 
and in September, 1877, was elected a member of and secretary of the board of trustees of 
the State normal school, and still serves in that capacity, the balance of the board being 
composed of men of fifty years of age and upward. In the spring of 1877 he was elected 
town treasurer, an office lie filled two years. In 1879 he took a prominent part in organ- 
izing the water-works, and in July was elected secretary of the citizens' meeting called to- 
discuss the feasibility of the enterprise. In August a permanent organization was effect- 
ed, of which he was elected secretary, an ofiice he has continued to fill, and since 1881 he 
has been treasurer. In 1881 he was again elected town treasurer for one year; in 1882 was 
elected a director of the Rosemont Cemetery Company, and still fills the position; in 1884, 
for the third time, he was elected town treasurer; in June, 1885, he was one of the organ- 
izers of the School Furniture Company, was elected secretary, and as such is still serving. 
In September, 1885, Mr. Billmeyer was appointed district attorney by the court to fill a 
vacancy, and in November was elected to the office, being the present incumbent. He was 
also one of the organizers, in 1886, of the board of trade, and was elected its secretary.. 
He was also one of the proprietors of and is now a stockholder in the Oak Grove Asso- 
ciation. Mr. Billmeyer was married in December, 1879, to Anna D. Snyder, youngest 
daughter of Wm. Snyder, an old and prominent citizen and business man of Blooms- 
burg. They have one child, Helen May. 

JOHN K. BITTENBENDER, of the firm of Elwell & Bittenbender, proprietors of 
" The Columbian." Bloomsburg. was born in Centre Township, this county, June 4, 1854, 
a son of Conrad and Lovina(Knorr) Bittenbender, the latter of whom died October 14, 1875. 
They were the parents of three sons and one daughter. The father was a farmer, but 
moved to Bloomsburg in 1869, where he carried on aplauing-mill and lumber business, and 
for many years was one of the most substantial men of this place. He was treasurer 
of the Bloomsburg Lumber Company, and had charge of its financial affairs during its exist- 
ence. When our subject was but two years old his parents moved to Bloomsburg where he 
was reared. Up to 1870 he attended the schools of the borough, and graduated at the normal 
school in 1874. In 1870 he began to learn the traile of printer, and after graduating taught 
school for one year. In 1875 he opened a job printing office in Bloomsburg, which he con- 
ducted for three years; then sold out and became interested in a planingmill about a year. 
In 1878-79 he accepted the position of foreman in the office of The Columbian, and held it 
until October 1, 1879, when he became one of the proprietors of the paper. Our sub- 
ject married, January 19, 1881, Alvaretta, a daughter of I. S. Kuhn, and they have one son 
— Claude K. The family attend the services of the Lutheran Church. 

SAMUEL VASTINE BOONE, farmer, P. O. Bloomsburgh, was born November 5, 1828. 
in the old homestead in Bloom, whrre he has always resided. The first of his ancestors to 
settle in this county was Samuel Boone, who was born in Exeter Township, seven miles 
below Reading, and came to this township about 120 years ago. He took up nearly 400 
acres, 123 of which being where our subject now resides, a part of the old homestead. He 
was a member of the society of Friends and a man highly respected. He and his wife, 
whose maiden name was Eleanor Hughes, are buried in the Friends' burying-ground at Cat- 
awissa. Their son, Samuel, was the father of our subject, and was born September 3, 
1786, in Bloom Township. He married August 18, 1813, Mary Vastine, a native of Rush 
Township, Northumberland Co.. Penn., and a daugliter of Benjamin Vastine. Sub- 
ject's father inherited the farm and always resided there. He learned the blacksmith's 
trade though he was principally engaged in farming. He attended the Friends' meetings. 
He and wife had five children, four of whom lived to be married: Elizabeth, born July 3, 
1815, became the wife of David Clark, and is now deceased; Anna, born December 19, 



BLOOMSBURG. 325. 

1818, was the wife of Andrew Clark and is now deceased; Benton, died aged twenty-three 
years; he was born December 31, 1816; James, born March 5, 1821, married Anna Ohman 
and died aged forty nine, and Samuel V., our subject. The mother of this family died in 
1835, and later the father married a Mrs. Slirock, by which union there was no issue. Our 
subject's father died October 9, 1863, and is buried by the side of his wife in the Friends' 
burying-ground at Catawissa. Samuel V. inherited the liomestead after the death of his 
father and there he yet resides. He married, October 23, 1856, Nancy, daughter of Gid- 
eon and Anna (Dodson) Post, and they had five children,four sons and one daughter — Rosa 
Eleanor, who died in childhood. Of the sons, Samuel D. is the eldest, Josiah B. is the 
second. John S. is the third and Frank W. the youngest. Mr. and Mrs. Boone are both 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

JEREMIAH JOHN BROWER, merchant, Bloomsburg, was born in the village of 
BrowerTown, Union Township, Berks Co., Penn., April 10, 1821, asonof John Brower, and 
from him the village took its name. John Brower was the patentee of a grain scoop that had 
a very extensive sale, also of door locks and many other manufactured articles that were 
universally used. He was a native of Berks County. Penn., and a son of Abram Brower. 
The father of our subject was of German, the mother of Quaker descent. John and Fran- 
ces (Millard) Brower had two children: Jeremiah John, and Matilda, who married Richard 
H. Jones, now a widow and resides at BrowerTown. Our subject was educated in the 
common schools and when seventeen taught school, which profession he followed eight 
years. He came to this county in 1839, where he resided until 1843; then for twoyeara 
kept a boarding-school at Brower Town. In 1846 he came to Catawissa, this county; from 
1848 to 1850 he resided in Mifflinville, and in the latter year opened a general store in Blooms- 
burg, which he conducted nineteen years. He was elected in 1870 justice of the peace, and 
served ten years. He has also served as school director and has taken an active part in 
forming four building and loan associations, and is now treasurer and secretary of the 
Mutual Building and Savings Fund Association, of Bloomsburg. The first which be- 
came a success was organized October 19, 1867, and terminated in June, 1877, Mr. Brower 
being its president. Our subject was married in 1841 to Eliza, daughter of Dr. Eleazer 
Broth well, of Mifflinville. They have four children: Eleazer B. Brower, Frances J., wife 
of James K. Brugler, now of Butler, Bates Co., Mo.; Ada Eveline, wife of L. S. Win- 
tersteen; Mary Eliza, wife of J. H. Lingle, of Belief onte, Penn. Mr. Brower established 
in 1881 his present business, trading in carpets, oil cloths, etc. ; erected the building oc- 
cupied by him in 1868 at a cost of $25,000 and has occupied it since 1869. 

J. C. BROWN, editor and proprietor of the Columbia County Republican, Blooms- 
burg, is a native of Mifflinville. Columbia Co., Penn., born April 29, 1848, a son of 
William N. and Loretta (Yonker) Brown. He was reared to the life of a farmer until about 
sixteen years of age, attending the schools of his township and a seminary at his native 
place. At the above age he became a student in Dickinson Seminary, Williamsport, from 
which he graduated in the classical course in 1868, with the highest honors of his class. 
That year he accepted a position as teacher in the Bloomsburg Literary Institute, which 
subsequently was merged into the State normal school, and where he remained until 
January, 1872, serving the last year as principal. He then engaged in civil engineering 
and was on the original survey for the North & West Branch Railroad, of which he was 
director six or eight years, and is still connected with the profession of engineering. August 
1, 1875, he bought the office, presses and other material from E. M. Wardin, of the Repub- 
lican, and has since conducted that paper. It is an eight-column quarto, and has a circu- 
lation of upward of 1,200; is Republican in politics as its name indicates. Mr. Brown is 
now a member of the board of directors for the proposed New York, Bloomsburg & Western 
Railroad; has served the town as member of the school board nine years; is a member 
of the Methodist Church, and has been for several years a member of the board of trustees; 
is treasurer of the Columbia County Agricultural Society; is one of the managers of the 
school furnishing company; a director of the steam heating company. In 1884 he was 
elected and served as a delegate to the National Republican Convention at Chicago. Mr. 
Brown's ancestors were of Scotch descent, immigrated to America in the early part of 
the eighteenth century and settled on Long Island, afterward moving to Warren County, 
N. J. His great-great-grandfather, James Brown, was born November 12, 1718. His chil- 
dren were John Brown, born June 25, 1746; James.. Martha, Sarah, Daniel and Charity. 
John Brown was a blacksmith by trade and served as a soldier in the war of the Revolu- 
tion. His first wife, Mary (Brugler) Brown, died in Warren County, N. J., October 3, 
1793. He married for his second wife Mrs. Margaret Haines, October 21, 1794, and re- 
moved to Columbia County, Penn. He and his family settled about one mile south of 
Mifflinville in 1795, where he bought a mile square and resided until his death, September 
24, 1819. He had five children, all by his first marriage: James; Samuel, born April 2, 
1778, married Dorothy Nice, died October 12, 1823; Mary, who married Joseph Otto and 
moved to McKean County, Penn., where she died; Elizabeth, who married George Hess 
and moved to Benton Township, this county, where she died; Sarah married Henry Bow- 
man and lived and died in Mifflin Township, this county. Samuel, above mentioned, was 
the grandfather of Mr. J. C. Brown, and at his father's death inherited the homestead. 



326 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

He was the father of the following named children: John; Margaret, who married Samuel 
Creasy; Sarah, married to George A. Bowman; William N.. born February 15, 1807, the 
father of Mr. J. C. Brown; Matthew; Elizabeth, widow of Alexander Thompson of Ber- 
wick, Penn.; James, who died when a young man; George B. and Elisha B. The old 
homestead of 130 acres is still owned by the Brown heirs, and has been in the family name 
for ninety-three years. The early Browns and their descendants were members of the 
Methodist Church, and were among the principal founders of the early Methodist congre- 
gation at Mifflinville. Only one of the fourth generation still resides at Miffiinville, Mar- 
garet Creasy; two more of that generation are living: George B., in Danville and Eliza- 
beth Thompson in Berwick. William N. Brown (father of J. C.) was twice married, and 
by his first wife, Nancy Freas, live children were born: George, Albert, John F., Almira 
and Dorcas. His first wife died in 1846, and in 1847 he married Loretta Yonker, who bore 
him two sons and three daughters: James C. (whose name heads this sketch), Martha, 
Samuel C, Melissa J. and Victoria. Mr. Brown died September 17, 1876. and is buried in 
the family lot near Mifflinville. He had retired from farming in 1870 and l)uilt a house in 
Mifflinville, where he died and where his widow still resides. 

PETER BRUGLER, capitalist, of Bloomsburg, was born in Hemlock Township, this 
county, October 7, 1824, a son of John and Mary A. (Kinney) Brugler, and grandson of 
Peter Brugler, who came to this county, and settled at Limestone about 1790. He 
subsequently moved to Jerseytown, and thence to Hemlock Township, where he pur- 
chased 200 acres of land, on which he erected buildings and where he died, aged about 
ninety-four years. His wife also died there aged about seventy years, and both are buried 
in the Columbia graveyard. Hemlock Township. He was of Dutch and his wife of En- 
glish descent. John Brugler, the father of our subject, was born in this county, married 
Mary A. Kinney, a native of New Jersey. John was a farmer all his life and lived on 
and owned the homestead, to which he added until it consisted of 360 acres. He was a 
member of the Presbyterian Church and an elder for many years. During the latter 
years of his life he resided at Bloomsburg, where he died, aged about sixty years. His 
wife died aged about fifty-nine years, and both are buried in Roseraont Cemetery. Our 
subject lived on the old homestead which was owned by himself and his brother, 
Elisha, until 1872, when he moved with his family to Bloomsburg, where he resided in a 
commodious residence on Third Street, engaged in the care of his estate and the loaning of 
money. He is a member of the Methodist Chiu-ch, and has officiated as church steward 
for several years. He married, July 16, 1862, Sue Billig, who was born February 18, 
1842, a daughter of Daniel and Martha (Talbert) Billig. They have had five children: 
Anna May, Lizzie J. (deceased), John (deceased), Elmer and Martha. 

DANIEL BRYFOGLE, farmer, P. O. Bloomsburg, was born in Nescopeck Township, 
Luzerne Co., Penn., July 5, 1833, a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Keen) Bryfogle, the 
former a son of Daniel, a native of Berks County. Daniel's father came from Germany. 
Jacob was a farmer in Luzerne County and owned 125 acres of land, where our subject 
was reared. October, 1854, Daniel Bryfogle married Emma Jane Gould, and they began 
keeping house the same year on ninety-three acres, owned by his father-in-law, in Salem 
Township. There they lived for eighteen years, and in 1873 they moved to this county and 
settled on 105 acres in Bloomsburg (now one of the finest improved and most productive 
farms in the county, the result of Mr. Bryfogle's labor and industry). He is a Republican, 
and, with his wife and family, a member of the Christian Church. They have had seven 
children: Sarah E., born in 1855, died in 18(32; Jacob J., born in 1858, died in October, 
1862; Winthrope, born in 1863; Ellanora Viola and Ellen Estella (twins), born August 13, 
1866 (EUea died at the age of one year); Stanley Grant, born August 4, 1869; Philip F., 
born September 25, 1874, died April 2, 1876. Mrs. Emma J. (Gould) Bryfogle was born 
November 18, 1832, and is a daughter of John and Sarah (Davenport) Gould, the former 
a native of Plymouth and the latter of Ithaca, N. Y. The Goulds were among the earliest 
settlers of Plymouth. The graudmotlier of Mrs. Bryfogle was a Lamareau, and married 
a Davenport. During the Indian wars, while her husband was with the army, she vras 
left alone at Plymouth, and in order to. escape from the Indians took a boat and, with 
her children and goods, rowed tiie whole distance to Port Deposit, where she arrived 
safely. Mrs. Bryfogle's father, John Gould, died September 27, 1883, and is buried in 
Beech Grove graveyard, Salem Township, Luzerne Count.y. His widow now resides with 
our subject. On their farm in Bloomsburg, Mr. Gould donated land for the Christian 
Church. This farm of ninety-three acres was willed to Mrs. Bryfogle by her father, but 
later she sold it to a brother, who now owns it. On her mother's side she is of French 
and German descent, while the Davenports were among the earliest settlers of this coun- 
try. Ziba Davenport, her grandfather, built and owned the first hotel in Plymouth, and 
was the first to freight coal down the river to Port Deposit. He was also a colonel in the 
militia and was highly honored and respected. The father of Ziba, named Stephen, owned 
a large portion of the land where Ithaca now stands. 

CHARLES R. BUCKALEW was born in Fishingcreek Township, Columbia Co., 
Penn., December 28, 1821. He received an academic education, taught school, was clerk 
in a store, studied law and was admitted to the bar of Columbia County, August, 1848. 



BLOOMSBURG. 327 

He settled at Bloomsburg December, 1844, was appointed prosecuting attorney for Colum- 
bia County and served from 1845 to 1847, when he resigned. He was elected to the State 
Senate in 1850 from the counties of Columbia, Luzerne and Montour, and re-elected from 
the same district in 1853. In 1854 he was commissioner to exchange the ratifications of 
a treaty with Paraguay, serving as such in the summer and fall of that year between 
sessions of the Legislature. Mr. Buckalew was chosen presidential elector in 1856 at the 
head of the Democratic electoral ticket for the Slate; was chairman of the Democratic 
State Committee in 1857 when Packer was elected governor, and was again the same year 
elected to the State Senate from the district composed of the counties of Columbia, Mon- 
tour, Northumberland and Snyder. The following winter he was appointed one of the 
commissioners to revise the penal code of the State, which position and the office of sen- 
ator he resigned in 1858, upon being appointed minister resident of the United States to 
the Republic of Ecuador. Under that appointment he resided with his family at the city 
of Quito for three years — 1858 to 1861. January 13, 1868, our subject was elected by the 
Legislature of Pennsylvania United States senator by a majority of one vote, and served 
as such for six years or until March 4, 1869. In the fall of 1869 he was elected to the State 
Senate for the fourth time from the district composed of the counties of Columbia, Montour, 
Northumberland and Sullivan. In 1872 he was the Democratic candidate for governor of 
Pennsylvania, but was defeated upon the popular vote. Served in the Constitutional Con- 
vention of 1873, and took a leading part in framing the present Constitution of Pennsylvania. 
In 1876, his name headed the Democratic State electoral ticket. May 3, 1886, he was elected 
president of the Bloomsburg and Sullivan Railroad Company. In November. 1876, he 
was elected Representative in Congress from the district composed of the counties of 
Columbia, Montour, Carbon, Monroe and Pike, and parts of the counties of Lackawanna 
and Luzerne. In 1872 Mr. Buckalew published a volume upon " Proportional Represen- 
tation," edited by Col. Freeze; in 1877 he contributed an article upon the same subject to 
Johnson's Cyclopa?dia, and in 1883 gave to the public an elaborate work upon the Con- 
stitution of Pennsylvania. 

R. C. BUCKALEW, liveryman, Bloomsburg, was born in Cambria, Luzerne County, 
Penn., July 9, 1836, a son of John and Rachel (Creveling) Buckalew. He was reared on 
a farm, where he remained with his father until 1862. In the spring of that year he 
enlisted in Company F, Seventh Regiment Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, and participated 
in many engagements; was through the Seven Days' fight, second Bull Run, Harper's 
Ferry and through Virginia, where he served on detached duty, taking part in several 
engagements and skirmishes; was at the battle of South Mountain and Antietam. He 
was mustered out at Philadelphia in the spring of 1865, having served just three years 
and three days. Returning home he remained there until 1871, when he went to New 
York City where he was engaged by Dufais & Walter, cotton brokers, one of the most 
prominent firms in that business in New York. There he acted as shipping clerk and 
cotton sampler, for which oflEice he was licensed by the New York Cotton Exchange. 
These responsible positions he held until 1879, on October 1 of which year he came to 
Bloomsburg, and the day after his arrival bought his present business. Mr. Buckalew 
married January 28, 1880, Mary E. Gager, who has borne him two children: Louis 
Walter and Lillian, aged respectively four and two years. 

AMOS BUCKALEW, liveryman, Bloomsburg, was born in Cambria, Luzerne 
Co., Penn., October 11, 1837, a son of John and Rachel (Creveling) Buckalew. He 
was reared on a farm, educated in the schools of the vicinity, and remained at liome until 
twenty-tive years of age, when he married, January 4, 1879, Mrs. Mears, nee Creveling. 
Mr. Buckalew came to this county in. April, 1869, and entered the employ of George 
Reiswick, in the livery business. October 3, 1879, he purchased it in company with his 
brother R. C, and since then they have conducted the business. They keep on an 
average ten single buggies, some carriages, and also run the stage lines to Rupert and 
the Delaware, Lackawana & Western Railroad. 

ROBERT McREYNOLDS BUCKINGHAM, Bloomsburg, deputy United States reve- 
nue collector for the Eighth Division of the Twelfth Pennsylvania District, including 
the counties of Columbia, Montour and Northumberland, is a native of Centre Township, 
Columbia County, born December 14, 1856. He was reared in the family of his grand- 
father, John McReynolds of Hemlock Township, this county, and completed his educa- 
tion at the normal school at Bloomsburg, graduating June 26,1873. He began to teach 
the same fall, and continued for four successive terms of ten months at Milnesville, Lu- 
zerne County. He then accepted the position of principal of Room No. 3, of the graded 
school of Bloomsburg for one term of nine months, and an unexpired term of four months 
at Mainville, this county. During part of that time he had given considerable attention 
to reading law, having registered as a student in 1876, with Charles G. Barkley, Esq., of 
Bloomsburg, and September 2, 1879, was admitted to the" bar at that place. In 1882 he 
was elected chairman of the Columbia County Democratic Standing Committee, and 
served one year. In 1883 he was elected district attorney, serving until September 1, 1885, 
when he resigned to accept his present ofllcial position. Since his majority Mr. Bucking- 

26 



328 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

ham has been an active participant in the politics of the vicinity, and an earnest worker 
in the interest of the Democratic party. 

MICHAEL CASEY was born April 10, 1815, in the parish of Effin, County Lim- 
erick, Ireland, and came to the United States in the sprin.ij of 1836, landing in New York. 
He settled in Catawissa, Columbia County, and finally came to Bloomsburg in 1842. His 
parents were Patrick and Ellen (Clarey) Casey. Mrs". Michael Casej% a daughter of John 
and Margaret (Griffith) Boice, Wtis born November 16, 1818, in Berks County, Pcnn., died 
June 30,"l878. Her grandfather was Abraham Boice, a native of Berks County, and a 
Revolutionary soldier and pensioner. He died in 1888. Her father, John Boice, and his 
brother, Abraham Boice, served in the war of 1813. John Boice settled in Roaringcreek 
Township, Columbia County, in 1840, and in Bloomsburg in 1847. Daniel Boice is the 
only one of John's children now living in Columbia County. Eight children have been 
born to Michael and Mary Casey: Margaret, born November 27, 1842, intermarried with 
Thomas Downs, who resides in Beaver Township, this county; John B., born June 1, 
1844; Ellen, born April 24, 1846; Thomas P., born July 31, 1847; Michael J., born April 
8, 1849; Edward, born August 6, 1854, died July 31, 1855; Joseph A,, born February 4, 
1857; William, born March 25, 1860. All of the above children are now living, and except 
Margaret, reside at Bloomsburg, this county. 

JOHN B. CASEY, commissioner's clerk of Columbia County, Bloomsburg, was born 
June 1, 1844, a son of Michael and Mary (Boice) Casey, the former a native of County 
Limerick, Ireland, and the latter of Berks County, Penn., and a daughter of John Boice. 
John Boice was a son of Abraham Boice, and a soldier in the Revolution. Our subject 
was educated in the schools of Bloomsburg, also at Millville Seminary, and completed his 
studies by a course at the Crittenden Commercial College at Philadelphia m 1863. Mr. 
Casey served as deputy sheriff in 1877-78, and has, since 1879, held the office of commis- 
sioner's clerk, a position he fills with credit. He was married December 29, 1868, to Ma- 
tilda E. Murphy, and seven children have been born to them: Edward, born June 14, 
1870; John M., born March 25, 1872, died July 19, 1872; Mary E., born August 31, 1874; 
Matilda, born February 12, 1877; Michael H., born October 20, 1880; Charles, born Febru- 
ary 17', 1883; Henry, born August 24, 1885. In politics Mr. Casey is a Democrat. The 
family attend the services of the Catholic Church. 

CASWELL. The Bloomsburg woolen-mill was established in 1882 by S. Alfonso and 
Edwin C. Caswell, who were reared to the business from their j^outh. The factory is a 
brick structure 54x124 feet, three stories high, with a boiler and engine house 26x36 feet, 
and cost $15,000. It is fitted with fourteen looms and other machinery of the latest im- 
proved and modern kind for the manufacture of ladies" fancy dress goods, and is adapted 
to manufacture all kinds of work — machinery, boilers, engines, etc., costing upward of 
$30,000. The establishment furnishes employment for forty hands, two-thirds being fe- 
males, and turns out annually $75,000 worth in manufactured goods. They use only XX 
fine merino wool, buying mostly in the Philadelphia and New York markets. The fac- 
tory is still owned by the original proprietors, but has been operated from its completion 
by S. A., E. C. and Marcus E. Caswell and H. C. Halfpenny. Marcus E. Caswell died 
three months after the factory was completed, leaving a widow and one son — Carlton A. 
Caswell, and since then the mill has been conducted by the three surviving partners, 
under the firm name of Caswell Bros. & Co. It occupies about one and three-quarters 
acres, located on the south end of West Street adjacent to the Delaware, Lackawana 
& Western Railroad, which land was given as a bonus to the firm, to induce them to put 
in the plant, by D. J. Waller. 

S. ALFONSO CASWELL, the senior member of this firm, was born in Douglass, 
Worcester Co., Mass., March 8, 1836, and when but twelve years of age was employed in a 
cotton-mill at Southbridge, Mass., and continued in that employment until seventeen 
years of age. He then engaged as an employe in the Granite woolen-mill at Burrillville, 
R. I., and at nineteen was given charge of a room as overseer. From that time until he 
was thirty-eight years of age he was employed as overseer at different mills, at times hav- 
ing fifty or sixty hands under his direction. In 1874 he formed a partnership with his 
brother, E. C, and George and William Youngman, and leased the Nippenose mills, in 
Antes Fort, Lycoming County, which he conducted successfully for eight years. He then 
came to Bloomsburg in 1882. 

EDWIN C. CASWELL, partner in the Bloomsburg woolen-mills, was born in the 
town of Thompson, Windham Co., Conn., July 16, 1838, son of Whipple and Ohve H. 
(Blacknar) Caswell, the former a native of Douglass, Mass., born in 1808 and now re- 
siding in Bloomsburg; the latter was born in Abington, Conn., in 1812 and died in Antes 
Fort, Penn., in 1881. They had nine children — eishtboys and one girl— all of whom are 
living except the youngest son. The third son, Edwin C., the subject of this sketch, at 
the early age of ten years commenced working in a factory in Woodstock, Conn., as 
"mule boy." At the age of fourteen his parents moved to Burrillville, R. I., where he 
had his first experience in a woolen-mill, first learning to weave fancy cassimere, then 
had the care of looms, and finally the art of weaving or designing, which requires a general 
knowledge of the whole process of the manufacture of woolen goods. After holding sev- 



BLOOMSBUEG. 329 

eral positions as boss weaver in different mills in INIassacliusetts and Rhode Island, and 
in 1868 in the Johnstown (Penn.), woolen-mills he accepted a position as boss weaver and' 
designer in the lar^e twelve-sett Uxbridge woolen-mills in Uxbridge, Mass., having sev- 
enty-five hands under control. In 1870 he accepted a similar position in "Maple Grove " 
woolen -mills, Adams, Mass., at a salary of $1,500 a year. In 1874 he commenced manu- 
facturing along with his brother, S. A. Caswell, at Antes Fort, Penn., since which time 
their business operations have been identical. They are self-made men, and have realized 
their early ambition to own and operate a mill of their own, which they now have in 
successful operation. Jerome O. Caswell, the fifth son, is employed as boss dyer, and 
Miss Emma L. Caswell, the sister, in the management of the weaving department. 

HENRY J. CLARK, of the firm of Clark & Son, dealers in dry goods, fancy goods, 
notions, etc., Bloomsburg, was born at Catawissa, November 4. 1829, a son of James and 
Sarah (Funston) Ciark, the former of whom was a native of Catawissa. and a son of John 
Clark, one of the original settlers of that place. Our subject, when young, learned the 
tinsmith's trade, which he carried on at Muncy, Lycoming Co., Penn., for several years. 
In 1868 he came to Bloomsburg, where he has been interested in various lines of business, 
and established his present enterprise in 1870. Mr. Clark has been identified with the 
business interest of Columbia County for nearly thirty-eight years, with the exception 
during that time ©f four or five years, part of which he spent in the army at Washington, 
D. C, during the Rebellion. When the " Exchange Hotel " was burned in 1869 Mr. Clark 
was the proprietor, and the following year, 1870, he established his present business 
which he has since continued. His stock is probablj' the largest of its kind in the county 
and its arrangements and appearance are equal to many pretentious stores in metropolitan 
cities. This establishment does an average business of from $2.5.000 to $30,000 per an- 
num. Mr. Clark has the reputation of being an enterprising and public-spirited citizen, 
and one of the most substantial business men of the town. He has one son, who is asso-" 
ciated with him in the business, firm name being H. J. Clark & Son. 

CHARLES CONNER was born near Orangeville in 1815, and spent his boyhood davs 
on the farm with his father. At an early age he began as clerk in the Montoiir Hotel in 
Danville, and remained there several years. During his stay he identified himself with 
the Episcopal Church and formed associations with the best families of Danville; at his 
death he left Mrs. Brady, the widow of Samuel A. Brady — the proprietor of the Mon- 
tour House, in whose employ he was — $1,000 as a reward for her kindness ia his delicate 
health. This was of great benefit to her in her declining years. When a boy he was 
a clerk in the store of the late Judge Baldy, of Catawissa. He engaged in rnercantile 
business in Bloomsburg, and was subsequently elected register and recorder of Columbia 
County. He was appointed to adesk in the auditor-general's oflSce at Harrisburg and served 
for about seventeen years, antl in 1868 lie entered life insurance partnership with J. A. 
Funston. He was also identified with Mr. Funston in starting the Bloomsburg Banking 
Company. About the year 1872 or 1873 he went to live with his half-sister Mrs. Fisher of 
Orangeville, and died there in January, 1875, aged about sixty years. Hon. William El- 
well and John A. Funston were selected in his will as executors of his estate. The in- 
ventory amounted to about $35,000; through the accumulation of interest and premiums 
on filing the account about one year after, the estate amounted to $42,000. He bequeathed 
to his half-sister. Mrs. Fisher, the semi-annual interest on $8,600 during her life, after her 
death said $8,600 is left in trust Avith his executors for the University of the South, at 
Sewanee, Tenn,, and to the three children of said Mrs. Fisher, viz. :'Lizzie, Jesse and 
Charles, $2,000 each, to be paid to them with interest when twenty-one years old. Mrs. 
Jane Brady, $1,000; Mrs. Rev. Robert Allen Castleman, $1,000; to his three namesakes, 
Charles Conner Sharplas, Charles Conner Evans and Charles Conner Tate, and his 
nephew, Millard F. Conner, each $500; to the rector and vestry of St. Paul's Protes- 
tant Episcopal Church in Bloomsburg for use of said church, $1,000; and the rest, residue 
and remainder of his estate to St. Paul's Protestant E piscopal Church in Harrisburg, which 
enabled this parish to build a neat and comfortable church. The will was written and 
dated December 4, 1873. His executors purchased a lot in Rosemont Cemetery at 
Bloomsburg. where he was interred; a neat metallic fence incloses his lot. and a plain 
but substantial and beautiful Scotch granite monument marks his resting place. 

GEORGE W. CORELL, retired, Bloomsburg, was born in Upper Mount Bethel 
Township, Northampton County, July 4, 1824, to John George and Susannah (Shock) 
Corell. The father was born in Northampton County and reared to farm life. He was 
twice married; first to ]\Iiss Beck, who died leaving one child, Elizabeth, who married 
George Winner of Columbia County, and died in 1883; his second marriage was with 
Miss Susannah Shock, who bore him twelve children, eight of whom are living: Sallie, 
widow of John Grover, in Monroe County; Philip, in Upper Mount Bethel Township, 
Northampton County; Joseph, in Mausdale, Montour County; Mary, wife of Jacob Sny- 
der, in Lower Mount! Bethel Township, Northampton County; George W., our subject, 
Margaret Ann, wife of Jacob Darhone, in Upper Mount Bethel Township, Northampton 
County; Susan, widow of Robert Dunbar of Lebanon, Penn., and Henry, who resides in 
Republic, Seneca Co., Ohio. The deceased are Catharine, Samuel and two infants 



330 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

wlio died unnamed. The father of this family died about 1865, aged eighty years. The 
mother died about 1863, aged seventy-four years, and both are buried at the new school 
Lutheran Church, Upper Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County. The latter 
was a member of that church, but Mr. Corell belonged to the Reformed Church. Our 
subject was reared at the place of his birth, and in his eighteenth year went to Richmond 
in the adjoining township of Lower Mount Bethel, to learn the trade of cabinet maker 
with Jacob Keefer. lie remained there three years and three months learning his trade, 
and after arriving at age was employed by Mr. Keefer as a journeyman for nine months, 
and then worked a year at his trade and carpenter work for John Wagner, in Upper 
Mount Bethel Township. He then moved to Bloomsburg, and for a while carried on car- 
pentering, and in the fall of the same year, 1847, opened a shop and embarked in the 
undertaking and cabinet-making business. He conducted this for about twenty years, 
and then put in aline of furniture and conducted the business in this way until 1878, when 
he sold out to his eldest sons. About two years later the Farmers Exchange was organ- 
ized, in which Mr. Corell bought stock, and since that time the business of the concern 
has increa.sed to about $100,000 per annum. August 8. 1883, he and his step-son, Lloyd, pur- 
chased a drug store in Hughsville, which is conducted by his step-.sou, under the firm name 
of Corell & White. Mr.Corell also owns forty acres of land left in Hemlock Township, after 
selling eleven acres in 1885; also eighty-three acres in Northampton County. The latter he 
rents,"but the former is supervised by Mr. Corell. He married in Northampton County, in 
1845, Miss Amanda Mack, a native of Northampton County, a daughter of Samuel and Isabel 
Mack, who are both living in that township. Mrs. Corell died in 1870, and is buried in Rose- 
mont Cemetery, Bloomsburg. By that marriage there were ten children, four of whom 
died in infancy. The living are William J., married to Agnes Faust, and George Winner 
(these two sons are engaged in the furniture and undertaking busmess in Bloomsbvirg, 
succeeding their father); Mary, wife of Frank C. Casper, who lives at Pittston, where 
he conducts a job printing otlice; Isabel, wife of N. M. Hartman of Nauticoke, proprie- 
tor of The Sun (newspaper) office at that place; Albert Henry, who has a job office in 
Bloomsburg, and Edwin, who is employed by William Krickbaum. Mr. Corell married, 
February 28, 1871, Mrs. Mary Ann White, widow of Russell White, by whom she had 
four children, two now living: Cyrus, who lives at Cherokee City.Iowa, engaged in the bakery 
and confectionery business, and Lloyd M., who conducts the drug business previously men- 
tioned, at Hughsville. Mr. and Mrs. Corell are members of the Methodist Church, as is 
also the elder of their children, of which church Mr. Corell has been trustee for the past 
thirty years; was treasurer of the church from 1854 to 1884, when he resigned; has been 
class-leader for twenty-five years. He was a member of the borough council two terms; 
was school director of the township before it became a borough, and was tax collector of 
the borough one year. He is manager and treasurer of the Farmers Exchange, which 
positions he has held since the establishment of the institution. 

FRANK D. DENTLER,boot and shoe merchant, Bloomsburg, is anativeofParkville, 
St. Joseph Co., Mich., born March 7, 1851, a son of Franklin G. and Mary (Cathcart) Dentler, 
natives of McEwensville, Northumberland Co., Penn., the former of German and the latter 
of Scotch ancestry. The father, who was always engaged in the stock and f armbusiness, 
when a young man went to Michigan, and has lived nearly ever since in the vicinity of 
his present home, St. Joseph Co., Mich., where he owns some 300 acres of land. Our sub- 
ject lived with his father on the farm until he was fifteen years of age, when he became a 
clerk with I. W. Pur.sel & Co., Schoolcraft, Mich., with whom he was engaged four 
years. The following two years he spent in the store of his uncle, Joseph Cathcart, at 
Clarinda, Iowa, and t!i3 next two j^ears at Constantine, Mich., in the store of Briggs & 
Davis; was then engaged one year with C. H. Gfiinsley at Schoolcraft, Mich. In 1874 he 
came to Bloomsburg and accepted the position of head clerk in the store of I. W. McKelvy, 
which he held seven years. In the spring of 1881 he established his present business in 
the building now occupied by the postoffice, and subsequeutly|built the block he now occu- 
pies, on Second Street. Mr. Dentler married in 1873 Mary Pursel, daughter of Sylves- 
ter and Mary J. (Emmett) Pursel, and they have one son, William C. 

J. LLOYD DILLON, florist and seedsman and proprietor of the greenhouses on Nor- 
mal Hill, Bloomsburg, is a native of that place, born July 7, 1851, and was educated in 
the schools of his native place. In 1867 his father bought a farm just in rear of the pres- 
ent greenhouses and, besides general farming, was extensively engaged in market gar- 
dening. From the age of sixteen our subject became interested in the raising and selling 
of vegetables, for which he had a special liking. At twenty-one he became a partner 
with his father, and as their business increased they annually grew a large quantity of 
lettuce in hot beds, but the amount of labor involved in procuring manure and protecting 
the beds from freezing, the impossibility of opening and working the beds in s<^vcre cold 
weather, made the cost of growing the lettuce very expensive. In the spring of 1875 our 
subject rented ground of his father and proceeded to build a greenhouse 20x60 with the 
view of having lettuce for sale all through the winter, and at a lower cost of production 
than in hot beds. This was the first greenhouse built in Bloomsburg and, when com- 
menced, J. L. Dillon had less than |150 capital, part of which he expended for lumber. 



BLOOMSBURG. 331 

and durina; mornings, evenings and odd spells, he ripped and worked by hand all the 
sash bars, planed and painted all the lumber and did the greater part of the work of build- 
ing the greenhouse himself. The demand for lettuce not meeting his expectations, Mr. 
Dillon began giving his attention to the raising of flowers. The partnership with 
his father being dissolved, he devoted his entire time to the raising of flowers and 
small fruits. About that time the famous " sharpless strawberry" became known, and 
Mr. Dillon raised thousands of the plants, taking an active part in introducing them 
throughout this country and Canada, sending orders as far as Victoria, British Columbia. 
He bo'ughl in 1879 uearly ten acres of ground on Normal Hill, adjoining the grounds and 
northeast of the normal school buildings, and removed the old greenhouse to this site. 
He has since added four more and is now building the sixth. The present buildings have 
over 10,000 square feet of glass surface, and, when the new one is completed, there will 
be 12,000 square feet. The entire buildings are heated by steam from two twenty-horse 
power steam boilers, with pipes radiating in all directions and providing a uniform tem- 
perature during the coldest weather. The furnace and boilers are fitted with an automatic 
attachment tbat may be set or gauged to furnish a certain amount of heat, and re- 
quires no further attention for ten or twelve hours at a time. It is one of the first green- 
houses in the country successfully heated by steam. The water supply is from an arte- 
sian well on the premises, sunk to a depth of 150 feet through the solid rock. (The wind- 
mill that now pumps the water from this well, also drilled the hole through the solid rock 
from which the water comes. The mill was first erected and by an ingenious invention 
of Mr. Dillon, the drill was attached to the wind power and thus the well was made. 
These greenhouses are the most extensive ones in central Pennsylvania as well as being 
the most successfully conducted.) In a greenhouse containing 3,600 square feet of glass, 
built in 1885 for raising carnations and for other purposes, Mr. Dillon gathered and sold 
ofE of 1,610 square feet 185,000 carnations, realizing from them alone in one crop enough t© 
pay for the entire cost of the greeenhouse and heating apparatus. The establishment cul- 
tivates every variety of flowering plants, but makes a si)ecialty of roses, verbenas and cut 
flowers. Mr. Dillon also ships large quantities of loose flowers to nearly all the large cit- 
ies of the country. It is one of the important industries of Bloomsburg and has grown 
steadily from its start in 1875 with an annual sale of !tS513, to the year ending July 1, 
1886, when the annual sales amounted to $4,500. Mr. Dillon was married in May. 1873, 
to Eliza J. Barkle, a native of England, who came when young with her father, William 
Barkle, and settled in Bloomsburg. To this union three children were born: Alice'M. ; J. 
Lloyd, born January 31, 1882, and died April 8, 1882; and Max G. Our subject's father, 
Patrick Dillon, a native of Dublin, Ireland, immigrated to this country when eighteen 
years of age and located in Bloomsburg. He was employed for years as a clerk in the 
Irondale Iron Company and subsequently bought the farm above mentioned. He married 
Mary Emmerson (the mother of our subject), who was born in England, but came with 
her parents to this country when she was but a year old. They still live on the farm north - 
east of the normal school. 

EDWARD RODMAN DRINKER, manager of the Bloomsburg Iron Company. 
Bloomsburg, was born near Clifton postoffice, Covington Township, Luzerne, now 
Lackawana, County, November 5, 1830. His ancestors were from England, and settled 
in Philadelphia about the time of William Penn, and one, Edward Drinker, was the first 
white cbild born where Philadelphia now stands. The grandfather of our subject was 
Henry Drinker, a direct descendant of the Edward above named. Henry was for many 
years cashier of the Bank of North America at Philadelphia, where he died about 1830. 
His wife's maiden name was Mary Howell, and tbeir son, Richard Drinker, the father of 
our subject, first came to Luzerne County with his brother Henry W., to take charge of a 
tract of 25,000 acres owned by their father. They received the charter for the railroad 
from Great Bend to Delaware River, now the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western. They 
also built fifty miles of turnpike in that county. In 1846 Riciiard moved to Bloomsburg, 
and bought a farm just adjoining the village. In 1854 he moved to Scranton and engaged 
in conveyancing and real estate business, and there died in November, 1861. He married 
Lydia, a daughter of John Wragg, a native of England, wlio came to this country aiiout 
the time of tlie French revolution; while on the ocean the ship was captured with all on 
board, and Mr. Wragg was detained a prisoner on shipboard a long time. Later he set- 
tled in Luzerne County, Penn., but died at Beloit, Wis., aged about ninety years. Our 
subject became identified with the iron business in 1846, being employed as an ofllce boy, 
and when seventeen became bookkeeper; continued as such for twenty-seven years, and 
for the last six years has been manager. He has served his vicinity in various local olfices, 
and was a member of the council for five yenrs; is a member of tiic Episcopal Church; he 
is a F. & A. M. He was married to Martha Mend^nhall in 1859, and they have three chil- 
dren: Edward W., Richard C. and Lydia AV. In 1862 Mr. Drinker enlisted as an emergen- 
cy man, and soon after went with his regiment to the front, arriving during the battle of 
Antietam, after which the regiment returned home and was disbanded. 

Francis Perot Drijnkek, brother of the above, was born in Luzerne, now Lacka- 
wanna, County, November 16, 1832. He became identified with the Bloomsburg Iron Com- 



332 BIOGBAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

pany in 1848-50, as bookkeeper, and lias acted in that capacity up to the present time, with 
the exception of a few intervals. He was a member of the Anderson Cavalry, a cavalry or- 
ganization belonging to Philadelphia, Penn. This cavalry organization was at the battle of 
Murfreesboro.Tenn., at which battle Mr. Drinker was taken prisoner by Wheeler's rebel 
cavalry. By them he was stripped of his uniform and accoutrements, and then paroled 
and turned loose to shift for himself. After wandering about sick and without medicine 
or food, he finally reached Columbus, Ohio, where he remained for some time for ex- 
change. He was finally discharged on account of sickness, when he returned home. Sub- 
sequently he enlisted again, and was at the battle of Gettysburg and in other engage- 
ments. He married in 1864 Miss Mary Chamberlain, who has borne him the following 
named children: Martha C, William W., Margaret, and Francis P., Jr. 

GEORGE EDWARD ELWELL, attorney at law, and one of the proprietors of the 
Columbian, Bloomsburg, is a native of Towanda, Bradford Co., Penn., born in October, 
1848, a son of Judge William Elwell of Bloomsburg. He was educated primarily in the 
Towanda schools, and prepared for college at Barker's select school in Philadelphia. In 
1867 he became a student at Trinity College, Hartford, Conn., and took a three years' course 
in the class of 1870. After leaving college he accepted the position of teacher in the Fifth 
Street School, Bloomsburg, being so employed for one year and a half, and filled the chair 
of English literature at the normal school, also of French and German for a year and a 
half. He in 1873, in the meantime, began the study of law; hecame in the summer of 
1873 a student in his father's office, and was admitted to the bar in September, 1874. He 
immediately formed a partnership with C. B. Brockway, and in 1875 they bought the 
Columbian, though still fully attending to law practice. In October, 1879, the partnership 
was dissolved, J. K. Bittenbender buying Mr. Brockway's interest in the paper, the firm 
becoming Elwell & Bittenbender, and since 1879 Mr. iSlwell has conducted his law prac- 
tice alone. Our subject married in October. 1876. Miss Mary A., daughter of I. W. 
McKelvy. Mr. Elwel! is a member of the Episcopal Church, and has been a vestryman 
for the past ten years. In politics he is a Democrat; served in the town council four 
years, and was a member of the Democratic State Committee for three years. 

HON. WILLIAM ELWELL. president judge of the Twenty-sixth Judicial District of 
Pennsylvania, resident in Bloomsburg for the last twenty-four years, was born at Athens, 
in Bradford County, on the 9th of October, 1808. His father, Dan Elwell, was a native 
of Massachusetts, and his mother, nee Nancy Prentice, of Connecticut. They were of 
English extraction. Their lineage is traceable back to the time of Cromwell. His father 
was a carpenter and builder and a mathematician of considerable notoriety. He was an 
active promoter of the cause of education in the community in which he lived, his own 
children having the best advantages which the common schools and an academy of high 
standing afforded. He married Nancy Prentice at Athens in 1800. She was the daughter 
of Dr. Amos Prentice, a physician and surgeon in the army of the Revolution. Dr. Pren- 
tice suffered great loss at Groton, Conn., by the destruction of property by the soldiers of 
Arnold, the traitor, he and his family barely escaping with iheir lives. He afterward 
moved to Athens, Bradford County, where he died in 1805. One of his sons, William, 
after whom our subject was named, was a lawyer, whose books and papers on his death 
came into the hands of the father of Judge ElwelJ. It was the perusal of these, together 
with the fact that he was a namesake of his uncle, a lawyer, that inspired the young 
mind of the future judge with the idea of becoming a lawyer. His father died in 1868 at 
the age of ninety-four years, and his mother died in 1858 at the age of eighty-three 
years. They had eight children, William being the fourth child and third son. Two of 
the sons now dead were ministers, the eldest being an Episcopal and the fifth a Method- 
ist clergyman. Two sons, the only members of the family now living, became lawyers 
and subsequently judges, one in Wisconsin and the other (our subject) in Pennsylvania, 
as first stated. He received a good academic education and continued his studies years 
after his school days. He began teaching school when but seventeen years of age, and 
taught for several years. In 1837, having previously acquired a knowledge of surveying, 
he was employed with the corps of engineers under Chief Engineer John Randall, en- 
gaged under tlie authority of the State in running advance or exploring lines on both 
sides of the North Branch of the Susquehanna River from the State line south, for the canal 
proposed to be constructed from the State line to tide water. The use of the compass 
and other practical knowledge acquired during the progress of that survey was afterward 
very beneficial to him in preparing ejectment cases for trial. In September, 1830, he 
commenced the study of law in the oftice and under the preceptorship of Hon. Horace 
Williston, a lawyer of the old school well versed in the principles of the common law. 
He came to the bar in the State of New York, and was familiar with equity practice and 
principles as administered by the courts of that State, under the administration of Chan- 
cellor Kent and other eminent judges of that day. On the 13th of February, 1833, Judge 
Elwell was admitted to the bar of Bradford County. He at once became the partner of 
his preceptor on equal terms, opened an office at Towanda and for the next sixteen years 
the firm continued in practice in the northern tier of counties. 



BLOOMSBURG. 333 

In 1849 the senior partner was appointed judge of the district. From that time until 
1862 the junior continued the practice alone, retaining all the business of the old firm. In 
1841 Judge Elwell was elected to the House of Representatives for 1842 from Bradford 
County. He was chairman of the judiciary committee of that session. That committee 
was composed of men of mark. Four of its members were afterward president judges, 
one became chief justice of the supreme court of the State, one was Thaddcus Stevens, 
afterward known in Congress as the great commoner, and one of them was subsequently 
minister to a foreign government. 

In the course of his practice Judge Elwell had been often employed to procure the 
release of persons from prison who had been committed for the non-payment of debts. 
Impressed witb the barbarity of the law which permitted arrest and imprisonment for 
such a cause, he, without a petition requesting it and without any public agitation upon 
the subject, prepared, introduced and reported from his committee a bill to abolish im- 
prisonment for debt and punish fraudulent debtors. The bill as it came from his hands, 
containing many sections, was passed and became a law on the 12th of July, 1842, and 
stands upon the statute book to-day intact. The prison doors were at once thrown open 
and the poor debtor set free amid general rejoicing that a relic of barbarism had been 
swept away. The Judge was elected to the House for 1843 and served as chairman of 
the committee of ways and means, then the most important committee owing to the de- 
pressed condition of the finances of the State. 

In April, 1871, after a general and protracted strike of miners and other employes in 
the anthracite coal regions and all attempts at settlement or compromise had failed, the 
Judge was unanimously chosen by a joint committee, representing both the operators and 
the miners as umpire to decide between them. He heard the parties for two days and 
rendered his decision in writing which was acquiesced in by both sides. The strike was 
ended. Worii was resumed — the rulings on all hands were considered eminently just, 
both as to control of the works and wages to be paid. 

Judge Elwell resided in Bradford County, when, in 1862, he was elected president judge 
of the district composed of Columbia, Wyoming and Sullivan. In 1872 he was re-elected. 
In 1874 Columbia and Montour Counties were made a separate district, of which he was 
continued the judge. In 1882 he was elected again without an opposing vote, as had been 
the case in the two preceding elections. He has been, it is believed, more frequently 
called to hold special courts in other districts than any other judge in the State. His de- 
cisions, which have undergone review in the Supreme|^Court, have with few exceptions 
been affirmed. In the criminal courts no case has been reversed. In equity and the Or- 
phans' Court but three degrees have been either reversed or modified. Among the cases 
tried before the judge are some of the most celebrated of the time, to wit: The Williams- 
port bond case, amount involved more than half a million of dollars; the city of Phila- 
delphia against Fisher, involving title to 12,000 acres of land; the Cameron will 
case; the trial and conviction of three Mollie Maguires for murder, whose execution, in 
connection with convictions in other counties, broke up the most desperate gang of mur- 
derers and outlaws that ever existed in this countr}^ 

The Judge is now, and has been for many years, president of the board of trustees 
of the State normal school at Bloomsburg, an institution in the prosperity of which he 
takes a deep interest. 

He has been twice married; in 1832 to Clamana Shaw, daughter of Loren Shaw, Esq., 
of what is now Waverly, N. Y. By this wife he had four children two of whom survive 
their mother, who died October 5, 1840, to-wit: William, ex-mayor of the city of Sheboy- 
gan, Wis., where he is largely engaged in the milling business and the plaster trade, and 
Clamana E., widow of P. H. Smith, who was a successful merchant of Plymouth, Wis., 
and State senator from the Sheboygan District, serving his second term at the time of his 
death. 

On the 19th of September, 1844, the Judge married Mary Louisa Thayer, daughter of 
Col. E. Thayer, of Watkins, Schuyler Co., N. Y. Six children have been born" of this 
marriage, four of whom are living: Ephraim W., agent of the Lehigh Valley Railroad 
at Towanda; George E., attorney at law, editor and co-proprietor of the Columbian news- 
paper establishment; Mary L., married to N. U. Funk, attorney at law, and Charles P., 
student. Two of the children died at Bloomsburg, one in its sixth and the other in its 
third year. The Judge and his family are members of the Episcopal Church. He is of a 
retiring disposition, enjoys the comforts of home, dislikes a crowd, is happy with his 
family, his books and his garden. He is an amateur gardener of the most enthusiastic type 
as all who pass his grounds can attest. He says he has voted fourteen times for the 
Democratic nominee for President of the L'nited States, and claims that he has voted 
seven times for the candidate that was elected. Although a Democrat of decided con- 
victions, it has never been charged that his politics have in any manner influenced his 
judgment or decision in judicial proceedings. 

HON. PETER ENT (deceased) was born in Roaringcreek Township, this county, 
February 11, 1811, a son of Charles and Elizabeth Ent. He was a carpenter and con- 
tractor, and during the later years of his life carried on mercantile business and also 



334 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

iron furuace at Light Street. He was a prominent Democrat, one of the county commis- 
sioners, when the county seat was removed to Bloomsburg; was collector of tolls at Beach 
Haven; was elected a member of the House of Representativs of Pennsylvania, and served 
two terms 1856-57, and was a delegate to the Democratic Convention at Charleston, in 
1800. He died in 1876, at Light Street. 

UZAL H. ENT, bookkeeper, Bloomsburg, a son of the Hon. Peter Ent, was born 
January 18, l8o8. He obtained his education in the schools of Light Street, and enlisted 
October 1, 1861, in Company D, Eighty-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, as first 
lieutenant, and served until October, 1862, when he was honorably discharged on account 
of physical disability. He participated in the following engagements: Winchester, Port 
Republic, Cedar Mountain, Thoroughfare Gap and second Bull Run. On leaving the army 
he came home, and in 1863 enlisted as an emergency man; was made captain of Com- 
pany H, Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia and served about six weeks; 
was under fire at Hagerstown, Md., while following up Lee's army on its retreat to 
the Potomac. He then returned to Light Street, and was engaged in farming and 
milling for ten years. In 1879 he was elected sheriff of Columbia County, serving three 
years, and is now employed as bookkeeper in Krug's planing-mill. Mr. Ent was married 
June 10, 1863, to Helen M. Martz of Pottsville, Schuylkill Co., Penn. They have six chil- 
dren: Alonzo M., Ramsay M., Oscar W., Nellie M., Jessie B. and Minnie E. Mr. Ent is 
a member of Oriental Lodge, 264, F. & A. M. of Orangeville, and also of the G. A. R. In 
politics he is a Democrat. The family attend the services of the Reformed Church. 

WELLINGTON H. ENT, deceased soldier, was born in Light Street, Columbia Co., 
Penn., August 16, 1834, and attended the common schools, and at Williamsport, Penn. 
He read law in Bloomsburg, and graduated in the same class with Postmaster-General 
Vilas, at the law university of Albany, N. Y., May 25, 1860, under the able instruction 
of President Reuben A. Walworth, and Profs. Ira Harris, Amasa J. Parker and Amos 
Dean. He was appointed, by the governor, notary public, December 5, 1860; was 
admitted to the bar of Columbia County at the September term, 1860. At the breaking 
out of the Rebellion he went to the rescue of his country, going in June, 1861, as first 
lieutenant in a volunteer company to Harrisburg, where he was chosen and commis- 
sioned as captain of Company A.. "Sixth Pennsylvania Reserves. He was subsequently 
promoted to the following offices in his regiment: After Antietam as major, September 21, 
1862; after Fredericksburg as lieutenant-colonel. May 1, 1863, to rank from March 26, 1863; 
after Gettysburg as colonel, July 1. 1863, to rank from May 23, 1863; as brigadier-general 
United States Volunteers, March 13, 1865, for gallant conduct at the battle of the Wilder- 
ness, Spottsylvaniti Court House, Bethesda Church, Va. ; he served in the Third Brigade, 
McCall's Division Pennsylvania Reserves, September 16, 1861; reconnoitered beyond 
Dranesville, October 19-21, and Dranesville, December 20; With the Second Brigade, 
Second Division, First Corps, Army of the Potomac, 1862; advance on Manassas, March 
10, 1862; advance on Falmouth, May 2; ordered to Peninsula June 13; with Third 
Brigade, Seymour's Division, Fifth Corp, guarding supplies at Tunstall's Station, and 
White House, June 14-29; transferred to First Brtgade, July 4; ordered to reintorce, 
the Army of Virginia with the First Brigade, Third Division, First Corps, in August; 
Gainesville, August 28; Graveston, August 29; Bull Run, August 30; South Mountain, 
Md., September 14; Antietam, 16-17; in command of regiment at Fredericksburg, De- 
cember 11-15; Burnsides Second Campaign, January 20 and 24, 1863; with Twenty- 
second Corns in defense of Washington. Fe"bruary7 to June 25, and with First Brigade, 
Third Division of Fifth Corps, Jiine 28; Gettysburg, July 2-4; Bristow's Station, Va., 
October 14; New Hope Church, Noveml)er 26; Wine Run. November 26-30; Wilderness, 
May 5-7, 1864; Spottsylvania, May 8-12. In command Third Brigade, Third Division. 
Fifth Army Corps, May 10, 1864; Spottsylvania' Court House, May 12-20; Hanover, May 
23, 26; North Anna, May 24-27; Bethesda Church, May 30 (wounded). He surveyed and 
laid out the first "Signal Camp" in the army, and Gen. Fisher, of Philadelphia, was 
placed in command of it; served for a time in the signal corps; mustered out June 11, 
1864, as one of the most gallant officers of the war. In the course of the engagements 
he had two horses shot under him, and at Dranesville the heel of his boot was shot off. 
In the battle of the Wilderness he was four nights and three days without food, save 
what berries he could gather from the bushes, and at Bethesda Church his favorite war- 
horse, "Billy " (which died September 15, 1884, at the age of 29 years and 6 months), had a 
portion of hfs fetlock shot off, which, although in the thickest of the fight, was the only 
injury he received. At this same battle Gen. Ent's regiment was three times outfianked 
and compelled to retreat, and on each occasion the whinnying of "Billy" served as a 
signal to rally the men. He was appointed by the governor of Pennsylvania to visit 
the Army of the Potomac to receive the soldiers' votes, September 28, 1864; captain 
and brigade paymaster First Brigade, Ninth Division, V. C. P., June 1, 1864. 
Died November 5, 1871. He was married January 14, 1869, to M. E. Petrikin, daughter 
of Dr. W. H. Petiikin, and granddaughter of Hon. Daniel Snyder. This marriage re- 
sulted in one daughter — Anna M. He was engaged in a furnace at Light Street after the 
war. In 1868 he was nominated and made the race for surveyor-general of Pennsyl- 



BLOOMSBURG. 335 

vania but with his party was defeated. In 1869 he was elected prothonotary of Colum- 
bia County, and served creditably until his death. February 23, 1863, he wrote to Capt. 
C H Potter Asst. Adjt.-Gen. Hertzleman's corps as follows: "Sir— I have the honor 
to represent that I have been in the Prince Street Hospital, Alexandria, Va., since 
the 10th inst., most of the time dangerously ill, and to request that an order be 
issued allowing me to be transferred to Washington City to report to Dr. Clynsier for 
medical treatment. Most respectfully your obedient servant, Wellington H. Ent, 
Major Sixth Regiment, P. R. N. C." His mother, Mrs. Sarah Ent, had five sons, 
all of whom she gave to the rescue of their country, only one surviving, suffering from 
bronchitis contracted in the army. In this work appears an elegant portrait of our sub- 
ject, placed there by his estimable widow. He was a worthy A. F. & A. M. ; was knighted 
April 19, 1864. At a regular conclave of Crusade Commandery No. 12, K. T., held at 
their Asylum December 21. 1871, Sir Knights D. A. Beckley, J. B. Robison and C. F. 
Knapp presented the following preamble and resolutions, which were unammously 
adopted. 

Whereas, Providence has seen fit to remove, by death from our Asylum our late esteemed Sir Knight 
Welliuston H. Ent and although no word or deed ol ours can now avail our brother who has been called to 
appear where the righteousness of Jesus Christ alone can secure everlasting life, yet in respect for the memory 
of one who was zealous in the advancement of the interests of our order, we do resolve; Ihat in the humble 
submission of God's will we deplore the loss of a worthy officer of our Commandery, and a beloved member ot 

""^"'/.Wferf, That in this dispensation of our Creator, while we commit to His merciful hands, thedisem- 
bodied spirit ol our brother with hope that he may have joined, in the precious blood ol our savior, an entrance 
into tlie blessed regions ot light and lile eternal, yet we rem^iber that as Knights templars we are again ad- 
monished that in the midst of life we are in death, and that it is our duty ever to persevere in the path ot 

honor, truth and integrity. ,,..,,• v, , a 

Henolved, That to the family of the deceased we tender our deep sympathy, in their bereavement, and 
may the God ot the widow and the orphan give them strength to bear up under the trials which their loss may 

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be presented to the widow, and another to the newspapers for 
publication. In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands and the seal of this Commandery to be 
affixed at Bloomsburg, Pa., this 22d day of December, 1871. 

"' Thomas E. Geddis. 

RUDOLH H-. KiMC.LE. 

John Thomas. 

C. F. Knapp, Becorder. 

FREDERICK CHRISTIAN EYER, merchant, Bloomsburg, was born Septem- 
ber 15, 1830, in Dutchess County, N. Y. His father. Rev. William J. Eyer, was born 
January 4, 1803, in Lebanon County, Penn., and came to Columbia County when thirty- 
four years of age, and in 1838, settled with his wife, Charlotte (Havemeyer) Eyer, at Cat- 
awissa. They were married May 7,1839, and their children were as follows: Frederick 
C, born September 15, 1830; Susannah C, born Atigust 18, 1834; Catherine, born January 
23, 1838; William, born December 7, 1843; Mary, born November 8, 1840, and Luther, born 
March 13, 1846. The father was a Lutheran minister and graduated in New \ork City, 
where he remained for a long time under the instruction of the Rev. Geisenhammer. In 
1838 he took charge of the Lutheran congregation atCatawissa, Bloomsburg and Roaring- 
creek, and acted as their minister until his death, February 9, 1874. He was much loved 
for his many Christian and kindly characteristics, and was highly respected by all denom- 
inations. His wife died February 3, 1876, and they are buried side by side in the ceme- 
terv at Catawissa. Before taking the above charges he had preached for the congregation 
at iiliinebeck, N. Y., for several years, and there his two eldest children Avere born. Our 
subject was educated in the schools of Catawissa and learned the trade of cabinet-making, 
but at the age of twenty-four opened a general store at Catawissa, which he conduct edj^six 
years. In 1861 he came to Bloomsburg and kept store two or three years; thence moved to 
Ashland, where he was interested in flour-mills. In 1873 he was appointed steward at the 
State Hospital for the insane at Danville, and held that position ten years. He returned 
to Bloomsburg in 18S3 and since has been interested in the clothing business under the tirm 
name of Evans & Eyer. Mr. Eyer married in 1861 Emma, of Catawissa, daugliter ot 
Reuben Lins. They had four children: Charlotte, died at the age of twelve j-ears; \\ ar- 
ren H., Mary S. and Edward A. Mr. Eyer is a Democrat and served as a member of the 
town council tw^o terms; is also a member of the Lutheran Church. 

JAMES K. EYER, merchant, Bloomsburg, was born in Madison Township, a sou of 
Pliilip P. Eyer, who was a son of Ludwig Ever. Ludwig w\as a dyer by trade and owned 
the land and laid out the town of Oyertowh, now Bloomsburg, his dyeing shop, being 
located near the bridge leading to Hemlock. He later bought a farm near Black 
Run, where he also had a saw-mill and there resided until his death. He was a member 
of the Lutheran Church, and donated the land where the First Lutheran and German Re- 
formed Churches were built; his son, Jacob, donated the land for the present Lutheran 
Church on Market Street. Philip P. Eyer was a carpenter and cabinet-maker by trade, 
a business he carried on many years at Black Run. He died in Bloomsburg in 1883, at the 
age of ninety-two years. His wife, Catharine Kenney, died at Bloomsburg and she and 
her husband are both buried in Rosemont Cemetery. They had ten children— five sous: 
James K., John A., Andrew J., F. Philip and Jacob (all deceased except J. K. and F. P.), 



336 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

and five daughters: Sarah A., married D. Wilson; Rebecca, married Dr. Willits; Catha- 
rine, married William Pursel; Mary, died single, and Martha, wife of Amos Ohle. James 
K. Eyer was reared on a farm and in 1863 or 1863 came to Bloomsburg; iu 1844 he married 
Elmira HoUinshead of Catawissa. Mr. Eyer has the following named children, living: 
John Wesley, Harriet E.. wife of Mr. Noyer, and S. Lettie; five are deceased. Mr. Eyer 
has been a member of the Methodist Church for forty-five years and class-leader for 
nearly thirty years. In politics he is a Republican. 

JOSHUA FETTERMAN, retired, Bloomsburg, was born in what is now Locust 
Township, Columbia Co., Penn., January 20, 1815, son of George and Elizabeth (Soule) 
Fetterman. The father was born in Berks County, where he married, and coming to 
Columbia County bought land in what is now Locust Township, where William Fetter- 
man now lives (the tract then consisted of 240 acres), and erected the buildings now occu- 
pied by his grandson. Here he followed farming until his death. He and his wife, 
Elizabeth (Soule) Fetterman, were the parents of ten children, five of whom are living: 
John, in Franklin Township; Joshua, our subject; Catherine, wife of Henry Harner. in 
Catawissa; Sarah, wife of William Yager, in Catawissa; Elizabeth, wife of Hamilton 
Fisher, also in Catawissa. The names of the deceased are as follows: Solomon, Henry, 
George, Jonas and Reuben. The father of this family died in September, 1860; the 
mother in April, 1844, and both are buried in Numidia Cemetery. Joshua Fetterman was 
reared in Locust Township, and assisted his father on the farm until seventeen years of 
age. He then went to Girardsville, Schuylkill County, and worked at the stone mason's 
trade, which he learned from his father. Three mouths later, accompanied with others, 
he went to Phoenixville, and engaged in m;ison work on culverts. He then w^orked for 
about a year on the high bridges of the Catawissa road, principally at the Mainville 
Bridge; thence he went to Franklin Township and worked on the construction of a fur- 
nace at the mouth of Roaring creek, and later on the erection of a furnace at Danville; 
thence to Rolston, and after a couple of months on construction there, returned to Dan- 
ville and superintended the building of the Grove furnace in that city. He then con- 
tracted to build canal bridges in the Pennsylvania Canal, which engaged his attention 
until the following spring. He then went to Danville and engaged in the construction of 
the furnaces which now belong to the Reading Railroad. In 1842 he moved to Pottsville, 
and there was engaged as stone cutter and brick mason, doing considerable work for the 
Pottsville Bank, and in the following January returned to Columbia County and spent 
the winter in repairing furnaces. May 1, 1844, he came to Bloomsburg to superintend 
the construction of the Iron Dale furnaces, and here has since remained. He superin- 
tended them until 1881. In 1882 he was elected county commissioner of Columbia Coun- 
ty, which position he held for three years. Since then he maybe said to have withdrawn 
from active labor, although he has superintended farming on a piece of land on the out- 
skirts of Bloomsburg. He married in this county, August 25, 1844, Miss Rebecca Miller, 
of Columbia County, daughter of Henry and Catherine (Mostellar) Miller. Her parents 
came from Northampton County to Columbia County, and in Mifflin Township her 
father followed farming until about ten years before his death, when he removed to Mif- 
flinville and led a retired life. He died in August, 1860. his v,'ife having preceded him 
about twenty years. To Mr. and Mrs. Fetterman six children were born, two of whom 
are living: Lizzie, wife of William Allen, a merchant of Bloomsburg, and Harriet. The 
deceased are William H., who died at the age of four months; Rachel Alice, died at the 
age of one year and four months; Charley Miller, died aged six years and five month.s, and 
Frances M. died August 12, 1886, aged forty years. Mr. and Mrs. Fetterman are members 
■of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Fetterman is a member of Bloomsburg Lodge, A. F. & A. 
M. He owns a residence and business properties in Bloomsburg, including part of the 
Exchange Block, and has about four acres in the eastern part of the city. He also is inter- 
ested in the company, owning and operating the lime quarries in Centre Township. 

COL. JOHN G. FREEZE, attorney al law, Bloomsburg, is a native of Lycoming 
County. Penn., born November 4, 1825, a son of James and Frances (Gosse) Freeze. The 
Freezes w^ere from New Jersey, and the grandfather, Peter Freeze, with his wife and 
family, settled in Northumberland County, a short time after the Revolution, in which 
conflict he served as a soldier in what was known as the " Jersey Line." He was a farmer, 
and lived and died at Tuckahoe. His son James was a miller "by trade; carried on busi- 
ness for many years, and died at Bloomsburg aged eighty-two years; his wife died aged 
about seventy-five years. Both are buried in Rosemont Cemetery. Col. Freeze obtained 
his education at the Danville Academy, and by private tutors, thus acquiring a good classi- 
cal training. He began reading law in 1846 with Joshua W. Comly, Esq., of Danville: was 
admitted to the bar April 19, 1848, at Bloomsburg, and has since been in constant practice 
of his profession. He served as register and recorder of Columbia County from 1863 to 
1869, and was a member of the constitutional convention in 1872. but resigned in favor of 
Hon. C. R. Buckalew. Our subject is generally know^n as Col. Freeze, a title he acquired 
through being appointed to Gen.Bigler's staff, on which he served with rank of lieutenant- 
colonel. In his practice he has been identified with, or had charge of many celebrated and 
important cases before the courts of this and surrounding counties, notably " Biggs »s. 



BLOOMSBUEG. 337 

Doebler," "Longenberger »s. McReyuolds," ejectments began in 1863 and continued in 
one place or another until 1885; was also engaged in the defense of the " Mollj' Maguire " 
cases. "Commonwealth vs. Patrick Hester and others." Col. Freeze was married in 1854 
to Margaret Walker of Lancaster County, Penc, a daughter of Robert Walker of Lancas- 
ter. Our subject and wife had a family of five children (all now deceased). They are 
members of the Episcopal Church; he is a member of the standing committee of the diocese 
and chancellor of it. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Historical Society; the author 
of a history of Columbia County, and of a volume of poems, entitled "A Royal Pastoral," 
a 13mo. volume of upward of 300 pages. 

ANDREW L. FRITZ, attorney at law, Bloomsburg, was born on the old homestead 
in Sugarloaf Township, Columbia Co.. Penn., August 30. 1850. His great-grandfather, 
Philip Fritz, lived on Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, and from that city he moved with his 
family to Columbia County about the year 1797, where he purchased a large tractof land. 
He was the first school teacher and justice of the peace in the northern part of the county, 
and was a great scholar and local public character of more than ordinary influence. His 
father, Jesse Fritz, present owner of the old homestead, which had been transmitted to 
him from his grandfather Philip, and his father, Henry, is a farmer, and has been justice 
of the peace for a number of years, which office he still holds. Our subject obtained an 
academic education at the Orangeville and New Columbus Academies and the Bloomsburg 
State Normal School, He began teaching school when about sixteen years of age in his 
native township; followed that profession for eight years, except part of the time during 
the summer months he assisted his father on the farm. In 1875 he took up the studj-^ of 
law in the office of Hon. C. R. Buckalew, and was admitted to the bar of Columbia 
County in May, 1878. In November of the same year he was admitted as an attorney at 
Scranton, Penn., but subsequently decided to make his home in his native county. He 
was appointed and served as deputy sheriff for three years, and was appointed by the 
county commissioners and acted as collector of taxes for the town of Bloomsburg in the 
year 1879, and was tendered the same position in 1880, but refused to accept. He was sec- 
retary of the town council of Bloomsburg for nearl}' three years successively, when he re- 
signed, and was elected a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1884, 
wliere he served on the judiciary general committee — the most important in the House, 
and he was also appointed and served on several other committees. Among other good 
measures, he advocated and made a speech in the House in favor of equalization of taxa- 
ation. But the bill failed to pass. Mr. Fritz was renominated in 1886 without opposition, 
and was elected by a large majority. At this session he is also acting on the judiciary 
general committee, and is now taking an active part on the floor of the House and in the 
discussions before the several committees to which he belongs. He was married in 
1879 to a daughter of A. J. Evans of Bloomsburg, and has one child — a son about six 
years old. 

REV. HENRY FUNK was born near Hagerstown, Md., May 7, 1816. He was bap- 
tized in infancy and confirmed in youth as a member of the Reformed Church. At an 
early period of his life he felt his heart drawn toward the holy ministry, and in order to 
prepare himself for the holy oflice, he entered Marshall College at Mercersburg in the 
eighteenth year of his ag'?. As a student he was diligent and exemplary. He graduated 
in 1841, and immediately entered the Theological Seminary, in which he took a full course, 
having spent, altogether, in both institutions nine years. Having finished his studies he 
became a licentiate and as such supplied Boonesboro charge for the space of six months 
in the absence of the regular pastor. In the fall of 1844 Mr. Funk was called as assistant 
English pastor to Rev. D. S. Tobias in the Bloomsburg charge, Columbia County, Penn. 
December 8, 1844, he was ordained to the holy ministry and installed in his charge at 
Orangeville by Rev. E. Kieffer and Rev. H. Harbaugh. a committee of the Susquehanna 
Classts. His field was large and laborious, but he served it for a space of ten years with 
great faithfulness and self-sacrifice. He married a daughter of Daniel Snyder, a well 
known and prominent citizen of Bloomsburg. She preceded him to the better world. 
They had one child which survived its parents — N. U. Funk, of Bloomsburg. A few 
years before his death his health began to decline, but he still pursued his calling as best 
he could. At length a slow consumption had done its work and he "fell asleep in Jesus"' 
April 16, 1855, at the age of thirty-eight years, eleven months and nine days. His 
remains repose in the graveyard of the Reformed Church at Hagerstown. Mr. Funk was 
an earnest, zealous and faithful laborer. He preached very often, and it is said that he 
arranged one sermon for everj' day in the month, too much for his bodily strength. His 
field had been considerably desolated by distraction and division previous to his entering 
upon it. and much labor and wisdom were required to cultivate it. He. however, succeeded 
well, and the heritage over which he presided gradually put on beauty and strength under 
his ministry and that of his worth}- colleague. jNIuch of the fruit of his labors has only 
ripened since his death, and the hands of his successor have been greatly strengthened by 
the preparatory work performed by him. His preaching was solemn and solid, and 
always left a good impression. In his general character and life, Mr. Funk manifested 
the most excellent traits of a man and a Christian. He was amiable and modest, gen- 



338 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

tie and humble, warm and true in his friendships, childlike and sincere in his devotion to 
God and the church. Though he passed earl3'- from earth there are many who cherish 
pleasant recollections of his beautiful life, and all who know him feel assured that he is 
safely at home among the " Saints in Light." 

JOHN ALBEUt FUNSTON was born February 9, 1820, in Madison Township, this 
count3%the birthplace also of his father, Thomas A. Funston, a son of John Funston, a native 
of Northampton County, Penn., whose father, Nicholas Funston emigrated in an early day 
from the North of Ireland to reside near Easton, Penn. The mother of our subject was Han- 
nah, a daughter of Andrew Schooley of English origin, who was a native of New Jersey 
at Schooley Mountain. John Funston settled on and purchased a large tract of land 
soon after the Revolutionary war, near where Jerseytown has since been built, and there 
opened one of the tirst stores in the county, beginning with a limited stock of goods and 
a limited trade in a very sparsely settled region. By dint of energy, however, the busi- 
ness was successfully continued there and in Jerseytown by himself and sons for many 
years. John Funston died December 6, 1844, on o'ne of his farms near Jerseytown at the 
advanced age of ninety-two years, closely identilied with the church and after having 
lived a respected and useful life, having held the office of justice of the peace and many 
positions of trust and honor in his locality. His wife, formerly Mary Ateu, died Novem- 
bor 23, 1838, aged seventy-five years, the mother of ten children: Henry, who married 
Sarah Thomas; Jesse, who married a Miss Strawbridge; Thomas A., married Hannah 
Schooley; Nicholas, a bachelor; Rachel, married John Richart; Mary, married Jesse Bar- 
ber; Sarah, married James Clark; John, who died young; Caleb, married Rachel Swisher 
and James Campbell, married Rachel Updegraph. The children still living are Sarah 
Clark at Catawissa, Penn., who still enjoys life'at the advanced age of eighty-six years, and 
Rachel Updegraph, the widow of James" C. Funston, living at Newberry, Penn. Thomas 
A. Funston was reared to mercantile pursuits, delivering grain and produce by team to 
Easton, Reading and Philadelphia, where he purchased goods for the store. After his 
marriage, however, he devoted himself to farming. He was an influential Democrat, 
served in many local oflices with credit and two terms in the State Legislature, by whose 
enactmehts the county seat was removed from Danville to Bloomsburg. After thirty 
years' agitation Thomas A. Funston died in 1874, aged eighty-three years, and left to sur- 
vive him his widow, who died in 1879 aged seventy-nine years, both being interred at 
Jerseytown. They Avere blessed with ten children: John A., Andrew Schooley, now 
of Colfax, Wash. Ter., married to Sarah A. Ever; Mary Jane, married to Nehemiah 
Welliver; Martha A., married to Jacob Dieffen'bach; Sarah, who died when a young 
lady; Catharine H., of Bloansburg, widow of Rev. Henry Wilson; Elizabeth M., d'ied in 
early womanhood; Desdemonia W., married William Johnston; Wilbur F. and Susan, 
who both died young. John Albert Funston was educated at the common schools and at 
the Mifllinburg Academy, Union Co., Penn., kept by Prof. James McClure. He re- 
mained at home engaged in liis father's interests until twenty-five years of age, teaching 
school during the winter months. He then took tlie responsibility of making his own way 
tlirough life, doing so witli remarkably small capital, save industry, perseverance and a 
determination to succeed by deserving it. On solicitation he accepted, temporarilj^ a 
position in the L-ondale Company store near Bloomsburg, Penn., in the vear 1846; then, 
after a summer in Pottsville. he "took charge of the large store of Judge William H. Cool 
& Co., in Beaver Meadows, Penn. While there, in August, 1848, a proposition to purchase 
the store and stock of Richard Fruit, at Jerseytown, was, after a day's consideration, accept- 
ed, Mr. Funston taking charge of the'business September 16, l'848. Although supplied 
with limited capital, watchful care and discreet management soon placed his store and 
business on a profitable basis that met constantly increasing trade and respect. On ac- 
count of failing health, in consequence of close application for eight years, the business 
was disposed of to Conrad Kreamcr, Mr. Funston retaining a private interest of one-third, 
and retiring to spend a few more years in collecting and securing outstanding del)ts and 
book accounts. Within the year after the store business was disposed of, Mr. Funston 
purchased what is known as the Phineas and, afterward. Thomas J^arber homestead, a 
rich tract of about 200 acres on the east branch of the Chillisiiuaque'Creek, which land he 
has leased to tenants for thirty years, three of whom realized a sufficient amount to enable 
tliem to purchase farms for themselves, one costing over $5 000. This tract was originally 
taken up by Joseph Galloway of the province of Marvland in 1769, who conveyed to Will- 
iam Patterson of Northumberland County, Penn., October 29. 1772, who sold to Robert 
McClenahan and he to Phineas Barber, January 10, 1787, 100 years ago, for £50. 
Phineas Barber then sold to Thomas Barber in 1830. and Thomas BaVber's heirs 
to John A. Funston in 1857. The tract originally contained 400 acres. Two farms of 100 
acres each were sold to James Coats & Bro., both of which were afterward bought by 
John and Nicholas Funston. referred to above, and now owned and occupied by Jacob 
Coonfer and Jacob Wintersteeu. The old log house and part of the barn built 115 years 
ago, have until very recently been used, and only torn away to make room for the more 
commodious buildings now (1887) being erected. Mr. Funston then gave some attention 
to dealing in real estate, and owned several farms and properties in the vicinity of Jersey- 



BLOOMSBURG. 339 

town and Bloomsburg, finally selling his store property to William Kreamer in 1865, and 
his residence in Jerseytowu to Dr. Thomas J. Swisher in 1867. In tlie same year he re- 
moved.to Bloomsburg and erected his present dwelling at Fifth and Market Streets, where 
he has resided since 1868. In the year 1868 attention was directed to the high rate of 
road and poor taxes for the township of Bloom, Bloomsburg being within this township 
and being unincorporated; roads and streets in town and township were insufficiently 
cared for, and under the then existing plan of providing for the poor and collecting and 
disbursing poor taxes, excessive amounts were required to meet the demands of a list of 
self-constituted and undeserving paupers, that under the mild and liberal methods then 
prevailing, preferred to live on the community rather than work. Seeing the demoraliz- 
ing effects of this high rate of. taxation and the accumulating debt, Mr. Fuuslon called 
upon the Rev. D. J. Waller, Sr., and after a short interview, a supplement was drawn 
transferring the act for the Luzerne Poor District to Bloomsburg. The move was approved 
by leading citizens. The necessary enactment was passed by the Legislature appointing 
Mr. Funston, Mr. B. F. Hartman and Dr. J. Schuyler directors to buy a farm and establish 
a home for the poor. The list of over fifty paupers was reduced to sixteen, owing to an 
unwillingness to accept the new and comfortable home, and the rate of poor taxes re- 
duced from 10 mills to 3 mills. The incorporation of the town of Bloomsburg was 
similarly effected. In 1868 the fire and life insurance firm of John A. Funston & Co. 
was instituted, the late Charles Conner being associated with Mr. Funston. While in 
this business it was discovered that a banking business could be profitably carried on by 
the firm. The banking business soon followed and an extensive discount line was reached 
and prosperously maintained by the firm for some two and a half years without loss. Out 
of this private banking business grew the present Bloomsburg Banking Companj^ a 
flourishing banking institution organized in 1871 with a capital stock of $50,000, taken by 
fifty stockholders, and of which institution Mr. Funston is now and always has been a 
director and president. An unusual number of important positions of trust have been 
filled by Mr. Funston, among others that of county treasurer, to which he was elected as 
a Democrat by his party in 1860 and into which office his usual tact and ability were car- 
ried. He took a very active interest in various improvements of the town of Bloomsburg 
and county, and has been a member of the board of trustees of the State normal school at 
Bloomsburg since 1868; is president ofthe Bloomsburg water-works, Bloomsburg agricult- 
ural works and vice-president of the Bloomsburg Steam, Heat and Electric Light Company. 
He was married January 23, 1850, to Almira Melick of Light Street, Penn. He has three 
children: Sara M., married to Paul E. Wirt, attornej"- at law and inventor of the now 
widely known Paul E. Wirt fountain pen; Eva Lilien, married toH. O. Rodgers, born and 
reared at Ironton Iron Works, Ohio, but now of Hazleton, Penn., manager of the Hazle- 
ton, Mauch Chunk »& Pittston Oil Company; Charles W., remains with his parents and is en- 
gaged in the manufacture of agricultural implements etc., in Bloomsburg. The family 
are members of the Protestant Episcopal Church. We find in the possession of Mr. Fun- 
ston a number of old papers and memoranda which had been in possession of his grand- 
father, John Funston, relating to the raising of money to build what was known as 
Christ's Protestant Episcopal and Lutheran Church, Derry Township, Northumberland 
Co., Penn., on the road from Jerseytowu to Millville; also the subscription papers with 
the names and amount subscribed by each person in pounds, shillings and pence, together 
with the original autographs of many of these pioneer church people and including sev- 
eral autographs of the Rev. Caleb Hopkins, the first minister of the Protestant Episcopal 
Church in this county, also letters and autographs of Bishop White, the first Protestant 
Episcopal bishop of the diocese of Pennsylvania, these different papers bearing various 
dates from 1790 to 1800. 

PETER GROSS, beer bottler, Bloomsburg, was born in Sawarton, Rawnfolz, Ba- 
varia, June 20, 1825, and came to the United States in 1860. He married in Germany, 
Philopina Young, and had four children born in the fatherland: Jacob, killed in Dan- 
ville by a railroad accident; David, Margaret and Leanna, and the following named born 
in the United States: Daniel (deceased), William, Clara, Peter, Elizabeth and John. 
Mr. Gross first settled in Danville, and worked in a furnace. In 1871 he came to Blooms- 
burg and opened a bottling business, which he has since successfully conducted. Mr. 
Gross is a member of the Catholic Church, Mrs. Gross of the Lutheran. Politically he is 
a Democrat, and takes an active interest in the afl'airs of the county. 

JOHN K. GROTZ, cue of the oldest citizens and natives of Bloomsburg now living, 
was born October 22, 1810. in a frame house which is still standing on the southwest 
corner of Iron and Second Streets, built by his father, Abraham Grotz, in 1806. He began 
to learn the harness-maker's trade in September, 1826, and in 1833 opened a shop atlhe 
head of Market Street, where he followed his trade. In 1835 he bought the lot which is 
now occupied by the banking company; erected, the same year, a iframe shop, and the 
next year a dwelling. He carried on business there until 1856, though in 1849 he built the 
brick structure occupied by the bank. From 1850 he carried on a tannery business in 
Hemlock Township, retiring in 1870. Mr. Grotz goes back, with great distinctness, to 
1814, and relates the names of people, the number of buildings in Bloomsburg at that 



340 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

time, as follows: A lop; house on First Street, occupied by Henry Weaver, where Mr, 
Tustin now resides; an old frame house, which is still standing on First Street near West, 
occupied by George Fry; at the Forks on the east end of Second Street was a one-story 
log house, owned and occupied by Daniel Snyder; a house on the soutiiwest corner of 
Second and Iron Streets, occupied by Abraham Grotz, still standing; a house occupied by 
Christopher Kahler, on the lot east of Central House; a frame one-half story, where 
Hendersliott's drug store now is, occupied by John Chamberlain; a log house opposite the 
Kahler House, owned by John Hageubuch; a one-story frame storeroom, opposite the 
southwest corner of Second Street, kept by Philip Mehrrling, afterward by William Mc- 
Kelvy, Cyrus Barton and E. H. Biggs, respectively. The last named tore down the old 
building and erected the present block: a hotel, frame, two stories, where the Exchange 
now is; a one-story frame on the southeast corner of Jefferson Alley and Second Street, 
occupied by Mrs. Moomey; a log house on the northeast corner of Centre and Second 
Streets, owned by Mr. Fisher; a frame twostory hotel on the northwest corner of Second 
and Centre Streets, occupied as a hotel by John Chamberlain, the first regular hotel in 
Bloomsburg. On the north side of Second Street there was no house nearer than where 
Dr. McKelvy now lives; it was a log house, occupied by John Hess. On East Street 
below Third was a place called Hopkinsville; an Episcopal minister named Hopkins owned 
the land and laid out a number of lots, and thus gave the place its local name. The Epis- 
copal Church, a frame building, stood on the site of the present Episcopal Church par- 
sonage; the church building was moved to the lot in the rear of the store on the south- 
west corner of Second and Centre Streets, and is now" used as a storehouse. The first 
wagon shop was established by Israel Wills on the southeast corner of the alley on Mar- 
ket between Second and Third Streets. The only school then was a one-story frame on 
the northeast corner of Second and Iron Streets. It was a subscription school, and ita 
first teacher was a Mr. Ferguson. The town as originally laid out by Eyer was from Iron 
to West Streets. John K. Grotz was one of the original stockholders and directors of the 
national bank in Danville. He resigned and became an organizer and director of the 
First National Bank in Bloomsburg. In 1870 he sold out his interest in the First National 
Bank, and was one of the organizers of the banking company, of which his son is cashier. 
Mr. Grotz has been treasurer of the Bloomsburg poor district for the last seven years. 
His wife, Elizabeth Fistu, died in 1883. There are three of their children living: H. H., 
Mary N. and Henry C. Abraham Grotz was a native of Northampton County, Penn., as 
was also his wife, nee Mary Kuhra. They came to Bloomsburg in 1806. He was a hatter 
by trade and carried on that business on the corner of Iron and Second Streets until 1832. 
He then moved to Stark County, Ohio, and bought a farm near Uniontown, where he 
and his wife both died. 

T.' L. GUNTON. proprietor of the marble works, Bloomsburg, is a native of Plains- 
ville, Luzerne Co., Penn., born February 18. 1851. Thomas W. Gunton, father of our 
subject, moved from Plainsville to Bloomsburg in the spring of 1854, and established a 
broom factory. Here our subject was reared, and when seventeen years of age he went 
to Danville, and served four years at the trade of a marble-cutter, with Hon. Peter 
Hughes. His present business was established by Anthony Witman in the year 1853. 
His shop was located on Main Street, where Hendershott's drug store now stands. From 
this location he removed to the court-house alley, in the rear of the old log building, the 
present site of the Paul E. Wirt (formerly Brower's) building. Later on he located at the 
southwest corner of Main and Market Streets, where he continued until 1868, when he 
leased the ground and erected a portion of the wooden buildings now owned and occu- 
pied by our subject on the same street nearly opposite the last named location, where he 
continued business until his death in November, 1870. After his death the place was 
bought by the present proprietor, who began business December 27, 1870. Our subject 
now manufactures all kinds of monumental work in granite, marble and also granite 
and marble coping, posts, etc. His shops are fitted with steam power and machinery for 
polishing the largest pieces of stone or marble. It is the only business of the kind in the 
place, and Mr. Gunton does not only a portion of the work of the county, but also of the 
surrounding country, and has the reputation of doing first-class work and using the best 
materials. He was married September 23, 1885, to Amanda Gunton (of no blood relation- 
ship), a daughter of Richard Gunton, of Wilkesbarre. Penn. Mr. Gunton is a member of 
the Lutheran Church. He owns a business lot on Main Street, where his shops are located, 
and a modern and commodious residence on Fourth Street, where he lives. 

HENRY C. HALFPENNY, one of the partners in the Bloomsburg woolen-mills, is a 
native of Laurelton, Union Co., Penn., born February 24, 1843, a son of H. S. and Julia 
Ann (Buck) Halfpenny. He began his experience in woolen-mills with his uncle, Mark 
Halfpenny, in his factory at Laurelton, when but fifteen years old, remaining six years. 
He then enlisted, February 24, 1864, in Battery F, Second Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, 
and served until January, 1866; then returned to Laurelton to his uncle's mill, which was 
destroyed by fire the same fall. His uncle then moved the business to Lewisburg, Penn., 
and he remained in his employ until 1870. He left there to take the position of over- 
seer in the carding, spinning and weaving department in Larry's Creek woolen-mill, in 



BLOOMSBURG. 341 

Lycoming County. In the above position be remained about two years and then became 
overseer of the carding and spinning department in the Nippenose Mills, at Antes Fort, 
Lycoming County, where he continued ten or twelve years; then came to Bloomsbufg, 
on the formation of the present partnership in 1882. Mr. Halfpenny gives his special at- 
tention to overseeing the carding and spinning department, in connection with his other 
interests attached to the business. He was married October 1, 1866, to Carrie D. Deckard, 
of Mifflinburg, Union County. They have one son. Grant D., now assistant foreman in 
the carding and spinning department of the Bloomsburg mill. The Halfpennys are of 
an old English family, and have been largely identified, through its various branches, in 
the manufacture of woolen goods. The grandfather of Henry C. Halfpenny immigrated 
to the United States previous to 1800, and settled in the neighborhood of Muucy. Penn. 
Four of his children learned their trade as manufacturers of woolen goods with Samuel 
Kogers, of Muncy, a very prominent and prosperous manufacturer of that place. The 
names of these four were Mark, now a prominent manufacturer and one-half owner of 
the Lewisburg woolen-mills; John (now deceased), who owned and operated a factory at 
Bells Mills, Blair Co., Penn.; James, formerly a partner with his brother Mark (died in 
1885), and William R., who is devoting his latter years to farming. 

BENJAMIN F. HARTMAN, Bloomsburg, was born at Catawissa. January 10, 1812, 
and is a son of Thomas and Sophia (Leidenberg) Hartman. He has been a resident of 
Bloomsburg for fifty-two years, with the exception of four years he spent at farming two 
miles from that place. He is by trade a blacksmith, but has been engaged in a collection 
and fire insurance business since 1848. From 1865 to 1869 he acted as deputy United 
States revenue collector. Mr. Hartman was married in 1836 to Abigail Maria Pursel, who 
died in 1883 aged seventy years, a daughter of Daniel Pursel, of an old Columbia County 
family. Mr. and Mrs. Ilartman had two children: Henry H., who died aged two years, 
and Celestia, who married O. T. Wilson (she was born February 7, 1838, died in June, 
1881, and is buried in Roseinont Cemetery; she left five children: Lilly H., Frank H., 
Arthur N. (killed in a mill in June, 1886), Harry S. and Charles P.) Mr. Hartman is a 
member of the Episcopal Church; has been secretary, treasurer and warden for twenty- 
five years. In politics he is a Republican. 

HENRY C. HARTMAN, merchant, Bloomsburg, was born September 18, 1822, in 
Catawissa, Columbia County. The Hartman family of Bloomsburg is descended from 
Nicholas and Isabella Hartman, of Baden-Baden, Germany. Their son, William, at the 
age of twelve or thirteen came to America September 14, 1753, locating temporarily at 
Bristol, Bucks Co., Penn., and paid for his passage to this country after his arrival. He 
was a tanner by trade, and later settled half-way between Bloomsburg and Berwick pre- 
vious to the massacre of Wyoming. One day on his return from the mill he found his 
cabin in ruins, having been set on fire by the Indians. His wife had discovered the pres- 
ence of the savages in time to escape with her infant child, and was overtaken by her hus- 
band while on her way to Catawissa. There they afterward settled. He was a man of 
very genial nature, kind to the poor, and a pioneer known far and wide as one of good 
repute. He and his pioneer wife are both buried in the old Quaker graveyard at Cata- 
wissa. Here he was probably married, his wife's maiden name being Frances Reamy. 
He owned about 300 acres of land, which with the aid of his children he cleared up; he 
died aged about eighty-three years. He and his wife were Lutherans, parents of twelve 
children, of whom Thomas was the father of Henry C, the subject of this sketch. Thomas 
married Sophia Ladenberg. He was a nail-maker by trade, but during the greater part of 
his life was a farmer in Montour Township, this county. He was an old line Whig in 
politics, and attended the Methodist Church. His children were as follows: Charles, Ben- 
jamin F., Jane, Wellington, William, Daniel, Henry C. and Isaiah W. Henry C, a grand- 
son of the first settler, was reared on the farm, and when young learned the chairmak- 
ing and painting trades, after completing which he served two months as a journeyman. 
He then began clerking for J. K. Sharpless at Catawissa, and October 10. 1848, opened a 
general store with his brother, I. W., which partnership continued twenty-one years. 
April 23, 1874, our subject opened his present store, in which he keeps a full line of car- 
pets, oil cloths, etc. August 8. 1862, he was mustered in Company E, One Hundred and 
Thirty-Second Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, for nine months, and served ten. He 
married in 1852 Martha F. McClure, a member of the Presbyterian Church. 

I. W. HARTMAN, merchant, Bloomsburg, was born two miles east of Catawissa, this 
county, October 20, 1825, a son of Thomas Hartman, a farmer of that locality. He was 
reared to the life of a farmer near Bloomsburg, and (his father having moved to Hemlock 
Township) was educated at the schools of the neighborhood until sixteen or seventeen years 
of age. He then attended the Catawissa school taught by Mr. J. J. Brower one session, 
and on leaving there, in August, 1843, engaged as a clerk with Eyer & Heffly, of Blooms- 
burg, in the building that Mr. Hartman now occupies. Five years later" he formed a 
partnership with his brother, H. C. Hartman, and opened a general store in the old Arcade 
Building, continuing there until 1855. During that time they bought the building where 
our subject had been employed as clerk, and there they carried on a general business 
under the firm name of H. C. & I. W. Hartman, until January 1, 1869. In that year our 



342 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

subject bought his brother's interest, and conducted the enterprise alone until August, 
1883. He then took in his son, Edwin V., as a partner, and the firm is known as I. W. 
Hartman & Son. This business, as will be seen, was established in 1848. The sales that 
year amounted to $12,000, and for many years averaged $;30,000 and upward per annum. 
Mr. Hartman has been longer in continuous business as a merchant than any other man 
in IBloomsburg. He is a Republican and has served his vicinity in several offices in the 
council; as school director; was superintendent and treasurer of Rosemont Cemetery 
twenty -five years. He and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of 
which he lias been class-leader, steward for twenty-seven years and trustee for many 
years. He married, February 26, 1850, Mary Melinda Ritter, of Bloomsburg, and they 
have had six children, four of whom are living: Anna I., Edwin V., Ada M. and Robert E. 

HARMAN & HASSERT, car-builders, founders and machinists, Bloomsburg. This 
firm was established in 1875 by Peter S. Harman and George Hassert, who still conduct 
the business. Their first start was in a building 60x50 feet, which was occupied as a found- 
ry and machine shop, where they manufactured plows and stoves and did custom work 
with an annual business of about |2,000. In 1879 the business had grown to such an ex- 
tent that they were obliged to enlarge their facilities by erecting additional buildmgs, in- 
creasing their capacity and employing from twenty to thirty hands. At the latter date 
they added the building of mining cars to the business and have so continued u]) to date. 
They make all kinds of castings and custom work, repairing of threshing machines, and 
the business averages about $55,000 per annum. The foundry and shops are located on 
the south end of East Street, near the D. & L. R. R. 

George Hassert was born in Reichensachsan, Hesse Cassel, Germany, November 5, 
1824, a son of George and Elizabeth (Wagner) Hassert. He learned the trade of a mill- 
wright in his native country, and when twentj' years old enlisted as a soldier in the 
German Army. He served some six years and participated in several battles in the war 
between Denmark and Germany. In 1848 he was in the regular army at Baden, engaged 
in suppressing the rebellion, and was stationed at Carlsruhe. He was wounded by a sabre 
in the forehead and chin at the storming of Dabbelar Fort in Denmark. After leaving the 
army he immigrated to the United States and located at Philadelphia, where he worked at 
his trade for four or five years. He came to Bloomsburg in 1856, and worked at his trade 
until the present business was established. He was married in Philadelphia, February 
12, 1854, to Magdalena Decker, and to them were born the following children: Charles 
W., Henry, Annie, Elizabeth, Emma, Ella and George A. Mr. Hassert is a member of 
the Lutheran Church; in politics a Democrat. 

Peter S. Harman was born in Orangevdle, this county, June 5, 1831, a son of 
George and Mary (Knorr) Harman. The father, a native of Northumberland County, was 
a very early settler in Columbia County, settling first at Mifllin and afterward at Orange- 
ville. He was a tanner by trade for many years, and died at Orangeville in 1881. Our 
subject learned the trade of molder when but thirteen years old, with Louis H. Maus 
of Bloomsburg, and followed it until establishing his present business as above stated. In 
1861 he began on his own account in Mahanoy City, Penn., where he started and operated 
a foundry'and machine shop for three years. Later he came to Bloomsburg and formed a 
partnership with B. F. Sharpless, under the name of Sharpless & Harman, which partner- 
ship continued four years, and, two years after dissolving the partnership, established his 
present business with Mr. Hassert. Mr. Harman was married in 1856 to Rebecca Freeze, 
and nine children were born to them, seven of whom are living: Grace, Fanny, Jennie, 
James Lee, Mary, John G. F. and Paul Zahner; Frank Freeze died aged five years, and 
Howard Feton at the age of three years. The family attend the Episcopal Churcli. In 
politics Mr. Harman is a Republican. 

G. A. HERRING, farmer, P. O. Bloom.sburff, was born in Orangeville, Columbia 
Co., Penn., December 13, 1833, to John and Rachel (Snyder) Herring. His great- 
grandfather, Christopher Herring, came from Germany and located in Berks County, 
Penn., where his son Frederick was born. The latter married, in Berks County, Miss 
Susan Bright, and they afterward removed to Columbia County, locating in Roaring- 
creek Township; thence to what is now Orange Township, bought land where Henry Mel- 
ick now resides, and here lived until his death, which occurred in 1838, having been sud- 
denly stricken with paralysis. He is buried in the Orangeville Cemetery. John Herring, 
father of George A., was born in Lynn Township, Berks County, and when a boy of about 
eight years was brought by his parents to Columbia County. With them he remained un- 
til he was married, when he bought a lot in Orangeville on which he moved, and there 
followed the trade of a carpenter and joiner. He has now been a resident of that place for 
upward of half a century. He married in this county Miss Rachel Snyder, also a native 
of Berks County, and who came to Columbia County with her parents when she was a 
child. To him and his wife nine children were born, six of whom are living: C. D., in 
Wilkesbarre; George A., our subject; Priscilla, wife of John S. Neyhart, in Wilkesbarre; 
A. B., in Owensville; Calvin, in Orangeville, and E. R. in Kankakee, 111. (the last two 
named are twins). The deceased are Rebecca, wife of Henry J. Knorr, and an infant un- 
named. John Herring is still a resident of Orangeville, but his wife died May 11, 1882. 



BLOOMSBUEG. 348 

She was a member of the Lutheran Church. He is a member of the German Reformed 
Church. Our subject was reared in Orangeville until the age of eighteen years, when he 
began to learn the molder's trade. He tlien came to Bloomsburg and for three years 
worked at his trade for Lewis Moss and also for Joseph Sharpless. He then went into 
partnership with his uncle, John Snyder, then slieriff of the county, and together they 
conducted the Excliange Hotel one year. The next two years he spent in Ohio, Indiana, 
Michigan and Illinois; then returned to Columbia County, and for the next two years 
worked at his trade. He then engaged in boat-building at Lime Ridge with a brother, C. 
D., for three years and for the next two years carried on the same business alone. He 
then moved to Shenandoah, Schuylkill County, and there engaged in mercantile business 
for twelve years, and for six years of that time was also engaged in the coal trade; thence 
he removed to Bloomsburg in April, 1876, and there carried on the tanning business until 
188L In 1879 he bought a farm of 180 acres in Mount Pleasant Township, and, since giv- 
ing up the tanning business, has farmed. He married, at Lime Ridge, May 9, 1861, Miss 
M.. A. Hess, a n;itive of Mifflinville, Columbia County, and a daughter of Daniel and Pris- 
cilla (Yobe) Hess. Both her parents were natives of that township, but the Yobes were 
originally from Berks County, where Mrs. Herring's grandparents were early settlers. 
Her father died July 29, 1850, 'and her mother October 24, 1880; both are buried "in Mifflin- 
ville Cemetery. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Herring, tliree of whom are liv- 
ing: Grant Stanley, married to Emma Jones (resides in Bloomsburg; he is a graduate of 
Lafayette College, of the class of 1883); Ida, attending Mount Holyoke Seminary, South 
Hadley, Mass., and John R., who was prepared for the college at the Bloomsburg Normal 
University and is now attendinij- the Lafayette College. The deceased are Florence Ger- 
trude, who died at the age of three months, and an infant unnamed. Mrs. Herring is a 
member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Herring was county treasurer of Schuylivill County 
two years and was president and superintendent of the water compan}' at Shenandoah six 
years, and also superintendent of the gas company at that place; served in the town coun- 
cil six years; was treasurer of the savings fund for a like period, director of the Shenan- 
doah Valley Bank six years, and treasurer of tlie Miners' Hospital fund at Shenandoah, 
one year. He has been elected to the position of town council, president of Bloomsburg 
four terms, and w^as assistant county treasurer of Columbia County six vears. He is a 
member of Shenandoah Lodge, No. 591, I.;0. O. F. and of Blue Lodge, No. 611. A. F. & 
A. M. at Shenandoah. He pas.sed all the chairs in the former lodge and was Past Grand Mas- 
ter a number of years; also held a number of offices in tlie latter lodge. He was one of the 
charter members of the Shenandoah Lodge, I. O. 0. F. 

GRANT STANLEY HERRING, attorney at law. Bloomsburg, is a native of Centre- 
ville, Columbia Co., Penn., born May 19, 1862. He is a son of George A. Herring, who 
was formerly county treasurer of Schuylkill County, Penn., where he resided, but isnowa 
resident of Bloomsburg. Our subject ol)ta;ned his preparatory education in Bloomsburg 
Normal School, and became a student at Lafayette College in 1879, graduating in June, 
1883. He registered as a law student in January, 1883, with E. R. Ikeler, Esq.. and was ad- 
mitted to the bar in February, 1885. On the same day he formed a partnership with his 
preceptor, and the firm is known as Ikeler & Herring. 

J. M. HESS, retired farmer, Bloomsburg, was l)orn at Wapwallopen, Luzerne County, 
February 22, 1823. to Jeremiah and Mary (Fenstermacher) Hess. The father was born in 
Easton, Penn., and came from there to Luzerne County with his parents, when a boy. He 
bought a mill property at Wapwallopen, ami operated it about eiglitor nine years; then 
traded it for a farm in Salem township, and later bought another place, part of which he 
sold, and for the last twenty or twenty-five years led a retired life. He was twice mar- 
ried; first to Mary Fenstermacher, who bore him ten children, eight of whom are living: 
Philip, near Fairmoimt Springs, Luzerne (Jounty: J. M., our subject; Nathan, in New Col- 
umbus, Luzerne County; Aaron W.. in Mifflinville; Reuben, in Town of Bloomslmrg; 
Polly, wife of Thomas Brady, in Salem Township, Luzerne County; Elizabeth, wife of 
Charles Hill, also in Salem Township, Luzerne County, and Catherine, wife of Reuben 
Hill, in Dixon. Lee County, 111. The deceased are Susan, wife of John Fenstermacher, and 
John. Jeremiah Hess died in 1877; his first wife died in 1857, and both are buried in 
Beach Haven Cemetery, Luzerne County. Our subject was six weeks old when his par- 
ents moved to Salem Township, and there he was reared to farm life. He made iiis home 
with his parents until his nineteenth year when he went to learn the blacksmith's trade 
with Charles Hagenbuch of Centre Township; but after nine months he abandoned the 
trade and went to Salem Township where he married. He then moved to Orange Town- 
ship and commenced farming on his own account, renting his father-in-law's farm, which 
he bought twelve years later. There he resided until 1869. when he bought a residence 
property in Bloomsburg, and has since made it his home. He married, January 26. 1843, 
Miss Maria Pohe, a native of Mifflin Township, and a daughter of Joseph and Polly (Wolf) 
Pohe. The Pohes were early settlers of the county, and here the parents of Mrs. Hess 
passed their lives. Her father died September 5, 1880, in the ninetieth year of his age; his 
wife died in 1883, and both are buried in Mifflinville Cemetery, Eight children were born 
to Mr. and Mrs. Hess, four of whom are living: George Wilson, married to Sarah Smith, 

27 



344 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

and resides on Mr. Hess' farm; Mary Catherine, wife of Frank Cavanee, in Bloomsbiirg; 
Sarah Agnes and Jeremiah A., who is engaged in the shoe business in Bloomsbnrg. The 
deceased are Clarence, Sylvester, and two infants unnamed. Mr. Hess is a member of the 
Reformed Church, Mrs. Hess of the Lutheran. Mr. Hess is a member of Mountain Lodge 
No. 264, at Orangeville. He served as supervisor of Orange Township. 

WILLLIM H. HOUSE, surgeon and dentist, Bloomsburg, was born at Danby, Tomp- 
kins Co., N. Y., May 17, 1850, a son of Oakley A. and Julia Ann (Payne) House. His 
father was a farmer and is now living at Owego; he was also a veterinary surgeon and fol- 
lowed the profession for many years. Our subject obtained his education at Spencer 
Academy, Tioga County, N. Y., and when twenty-one began learning the carpenter's 
trade, but not finding it altogether to his taste, when twenty-two years old took up the 
study of dentistry with Dr. 11. T. Dearborn of Mecklenburg, Schuyler Co., N. Y. He 
remained with him about three years and then formed a partnership with his preceptor 
which continued one year. March 17, 1874, he located at Bloomsburg where September 
1, same year, he opened a dental office on his own account, and has been continually in 
practice up to date. His office is fitted with all the modern appliances requisite to the 
completeness of a first-class office, and he has grown into a successful practice. Mr. House 
married, December 25, 1873, Miss Allie Bogart of Spencer, Tioga Co., N. Y., and a daugh- 
ter of Isaac Bogart, a farmer of Spencer. They have had three children: Maggie J., died 
aged ten years, March, 1885; Jennie E., died February 4, 1885, aged about nine years. 
The former of meningitis and the latter of peritonitis, and Cora Belle, born March 29, 1881. 
The Doctor and Mrs. House are members of the Methodist Church. 

HIRAM C. HOWER, surgeon and dentist, Bloomsburg, was born in 1824, a son of 
John and Rebecca (Davis) Hovver. The family is an old one in the county and settled 
near Catawissa. The father, John Hower, was a soldier in the war of 1812. The Davises 
were also old settlers, Jonathan Davis, the grandfather of our subject, settling also near 
Catawissa. Dr. Hower was reared on a farm and learned the chair-making and painting 
•trades, which he followed three years. He was educated at the schools of his vicinity, 
and at the age of twenty-two began to study dentistry with his uncle, Dr. Vallerschamp, 
■of McDowell's mills. After reading and studying with his uncle for about a year and a 
half, he opened a dentist's office at Light Street and subsequently at Wilkesbarre, where he 
was associated with Dr. Wadhams, but with the exception of two years since he began to 
.practice he has been located at Bloomsburg. The Doctor is an adept in the profession, 
and during the thirty-six years he has been in Bloomsburg he has acquired a large prac- 
tice. For ten years from 1867 he kept a general store at Bloomsburg and at the same time 
also was interested in the sale of reapers and sewing-machines which business he con- 
■ducted while holding a large practice in his profession. He married Caroline, daughter of 
Oharles Ent, an old resident of Columbia County, and ten children were born to them, 
ithree being dead. The living are W. Ella, married to Moris Mitchell of Camden, N. J.; 
Emma, wife of John F. Caldwell of Bloomsburg; Rettie, wife of Erastus Conner of Nanti- 
'Coke; Cora, wife of A. M. Wintersteeu, a dentist at Bloomsburg; Myrtie, Wilbur and 
Hiram Clarence, at home with their parents. Dr. Hower has the largest practice of any 
'dentist in this sectian; is frequently called upon at his office to operate for people living 
!n Philadelphia and other portions of this State; as also frcmi New York City and other 
sections. While equal to the best in his general practice and diligent in acquiring all the 
latest improvements in his business, he is making a specialty of gold-filling in which he has 
no superior. 

DOUGLASS HUGHES is descended from Irish ancestry, who came to the United 
States from County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1793. The first of the family to settle in Colum- 
bia County was Isaiah Hughes, who located with his wife, Henrietta (Tea) Hughes, in 
Douglassville, Berks County, at a very early period. They were members of the society 
of Friends and died in this county. Their children were as follows: Mary, died unmar- 
ried; Ann, died unmarried; Lydia, became the wife of Samuel Hartman, and George, who 
married Ann, a daughter of Err and Sarah (Dunlap) Harder. George and his wife became 
the parents of the subject of this sketch, and were both natives of this county, born October 
18. 1798, and March 31, 1803, respectively, and were married February 1, 1823. George 
died April 10, 1881, his wife August 23, 1871. They were both members of the Methodist 
Church and were buried in what is known as the Friends' burying-ground in Catawissa, 
this county. He followed the wheelwright trade and also the foundry business at Catawissa 
for a number of years. They had seven children: Harriet, born November 8, 1823, died 
at the age of four years; Douglass, our subject, born December 27, 1825, married Novem 
ber 27, 1849, Matilda, a daughter of Stephen and Sarah (Fornwald) Baldy of Catawissa; 
Maberry, born July 21, 1828, unmarried; Marshall, born March 28, 1830, married Matilda 
Klutz, and died May 4, 1862; Ann Eliza, born February 29, 1832, and married Ransloe 
Boone; Marks Biddle, born July 19, 1834, and died, unmarried, October 14, 1859; Henrietta 
and Sarah (twins) born March 23, 1840 (the former married Edward Smith, and the latter 
Dr. Jacob Vastine of Catawissa, this county). Douglass Hughes learned the chair-making 
and painter's trades with his father, with whom be remained, except a year or two, until 
1848. He then established himself in a chair-making and painting business, on the south- 



BLOOMSBURG. 345 

•east corner of Iron and Second Streets, Bloomsburc^. and conducted it for seven years. 
He then bought a farm one mile from town, on the Susquehanna River, where he lived 
for twent}' j'ears. In 1882 he moved to Bloomsburg, bought a residence, and in 1884, his 
present place, which is known as the "Bidleman property." Mrs. Hughes is a member 
of the Methodist Church, of which her husband is also an attendant. Thej^ are the par- 
ents of three children: Clara Augusta, born March 15, 1853, married John Waggenseller 
of Bloomsburg; Mary A., born June 2, 1854. married Alfred Harman of Catawissa, died 
in Ma,y, 1883, and George Marshall, born September 38, 1858, married Rose Farnsworth of 
Rupert, this county. 

ELIJAH R. livELER, attorney at law, Bloomsburg, was born in Greenwood Town- 
ship, this county, February 37, 1838, a son of Isaac Ikeler, an old and respected farmer of 
that township, now deceased. Our subject at the age of sixteen became a student at the 
Greenwood Seminary. Millville. Subsequently he learned the miller's trade at Millville, 
and on completing it bought a part interest and continued the business until 1865, when 
he moved to Bloomsburg, meanwhile keeping up his studies. After coming here he reg- 
istered as a law student with Col. John G. Freeze iu the fall of 1864. April 1, 1865, he 
became a regular student iu his office, and was admitted to the bar in May, 1867. In 1869 
he was elected district attorney and served during the tirst of the "Molly Maguire " trials, 
and upon the town organization was elected its first treasurer. Mr. Ikeler is a Democrat 
and during the war was an active supporter of the Union cause. In 1865 he bought the 
Columbia Democrat and consolidated it with the Star of the North, and called the paper 
the Democrat and Star. He was connected with it one j^ear when he sold his interest and 
has since devoted his time exclusively to his profession. He marrtfed, March 33, 1863, Miss 
Helena Armstrong, a daughter of Ephraim Armstrong, of Bloomsburg. and a descendant of 
the Rittenhouses, of near Philadelphia. They have two children, Frank A. and Fred T., 
aged respectively eighteen and sixteen years. The ancestors of the Ikeler family in Colum- 
bia County were originallj' Germans and came to America in 1760. The great-grandfather 
of our subject was Joseph, who settled in Belvidere, N. J.; the name was Then spelled 
Eggler. He was a farmer, and on- the outbreak of the Revolution enlisted and served on 
the colonial side. He died iu New Jersey. His sou, Andrew J., was the founder of the 
family in Columbia County. He was married in New Jersey to Christiana Johnson, and 
was a magistrate in this county about the year 1835. He and his wife came the entire dis- 
tance from New Jersej' on horseback, bringing with them their effects, and located in 
Greenwood Township. He took up about 1.000 acres, which still remain in possession of 
his descendants. He was a leading citizen and held many local and county offices. He 
died in 1854 aged eighty years; his widow in 1866, at the age of ninety-three. Both are 
buried in the family lot on the old homestead. He was for a long time colonel of militia; 
raised a regiment for the war of 1813 and led it to the field. His son. Isaac, married Mary 
Taylor, a native of New Jersey, and they became the parents of Elijah R. Isaac was a 
farmer and a highly respected citizen. He died in 1884 at the age of eighty years, and his 
wife in 1879, aged sixty-five years. Both are buried in Mount Pleasant Township, this 
county. 

CAPTAIN A. B. JAMESON, civil service. Washington, D. C, was born in Schuylkill 
County, Penn,. August 33, 1836, in tlie family of nine children born to Judith and Daniel 
Jamison,* eight of whom are living, four sons having given their services to the cause of 
the Union during the war of the Rebellion. The father removed with his family to Colum- 
bia County in 1839 and established the hotel known as "The Halfway House," between 
Bloomsburg and Berwick on the Susquehanna. This hotel was but short lived, however, 
to Mr. Jamison, for, having connected himself with the Methodist Church in 1843, he 
abandoned the business. Our subject attended the public schools until he was sixteen 
years of age, and then left his home to battle for himself with the realities of life. Later 
he secured about two years' schooling at Dickinson Seminary and the academy at New 
Columbus: then taught a district school one year. April 31, 1863, Mr. Jameson enlisted in 
Company A, Sixth Pennsylvania Reserves: was commissioned first lieutenant September 31, 
1863, and breveted captain United States Volunteers at the battle of the Wilderness. At 
the battle of Antietam he received a contused wound of the knee joint, on account of 
which disability he was appointed acting quartermaster of the regiment, in which capacity 
he served during the last year of his service. After serving the full term of his enlistment 
(three years), Capt. Jameson left the army a cripple, and had, therefore, to accept a posi- 
tion in the civil service. He also commenced the study of medicine, in which he graduated 
from the University of Georgetown, D. C, Medical Department. March 5, 1867. Capt. 
Jameson takes pride in the fact that he has assisted in the adjustment of the accounts of 
the interest on the public debt; redemption of Government securities; funding and refund- 
ing of national loans caused by the war of the Rebellion, involving millions on millions 
in amounts passed upon, requiring fidelity to the Government and honesty and care in the 
settlements; and it can be truly said of him, without adulation, that he has always held the 
confidence of those under whom and with whom he has served in any capacity. Reared 
in the Calvinistic faith by consistent orthodox parents, our subject has had engrafted on 

*A8 spelled by Capt. Jameson's father; correct spelling, however, is Jameson. 



34G BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

him pure Christianizing influences. In mature years, however, not being ahk? to subscribe 
to tlie iron-bound creeds and dogmas as advanced by Calvin, he sought what lie considered 
the more liberal, larger and broader faith, and became united with the Unitarian Church. 

DANIEL W. KITCHEN, manager of the Farmers Produce Exchange, Bloomsburg, 
was born in Rohrsburg, this county, in 1859, a son of Amos H. and Sarah Ann (McHenry) 
Kitchen. Amos H. was a son of Henry and Matilda (Davi.s) Kitchen, and Henry was a 
son of a pioneer, who first settled in this county in 17—, near Itohrsburg. He was a na- 
tive of Ireland, a farmer by occupation, and a member of the Methodist Church. He took 
up some 400 acres in the neighborhood of Rohrsburg, where he resided many years and 
died, leaving a family of thirteen children. Many of his descendants are still found in 
this count3^ Daniel W. educated at Starkey Seminary, Yates County, N. Y., and when 
twenty-one began teaching, which profession he followed two terms. He then engaged 
as a clerk in the general store of William Masters, at Millville, and continued in his emplo}' 
for fifteen years. In 1883 he was appointed by the directors of the Farmers Produce Ex- 
change as their business manager, and assumed charge in January, 1882, in the old build- 
ing adjoining the present store. The annual sales then averaged about $1,000, but under 
the supervision of Mr. Kitchen the sales of the first three months amounted to $1(5,000. 
Shortly after he took charge a grain trade was established, which resulted in a regular 
grain market. In 1886 the present large three-story structure 73x42, was built at a cost of 
$7,500. The Exchange has an annual sale of about $80,000, and regularly declares divi- 
dends from 6^ per cent upward. The business carries a general stock and requires the 
attention of four men, besides occasional outside help. The most of the produce is sold 
at local points. Mr. Kitchen married, September 2, 1873, Lizzie J. Warner of Muncy, 
a daughter of James Warner, and they have one child, Carola J. Mr. Kitchen is a 
strict temperance advocate and for many years was a member of and worker in the 
Good Templar organization. 

C. A. KLEIM, druggist, Bloomsburg, is a native of Philadelphia, born in 1847, son of 
Henry and Dorotha(EichoUz) Kleim, natives respectively of Hesse Cassel and the village 
of Eisenach, in Saxony, Germany. They came to the United States in 1846, and in 1857 
to Bloomsburg, where they still reside, and where the father keeps a grocery store on East 
Street. Our subject obtained his early education in the schoolsof Philadelphia, and com- 
pleted his studies at the Bloomsburg Classical School kept by Mr. Henry Carver. He 
then learned the drug business with Moyer Brothers, serving a three years' apprentice- 
ship, and soon after, in 1872, bought the present business from E. P. Lutz. He carries a 
full line of drugs, has a regular prescription business, and does one of the best trades of 
the kind in the town. He was first married in 1872 to Clara J. Seasholtz, who died in 
1883 leaving one child — Harry C. His second marriage took place in September, 1884, 
with Miss Addie Johnson. Mr. Kleim is a Democrat and an active worker in the inter- 
ests of his party, and has served two terms as secretary of the Democratic committee of 
the county. He is now serving as director of the poor for Bloomsburg District. He is a 
member of the Lutheran Church. 

C. F. KNAPP, insurance agent, Bloomsburg, was born in the citj' of Besigheim, Wur- 
temberg, Germany, October 12, 1822, a son of John B. and So]>hia Dorathea (Konzman) 
Knapp, former of whom was born in the same city in March, 1784, and the latter in 
Stadten, August 9, 1791; they were married in April, 1814, at Besigheim. The father 
was a wine-dresser in his native country, and followed that occupation until April, 1831, 
when, with his wife and six sons, he set out for America, landing at Philadelphia on the 
9th of August of that year. Here Mr. Knapp obtained employment in the glass works at 
Kensington, and twelve years later moved to Potts Grove Township, Montgomery County, 
where he purchased a farm and resided the remainder of his days. They had ten children, 
five of whom are living: our subject; Ernest, engaged in the stone and marble business 
inPhoenixville, Chester County; Charles A., a locomotive engineer in Philadelphia; Caro- 
line D., widow of John Ellis Van Natta, residing in Philadelphia; John G., engaged in 
iron works in Pottstown, Montgomery County, and Jacob, a farmer near Pottstown. Mont- 
gomery County. The deceased are John David, Christian G., Louisa Clara,G. Gottleib and 
William F. John B. Knapp died in Montgomery County; his wife died in Potts Grove, 
same county, on the 26th of August, 1848, some years before her husband. Both are 
buried in the Swamp Cemetery of the Lutheran Church, Montgomery County. C. F. Knapp 
was nine years of age when the family came to Philadelphia, and in the schools of that 
city received his education. When a boy he drove a horse on the towpath of the canal, 
and later drove a cart on the construction of the Reading Railroad. At the age of 
twenty-one he came to Bloomsburg and worked on the construction of the first furnaces 
here. After their erection he went into the mines and helped to produce the first ore that 
was used in these furnaces. After three years he abandoned mining, apprenticed himself 
to learn all the branches of masonry, and spent about four years in acquiring a thorough 
knowledge of the business. He was then disabled by a fall, and later was appointed first 
assistant revenue assessor of this district, and served in that capacity during the adminis- 
tration of President Lincoln, but was one of the first discharged by Johnson. He then en 
gaged in the fire insurance business, which he has since followed, and is now the special 



BLOOMSBURG. 347 

agent and adjuster for the State of Pennsylvania for three companies, a position he has 
held since 1876. He married in Bloouisburg, October VS, 1846, Miss Maria Elizabeth Van 
Natta, who was born in Bloouisburg October 18, 1825, a daughter of Peter and Rosina 
Van Natta. Her parents were natives of Bloouisburg; her grandparents of New Jersey. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Knapp five children were born (four of whom are living): Caroline Mar- 
garet, wife of William F. Bodine, of Bloomsburg; Sophia Amelia, wife of Harvey Long, 
residing atNanticoke; Johu Ellis (deceased); Peter E., married to Clara Wicht (resides 
in Bloomsburg and assists Mr. Knapp in his insurance business), and Mary Catherine, 
married to George S. Bobbins, iu Bloomsburg. The family are all members of the Epis- 
copal Church. Mr. Knapp is a Republican politically. He joined the I. O. O. F. in 1846, 
has held the secretaryship of Van Camp Lodge, No. 140, ever since, and for thirty-two 
years has held the o"ffice of District Deputy Grand Master of the order. He became a 
member of the Susquehanna Encampment, No. 60, in 1848, and was District Deputy Grand 
Patriarch for seven years. September 28, 1851, he became a member of Danville Lodge, No. 
224, A. F. & A. M., from which lodge he withdrew and instituted Washington Lodge, 
No. 265, at Bloomsburg, of which he has been secretary almost from its organization; 
served as Deputy Grand Master eight years; He joined Girard Lodge, No. 214 iu 1854, 
became a Royal Arch Mason in Catawissa Chapter; from which chapter he withdrew and 
started. No. 218, at Bloomsburg, and has been a member of that organization up to date, 
serving live years as Deputy Grand High Priest. He has been secretary of Mt. Moriah 
Council, No. 10, R. S. & S. M., from its organization, served as Grand Master for Pennsyl- 
vania of that body from 1859 to 1876, a record equaled by no other living man. He became 
a member of Park Coramandery, No. 7. March 6, 1856, and started Crusade Commandery, 
No. 12, at Bloomsburg, and has served as its recorder almost from its organization; was 
installed as Right Eminent Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Pennsylvania 
at the city of Reading in 1860 and was Grand Lecturer of the State 1861-63. He received the 
A. A. S. rite, Caldwell Consistory, S. P. R. S. Thirty-second Degree, March 5, 1865. and was 
Commander-in-Chief of the same organization to December, 1885. When he retired from the 
service he was presented with a valuable silver service; was made Sovereign Grand In- 
spector General of the Thirty-second Degree and active member of the Supreme Council, 
September 18, 1872; was admitted to the order of the Knights of Rome and Red'^Cross, of 
Constantine, December 7, 1870; Past Grand Sovereign of the Slate of Penn,sylvania and 
Past Grand Master of the United States^of America, and received the Order of the Grand 
Cross, of which there can only be thirty in the Nation. 

SAMUEL KNORR, attorney, Bloomsburg, is a native of what is now Centre Town- 
ship, this county, born December 24, 1836, and is a son of Henry D. and Sarah (Kelchner) 
Knorr, of the same township. Henry D. was a son of Henry and Margaret (Deitrich) 
Knorr, who was a son of Leonard Knorr, a native of Germany, and located in Centre 
Township about the year 1782. The father was a farmer, and prominent in the affairs of 
the township and county in an early day. He was a member of tbe Reformed Church. 
A great-uncle, John Knorr, had a large family, and owned a farm in Centre Township. 
One of his descendants, Mrs. Ann Hess, now lives at the mouth of Fishing Creek. Until 
the age of sixteen our subject remained on his father's farm. He then came to Blooms- 
burg and attended the higli school in the summer and taught schoo'l in the winter for two 
years. He then returned home and remained one year, continuing his studies and teach- 
ing that winter. Li 1856 he became a student in Dickinson Seminary, Williamsport, 
where he remained two years, and in 1858 began to read law in the office of William G. 
Hurley of Bloomsburg, and was admitted to the bar in December, 1860. That winter he 
taught school, and immediately after the firing on Fort Sumter he enlisted, April 22, 1861, 
in what was known as the "Iron Guards of Bloomsburg," afterward as Company A, 
Sixth Regiment, Pennsylvania Reserve Corps. Mr. Knorr served in the company as pri- 
vate and first .sergeant until October 6, 1861, when he was promoted to the second lieu- 
tenantcy of the company, in which capacity he served until October 28, 1862. He was 
then mustered out on account of physical disability. He was in command of the picket 
line in the advance, and opened the battle of Dranesville; was actively engaged in the 
Peninsula campaign, in the engagement at second Bull Run, and the battle of Sharps- 
burg. Disease contracted in the Peninsula campaign, followed by the fatigue and priva- 
tions of the second Bull Run campaign, caused the sickness on account of which he was 
■discharged. On his return from the service he went we.st and established an office at 
Davenport, Iowa. Three months later Lee invaded Pennsylvania, so abandoning his 
office Mr. Knorr returned home, in 1863, and recruited Companies A and I, Thirty-fifth 
State Militia; was appointed major of the regiment. Six weeks after the regiment %yas 
mustered out and returned home. In October, 1863, the Government began organizing 
colored troops, and Mr. Knorr was commissioned captain of Company A, Nineteenth 
Regiment, United States colored troops. He was on recruiting service at Baltimore 
that winter, and joined the Army of the Potomac May 4, 1864. From that date the regi- 
ment was in a succession of constant engagements until June 17, when it took position in 
front of Petersburg, and participated in the charge on the rebel works. When the 
famous mine explosion took place, one-third of the regiment was killed. In December 



348 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

they were transferred to Bornuula Hundred, where they repulsed a char^^e of the rebels. 
January 1, 1865, they became part of the Army of the James; were on siege duty at Fort 
Steadman; entered Richmond at Lee's surrender; assisted in putting out the fire, and in 
June, 1865, Avere sent to the Rio Grande. Mr. Kuorr was promoted to major October 5, 
1864, and lieutenant-colonel February 27, 1865, and served in that capacity until he re- 
signed, January 6, 1866, and returned home. He at once opened an office at Bloomsburg 
and resumed the practice of law. He was one of the electors in 1868 in the election of 
President Grant, and was present at the inauguration. In 1869 he was appointed assessor 
of internal revenue for the Thirteenth Congressional District, and held it until 1873, when 
the office was abolished. Mr. Knorr has served the town as member of the council, of 
the school board, and the State as a trustee of the State normal school for thirteen years. 
He has been twice married, first in November, 1864, to Emma L. Ettla, of Harrisburg, 
who died July 15, 1875, the mother of two children now living; Mildred, now seventeen 
years of age, a student at Vassar College in the sophomore class, and Clifton C. His sec- 
ond marriage occurred December 24, 1876. with Mary A. Ettla, a sister of his first wife. 
Mr. Knorr is a member of the Methodist Church. 

STEPHEN KNORR, blacksmith, Bloomsburg, was born in Milton, Northumberland 
Co., Penn., in 1837, a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Brumheller) Kuorr, who settled in 
Briarcreek Township, this county, about the same year. Jacob followed agricultural pur- 
suits, and resided during the later years of his life on a farm two miles north of Berwick, 
where he died in 1841. He left a fair estate; was a Democrat, and served his locality in 
various local offices. He was buried in Briarcreek churchyard, and his wife in Rosemont 
Cemetery. They were both members of the German Reformed Church. Stephen Knorr 
until his father's death lived on the farm, and when eighteen began learning the black- 
smith trade. In 1848 he opened a shop of his own between the Exchange and Central 
Hotel; in 1861 built his present shop on the corner of Second and West Streets, and has 
since carried on both. He also conducts a wagon-making business in connection with 
blacksmithing. He married Minerva, daughter of George Fry, one of the first settlers of 
Bleomsburg, having come here when there were but three buildings in the place. Mr. and 
Mrs. Knorr'have four children living: Susan E., married to Edward Searle; Ida, widow of 
Christian R. Alleman; William E., married to Jennie Wintersteen; George S., married to 
Louisa Andes. Alice died at the age of sixteen months. Mrs. Knorr is a member of the 
Lutheran Church. Politically Mr. Knorr is a Democrat, and has served as member of the 
town council six terms, and president of the same one year, school director for about nine 
years, and has held other local offices such as judge of elections, etc. He has resided in 
town continuously, and all the custom blacksmiths, except one, now doing business in 
Bloomsburg, learned their trade with him. 

WILLIAM KRICKBAUM, editor of The Sentinel, Bloomsburg, is a native of Cata- 
wissa Township, this county, born September 18, 1835. His father, Henry Krickbaum. a 
farmer, owning some 200 acres of land in that township, died when our subject was but a 
year old, and his widow, Susan (Breisch) Krickbaum, married for her second husband, Ben- 
jamin Miller. William remained on the home farm with his mother and stepfather until 
twenty-one years of age, and during that time attended the common schools of the vicinity 
two months each year for several years; also two terms at Millville Seminary; subsequently 
two terms at Williamsport, Dickinson Seminary, and one more term at Millville. Previous 
to his last term at Millville in 'March, 1857, he married Miss Judith, daughter of George 
Miller of Maine Township, this county. During his student days he had taught school, 
and followed that vocation before and after his marriage some twelve terms. From his 
majority he had always taken an active part in politics, and worked in the interest of the 
Democratic party, to which he is now and has always been an adherent, and in 1866, while 
still teaching, was appointed commissioner's clerk for Columbia County, a position he 
filled for twelve consecutive years, during a greater part of that time also acting as depu- 
ty treasurer and as sheriff's clerk. In 1878 he resigned the clerkship to accept the office of 
prothonotary, to which he had been elected the same year. He served two terms as pro- 
thonotary, and in 1884 was a candidate for a third term, and, although in reality having a 
majority of 175 was, under the limited system of voting in choosing delegates, defeated. 
For a period of upward of twenty-five years Mr. Krickbaum has been officially and other- 
wise prominently and influentially identified with the politics of Columbia County. Prob- 
ably no man ever held public office in Columbia County who worked with a truer regard for 
the interest of the taxpayers and its public welfare than did Mr. Krickbaum through his long 
service to the county as an official. It is proverbial that, in his taking charge of the pro- 
thonotary office, and indeed, from the first years of his service as commissioners' clerk, 
many fees in the sheriff's and prothonotary 's office which he thought exorbitant and an 
injustice to the citizens, were reduced through him to a lower and more considerate fig- 
ure, and remained so during his official occupancy. April 12, 1885, Mr. Krickbaum bought 
the office and plant of ihe Democratic Sentinel at Bloomsburg. The paper was then 24x 
36 inches, seven columns, and had a circulation of 600. He has enlarged it to an eight- 
page eight-column paper, size 26x40 inches, with a circulation increased in less than two 
years to 2,500 subscribers. The Krickbaums are of German extraction, and the first of the 



BLOOMSBUEG. 



349 



family to settle ia the United States located in Montgomery County, Penn. The first to 
settle in Catawissa Township was Philip, in the spring of 1794. His wife's maiden 
name was Susannah Trexler of Hickorvtown. near Philadelphia, and of German parentage. 
He died in 1822, aged sixty-three years: his wife also died in Catawissa Township, and 
both are buried in "Catawissa Cemetery. 

CHARLES KRUG, proprietor of Krug's planing-mill, Bloomsburg, was born im 
Berne Township, Berks Co., Penn., November 11, 1848, a son of Adam and Ann Eliza 
(Eisanhart) Krug. of that county, former of whom, a farmer, died in that county; latter is 
still living in Wliite Ear Valley, Union Co., Penn., with her son, Adam. Our subject was 
reared on a farm, but when eighteen began learning the carpenter's trade; came to Blooms- 
burg in 1867, and in 18G9 began the business of contractor and builder. He purchased the 
plant of his present business in 1880. remodeled the buildings, refitted with new boilers 
and engines of forty-horse power, and the latest improved machinery, including two steam 
planers'^ one a twenty-six inch and the other a fourteen inch. When running under full 
headway the mill furnished employment to from forty to fifty hands. The principal ar- 
ticles of manufacture are doors, sash, blinds, sidings and all kinds of dressed lumber to- 
order. The establishment turns out annually $59,000 worth of business with a pay-roll to 
employes of about $12,000 per annum. Mr. Krug also does a large business in contracting 
and building and was awarded the contract for erecting the addition to the State normal 
school at a cost of $12,500 and upward. He also built the large school-house at Cata- 
wissa, the opera house at Bloomsburg, the E. 11. Ikeler house, Episcopal parsonage, and 
the large l)usiness blocks west of the "Exchange Hotel," the Furman Block, the "Der- 
rick House," at Mahanoy City, and others too numerous to mention, having probably 
erected in Bloomst)urg and vicinity upward of a thousand buildings of diflferent descrip- 
tions. Among one of the lai-irest was the Lutheran Church at Milton, a brick structure 
partly Goihic in style. Mr. Krug has been twice married; fir>t, in December, 1864, to 
Frances Ann Yeager, who died in Februarv, 1882, leaving ten children: Laura Agnes, 
who mirried Henry Jones; VVillitz, Edward, Cora, Celesta Ann. William. Morris, Ar- 
thur, John and Paul. His second marriage occurred in May, 1882. with Margaret Ana 
Frederick, who has borne him three children : Sarah. Julia and Helen. Mr. Krug is a 
member of the F. & A. M., No. 265, at Bloomsburg; a member of the Reformed Church. 
In politics he is a Democrat. 

ISAAC S. KUHN, stock dealer, Bloomsburg, isanative of Northampton County,Penn., 
born at Easton in 1830, a son of Andrew and Matilda(Brutsman) Kuhn. The parents were 
descended from prominent farmers of that county who.se ancestors came trom Germany at 
an early day. Andrew Kuhn moved to this county in 1832 and settled in Bloomsburg, 
where he owned and operated a farm just back of the present normal school. He and his wife- 
were both members of the Lutheran Church, and later moved to Akron, Ind.. where they 
died. Our subject when young learned the harness trade at Easton and followed it for 
ten years. In 1855 he came to" Bloomsburg and established a butcher business which he 
continued for thirty years, but, the last two years, has been handling stock, shipping cattle- 
from Buffalo, bringing to this market fifty or sixty carloads per season, averaging from 
twenty to twenty -four head per car. The family are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. 
Kuhn married Susan Dengler, of Schuylkill Haven. Penn., in 1856, and they have six 
children: Alvaretta V., Eliza M., Emma D., May A., Lottie L. and Bessie R. Mr. Kuhn 
is one of the most substantial citizens of Bloomslnirg. 

EPHRAIM H. LITTLE, attoruev at law, Bloomsburg, was born March 23, 1823, im 
the State of New York. His father, George Little, moved with his family to Bethany, 
Wayne Co.. Penn.j when our subject was quite young, and there resided, carrying on n 
tannery until our subject was ten years old. He then moved to Montrose. Susquehanna 
Co., Penn., and engaged in mercantile business. Our subject obtained his early education 
at the schools of Montrose, and in his eighteenth year began reading law as a student in 
the oflSce of Lusk & Little, of Montrose, Penn.. but completed his legal studies at Morris, 
Grundy Co., 111. There he was admitted to the bar in 1844, and practiced law in Joliet. 
same State, for two years. He then practiced two years more at Morris. 111., and while 
a resident of that place, on one occasion went hunting prairie chickens when his gun ac- 
cidentally discharged, lacerating his arm in such a manner as to render its ampuiation 
necessary. In 1847 he returned to Montrose. Penn.. and in 1848 opened a law office at 
Tunkhannock. Penn. In 1849 he was appointed weighmaster on the canal at Birchoveu, 
and acted as such for two years. In December. 1850. he married Eliza Seybert, and in 
the spring of 1851 came to Columbia County, and located at Berwick, where he practiced 
his profession until 1860. He then came to Bloomsburg. and has been in continuous and 
successful practice here up to date. Mr. Little is a Democrat; was elected district at- 
torney for Columbia County in 1856. and re-elected twice, serving nine years in all, and 
is well known throughout the country as an able lawyer. In addition to his law practice 
with his son, R. R. Little, he also superintends and oj)erates a farm of 135 acres, located' 
three and a half miles from Bloomsburg. He is a member of the Baptist Church. 

ROBERT R. LITTLE, attorney at law, Bloomsburg. was born at Berwick, this 
county, in May, 1852. He obtained his literary education at the schools of Bloomsburg 



350 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

and iTiuduiUed at tlx; nornial school in the el iss of 1871. He completeil his studies at 
Kocheslcr Utiiversity and llnindtoii College, Cliuton, N. Y., and then began the study 
of law in his father's otlice. In 1874 he was admitted to the bar, and in the same year be- 
gan the practice at Bloomsljurg, in ])artnershlp with his father. He was elected district 
attorney of Columbia County January 1, 1878, and re-elected in 1881. serving six years. 
He is now serving as chairman of the Democratic standing committee of the county. 
In 1878 lie married Deboiah T. Tustiu, and one child was born to their union. He is a 
meml)er of tlie Baptist Church. 

GEORGE M. & JOHN K. LOCKARD, car builders, general nuichinists and founders, 
Bloomsburg. This important business industry was established iu 1863 by Semple 
& Taylor, who conducted a machine shop and "fourulry for some years, and in 1871 the 
])lant was bought by the Columbia County Iron & Manufacturing Company. The lat- 
ter enhirged the facilities somewhat and added car building, but, "becoming involved, in 
1873 the plant was bought by M. W. Jackson, of Berwick, of the car-building firm of 
Jackson & Woodin. G. M. Lockard became identified with the business in 1871 as fore- 
man ()f the wood department for the Columbia County Iron & Manufacturing Company, 
and in 1872 with J. K. Lockard, who had also become identified with the business, 
bought a one-quarter interest in the concern. On the closing up of the affairs of the 
•Columbia County Iron & Manufacturing Company they both returned to Berwick, 
and to the employ of Jackson & Woodin, with whom they had previously been engaged 
for upward of five years as foremen of different gangs of men in the car works. In 1875 
they contracted.for and took possession of their present establishment, and in 1879 by 
purcliase became sole owners. In 1879 tlie buildings were destroyed by fire with a loss 
of 140,000. and only $18,000 insurance. The Messrs' Lockard immediately began erecting 
new buildings, which, wiih machinery ready fitted, were completed for work and under 
full iieadway within ninety days from the date of the fire, with' treble the capacity they 
had before. The following four years they built over 4,000 twenty-ton railroad cars, and 
did a vast amount of other work.' The business antuially amounted to nearly $1,000,000 
and employed from 200 lo 250 men, with a pay-roll amounting to $10,000 per mouth. 
Since 1883 the work has been principally the building of mining cars, car wheels, 
mining supplies, etc., averaifing about $100,000 per annum, and employing forty to fifty 
men. The JNIessrs Lockard have won, while comparatively young, a foremost place 
among the business men of Columbia County, with varied and diversified interests ex- 
tending even to Florida, wiiere G. M. Lockard has a farm of 175 acres in Marion County. 
There they made a visit in 1885. on the tnp crossing the Gulf of Mexico, visiting New 
Orleans, up the Mississippi to St. Louis, Chicago and other western points, and thence 
Jiome. 

Gkokge M. Lockakd was born in BriarcreeK Township, near Berwick, June 6, 
1835, a son of John ami Elizabeth (Seybert) Lockard. His father w.is a carpenter and 
■our subject when but fourteen years old began learning the same trade. He obtained 
his education in the schools of the vicinity and completed his studies at the academy at 
New Columbus, Luzerne Co., Penn. ; subsequently he taught school during winters for five 
terms, and for about five years owned and operated a boat on the canal. ^ In 18G1 or 1862 
he again returned to his trade, in the employ of Jackson & Woodin in the capacity 
above mentioned, and remained with them until he came to Bloomsburg. He married, 
April 7, 1864, Esther J. Tompson. Mr. Lockard is a Democrat and an active worker in 
the interests of his part};-; has served on various occasions as delegate to the county and 
State conventions, and has also been a mem!)er of the town council. He and his wife re- 
side in a commodious house nearly opposite his place of business, and he also owns his 
old homestead at Berwick, this county. 

John K. Lockahd was born near Berwick, Columbia County, May 23. 1846, a son of 
Alexander and xVnn (Cope) Lockard. His father was a farmer and John K. remained at 
home until he was eighteen, when he learned tlie carpenter's trade, having previously re- 
ceived a good English education in the schools of the vicinity. After completing his 
trade he was employed in the car works of Jackson & Woodin, as before mentioned. He 
married, iu 1869 Celenda V. Edwards, who has borne him six children: Anna V., Jen- 
nie L., William C. Alexander T.. Leiha and Richard. Mr. Lockard is a Democrat, and 
has served in the council of Bloomsburg. He lives on Fifth Street in one of the finest res- 
idences iu town, which he erected in 1884 at a cost of $15,000. It is built of brick, with 
a cement-finish, and finished inside throughout v^^itli black walnut, and supplied with all 
modern improvements. 

M. P. LUTZ, insurance agent. Bloomsburg, was born in Benton Township, Columbia 
County, January 13, 1841, to' Adam and Sidney (Travis) Lutz. His grandfather. Peter 
Lutz, was born in Berks County, Penn., and in 1810 came to this county and located in 
Benton Township on what is now the State road, one mile below Cainbra, where he 
bought a tract of land. This he improved, erected comfortable dwellings and here 
resided until his death. While in Berks County he married Catherine Belle's, and it was 
a few years later when they moved to this county. He died in 1831 and his widow in 
1862, and they are both buried near Pealertown. Adam Lutz was the second son of Peter 



BLOOMSBURG. 351 

and became the fatlier of our subject. He was reared in his native township, Benton, and 
made bis home with his parents until his marriage, assisting on the farm and in the mean- 
time learning the carpenter's trade. He married in January, 1838, Miss Sidney Travis, 
who was a native of Luzerne Countv, and after marriage moved to Fairmount Township, 
Luzerne County, where they bought a farm and resided four or five years. There Mrs. 
Lutz died, and her husband sokflhe property and resumed the carpenter trade until his 
second marriage, which occurred in Jackson Township. Columbia County, in January, 
1851, with Catherine Knouse. He then located on tlie old homestead of his father and 
farmed it for six years. In IS.")? he bought a farm near the town of Benton, and there 
resided until the spring of 1861, when he removed to Benton and built a house in which 
be resided until the tinie of his death By his first marriage there were four children, three 
of whom are living: N. A., wife of Geo. Hazlett. in Bloomingdale, Luzerne County; M.P., 
our subject, and F. M., in Benton Township. The deceased one was named Sidney Mary. 
By his second marriage there were also four children, of wliom three are living: N. A.. 
wife of Reuben Whitmire of Wilkesbarre; Clarissa C, wife of Sylvester Sollider, of 
Bloomsburg; and S. A., who lives in Centre Township; Phebe J. is deceased. Adam 
Lutz died in 1866 and is buried at Benton. His widow resides at Espy and is now the 
wife of Judge James Lake. M. P. Lutz was reared until the age of twenty years in Ben- 
ton Township, and received his education in the common schools of his neighborhood at 
the Columbus Academy, and took a commercial course at Kingston. In early life he as- 
sisted his father on the farm. At the age of twenty he entered the service of his country 
and remained until December, 1862. He then engaged in the furniture business in Benton 
until August, 1864, when he again entered the service and remained to the close of the 
war. He then returned home and embarked in the millwright business at Wilkesbarre 
until the fall of 1865. In 1866 he engaged in the dry goods business, becoming a clerk 
with Coolbaugh & Frantz of Wilkesbarre with wiiom he remained over two years. 
He then bought the interest of Mr. Reed, of the firm of Reed & Kennedy, and for one 
year engaged in the shoe trade, under the firm name of Lutz & Kennedy. He then sold 
ins interest in the shoe store and bought out the interest of A. J. Sloan, of Bloomsburg, 
and conducted a dry goods business, the first exclusive dry goods business in Bloomsburg, 
and was the first merchant in the town to dress his windows. February 23, 1870, his 
store was destroyed by fire, and in March he bought out J. J. Brower, general merchant, 
and again eneaged in dry goods. He conducted the business alone for four years, and 
then took in H. W. Sloan as partner, and the firm was thus constituted until April 1, 
1885, when Mr. Lutz closed out his interest to his partner and embarked in the insurance 
business. He represents the branches of ftre, life and accident insurance, being insurance 
broker for his companies and agent for the Mutual Benefit Life Company, Newark, N. J. 
He married in Bloomsburg, January 13, 1868, Miss Anna A. Brockway, a native of Berwick, 
and a daughter of Col. B. S. Brockway. Mr. and Mrs. Lutz are the parents of two chil- 
dren: Charles B. and Frank E. He has filled all the ofiiees in the Odd Fellows' order, 
also in the K. of P. and Good Templars, but is not now a member of any order. During 
the war he was a member of Company A, Fifty-second Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, 
and served in the Army of the Potomac under McClellan. He was in the engagements 
at Gaines Mill, siege of Yorktown, Williamsburg and Fair Oaks; at the latter place he 
was taken ill and removed to the hospital, and in December, 1862, was discharged on ac- 
count of disability. In August, 1864, he returned to the service, enlisting in Company A, 
One hundred and Ninety-ninth Penn.sylvania Volunteer Infantry, was promoted to ser- 
geant and participated in the siege of Richmond, the operations about Petersburg and 
was present at the grand review at Washington, and carried home with him, as a memen- 
to of the struffgle, a rebel flag which he took at Richmond. 

THE McKELVY FAMILY. William McKelvy, a native of the North of Ireland, 
was the founder of the family of this name in Bloomsburg, Penu. His wife's name 
was Phffibe, and they located in Lancaster County, Penn., where the eldest child was 
born in 1782. The names of their children are as follows: John, born April 23, 1782; 
Mary, born September 1, 1783, married John Neal. January 11, 1791; and Elizabeth, 
born January 17. 17—. The father of this family having died, his widow, Phcebe, mar- 
ried James Boyd. She subsequently came to Bloomsburg to live, where she died a widow 
May 15, 1824. This family are from what is generally known as Scotch-Irish extraction, 
and Presbyterians in religion. The first of the family to settle in Columbia County was 
William McKelvy, a son of William and Phffibe McKelvy; was born in Lancaster County, 
January 11, 179l! His parents were in moderate circumstances and unable to give him 
much other than a common education. But he was possessed of uncommon energy and 
he set out from home with the determination to succeed. In 1810 he engaged as a clerk in 
tlie store of John Cark at Catawissa, with whom he remained until June 16, 1816. He then 
•opened a general store on his own account, at Bloomsburg, and fromth:it time for nearly 
sixty veai^s he was prominerttlv identified with the mercantile and other interests of the 
place.' He was reared a Presbyterian, and although never a member, worshiped in that 
church all his life, and always sustained an envial)le reputation as a citizen. He was pro- 
gressive in every sense and liberal in support of public enterprises for the benefit of the 



352 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

vicinity in which he lived, and few, indeed, were those of any kind accomplished at 
Bloomsburg during his life or residence there, with which liis name was not prominently 
connected as a promoter. He erected the building on the southeast corner of Second and 
Market Streets for a residence and store in 1832, and which is now occupied by the bank, 
and which he occupied as a store and homestead for many yeare. He also erected a num- 
ber of other buildings that still stand as a memorial of his handiwork. He was nut a pol- 
itician in the general acceptance of the term, but was an ardent adherent of the Whig 
party during early and middle life, and later of the Republican party. He was never a 
seeker for or holder of any office, but served his vicinity in local offices, such as overseer 
of the poor, etc. He married, December 1, 1818, Elizabeth, a daughter of Isaiah Willitts 
of Catawissa, and by this union there were born the following named children: Martha, 
born June 28, 1822, married David L. McKinny; Harriet, born May 2, 1828, married Rev. 
A. A. Marple; Mary, born February 17, 1839, married John I. Hess, became a widow 
and married J. H. Harman; James Boyd McKelvy; Andrew Clark McKelvy, born Oc- 
tober 9, 1826, died in December. 1850; I. W. McKelvy, born October 8, 1830, married 
Miss Elmira Barton; and Charles W. McKelvy, born Sejitember 13, 1832, married Miss D. 
J. Ramsay. William McKelvy and his wife, Elizabeth (Willitts) McKelvy, died, respect- 
ively, March 14,1875, and June 24, 1858, and arc buried in llosemont Cemetery at Blooms- 
burg. 

JAMES BOYD McKELVY, M. D., Bloomsburg, is a native of tliat place, born 
in September, 1824, a son of William and Elizabeth (Willi tt*^) McKelvy. He obtained his 
literary education in the schools of Bloomsburg, and attended for one year Lenox Acad- 
emy, at Lenox, Mass. About the age of seventeen he became a student at Williams 
College, and was graduated from that institution in the class of 1845. The same year he 
began reading medicine with Dr. John Ramsay, of Bloomsburg, and subse(|uently attend- 
ed the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia, where he received his diploma as a 
physician and surgeon in the spring of 1849. That year he began to practice at Mifflin- 
ville, relieving a physician there while on a vacation. Shortly after he opened an office 
at Kentucky, Penn., and nine months later located at Arkadelphia, Ark., where he 
opened an office and remained a year. He tiien returned to Bloomsburg, where he has 
been in the continuous practice of his profession to date, and occupies an enviable and 
honorable position as a physician and surgeon. The Doctor w^as married December 35, 
1851, to Mary Elizabeth, daughter of George and Mary (Craig) Abbett of near Water Gap. 
They have had seven children: William, born November 17, 1852, educated in the Blooms- 
burg schools and graduated at the Medical University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and 
is now practicing at Breckenridge, Summit Co., Col. George Abbett, born March 1, 
1855, educated at Bloomsburg, and is now keeping a drug store at Millersburg. married 
Miss Nora Jacoby; Henry W., was born July 9, 1858. married Isabella Hunter Suydam, 
and is now in the wholesale drug establishment of Fuller & Fuller, Chicago, 111.; Eliza- 
beth Willitts, born June 12, 1860, 'died June 15, 1864; Mary Craig, born April 29, 1862, died 
February 5. 1867; Martha Wilbur and Harriet Neal (twins), born April 7, 1865. 

ISAIAH W. McKELVY, a son of William and Elizabeth (Willitts) McKelvy. was 
born in 1830. He was trained to mercantile business and in the meantime obtained 
his education in the schools of Bloomsburg, and at West Chester, Penn. Later he became 
a partner with his father and William Neal, under the firm name of McKelvy, Neal & Co. 
in 1852, and in 1872 bought out his partners' interests, and he has since conducted the 
business alone, doing the largest trade in the place, averaging probably .$75,000 and up- 
ward per annum. Mr. McKelvy also owns and operates the flour-mill known as the 
"Red mill" on Hemlock Creek. It has a capacity of fifty barrels per day. He is also 
quite largely interested in freighting and transportation by canal, running a line of 
eighteen boats the whole length of the canal and its branches. Mr. McKelvy was mar- 
ried, in the fall of 1851, to Miss Elmira Barton. They have three children: Mary A., 
wife of George E. Elwell; Elizabeth W. and Charles W., both at home. 

CHARLES W. McKELVY, Bloomsburg, a son of William and Elizabeth (Willitts) 
McKelvy, was born September 13, 1832. He was reared to mercantile business in his 
father's store, and at the age of maturity moved to Catawissa, where he engaged in con- 
ducting a paper-mill, making book and news paper, etc. He then operated a flour-mill and 
farmed for twenty-five years. His wife, Deborah J. (Ramsay) McKelvy, whom he 
married June 16, 1858, was a daughter of Dr. John and Mary Ann (Downing) Ramsay. 
Mr. and Mrs. C. W. McKelvy have four children: Frank R., M. Louise, Anna and Joseph- 
ine. Mrs. McKelvy is a member of the Presbyterian Church, which her family -dlso 
attend. In politics Mr. McKelvy is a Republican. 

JOHN McREYNOLDS (deceased), the father of Dr. McReynolds, was born near Wat- 
sontown, Northumberland Co., Penn., April 3, 1788. He was a son of Hugh and Eliza- 
beth (Snoddy) McReynolds, both natives of Belfast, Ireland. Hugh was born in January, 
1750 (the first Monday old style), was married October 21, 1784,'and died February 28, 1797. 
He served on the ContinentJil side during the Revolution, and after that struggle settled in 
Black Hole Valley near Watsontown. "He had a family of children as follows: Esther, 
who married Thomas Laird; Andrew, married to Jane Mann; John, married to Agnes 



BLOOMSBUEG. 353. 

McHard; Matthew, married to Lucinda Bennett; Robert, married to Susan Moyer; Eliza, 
married to Thomas Morrison; Isabella, married to Benjamin Hall, and Samuel, who went 
South and located somewhere in Kentucky, but of whom trace was lost. John McRey- 
nolds, our subject, was a farmer, and soon after his marriage, August 11, 1814, he settled 
in Derry Township, now in Montour County, and remained there until 1835, when he 
moved to Buck'horn, and in 1869 to Bloomsburg, where he died in March, 1880. Besides 
farming, he. after moving to Buckiiorn, kept a hotel. He was active in all public affairs 
and an influential Democrat. In 1824 he was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Rep- 
resentatives, and re-elected for four more successive terms. He was again elected in 1850. 
to the State Legislature at Harrisburg, serving one term. He was nominated for Con- 
gress by the Democrats in 1858, but defeated; was elected associate judge in 1861, served 
one term of five years, and declined re-election. Besides these positions, in 1843-44 he 
was supervisor of the North Branch Canal, and afterward was collector of tolls at Ber- 
wick for three years. He was a member of the electoral college in the election of Presi- 
dent Franklin Pierce. He was also twice appointed by the judges of his judicial district as. 
one of the Revenue Commissioners for Pennsylvania, for the equalization of State taxes and 
served under two appointments. He and his wife were both members of the Presbyterian. 
Church. They are buried in Rosemont Cemetery, Bloomsburg. They had six chil- 
dren: twins, died in infancy unnamed; Elizabeth, married to Simon P. Kase and died in 
March, 1874; Mary, married to Joseph R. Vanderslice; Dr. Hugh W. (see sketch); Sarah 
Ann, married to William E. Buckingham. 

HUGH W. McREYNOLDS, M. D., Bloomsburg, is a native of Derry Township, 
Montour Co., Penn., born July 4, 1822, and is a son of John and Agnes (McHard) 
McReynolds. He received his literary education at the Danville Academy and at the 
select school of Andrew Foster, of Bloomsburg. He read medicine with Dr. A. B. Wil- 
son of Berwick, and graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1848. Later he 
practiced with Dr. Hill a few months in Bloomsburg, then returned to college and took 
another course. In 1849 he began to practice at Catawissa, and continued for two years. 
He then went to Buckborn and practiced twenty-five years, and in 1876 came to Blooms- 
burg where he has since resided. The Doctor in 1875 was elected treasurer of his county^ 
serving three years; is one of the trustees of the State normal school for the Sixth Dis- 
trict. The Doctor has a wife and two children. He and his family attend the Presby- 
terian Church. 

JACOB HENRY MAIZE, attorney at law, Bloomsburg. was born near Sunbury. 
Northumberland Co., Penn., August 14, 1845, a son of David O. E. Maize, a miller by 
trade, and for some time a merchant in Sunbury, but now a resident of Boston, Mass.. 
Our subject enlisted, August 23, 1862, in Company F, One Hundred and Forty-third 
Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry; was mustered in at Camp Luzerne December 4, 1862;. 
January 1, 1863, was promoted corporal, and soon after encamped at Fort Slocum near 
Washington. February 17, 1863, with his regiment, he was ordered to the front and as- 
signed to the Third Division, First Army Corps. He participated in an expedition to. 
Port Royal, where a feint was made, and was under a brisk fire for some hours there, and 
was in the engagements below Fredericksburg and at Chancellorsville. The regiment 
marched nineteen days to participate in the battle of Gettysburg, and arrived there July 
1. They were in the entire three days' fight, and during the first day Mr. Maize was 
color corporal, or guard around the United States' colors in the advance, where Gen. 
Reynolds was killed. About the time Gen. Reynolds was killed Col. Dana ordered an 
advance with the colors about fifty feet or more, and the colors placed on an elevation, 
which was done, and immediately after placing the colors on the elevation a shell struck 
the colors and tore them all to pieces. At the same time a rifle ball struck the hat of Mr. 
Maize and just missed his head. The enemy fought desperately to capture the colors, 
but were unsuccessful. There were two color-bearers and eight guards, eight of whom 
were killed and wounded, our subject being one of the two left unharmed. He person- 
ally seized the colors of his regiment, and triumphantly bore them during the balance of 
the day's fight, delivering them to his company's ofl3cers in the evening after their retreat 
to Cemetery Hill, where they encamped on the night of the first day's fight. The regi- 
ment lost that day from 400 to 500 men, killed, wounded and missing. On that occasion 
the colors were offered to him to carry henceforth, a promotion, however, he declined, 
preferring to handle his gun, an excellent piece that he had affectionately named "Old 
Sal," and on which he had carved his name. On this day's fight the men that were left of 
his company had all thrown away their rations for three days, except Mr. Maize, and these 
three days' rations were divided among the company, and was all they had to eat that 
night. During the succeeding two days' fight they subsisted on comparatively noth- 
ing. The afternoon of the second day they supported Sickles' corps, and the third day oc- 
cupied the left center of the Union lines, and helped to repulse the rebel Gen. Pickett's 
famous charge. Mr. Maize was one of the men on that occasion at the "stonewall," 
where the rebel line was overthrown and turned back defeated. During this onset a com- 
rade by his side was instantly killed, half of his head being shot off. the body falling partly 
against our subject. After this memorable battle, the results of which did so much to 



354 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

stem the tide of rebellion, Mr. Maize was detailed on recruitin<? service, and so served un- 
til the close of the war, and was mustered out June 26. 18G5. After his return to civil life 
he followed merchandising until 1879. He had, however, in 1866, registered with M. E. 
Jackson, Esq., to read law, and in 1875 with Hubert F. Clarl<, Es(i., of Bloomsburg; and 
again in September, 1879, with Hon. C. R. Buckalevv, and was admitted to tbe bar in Feb- 
ruary, 1881, and since tlien has practiced at Bloomsburg. In 1880 he was elected and 
served three years as justice of the peace, when he resigned. Mr. Maize was married to 
Miss Blanche A. Campbell, daughter of James and Elmira J. Campbell of Beach Haven, 
Luzerne Co.,Penn., April 30, 1868, and they have three children living, viz.: Annie Elmi- 
ra Maize, Edith Maize and Boyd Freeze Ma. ze. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, a 
member of the Episcopal Church since 1869, and a member of tlie vestry for the last two 
years. In politics he is a stanch Democrat, taking considerable interest in the election of 
county officers, and more especially in State and National, from tlie close of the war in 1865 
down to the present time, by advocating the principles of his party and the qualities of his 
man. 

CHARLES W. MILLER, attorney, Bloomsburg, was bora at Mifflinville November 
20,1844, a son of Stephen H. and Lavina (Ivline)\MiIler. He graduated at the State 
normal school, Millersville, and registered in the office of William G. Hurley, of 
Bloomsburg, as a law student, in 1865; in 1867 was admitted to the bar, and the same 
year began to practice at Bloomsburg. Pie is a Democrat, politically, and has served 
Bloomsburg in the council and school board. In addition to bis legal business, Mr. 
Miller has been identified with the various improvements in tlie place, one of the organiz- 
ers of the Water, Gas & Steam Company, and School-Desk Company. He is secretary 
of the Gas Company and also a member of the Board of Trade. Mr. Miller married 
Miss Cora L. Eshleman, of Schuylkill County. He is a member of the Knight Temp- 
lars; F. & A. M.; I. <). O. F., and "of the Presbyterian Church. He is also a member of 
the board of directors of the State normal school and has been for twelve or fifteen 
years and was largely instrumental in securing the sewage and telephone system to 
Bloomsburg. His grandfather, Isaac Kline, was an early settler of Columbia County; 
was a prominent man and served in the Pennsylvania Legislature ; his son, Hiram R. 
Kli^ie, was also a member of the Legislature. Abraham %tnd Anna Charity (Kramer) 
Kline, the great-grandparents of Mr. JMiller, lived to be upward of ninety years of age. 
They came from New Jersey up the West Branch to Milton, and thencecut their way 
to the end of Knob Mountain. They had five sons and one daughter, and settled two 
miles north of Orangeville on the left; bank of Fishing creek, wliere they built a frame 
house, which was occupied by three generations'of their descendants, and is siiil standing. 
Their younger son, Isaac, the grandfather of Mr. Miller, married Mary Willitt, whose 
mother's maiden name was Britton. Mr. and JVIrs. Kline had seven daughters and three 
sons, all of whom married and lived to middle age. Lavina married Stephen H. Miller, 
and they became the parents of our subject. Elmira married M. C. Vance, whose grand- 
parents, George and Martha Vance, came from Donegal, Ireland in 1804, and settled in 
Bloomsburg, and later moved to the banks of Fishing creek west of Orangeville. 
John Vance, their eldest son, married Etfie Patterson, whose parents came from Scot- 
land about 1800. George Vance erected a house that is now occupied by M. C. Vance, 
the third generation. 

STUART MITCHELL, D. D., was born in Bucks County, Penn. His parents dy- 
ing while he was an infant, he was adopted and reared in Philadelphia by his aunt, Mar- 
tha Mitchell Stuart, and her husband, James Stuart. After some boyish experience of 
business life he entered the University of Peu.sylvania and graduated with first honors, 
and then studied theology in the seminary at Princeton, N. J. He began his ministerial 
wprk at Warsaw, N. Y., and continued it as a home missionary at Newport and Kilbourn 
City, Wis., and subsequently as a district missionary of the Presbyterian Board 
for Wisconsin and Minnesota. On account of feeble health he gave up his work and 
traveled in Europe and the East; returning to Philadelphia he supplied the Second Pres- 
byterian Church of Altoona for a year. In 1873 he was installed pastor of the church at 
Bloomsburg. He was married first to Miss Jane F. Patterson, of AVarsaw, N. Y., who 
accompanied him to Wisconsin and died in western New York; afterward he married Miss 
C. Janet Peirikin of Muncy, Penn. They have two daughters, named Renee and Mar- 
garet. He has published "The Church, its Constitution and Government" (Presbyterian 
Board of Pub.,) "Jonah the Selfwilled Prophet" (Randolph), and some smaller treatises. 

WILLIAM NEAL, of the firm of Neal & Sons, Bloomsburg, is a native of what is 
now Muncy, Lycoming Co., Penn., born September 8, 1813, a son of John and Mary 
(McKelvy)Neal. His mother died when he was an infant, and his father died when he 
was a small boy. He became a member of the family of his uncle, William McKelvy, at 
the age of ten years, though he came to Bloomsburg with his grandmother, Mrs. Phoebe 
(McKelvy) Boyd, with whom he lived until her death. He was a member of his uncle's 
family until 1839. In February of that year he married Catherine, a daughter of Casper 
and Mai-y Christman. He was educated at the subscription schools of Bloomsburg, and 
became a clerk for his uncle at the age of fifteen, and spent one summer under the tuition 



BLOOMSBUKG. 355 

of Williaiu G. Harley, Esq.. and Dr. Ebenezer Daniels. ITe continued as clerl< until the 
age of twenty-two, and in November, 1884, was given a salary, and in 1840 became a half 
partner in his uncle's business. This partnership continued until 1852, the firm being 
known as William McKelvy & Co. In January, 1852, I. W. McKelvy, son of his partner, 
was taken into the business and the firm became McKelvy, Neal & Co.. and so continued 
until January, 1873. In 1853 William McKelvy, William Neal and Jacob Mellick, the 
latter having one-fourth interest, erected an iron furnace, which is still known as " Bloom 
Furnace." In 1873 ]\Ir. Neal bought out Mr. Mellick, and the next year Mr. McKelvy'g 
interest, but sold his own interest in the store. The same year he took in his sons, Clinton 
W. (a graduate of Lafayette College) and Robert C. (a graduate of the Troy Polytechnic) 
into the furnace business, under the firm name of William Neal & Sons. The product in 
1854 -was between 6,000 and 7,000 tons, and at present is about 9,000 tons annually. The 
firm now employ about forty men, but when they mine their own ore have employment 
for about 200. Mr. Neal is a member of the Presbyterian Church, has been trustee for 
twenty years, and is also an elder in the same. He is a Republican politically. One of 
his sous, C. W., served as quartermaster of a regiment in the civil war. His children by his 
first wife are Clinton W., who married Emma, a daughter of William Snyder, of Blooms- 
burg; Mary C, who died at about four years of age; Harriet M., wife of Ephraim Elwell, 
and Robert C, married to Ella Clark, a daughter of Robert C. Clark, of Bloomsburg. 
Mrs. Neal died in January, 1850, and in June, 1854, Mr. Neal married Mary L., daughter 
of John C. Boyde, and she bore him the following children: James B., a graduate of Yale 
College and post-graduate of Yale scientific, and of the medical universit3' of Philadelphia, 
is now a medical missionary in China, where he and his wife (a daughter of Rev. W. 
Simonton. of Emmitsburg, Md.), now reside; and Anna M., wife of Morris S. Shipley, of 
Cincinnati; and Montgomery B. (died in infancy). The Neals are of Scotch-Irish descent. 

CLINTON W. NEAL, Bloomsburg, one of the proprietors of the " Bloom furnace," 
was born in Bloomsburg, this county, November 9, 1839, a son of William Neal. He ob- 
tained his education in the schools of Bloomsburg, and in 1858 became a student in Lafay- 
ette College, where he was graduated in 1861. Subsequently be'was emploj^ed in mercan- 
tile business, and in 1867 established a wholesale and retail coal business. In 1870 he 
formed a partnership with his brother, Robert C. Neal, under the firm name of C. W. 
Neal & Bro., and in the year 1873 with his brother bought one-half of the entire plant of 
the Bloom furnace, his father retaining one-half interest, which the}' have conducted up to 
date. Robert C. Neal is also treasurer and secretary of the Tyrone Iron Company. Our 
subject was married in 1870 to Emma H. Snyder, a daughter of William Snyder, of 
Bloomsburg, this county. They have had four children, but three living: William S., 
Grace L. and Mabel R. His wife, Emma H.. died January 8, 1887, of meningitis. 

DR. RUSSELL R. PARK came from Ireland and located at Jerseytown as a boarder 
with John Funston. The Doctor began practicing medicine at once, and is thought to 
have been the first resident physician in that part of the countj^ his practice extended for 
many miles, even as far as Bloomsburg, Light Street and Orangeville. He married Mar- 
tha, a daughter of the Rev. Caleb Hopkins, and reared and educated a large family of 
children, only one of whom is in this portion of the country — Mrs. Alexander, of Danville. 
He died June 5, 1851, aged seventy-four years and six months, and was buried in the 
cemetery of the Episcopal Church of Bloomsburg, together with his wife and son Will- 
iam, and was later removed to Rosemont Cemeterv, Bloomsburg, Penn. 

GEORGE MATTHEW QUICK, deputy protlionotary of Columbia County, Blooms- 
burg, is a native of Montour Township, this county, born November 15, 1856, a son of 
William Grier and Sarah (McBride) Quick. His grandparents. John II. and Sarah 
(Moore) Quick, both natives of New Jersey, settled in Montour Township in 1831, the 
former of whom was a boot and shoemaker, which trade he carried on all his life there, 
in connection with a farm of 155 acres that he owned and operated. He was an honored 
citizen in his day, and a thorough Presbyterian. He died aged sixty years, and he and 
his wife are buried in Rosemont Cemetery. William Grier Quick, their son, was born in 
Rush Township, Northumberland Co., Penn., September 4, 1815. He was a shoemaker 
and farmer, owning forty acres in Montour Township, this county, and was in the em- 
ploy of the State as foreman of a division of the north branch of the Peun.sylvania Canal, 
extending from Danville to Stony Town, for about nineteen years. Subsequently he was 
employed by the Wyoming Valley and the Pennsylvania Canal Company, respectively 
ten and eleven years, as supervisor, making in all about forty years in which he served as 
an official on this canal. In 1868 he was elected county commissioner, serving three 
years. He died March 4, 1879. His widow, Sarah (McBride) Quick, still (1886) survives. 
George M. Quick was educated in the schools of Montour Township, and finished his 
studies by an academic course at the Bloomsburg Normal School. Subsequently he was in 
the employ of the Pennsylvania Canal Company as a sub-foreman for seven or eight 
years; at his father's death he was appointed foreman, and served from March, 
1879, to January, 1880. He then resigned to accept his present position as deputy pro- 
thonotary. Mr. Quick was married, December 27, 1877, to Eva Bidleman, and they have 
two children: William Grier and Clarence Eugene, respectively aged six }'ears and twelve 



356 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

months. Mr. Quick and family are attendants of the Lutheran Church. Since his ap- 
pointment, in 1880, he has acted in his present position with the exception of one year, 
and is well and widely known throughout the county as a prompt, courteous and popular 
official. 

WILLIAM RABB, grocer, Bloomsburg, was born in Lubeck, Prussia, January 3, 
1828, son of Frederick and Caroline (Young) Ilal)b, who came to the United States in 
1839 and settled in Little York, York Co., Penn. There Frederick, who was a baker, fol- 
lowed his trade, and in 1842 moved to Bloomsburg, where he also established a bakery 
and subsequently was interested in a pottery in partnership with his son-in-law, John 
Ream. He was a member of the Lutheran Church; he died in 1872, his wife in 1870. They 
are both buried in Kosemont Cemetery. They had seven children, only one of whom was 
born in this country: Augustus. William, Lewis (died at the age of two years), two infants 
(twins — deceased), Hannah (died at the age of fourteen) and Charles. William Rabb 
when young learned the cabinet-maker's trade, and when twenty- one years old estab- 
lished himself in busmess at Bloomsburg. He continued it for about thirty years, when 
he bought a farm about seven miles from town, and operated it three years. He then re- 
turned to Bloomsburg and has carried on a general grocery store since. Mr. Rabb is a 
Democrat and has served as a member of the town council eight years, and in 1887 was 
elected one of the board of school directors of that town. He married in 1856 Abigail J. 
Bell, and they have five children: Luther I., married Camilla De Sheppard, of Philadel- 
phia; Martha A.; Clara E., married to Charles Welliver, of Morris, Tioga County; Ida 
V. and Charles W. Mr. and Mrs. Rabb are members of the Lutheran Church. William 
Rabb has been successful in his business. 

DR. I. L. RABB, the dentist, was born September 19, 1856. in Bloomsburg. Graduated 
from the Philadelphia Dental College in the spring of 1877. He married July 19, 1877, Cam- 
elia E. De Sheppard, of Philadelphia, and three children have been born to them: Fred- 
ericka, Inaz Sneden and William A. Dr. Rabb is master of the dental profession and has 
a practice second to none in Bloomsburg. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church and in politics a Democrat. 

JOSIAH RALSTON, of the Bloomsburg Iron Company, Bloomsburg, was born Jan- 
uary 1, 1838, in Glasgow, Scotland. His father, James Ralston, was also a native of that 
city, born in 1791, and there married Martha Poultney, who bore him nine children: Ag- 
nes, Robert, James, Hugh, Susannah, John, Martha, William and Josiab, all of whom 
were born in Glasgow. When our subject was three months old his parents with their 
family arrived at New York and located soon afterward at Farrandsville, Penn. On the 
invention of the hot blast, which worked such a revolution in the iron trade, James Rals- 
ton was the first to put it in practical operation. He was then in the employ of the Clyde 
Iron Company at Dunlap, Scotland. The Company placed their No. 3 furnace at his 
disposal, and after a trial an improved apparatus was introduced similar to those now in 
use. In 1836 an agent of the Farrandsville (Penn.) Iron Company, visited Mr. Ralston 
and induced him to try his fortunes in the United States and bring out hot blast pipes 
with him. He accordingly had them made at Glasgow and took passage on the South 
Carolina ship, "Leonore," arriving at New York in February, and at Farrandsville, Penn., 
in the early spring of 1837. Here he superintended the erection of machinery and started 
the first successful hot blast on this continent. He was soon engaged at the pioneer fur- 
nace at Pottsville, Penn., to try smelting iron with anthracite; was assisted by Benjamin 
Perry, and succeeded with the celebrated ninety-day blast, beginning October 20, 1839, 
and terminating January 18, 1840. This was about the first successful attempt to use an- 
thracite coal in the blast furnace; next he put tlie Vallej^ furnace in operation and then 
removed to the Roaring creek furnace. In 1845 he superintended the "lining up" and 
"blovvingin" of the Irondale furnace (which had never been excelled for successful 
working) to the time of his death, May 19, 1864, at Irondale. There he had resided and 
•superintended the adjacent furnaces for nineteen years. He was well and favorably 
known throughout the iron regions as a thorough and practical master of his business. 
Josiah Ralston, our sul)ject, at twenty had completed learning the machinist trade and 
soon after entered the employ of the Bloomsburg Iron Company as superintendent of the 
furnaces, which position he has since held. He married in 1862 Sarah L. Hozenbach, 
and two children, Edward Elmer and Roy Rodman, were born to them. Mrs. Ralston 
died October 1, 1880. Mr. Ralston next married March 14, 1882. Elizabeth Heist. The 
family attend the services of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics Mr. Ralston 
is a Republican. 

DR. JOHN RAMSAY (deceased). The parents of Dr. Ramsay were natives of Scot- 
land, the mother's maiden name being Baxter. They emigrated and settled in Chester 
■County, Penn., where our subject was reared. Dr. Ramsay was married at Orwigsburg, 
Schuylkill Co., Penn., in 1830 to Mary Ann Downing; located in Bloomsburg in 1831, 
and there practiced until his death. He died in February, 1863, aged sixty three years. 
His widow died December 30, 1883, aged sixty-nine years. They left a family of seven 
children: Deborah J., wife of C. W. McKelvy; Josephine, wife of G. N. Willets; James 
H. ; Charles P.; Anna D., wife of C. C. Hagenbuch; William P., married to Elizabeth. 



BL00M8BUKG. 357 

Ramsay, a cousin; Robert X., married to Mary Sallade. Dr. Ramsay was a graduate of 
the University of Pennsylvania, and first began to practice at Birdsboro, near Reading, 
and afterward at Port Carbon, being in the two places three years. While at the latter 
place he was married, and soon after came to Bloomsburg. 

WILLIAM M. REBER, M. D., Bloomsburg, is a native of Lewisburg, Union Co., 
Penn., born in 1843, a son of David and Margaret (Musser) Reber, of that county, the 
former of German and the latter of Scotch-Irish extraction. Our subject attended the 
schools of Lewisburg, and finished liis studies at the university of that place. At the age 
of eighteen he began reading medicine in the office of Dr. Hayes, where he remained one 
year. The next he spent in the office of Dr. Pancoast of Philadelphia, and graduated at 
Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in March, 1863. In April succeeding he was ap- 

Sointed assistant surgeon in the United States Navy, assigned to the Naval Ho.spital at 
lorfolk, Va., and subsequently to the gunboat squadron on the Ohio River, but was 
stationed mostly on the receiving ship, "Grampus," at Cincinnati, Ohio. In the fall of 
1865 he was assigned to the Naval Hospital at Brooklyn, and in the spring of 1866 was as- 
signed to the United States steamer "Lackawanna," which proceeded on a cruise to the 
Sandwich Islands, and which extended over two and one-half years. He returned in the 
fall of 1868, and in December of that year resigned. He located in Bloomsburg, and in 
February, 1869, resumed the practice of his profession. The Doctor was married in the 
fall of 1871 to Miss Elizabeth McKinney, of Bloomsburg. They have two children: Edith 
McKinney and William McKelvy. The Doctor is a member of the Presbyterian Church. 
WILLIAM ROBISON (deceased), the father of James Boyd Robison was born at 
McVeytown, Penn., January 19. 1789, a son of Alexander and Elizabeth (McKee) Robison. 
His mother became a widow, married a Mr. Barber, and died in the house of her son 
William in Columbia County. They were all of Scotch-Irish descent and Presbyterians 
in religion. William Robison came to this county in 1810 and married Betsy Barton 
January 30, 1816. When he first came to the county he located near Orangeville and kept 
a store. Subsequently he moved to Bloomsburg and carried on a tannery with liis brother 
John. From 1836 to 1840 he conducte 1 a hotel on the northwest corner of Second and 
Center Streets. From 1840 to 1846 he farmed and then returned to Bloomsburg and kept 
a general store where he liad formerly kept hotel, and retired from business in 1855. He 
was appointed sheriff of Columbia County in 1833 and served for some time. While in 
the hotel business, and after, he owned and operated several lines of stages and was ex- 
tensively known throughout the country. He was a Whig in politics. In the contest to 
remove the county seat from Danville he took a prominent and active part, at one time 
being a member of a committee to present the claims of Bloomsburg to the Legislature at 
Harrisburg, and accomplished his purpose against Valentinq^ Best, then speaker of the 
House. He died at Bloomsburg in 1866. His wife was borrf January 30, 1799, and died 
June 9, 1877; both are buried in Rosemont Cemetery. They had a family of thirteen 
children, of whom all except one grew to manhood or womanhood: Alexander, born No- 
vember 3, 1816, married to Mary E. Thompson, November 19, 1850, died at Mauch Chunk, 
in April, 1878; Jane McKee, born January 19, 1819, married September 18, 1848, to Lynd 
Elliott; Anna Maria, born November 35, 1830, married August 39. 1848, to Ariovistus 
Pardee, of Hazleton; Martha E., born January 1, 1833, married October 13, 1854, to 
Andrew M. Rupert, and died April 4, 1874; Harriet, born November 6, 1834, and married 
May 34, 1860, to Charles E. Frazer, now lives in San Francisco, Cal. : Ellen, born Decem- 
ber 34, 1836, married to Dr. William B. Hawkins, June 1, 1848, died in October, 1884; Emily, 
born February 8, 1839, married to George B. Markle, January 19, 1848; Isabella, born 
February 15, 1831, married, January 7, 1869, to Nathaniel L. Campbell, and died April 17, 
1873 (she was during the war a volunteer nurse, serving the entire four years); William 
Barton, born September 31, 1833, died October 5, 1837; Mary Augusta, born January 35, 
1836; James Boyd, born January 3, 1838, married October 16, 1873, to Mary Jane Breece; 
Isaiah B., born January 10, 1840, was killed while leading his company at the battle of 
Peach Tree Creek, July 30, 1864— he enlisted in the Union Army June 38, 1861, as sergeant, 
and at his death was first lieutenant; Hannah Amelia, born June 13, 1844, and married 
June 13, 1866, to Frederick E. Barber, now living at McPherson, Kas. William Robison 
presented to the county one-third of the lot on which the court-house now stands, the 
other two-thirds were given by Elisha Biggs. Mr. Robison was several times nominated 
for the Legislature and associate judge, but, being in the minority, party was defeated. 

JAMES BOYD ROBISON, attorney at law, Bloomsburg, was born at Bloomsburg, 
January 3, 1838, a son of William and Betsy (Barton) Robison. His father being a 
merchant, he assisted in the store when quite young and acquired an academic education 
at Bloomsburg. When sixteen years of age in January, 1854, he taught a school in 
Mifflin Township three months, and August 19, 1854, received the first permanent cer- 
tificate issued by the county superintendent of Carbon County, and followed by teaching 
a seven months' term in the Summit Hill District, same county. In 1855 he served on an 
engineer corps for two months, laying out the Yeddo Branch of the Hazelton Railroad, and 
in the fall of 1855 became a student at Lafayette College at Easton, where he remained 
two years, subsequently, in 1867, receiving the degree of A. M. He went to Washington, 



358 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

D. C, and was engas^cd ia writing patents for the land office for five months. He was then 
engaged three months l<eeping books for his brother at Mauch Chuulc. In 1858 and the 
summer of 1859 he spent in Illinois, teaching in Tazewell County, and part of the time 
in selling books through Henrj^ and Mercer Counties, and during that time attended 
various political meetings addressed by Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas 
in their famous senatorial contest. The day after the State election deciding that con- 
test, Mr. Robison suggested the nomination of Lincoln fc)r President; that was in 1858. 
In August, 1859, he came to Mercer, Mercer County, this Stale, and began reading law with 
Jason T. Giebner, Esq., and paid his way while a student by cleiking in the sheriff's 
office, in that place. In the spring of 1861, when Ft. Sumter was fired upon, he an- 
nounced his intention of entering the service. The following day he drew up an enlist- 
ment paper for the Mercer Rifles, a military company, heading the list with his own 
name. This company was organised as Company (t, tenth Regiment' Pe.insylvania 
Reserve Volunteer Corps, enlisting three years. They left the town June 11, 1861, and 
were mustered into the State service, June 19, 1861, under Capt. (afterward Gen.)- 
Warner of silver bill fame. Mr. Robison was appointed sergeant of the company, and 
participated in all the Seven Days' batile and in the s-econd bull Run battle, in Which 
engagement he was wounded in the left hand, which disabled him to such an extent that 
he was sent to the hospital ; discharged December 18, 1862. In June, 1863, Company 
H, Thirty-fifth Regiment emergency men, was organized in Columbia County, and on its 
arrival at Harrisburg the captain was promoted to major, and Mr. Robison was elected 
to the captaincy. This company remained in service until August, and was on 
duty from Gettysburg to Greencastle. On his return to civil life Mr. Robison resumed 
bookkeeping for iiis brother a short time, when he returned to Mercer, resumed his 
legal studies, and was admitted to the bar at Mercer in November, 1863. He then taught 
school at Sandy Lake that winter. June 1, 1864, he went to Wasnington, D. C, and be- 
came a clerk under Capt. J. T. Giebner in the commissionery department, and was 
assigned to the Ninteenth Army Corps, under Sheridan in th^ Shenandoah Valley. Sep- 
tember 23, hi was capture! by rebil stragglers, kept by gu a-riUas somi time, and, October 
17, placed in Libby prison and confined there until February 17, 1865. When Mr. 
Robison first enlisted in 1861, lie was examined by an army surgeon, and declared unfit for 
military service on account of heart disease, the surgeon saying he would not live through 
the excitement of an engagement, and was only accepted after earnest solicitations from 
him. The result proves that even doctors are sometimes at fault. On his return ta 
Mercer in 1865 he was elected district attorney, served one year of court and resigned ; 
then he removed to St. Louis, and engaged in the real estate business for one year. In 
1867 he located at Bloonn^urg and began the practice of law; was appointed United 
States commissioner an 1 served some three or four years, resigning the otfice in 1872. 
He was notary public from 1872 to 1875, and has also served his town three terms as 
corporation counsel or solicitor. In 1870 he was nominated by the Republicans for the 
Legislature; in 1880 was nominated for Congress by the Greenback party, and received 
double the number of votes Weaver had for President; was a candidate again in 1884. 
Mr. Robison is a Knight Templar and in the thirty-second degree Scottish rite, and 
has served the order in nearly all of its various offices; is a member of the Patrons of 
Husbandry, and of theG. A. R., Colonel Ent Post of Bloomsburg. From 1881 to 1885, he 
was engaged in operating a farm about four miles South o: C itawissa. He has been a 
member of the Presbyterian Cliurch since 1866. He was married October 16, 1873, to Miss 
Jennie Breece of Bloomsburg, a successful teacher, a daughter of Daniel Breece. They 
have had seven children — four girls and three boys: Martha E., James Boyd, Bessie May, 
Isaiah (deceased), William Daniel, Jennie B. and Emily. 

LEONARD BRIGHT RUPERT, Bloomsburg. John Philip Rupert, the first of the 
family to come to America, was a native of Germany, born near Guttenburg, in January, 
1738. He emigrated as a soldier in 1754, and served four years in the British Army in the 
French-English war. On the outbreak of the Revolution he became an active and zealous 
supporter of the American cause, served in the militia as an officer, and was in the army 
stationed near Trenton at the capture of the Hessians; was also at the battle of Brandy- 
wine, and died at Catawissa August 6, 1829, aged ninety-one years. He lived and died in 
the religious faith of the Reformed Church, and for a long time served as a ruling elder. 
He married, December 14, 1762, Catherine, daughter of Michael and Catherine Rosch. Ta 
this union were born fourteen children, the eldest being Leonard Rupert, born at Read- 
ing, Penn., October 11, 1763. He also served in the Revolution as a filer on the war ship 
" Hyder Ali " under command of Com. Barney, and was in a naval engagement 
during that war with the British man-of-war "Wasp." He married Sally Bright in 
March, 1788; moved and located at the mouth of Fishing Creek, in what is now^ Montour 
Township, Columbia Coimty, in 1788, on 220 acres that were bought by his father- 
in-law, Michael Bright, some years prior, and which was originally purchased by John 
Spohn December 31, 1769. This land is now partly occupied by the village of Rupert, 
and the farming portion left is still owned by the descendants. A daughter of Leonard 
Rupert, Mrs. Rupert Paxton, is now (December 26, 18S6) one hundred years old. This 



BLOOMSBURG. SoQ' 

land was deeded October 12, 1774, to Michael Bn\^ht. Leonard Rupert died March 11, 
1848, and his wife March 17 of the same year. The\^ are l)uried in Rosemont Cemetery. 
They had a family of twelve children. Leonard was a man of more than ordinary abilitj^ 
was self-educated, and served as colonel in the State militia for several years. He was 
elected about 1804, and served eleven years in the House of Representatives; first at Lan- 
caster and afterward at Harrisburg. He also served for many years as associate judge, 
and in other local offices. He was reared in the faith of the Reformed Church, but about 
1818 united with the Presbyterian Church, to which many of his descendants still adhere. 
Their children were Catherine, born December 26, 1786, at Reading, married Col. Joseph 
Pdxton; Pet'^r, born September, 1788, in this count}', married Catherine Dhiel; Rebecca, 
September 26, 1790, married IMaj. James Shearer; Bright, born August 18, 1793, died in 
1815; Mary, born April 7, 1795, died unmarried in 1857; Sarah, March 20, 1797, died in 
1817; Rhoda Ann, September 26, 1801, died in April, 1875, unmarried; Lavina, September 
2, 1803, died in December, 1846, unmarried; Harriet, born January 2, 1806, resides at 
Bloomsburg; Charles, March 23, 1808, died February 9. 1831; Leonard B., horn June 19, 
1810; Elizabeth, born July 23, 1799, married Thomas W. Lloyd, and died April 5. 1882. 
Leonard Bright Rupert became a clerk in William McKelvy's store when eighteen years 
of age. After his marriage he farmed the old homestead for five years, and then opened 
a general store at Bloomsburg in 1845, which he continued for twelve years. He then re- 
tired. Mr. Rupert is a Democrat, and was appointed in 1839 or 1840 as county treasurer 
to fill a vacancy caused by ilie death of the treasurer, and when the appointment expired 
he was elected to the office for one year and re-elected for two years. He was elected as- 
sociate judge November 10, 1851, and served five years. He was subsequently appointed jus- 
tice of the peace, and served a year and a half; was president of the town council two terms 
(1884 and 1885), and held other local offices. Mr. and Mrs. Rupert have had nine children, 
four of whom died young, five are still living: Clara, born December 17, 1832, married, 
November 9, 1858, Dr. W. H. Park of Springfield, Mo.; Sarah, born November 29, 1834, 
married Daniel Stick December 28, 1859; Ata, born Ma}'^ 24, 1846, married I. K. Miller 
February 16, 1870; Leonard Barton, born January 8. 1849, married Mary Riswig January 
26, 1876, and live in Republic County, Kas. ;and Eva, born November 1, 1851, lives at 
home. 

JOHN C. RUTTER, M. D.. Bloomsburg, was born near Wilmington, Del., Decem- 
ber 12. 1826, a son of Thomas, a farmer, and Sarah (Baker) Rutter. At fourteen years of 
age he left his father's house and lived with his grandmother in Newcastle Hundred, in 
the meantime attending the schools of the neighborhood until seventeen. He was then 
employed as a clerk in Wilmington, and at twenly-one began reading medicine in the of- 
fice of Dr. Caleb Harlan of that city. He subsequentely graduated at the Homeopathic 
Medical College of Pennsylvania (now known as the Hahnemann) March 3, 1855. The fol- 
lowing May he located at Bloomsburg. where he has been in constant practice since, and 
has enjoyed a large patronage. The Doctor was married August 26, 1848, to Jane Clayton 
of his native place, a daughter of John and Ann (Perkins) Clayton. John Clayton was a 
carpenter by trade; carried on that business in Brandj'wine Hundred and in Wilmington, 
Del. He lost his first wife by death in 1857 in Delaware, and was married again and 
moved to Monroe Count}', Penn., where he died in 1875, near Strasburg, aged about seven- 
ty years. Dr and Mrs. Rutter have a family of eight children: tlie eldest, Lamartine, 
married a Miss Rodemoyer, and lives in Bellefonte, Penn.; Henry Harlan married a Miss 
Cloud, and is editor and proprietor of the Hvghesville Mail; Everett Webster, M. D., re- 
siding in Luzerne County; Mary Ella, wife of Dr. D. W. Conner of Wilkesbarre; Adah 
Louisa, wife of Newton W. Barton; Margaret; Rachel M. (single), and John Croghan, a 
printer connected with the editorial department of the Democratic. Sentinel &t Bloomsburg, 
and married to a daughter of Dr. J. B. McKelvy February 17, 1887. The family attend 
St. Paul's Episcopal Church at Bloomsburg. The Doctor is the pioneer homeopathic phy- 
sician of Columbia County, being the first of that school to practice within its boundaries. 
He has always been a firm and consistent temperance advocate on all occasions. Politi- 
cally, he is Democratic. His grandfather, Joshua Rutter, was a native of England and 
came to this country with a brother, Thomas, who became a merchant at Baltimore previ- 
ous to, or about, 1790. Joshua located on a farm near Baltimore City. His wife's name 
was Elizabeth and they reared a family of two sons and two daughters. The sons were 
John and Thomas, the father of Dr." Rutter, and who was born alwut 1792 and died in 
1848, near Chester, Delaware Co., Penn., aged fifty-six years. The daughters were Mar- 
gery and Mary. Joshua's wife was a native of Sweden", and they were probablv married 
near Baltimore. The grandfather of the Doctor on the maternal side was John Baker, 
whose wife was Lydia Marks. He was a plasterer by trade, and carried on the business 
in Brandywine Hundred, Newcastle Co., Del., all his life. 

WILLIAM M. SHAFFER, farmer, Bloomsburg, was born in Montour County, July 
8, 1835, and is of English and Scotch ancestry. His father, Samuel Shaffer, was born in 
1809 in Lewisburg. Penn.. and was a son of Matthias Shaffer, for many years toll-keeper 
atLewisburg. Samuel learned the trade of a cooper, came to this county in 1848, and 
contracted for getting out limestone for the Bloomsburg Iron Company six j'ears. He sub- 

28 



360 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

sequently became a large landholder, owned some 350 acres near Bloomsburg (our subject 
living on 100 acres of it), and 140 acres at Millville. In early life he was a Methodist, but 
later he joined the Lutheran Church, and died July 31, 188i, leaving a large estate. He 
married, when not quite twenty, Margaret Gulp, a daughter of Peter Gulp of Montour 
Gounty, Penn. They had twelve children, ten now living: Mary, married to Michael Sny- 
der; Henry, married to Gatherine Whitenight; Matthias, married to Mary Zeigler; David, 
married to Hester Johnson; William M., our subject; Samuel, Jr., married to Catherine 
Zeigler; John, married to Lydia A. Lee; Jane, married to Benjamin Lee; Simon C, mar- 
ried to Sarah Culp, and Charles, married to Elizabeth Zeigler. April 8, 1858, our subject 
married Gatherine A., daughter of Thomas Fry, and by this union seven children were 
born: Hiram A., born February 20, 1859; Mary M., boru June 13, 1860, now the widow of 
Paul Gadman, and has one child, Pauline; Hester J., born February 10, 1862; Henry, born 
Aprir20, 1864; Thomas, born December 16, 1867; Ellen, born June 16, 1868; William, 
born October 6, 1869. The mother of this family died October 27. 1869, a member of the 
Reformed Church, and was buried in Rosemont Cemetery. Mr. Shaffer's second marriage 
took place December 2, 1873, with Mary Johnson, a daughter of David Johnson of 
Beaver, this county, and by this union there is one child, Martha E., born September 25, 
1873. Mr. Shaffer is a Republican, a member of the Lutheran Church. He is a farmer 
and has ninety-three acres under cultivation. 

JOSEPH SHARPLESS, Bloomsburg, is descended from John Sharpless, a native of 
England who immigrated to America about two months before the first coming of William 
Penn, and settled in Chester, Delaware Co., Penn. The first of his descendants to come 
to Columbia County, was his great-grandson, Benjamin Sharpless. The family were origi- 
nally members of the society of Friends. Benjamin was boru in 1764 in Chester County, 
and died in 1857. When a young man he crossed the mountains and settled in Sunbury, 
where he bought and operated a grist-mill, and also taught school for some time. He sub- 
sequently moved to Catawissa, wliere he purchased a farm and also a grist-mill adjoining, 
now the site of the paper-mill at Gatawissa. Here he established a paper-mill and paid, 
for years nine cents per pound for white rags, and manufactured paper by hand. When 
young he learned the saddler's trade, but never followed it in this county, except to make 
his own harness. He married Hannah Bonsell, also a member of the society of Friends, 
and by this union there were eleven children, two of whom died young. Those who grew 
to maturity were as follows: Maiy Ann, deceased wife of Dr. Wadsworth of Gatawissa, 
this county; Eliza, unmarried, and now eighty-three years old; Edward, married first to 
Betsy Roth, and after her death to Nancy Pancoast, now a resident of Marion, Ohio; Will- 
iam was three times married, and now resides at Gatawissa; Joseph, married Mary E. 
Foster of Gatawissa; John, married Sally A. Harder; Harriet, married George Reifsny- 
der; Sarah, married Louis Yetter; and Kersey married Mary Margaret Harder. Joseph 
Sharpless of Bloomsburg was born December 6, 1808. and reared to the paper-mill busi- 
ness with his father, with whom he remained until twenty-six years of age. He then be- 
gan on his own account and has been identified with the business interests of Bloomsburg 
and of the county since, and for thirty years conducted what was known as the Sharpless 
Foundry, at Bloomsburg. Several years ago he sold the foundry to his son, and has now 
retired from active business. Mr. Sharpless is a Republican and has served his vicinity in 
such local offices as meml)er of the council, school director, and during the war was an 
earnest supporter of tlie Union cause. Mr. and Mrs. Sharpless have had nine children, 
seven of whom grew up: Harriet R., born February 23. 1837; Lloyd T., born March 18, 
1839, married Mattie Waggenseller; Benjamin F., born May 33, 1841, married Sophia 
Hartman; Loretta A., born January 4. 1843, married Jefferson Vanderslire, of Ford County, 
Kas. ; Clara, born November 13, 1844, died April 4, 1849; Elizabeth A., boru September 
7, 1846, married Wesley Eyre of Bloomsburg; Araminta E.. born November 34, 1848. mar- 
ried Jasper Wilson; Mary Ellen, born October 16, 1853, died September 9, 1855, and Harry 
F., born October 4. 1863. now in Ford County, Kas. 

BENJAMIN F. SHARPLESS, proprietor of the Eagle Iron Works, Bloomsburg, 
is a native of Locust Township, this county, born in 1841, a son of Joseph and Mary E. 
(Foster) Sharpless. At the age of twenty years (in 1861) he enlisted in Company A, Sixth 
Regiment Pennsylvania Reserves, served about three years and participated in the fol- 
lowing engagements: Dranesville, second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fred- 
ericksburg, Gettysburg, Bristoe's Station, New Hope Church and the battles of the 
Wilderness. At Antietam he was wounded by a bullet, the force of which, however, was 
spent by striking his belt and accoutrements, otherwise it would have passed through his 
body. He was mustered out June 13, 1864, returned to Bloomsburg, and six months after 
began learning the trade of an iron molder. That was in January, 1865, and in April, 
1868, he formed a partnership with Mr. Harman, under the firm name of Sharpless & 
Harman, and bought the foundry of Joseph Sharpless. Three j^ears afterward the part- 
nership was dissolved, and our subject has conducted the business alone up to the present 
time. Mr. Sharpless was married, in 1866, to Sophia Hartman, a daughter of Charles 
Hartman. Mr. and Mrs. Sharpless have four children: .Joseph L., Charles H., Ray F. 
and Arthur W. Mr. Sharpless is a member of the Methodist Church, and in politics is a 
Republican. 



BLOOMSBURG. 361 

LAFOREST ALMOND SHATTUCK, M. D., proprietor of the Bloomsburg (Penn.) 
Sanitarium, was born in Cornville, Someiset Co., Me., Januarj^ 15, 1846. He ob- 
tained his literary education at the schools of his native town and at the Siiowhegan 
Academy. When but tifteen years of age he began teaching school and in 1862 began to 
read medicine in the office of Dr. Green at the Boston Medical Institute, where he had 
excellent opportunities to study surgery and surgical diseases. A year later he entered 
the medical department of Harvard, and for five years in college and hospitals was a close 
student in the allopathic school. In 1868 he took two courses of medical lectures at 
Philadelphia, graduating with honors. Being ambitious and desirous of a greater knowl- 
edge of the eclectic system of practice, then attracting considerable attention, he entered 
the Eclectic Medical College of the city of New York, where he received the ad eundem 
degree in 1869. He then commenced the practice of his profession at Augusta, Me.. 
making a specialty of surgical diseases and soon came into prominence through his suc- 
cess in critical operations considered impossible of achievement by older surgeons, la 
1870, in addition to his professional duties, he assumed the editorial charge of the Ameri- 
can Litevarii Revkw, which he ably conducted until the spring of 1871, when failing 
health compelled him to relinquish all business cares and take a much needed rest. In 
the autumn of that year, being desirous of a larger field of practice, he decided to locate 
at Chicago, and started for his new field of labor in September. While remaining over for 
,a week at New York City to attend the National Medical Convention as a delegate from 
the Maine Eclectic Medical Society, of which he was secretary, the great fire at Chicago 
occurred, which decided him to remain East. It was at this time he was urged by the 
president of his New York alma mater to accept the chair of demonstrator of anatomy at 
that college, but modestly declined, and proceeded at once to locate for the general 
practice of his profession at Bridgeport, Conn., where he enjoyed a large and lucrative 
practice for eleven years, and where he attracted attention, not only as a skillful surgeon, 
but for his remarkable success in diphtheria and his discovery of a remedy for the cure of 
Bright's disease. In the autumn of 1883, his health again breaking down through over- 
work and the influence of the coast climate, he sold out at Bridgeport and purchased the 
institution at Bloomsburg, a sanitarium possessing superior facilities, such as baths of all 
kinds, mental and physical rest, massage, electricity, Swedish movements, etc., for 
the treatment of nervous, kidney and chronic diseases, in which he has acquired a high 
reputation. Dr. Shattuck comes of good old New England stock, being the eldest son of 
Luther Tarbell Shattuck, who, with Prof. Shattuck of Harvard College, Judge David O. 
Shattuck, the Whig candidate for governor of Mississippi in 1841, Lemuel Shattuck, the 
historian and compiler of Shattuck's memorials. Judge Francis W. Shattuck of California. 
Judge Joel Parker of Cambridge, Mass., Hon. John A. Dix, and the Rev. Morgan Dix, of 
New York, were descendants of William Shattuck [Shattuck Memorials, pages 57 to 289,] 
who died in Watertown, Mass. Dr. Shattuck was married, April 17, 1872, to Miss Ella 
Frances Mosher of Augusta, Me., an estimable and talented lady, connected with some 
of the best families in Maine and one of the heirs of the English Mosher estate. 

M. C. SLOAN & BRO., carriage manufacturers, Bloomsburg. The firm consists of 
M. C. and C. P. Sloan, and the business was estaltlishedin 1826 bj" William Sloan, father 
of the present proprietors. His shop stood on the site of the present Lutheran Church 
building on Market Street, and he manufactured the first " Dearborn wagon " in this 
vicinity. He followed manufacturing large numbers yearly, employing men who would 
start with fifteen or twenty and sell them throughout the country. In 1832 he erected the 
shops occupied by the present firm, with the exception of the wood shop, which was burnt 
and rebuilt in 1843. He was born near Lime Ridge, this county, and died in 1864,aged seventy 
two years. His wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Thornton, was a native of Blooms 
burg,died in 1875, and both are buried in Rosemont Cemetery, Bloomsburg. In early life he 
was a carpenter and while stopping at a hotel in Bloomsburg, a man namedWells, a wagon- 
maker, came along. Up to that time there were no one-horse wagons in the neighbor- 
hood, and the landlord insisted on Wells making one. s.) Mr. Sloan accompanied Wells to 
his (Sloan's) farm, adjoining town, and from the fences secured sufficient seasoned oak tim- 
ber to make one. This was the first one-horse wagon ever made in Bloomsburg, and was 
•after the style commonly known as "Dearborn." This was the start of Mr. Sloan's long 
and successful career as a ^carriage manufacturer. 

M. C. Sloan was born at Bloomsburg in 1826, and after acquiring a good education in 
*the Bloomsbui'.e: schools he learned the carriage- making business, and in April, 1853, be- 
came a partner with his father under the firm name of William Sloan & Son, and has 
•ever since been identified with the business as proprietor. He was married in 1853 to Miss 
Emily Pursel, and they have the following named children; Maggie T. (now Mrs. W. C. 
McKinney, Dodge City, Kas.), W. Clark, Anne W. and Morris R. Mr. Sloan is a substan- 
tial and enttrprising business man. The present firm of M. C. Sloan & Bro.nvas formed 
in 1864 after the death of their father, and manufactures the finest kind of light work. 

Charles P. Sloan was born March 12. 1840, and received his education in the schools 
of his native place. At the age ©f eighteen he began learning the trade of carriage trim- 
ming and painting. In 1862 he enlisted, and was appointed sergeant in Company E, One 



362 -BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Hundred and Thirty-second Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and six weeks 
later participated in the battle of Antietam; also was in engagements at Fredericksburg 
and at Chancellorsville. He had enlisted but for nine months, and at the expiration of 
his term returned to Bloomsburg, and has since been engaged in tlie carriage business. 
Mr. Sloan was married in 1863 to Phwbe A. Lott, a daughter of Dr. G. W. Lolt of Orange- 
ville. They have four children: Hattie L., Frank H., Lilla G. and George G. 

SAMUEL SMITH, sheriff of Columbia County, Bloomsburg, is a native of Butler 
Township. Luzerne Co., Penn., born May 8, 1841, a son of William and Elizabeth (Wash- 
burn) Smith. The former was a native of New Jersey and came with his fatlier, Samuel 
Smith, to Luzerne County when he was a boy of six years. He was a prominent farmer 
and when his son Samuel was but three years old moved to Nescopeck, where our subject was 
reared until the age of eighteen years; then he began learning the blacksmith trade at Whiter 
Haven, Penn., with his uncle, John Wash])urn, and after completing the same carried 
on the business in Nescopeck Township for four years. He was then employed by the 
Dupont Powder Company at Wapwallopen for two years. In 1869 he moved to Fishing 
Creek Township, this county, where he bought a farm and carried it on for fourteen 
years. , In 1883 he moved to Stillwater and followed blacksmithing for three years. Mr. 
Smith is a Democrat and has for the past ten years, taken an active and influential part 
in the politics of the county. He served Fishingcreek six years as member of the school 
board, and in 1885 was elected sheriff of Columbia County, and is the present incumbent. 
He married in 1861 Hannah Harter, and thirteen children have been born to them: 
Aaron Freeze (deceased), Alice Margaret, William Jacob, Clara Ann, Eudora. John Clark, 
Albert Newton. Amanda Ella, Samuel Theodore, Charles Day and Daisy Delphine (twins), 
Leona Mabelle and Hannah Edna. 

DANIEL SNYDER (deceased), 1783-1855. was born in Northampton County, Penn.. 
and was a son of John and Elizabeth (Stickle) Snyder, also natives of the same county, and 
he was one of six children, viz. : Catharine, married to Gen. Robert Brown, a gallant soldier 
of the Revolutionary war, elected to Congress several terms; Susan, married to Philip Wolfe;, 
Mollie, married to Harness Neele}'- John, a tanner atWatsontown, Northumberland County, 
where he died: Peter and Jacob. Our subject attended the English schools of his native 
county but a short time, and when about twenty-one years of age his father died, and 
he and a brother entered into a partnership on a farm. In one year Daniel became dissat- 
isfied with farm life and withdrew to learn the tanner's trade. In 1809 he married Mary- 
Magdalene Mickley, born April 2, 1792, in Allentown, Penn., daughter of Peter Mickley, 
who was born January 18, 1772, and Sarah Biery Mickley, born January 30, 1773 (Peter 
Mickley was a grandson of John Jacob Mickley (or Michelet) who came from Amsterdam, 
Holland, in the ship " Hope," of London, arriving in Philadelphia, August 28, 1733). Mr. 
and Mrs. Mickley had the following named children : Mary M. ; Catharine, married to Daniel 
Berkholder ; Sarah; Hannah; Susan; Christina; Jacob, and Charles. In 1810 Daniel Snyder 
came to Columbia County and bought twenty-six acres lying now within the limits of 
Bloomsburg. paying for the same £550. He returned to Northampton County for his wife, 
and was told that the little' stream which ran through his new farm in Columbia County, on 
which he intended to locate a tannery, would occasionally run dry. He for a time con- 
templated giving up his claim. Finally he started on a second trip to accomplish his original 
purpose. On the route he met Squire Hutchison, who was going to Easton with a load of 
wheat, and the Squire assured him that the stream was a never-failing one. Fully con- 
vinced, he returned to Easton and employed Squire Hutchison to haul him, his family and 
all to the little log cabin, which stood where now Second and East Streets, Bloomsburg, meet. 
He brought with him some leather, which he hoped to exchange for hides, but everybody 
whohad pelts forsale wanted money,and Mr. Snyder, having only $100 left after erecting his 
tannery, was a second time discouraged, because he had to pay money for hides and sell 
leather on trust. A Mr. Wertman. who lived near, observed the pluck manifested by our 
subject, and offered him a few hundred dollars, which sum was accepted, and with which 
the'foundation of his future success was laid. In ten years he was able to build a two-story 
brick house, and later turned it into a hotel, known as the "Forks Hotel." He subse- 
quently rented it and moved into another property erected by him. His industry and 
economy added daily to his possessions, and aside from the tannery he owned consider- 
able town property and five or six large farms, before his death. He was elected to the 
State Legislature a number of terms, and worked with all the*energies in his power to se- 
cure the county seat at Bloomsburg. History tells in this work his complete success. 
His ever faithful consort, who still survives, blessed him with ten children: John, born 
December 3, 1810; William, born March 12, 1813, married first to Regina Worraan, second 
to Mary Funk; Sarah A., who married Dr. William Petrikin, the father of Mrs. Gen. W. 
H. Ent, mentioned elsewhere; Melvina, who married Elisha Barton, the father of Mrs. 
Alice John and Mrs. Dr. Lazarus; Polly, born July 24. 1821; Daniel, born April 19, 1824. 
married Sarah W. Creveling, by whom he has Clinton C, a civil engineer, now in Florida; 
Mary B., married to William Milens who lives in this county, and Anna, who died young. 
(Daniel has followed the planing-mill business and is now a farmer and resides in Blooms- 
burg, and his aged mother lives with him. He has been overseer of the poor and is a 



BLOOMSBURG. 363 

Tvorlhy, upright man); Matilda, born January 18, 1827, married Rev. Henry Funk, a Re- 
formed minister, the father of Neviu U. Funk, mentioned elsewhere; Mary C. born Sep- 
tember 18, 1829, married Dr. F. C.Harrison; Martha Alice, who married Dr.T. C. Harter; 
Clinton B., born June 32, 1837, and died single Deember I'S, 1852. In this volume appears 
an elegant steel portrait of Hon. Daniel Snyder, made from ilie latest photograph that could 
be found. It was contributed by Daniel Snvder, Nevin U. Funk, Mrs. Melvlna Barton, 
Mrs. Sarah A. Petrikin, Mrs. Dr. Harter, C.'W. Neal and Frank P. Billmeyer. 

WILLIAM SNYDER, born March 12. 1813, died October 11, 1867, married first to 
Regina Worman (by whom he had two cliildren, both now deceased, to wit: Charles W. 
Snyder and Emma H., who was the wife of Mr. Clinton W. Neal), secondly, to Mary 
Funk (by whom he had one child, Anna Dora, now the wife of F. P. Billmeyer). William 
succeeded to the tanning business of his father, which he pursued with_ vigor and 
great financial success, and became one of the leading business men of his native town of 
Bloomsburg, and one of its most wealthy and substantial citizens. He was a kind and 
gentle father, a faithful husband, a consistent member of the Reformed Church, a helpful 
friend, an honest, reliable man and a public-spirited and enterprising citizen. Every en- 
terprise that had for its object the promotion of the best interests of his fellow-citizens, 
and the improvement of his town found in him a strong support. His purse, as well as 
his mind and hand, was ready for every worthy object. He was one of the chief pro- 
moters and contributors to the erection of the Bloomsburg Literary Institute, which grew 
and expanded into the now beautiful and stately normal school of the Sixth District. 
Besides giving his counsel and labor and thousands of dollars to this great and noble edu- 
cational project, he with his sister, Mrs. Martha Alice Harter, donated the beautiful and 
extensive grounds attached to this institution. He was its first treasurer, in which office 
he continued to the time of his death. He laid out the William Snyder addition to the 
town of Bloomsburg, and it was while he was engaged in this and other plans of kindred 
public improvement that he was called away to his rest. 

WM. H. SNYDER, prothonotary of Columbia County, Penn., was born in Orange 
Township in 1840, a son of John and Catharine Snyder. His father, a native of Berks 
County, Penn., of German descent, when a boy came to Columbia County. He was a 
stone-mason and plasterer by occupation, and served as constable of Orange Township 
for seventeen years. He was elected sheriff of said county in 1852, and re-elected in 1858, 
serving in all two terms or six years. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, and 
died in 1878 aged sixty-seven years. He was married to Miss Catharine, daughter of 
Henry Wolf, who also came to Columbia from Berks County, where he had been engaged 
in teaching German school. Mrs. Snyder is still living at Orangeville at the age of 
seventy-eight years. They had eleven children — four boys and seven girls — three of whom 
are dead: Mary C. Frank R. and John H. Wm. H. Snyder was educated at the Ora,nge- 
ville Academy and Greenwood Seminary, and began public school-teaching while a minor, 
which profession he followed for fourteen years. In 1872 he was elected county superin- 
tendent of public schools of Columbia County, which position he held for three terms 
or nine years, then declined serving longer. During this time he registered as law 
student with E. R. Ikeler, Esq., and was admitted in 1882; was elected prothono- 
tary in 1884, which position he holds at present. He was married in 1868 to Miss Sarah 
M. Fleckenstme, daughter of Nathan and Catharine Fleckenstine, of Orangeville. Her 
ancestors are also of German descent; her father is a member of the Reformed and her 
mother of the Lutheran Church. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder had six children, of whom but 
■one, Paul R., an infant, is living. John B. died in i879; Willie R. in 1881, and Jennie 
•C., Charles J. and George R. but a few weeks apart, of diphtheria, at Orangeville in 
1884. They were aged respectively sixteen, thirteen and nearly two years. All are buried 
in Orangeville Cemetery. Jennie C. was a member of the Reformed Church, of which 
her parents are members. 

GEORGE W. STERNER, register and recorder of Columbia County. Bloomsburg, is 
a native of Madison Township, this county, born April 2, 18-^6, a son of John S. and Juda 
(Trump) Sterner. His father is a contractor and Imilder and has carried on that business 
•extensively in Bloomsburg, and through the county from 1837 to the present time (1886), 
besides brick-making and farming. George W. was educated in the public schools and 
normal school of Bloomsburg, also attended Dickinson Seminarj' at Williamsport, two 
years, and one year the State Institute at Ypsilanti, Mich. After finishing his studies he 
engaged in teaching, and followed that profession for thirteen terms, six of which were 
spent in Bloomsburg. He was married August 6, 1873, to Mary A., a daughter of Ira 
Davenport, a merchant and banker at Plymouth, Luzerne Co., Penn. In 1874 he built the 
large store-building on the northeast corner of Second Street and Murray's Alle}% part of 
which he occupies as a residence. In that year also he began the business of a contractor 
and builder, brick-maker, etc., which he followed until the fall of 1877. He has always 
taken an active part in the politics of the county, and in 1868 was adelegate to the county 
convention, also served in that capacity for several consecutive years. In 1875 he was 
elected assessor in the west district of Bloomsburg, and was a member of the Bloomsburg 
■C-ouncil. In 1878 he was a candidate, though not nominated, but in 1881 was nominated 



364 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

and elected register and recorder; re-elected in 1884, and is the present incumbent. To the 
duties of his office he is very attentive; his books and records are models of neatness, and 
his courteous treatment of all who have business with him, whether official or otherwise, 
is the well deserved cause of his universal popularity, not only as a trusted public official, 
but as an honored and respected citizen. As an ardent Democrat there is none more 
loyal to his party; as a citizen he is enterprising and substantial, and as a soldier he was 
brave and patriotic. At the age of sixteen he enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and 
Thirty-second Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered in August 
6, 1863, for nine months. The regiment was soon ordered to Camp Whipple near Wash- 
ington; was part of the reserve at second Bull Run, and was afterward attached to Gens. 
Sumner's and Couch's corps, Third Division. Third Brigade of the Army of the Potomac. 
He participated in the battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, and on 
the expiration of his term of service, returned home. August 31, 1864, he enlisted for one 
year in Company E, Two Hundred and Ninth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, 
in which he was appointed second sergeant of the company and subsequently color-bearer 
sergeant of the regiment. The regiment reported at Bermuda Hundred and participated 
in skirmishes in and around that vicinity, and afterward took part in the fight at Hatcher's 
Run, Fort Steadman and in the charge on the enemy's works in front of Petersburg, Va., 
April 1, 1865, and subsequently was engaged with the Army of the Potomac until the sur- 
render of Lee at Appomattox. After the battle of Petersburg he was in command of the 
company until mustered out May 31, 1865, when he returned home and resumed the occu- 
pation mentioned previously, remaining, however, with his father until of age. Our sub- 
ject's religious convictions are Methodist. Mr. and Mrs. Sterner have four children: 
Hattie E., John D., Mabel Estella and Mary Edna. 

G. W. SUPLEE, Bloomsburg, was born in Chester County, Penn., July 29, 1825, to 
Samuel and Catherine (Rinewalt) Suplee. The Suplee family are of French extraction 
but for several generations have been residents of Pennsylvania and have followed farm- 
ing. Samuel was born and reared in Chester County, where he married Miss Cathe- 
rine Rinewalt, also a native of the same county. To them were born five children, four 
now living: George W.; Emeliue, widow of Charles H. Soper of Los Angeles, Cal.; John 
R., in Lawrence, Kas., and Mary, wife of Robert Evans, in Philadelphia. Sarah is de- 
ceased. Samuel Suplee died April 23, 1875; his widow survived him just ten years, dying 
April 23, 1885. They are buried in the Green Tree Church graveyard, in Upper Provi- 
dence Township, Montgomery County. He had farmed in that township until ten years 
before his death, when he and his wife removed to Philadelphia, where he lived a retired 
life. Our subject was reared to the age of nineyears in Chester County, when his parents 
moved to Philadelphia, and three years later to Montgomery County, where he lived until 
the age of thirty-two years; then he bought a farm in Anthony Township, Montour County, 
and farmed here for eight years. He then sold out and bought a farm in Madison Town- 
ship, Columbia County, where he resided until April, 1886, wlien he bought a residence 
property in Bloomsburg, moving to the city and renting his farm. He married in Mont- 
gomery County, April 4, 1852, Miss Sarah Hamer, a native of Montgomery County, and 
daughter of Humphrey and Mary Hamer. When Mrs. Suplee was a child her mother died, 
and her father in 1845. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Suplee, four of whom 
are living: Antoinette, wife of Cyrus De Mott, in Madison Township; Gertrude, wife of Al- 
bert Girton in Madison Township; Horace G. and Annie. The deceased are Emeline, Mary 
Catherine, Sallie Wells and George, who was accidentally killed by falling from a window 
of the normal school where he was a student, January 25, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Suplee are 
members of the Baptist Church. While a resident of Montour County, he was justice of the 
peace for one term, and held many township offices while a resident of Madison Town- 
ship, Columbia County. He has a farm in that township of 135 acres. 

WILLIAM R. TUBBS, proprietor of the Exchange Hotel, Bloomsburg, was bora 
in Wetherly, Carbon County, in 1835, a son of William A. and Elizabeth (Henritzy) 
Tubbs. When a young man he learned the watch-making business, and in 1862 engaged 
in keeping hotel at Shickshinny, which he continued three years. In 1868 he took the 
Rupert Hotel and conducted it. except one year, until 1878, when he leased the Exchange 
Hotel at Bloomsburg, buying the furniture. This house has sixty-five rooms, with all 
modern conveniences and heated throughout with steam (and all the improvements have 
Seen made by Mr. Tubbs), and was the first really first-class hotel established in Bloomsburg. 
Mr. Tubbs married in 1862, Margaret, a daughter of Samuel Harmon. The Harmon 
family is an old one in the history of Columbia County. Mrs. Tubbs' father resided 
many years at Mifflin, and was a thorough hotel man. The Exchange Hotel is fitted 
throughout in the most approved style. The kitchen is a model of cleanliness, the pastry 
room adjoins, while close by is a large refrigerator fitted with compartments or rooms 
like a house; tiie dining-room is large, "light aiid pleasant, while the parlors and sample 
rooms on the first floor are commodious and well furnished. The upper floors are ar- 
ranged in sleeping apartments and suites of rooms, with bath rooms adjoining. The 
hotel is one of the best conducted in the Stale and is deservedly popular with the travel- 
ing public. 



BLOOMSBURG. 3G5 

REV. D. J. WALLER was boru January 15, 1815. ut Wilkcsbarrc, Pennsylvania. 
His parents were Pbineas, born at Wyoming in Januarj-, 1774; son of Nathan and Eliza- 
beth (Weeks) Waller, and Elizabeth, born October 9, 1780. daughter of Dr. David H. and 
Patience (Bulkley) Jewett, of New London, Conn. David Jewett, the father of David H., 
was born June 10, 1714, and was graduated from Harvard College in 1785. He was a chap- 
lain in the British Army, and subsequently served in the same capacity in Washington's 
army. Nathan Waller was a soldier in the Revolution in the Continental service and was 
the first of the name to settle with his family at Wilkesbarre. The subject of this sketch 
spent his boyhood in his native town, pursuing his early education at the academy in 
Wilkesbarre until the age of fifteen, when he entered Williams College, from which he 
was graduated in 1834. In the fall of that year he entered Princeton Theological Sem- 
inary, from which he was graduated in 1837. In the following year he began his work 
in the ministry at Bloomsburg, assuming the pastorate of the church there and supplying 
all the English Presbyterian Churches between Danville and AVilkesbarre, as well as those 
in the valleys of Fishing creek. For thirty-three years he proved indefatigable in 
this work, eventually introducing four additional workers in the field to care for as 
many separate charges. In 1848 the present brick place of worship in Bloomsburg, built 
under his direction at a cost of .|3. 100, was dedicaierl. In 1871, when the Bloomsburg 
Church had reached the point of self sustentation, Mr. Waller resigned his pastorate, but 
still occasionally preaches as his health will permit. It was with considerable reluctance 
that he laid down the active work of the ministry, but after the arduous labor of so many 
years, having achieved the object of his original mission, he felt that the demands of his 
growmg family called upon him to devote his energies to their care and education. During 
the active part of his ministry Mr. Waller found ample scope for tlic employment of the 
energy and executive ability with which a Divine providence has Idessed him. Notwith- 
standing the arduous character of his early missionary work, be interested himself and 
others in procuring advanced educational privileges for the community. He was chiefly 
instrumental in founding a classical school in Bloomsburg in lb'3!», securing his brother, C. 
P. Waller, as principal. This gentleman, subsequently president judge in Wayne and 
Pike Counties and now deceased, was admirabl.y fitted for the vvork and laid a foundation 
on which the State normal school was subsequently erected. Mr. Waller's interest in 
the educational features of Bloomsburg have not languished since this initial effort, and 
in all the history of the growth of secondary instruciicm in the county seal is found his 
guiding and supporting influence. His contribution to this school readied $3,500. But 
while thus engaged in fostering the educational and religious interests of the comiiiunity 
with which he had cast his lot, he could truthfully appro|)riate the poet's lines, "Homo 
sum; nil humani a me alienum puto." He came lo Bloomsburg at the time when the 
movement for the removal of the county seat was at its ebb tide and the most sanguine of 
its supports were about to despair. He espoused the sinking cause with undaunted 
courage, and with the co-operation of Dr. John Ramsay and William McKelvy succeeded 
in buoying the stranded movement to the deeper waters which led to eventual success. 
Since devoting his attention more exclusively to business matters his career has been re- 
markable in that, after devoting the active years of this life to the seclusion of the study, 
he has proved so eminently successful in ventures which have always taxed the abilities of 
those especially trained for the particular service. In all his enterprises Mr. Waller has 
evinced a public spirit which has accrued to the highest advantage of the town of his 
residence. On leaving the ministry he devoted his attention to farming with eminent 
success. He soon felt the diflirulties which the comnmnity there labored under for the 
lack of transportation facilities, and discovered the latent possibilities for Bloomsburg 
which he determined to develop. In 1859 he bargained for ninety five acres that is all now 
included in the borough of Bloomsburg. This tract includes the plat of the borough 
bounded on the north by the alley between Fourth and Filth Streets; on the east by a line 
a little east of Catherine Street; on the south bj' Canal Street and on the west by the Iron- 
dale Railroad; and now contains from 150 to 200 houses. It comprises the most substan- 
tial residences of the town, several of them erected by Mr. Waller, among which are the 
elegant residence he occupies, on the corner of Fifth and Market Streets, and the Sani- 
tarium Buildings, costing upward of 115.000. He owns 150 acres south of the canal ad- 
joining this plat, which will doubtless some time be included within the corporate limits 
of the town. In these private ventures Mr. Waller has not been neglectful of public in- 
terests, and in spite of persistent opposition has secured to the town, at his own expense, 
a broad street, lined with attractive residences, which is the peculiar charm of the place. 
In 1861 he secured the location of the railroad depot at an accessible point, and in 1870 
began to devise means to relieve the business interests of tlie burden which the railroad 
monopoly placed upon it. The result of his efforts in tliis direction was the construction 
of the North & West Branch Railroad, which be constructed bvhis own efforts and in 
spite of the most determined opposition of other corporations. Even his friends felt that 
it was a foolhardy undertaking and his success has won for him the well merited respect 
not only of his fellow-townsmen but of the railroad magnates who tried in vain to thwart 
him. His ambition is to make Bloomsburg a vigorous manufacturing center with railroad 



3()fi BIOGEArHICAL SKETCHES: 

facilities second to n()iic in this section of the State, and if bis life is spared and bis efforts 
are crowned witb tlieir usual success, the near future will see this result obtained. Every 
public iniprovemenl receives bis bearly co-operation, and when the public is slow to pro- 
ceed his own judgment doesiiot falter. The lot on which the new jail stands was donated 
by Mr. Waller as well as the land on which the fiourisbing woolen-mill stands. In 1876 
he was nominated by the Republican party as a candidate for Congress for this district. 
The hopeless adverse majority gave little hope for his success, but he nevertheless ran 500 
ahead of the Hayes electoral ticket. He was married in 1839 to Julia Ellmaker, of Phila- 
delphia, a daughter of Levi and Hannah (Hopkins) Ellmaker of that city. Their children 
are Hannah Ellmaker, born August 30, 1840; Elizabeth, born May 14, 1842; Maria Louisa, 
born May 29, 1843, died February 8, 1844; Harriet, born November 16, 1844, died June 13. 
1845; Diivid Jewett, born June 17, 1846; William Patterson, born January 20, 1848, died 
April 22, same year; Levi Ellnmicer, born July 16, 1851; George Phillips, born April 2, 
1854; Julia, wife of Charles W. Hand, and Laura Pettit. 

REV. DR. D. J. WALLER, Jr., principal of the State normal school, at Blooms- 
burg, his native place, was born in 1846. He prepared for college at the Bloomsburg Lit- 
erary Institute, and graduated from Lafayette College in 1870, where he was tutor one 
year. He resigned this office to enter Princeton Theological Seminary in 1871, and 
was graduated at Union Theological Seminary of New York City in 1874. During 1874 
and 1875 he was pastor of the Logan Square Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia; then 
accepted the pastoral charge of the Presbyterian congregation at Orangeville, Rohrsburg 
and Raven Creek for one and a half years. Subsequently, in 1877, he was elected principal 
of the State normal school. Under his administration the affairs of that institution have 
had a constant, steady and prosperous growth. Dr. Waller justly holds an enviable rep- 
utation throughout the country as a thorough scholar, educator and Christian gentleman. 
He WHS married May 14, 1874, to Anna Appelman, a daughter of Matthias S. and Lydia 
(Biliig) Appelman, and seven children blessed their union. The family attend the serv- 
ices of the Presl)yterian Church. Li politics Mr. Waller is a sti aight out Republican. 

L. E. WALLER, attorney, Bloomsburg. was educated at Lafayette College, where he 
graduated in 1873. In 1874 he began reading law with Hon. C. R. Buckalew, the follow- 
ing year attended Columbia Law School and inl876w^as admitted to the bar. He began 
practice in 1877 and has served as solicitor for the town of Bloomsburg two years, and 
has been a member of the council two years. He married in 1881 Miss Alice M. Bucka- 
lew. Mr. Waller is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and politically a Republican. 

HIESTER YANDERSLICE WHITE, attorney at law, of Bloomsburg, was born in 
Orange Township, June 27, 1858, a son of Jnlin M. and Tacy E. (Vanderslice) White. He 
obtained his literary education in the schools of his vicinity, the Orangevdle Academy 
and at Bloomsburg Normal School. He registered as a law student September 2, 
1879, with Col. J. C. Freeze, and was admitted to the bar December 6, 1881. January 1, 
1881, he became a partner with Col. Freeze and M. F. Eyerly to continue three years un- 
der the firm name of Freeze, Eyerly & White. At that time Mr. White bought the valu- 
able law library of Cul. Freeze, and on the termination of the partnership continued 
in the practice of his profession. At the age of fifteen Mr. White began teaching school 
and followed the profession until he was admitted to the bar. He is the manager of the 
grain shipping business of H. V. White & Co.. handling on an average 150,000 l)ushels of 
grain per annum, sliipping mostly to the mill,'^ and mining sections. He married, Janu- 
ary 4, 1884, Clara E., daughter of Levi Ackman, and of an old family of the county. Mr. 
White has been secretary three years of the Columbia County Agricultural, Horticultural 
and Mechanical Association, and is now trustee of the Pennsylvania State College in Cen- 
tre County. 

GEORGE E. WILBUR, professor of higher mathematics and history in the State Nor- 
mal School, Bloomsburi!:, is a native of what is now Waverly, Lackawanna Co., Penn. 
His father. Rev. John F. Wilbur, is a minister of the Methodist denomination and resides 
at Peckville, Lackawanna County. Prof. Wilbur prepared for college at Wyoming Sem- 
inary, Kingston, and wiien nineteen years of age became a student at Dickinson College, 
where he took a classical, scientific and law course, graduating in 1873. At the age of 
twenty-five, in 1875, he came to Bloomsburg and held the position of principal of the 
public schools two years. He then filled the chair of ancient languages, hi.story and civil 
government in the normal for seven years, when he was transferred to his present chair. 
The Professor married in October, 1874, Miss Fredericka, daughter of Rev. F. L. Hitler, 
then pastor of Central Methodist Episcopal Church at Wilkesbarre. Three children 
have been born to this union: Fred, born Februaiy 14, 1877; Harry, born December 19, 
1881, and Elmer, born Autrust 23. 1884. 

ISAIAH W. WILLITS, M. D., Bloomsburg, was born at Catawissa, May 22, 1843, 
a son of George H. and Jane (Clark) Willits. He attended the schools of his native vil- 
lage until twelve years of age, followed by two j'ears at the select school at Bloomsburg 
of Eaton & Wells. He then attended the seminary at Millville. one year, and completed 
liis literary studies by a year at Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, Luzerne County. On leav- 
ing school he entered tb' general store of W. Bittenbender & Co., of which firm his 



BLOOMSBURG. 367 

father was a silent partner, and there remained two years. In 1861 he was employed with 
D. G. Driesbach, of Beach Haven, with whom he remained until 1862. August 8, of 
that year, he enlisted in Company II, One Hundred and Thirty-second Regiment Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteer Infantry, and on the organization of the company was elected orderly ser- 
geant. December 9 he was promoted tirst lieutenant, and participated in the battles of 
Antielam and Fredericksburg (where he was severely wounded in the left knee by a piece 
of shell, disabling him for several months), and afterward at Chancellorsville. His term 
■of nine months' enlistment having expired he returned home and raised a company, after- 
ward known as Company E, Thirtieth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and 
on its muster, June 20, 1863, he was elected its captain. The regiment was assigned to 
the department of the Susquehanna under Gen. D. N. Couch, and during its term of en- 
listment, SIX months, was assigned principally to guard duty on the Cumberland Valley 
Railroad and other dutv in Pennsylvania. On leaving the army in the fall of 1863 our 
subject began reading medicine with Dr. J. K. Robbins of Catawissa, and in 1864 became 
a, student at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. In 1866 he began to practice at 
Centralia and in 1868 moved and practiced at Catawissa. In 1874 he took a third term at 
Jefferson Medical College, wliere he graduated in the spring of 1875. He returned to Cata- 
wissa and followed his profession there until August 1, 1883, when he removed to Roan- 
oke, Va., and remained until March, 1885. He then came to Bloomsburg and opened an 
office, where he has established a successful practice. The Doctor has been twice married: 
•first, March 29, 1866, to Marcella R. Reifsnyder of Catawissa, who died November 2, 
1877; secondly, to Mrs. K. P. Reifsnyder, nee Scott, April 9, 1879. George H. Willits 
was a native of Catawissa; a tanner by trade, which he followed for a short time when 
young, but for many years was a contractor. He built a half-mile section of the Pennsyl- 
vania Canal, and was also largely interested in operating coal mines in Schuylkill County. 
Subsequentlv he discontinued tlie above interests and bought 300 acres of land opposite 
Catawissa, where he reared his family, but the last few years of his life he lived retired at 
Catawissa. He was an honored and respected citizen, a Republican, and served as associate 
judge of Columbia County five years, being the only Republican that ever held that office 
by the vote of the people. He also served his vicinity in various local offices, and died 
March 22, 1881. His widow died January 11, 1883, and both are buried in the Friend's 
•burying-ground at Catawissa. 

LLOYD S. WINTERSTEEN, attorney, Bloomsburg, is a native of Mifflinville, born 
November 2, 1849. He obtained his literary education in the schools of his native place, 
and subseijuently took a commercial course at Hazleton Commercial College, and in 
Hazleton was in the employ of A. Pardee & Co. as bookkeeper, and was from 1874 to 
1877 superintendent of the colliery of C. Pardee & Co., at Hollywood, near Hazleton. 
In 1876 he began the study of law and in June, 1877, entered the law office of E. P. 
Kisner, Esq., of Wilkesbarre, Penn., as a student, and in July, 1877, he became a student 
in the office of Col. S. Knorr, and was admitted to the Columbia County bar in September, 
1879. Soon after he was appointed deputy prothonotary, and served until March 2, 1880, 
when he formed a law partnership with Col. Knorr, which still continues. Mr. Winter- 
steen is a son of Joseph O. andLydia (Wolfe) Wintersteen. His father is of Holland de- 
scent, born at Forty Fort, Luzerne County, and was for many years a blacksmith and auc- 
tioneer Lydia Wolfe was a daughter of Christian Wolfe, an early settler of that section, 
and a prominent citizen and formerly county commissioner. Our subject was married 
AprU 16, 1885, to Miss Ada E., daughter of J. J. Brower. Politically. Mr. Wintersteen 
is a Republican. He served three years as a notary public from 1879 to 1882, and January 
25, 1887, was re-appointed by Gov." Beaver. Mrs. Wintersteen is a member of the Epis- 
•copal Church. Mr. Winters'teen attends the same church but is not a member. 

JOHN WOLF, dealer in agricultural implements, Bloomsburg, was born November 
27, 1834, in Mifflin Township, this county, to Abraham and Catherine (Hill) Wolf, the 
parents of three children. John Wolf was educated in the common schools of his native 
township and was brought up in rural pursuits. At the early age of fourteen years the 
sole management of the "Old Homestead " of 150 acres devolved upon him, and success 
followed his industry and economy. In 1865 he engaged in mercantile business in 
Bloomsburg, which he continued for fifteen years with his usual success. In 1880 he be- 
gan dealing in agricultural implements in Bloomsburg and has established a large trade. 
iie has given his personal attention to the business and has made his patrons permanent 
ones. Pebruarv 9, 1854. he was married to Mary P. Pohe, born June 9, 1837, daughter of 
Joseph Polie, whose portrait appears in this volume. By this union he has three children, 
viz.: Mrs. Hudson J. Kase, Mrs. Henry G. Huppert, Mrs. Harry G. Eshleman. He was 
drafted but exempted from the late war. and has been a stanch advocate of the principles 
of the Republican party since its inception. Since locating in Bloomsburg he has been 
indentitied with the public improvements of the city and is an honest, upright citizen. He 
and family are strict adherents of the Lutheran Church. 

ALFRED N. YOST, attorney at law. Bloomsburg. is a native of Fishingcreek Town- 
ship, born in 1855, a son of David and Sarah C. (Creveling) Yost, for a long time residents 
-of this county. His grandfather, Samuel Yost, settled in Fishingcreek this county, 



368 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

about 1840. Our subject received his education in the schools of the vicinity and at the 
Orangeville Academy. He taught school for seven terms in Luzerne County, and while 
teaching he registered as a law student in 1880 with E. R. Ikeler, and was admitted to the 
bar at Bloomsburg in 1884. Since then he has practiced there. 

B. FRANK ZARR, attorney, Bloomsburg, is a native of Catawissa, this country, 
born December 31, 1843, a son of Benjamin and Hannah (Reninger) Zarr, the former, 
of whom, born in Berks County in 1810, came with his parents, George and Catharine 
(Keifer) Zarr, to Catawissa, where they settled in 1811 on a farm on which the southern 
part of Catawissa now stands. Our subject was reared on a farm until eight years of age, 
and when a youth, began learning the paper-making business in the paper-mill at 
Catawissa. Unfortunately, while employed around the machinery, he became accidentally 
entangled with it, necessitating the amputation of the right arm at the shoulder. He was 
then but seventeen years of age. and was obliged on account of the accident to somewhat 
change the plan of his future life. He exerted himself to obtain a tliorough education, 
and attended the Greenwood Seminary at Millville, and the Millersville State Normal 
School; subsequently he taught school in Columbia and Schuylkill Counties for seven 
years. In 1869 he began reading law with Col. J. G. Freeze of Bloomsburg. and was 
admitted to the bar in February, 1872. In 1869 Mr. Zarr was appointed deputy prothon- 
otary of the county, under Gen. W. H. Ent, and served as such for twenty- 
three months. In December, 1872, he was elected prothonotary of the county, 
and re elected in 1875, serving si.\ years and one month. In 1879 he resumed 
the practice of his profession, which he has continued up to date. Mr. Zarr has also 
served in various local offices; is now president of the town council of Bloomsburg, and 
has taken a prominent and active part in the educational interests of the county, and in 
securing good school buildings to the place. He also served some eleven years as mem- 
ber of the school board of Bloomsburg. He was elected and served for some time as 
deputy superintendent of public schools, under C. G, Barkley, Es(i. Mr. Zarr is also 
interested in agriculture, owning two farins near the village, one of which he personally 
superintends. He is a member of the Lutheran Church. In 1866 he married Fanny C. 
Person, and they have two sons and one daughter: Robert Rush, Josephine and Frank 
Person. Mr. Zarr has been an elder in his churcli for upward of seven years, Sunday- 
school superintendent for same length of time. He was the youngest man ever elected- 
to the office of prothonotary in the county of Columbia. The Zarrs came from the east- 
ern part of France, and settled in America at a very early date. The name was originally 
spelled Scar. 

RECEIVED TOO LATE TO BE INSERTED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER. 

T. C. HARTER, M.D., Bloomsburg.wasboru atNescopeck, Luzerne Co., Penn., Novem 
ber 10, 1850. In 1872 he attended school at Dickinson Seminary, and afterward came to 
Bloomsburg where he studied medicine with Dr. B. F. Gardner. He graduated at the Col- 
lege of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, Md., in 1880, after which he practiced medi- 
cine at Espy and Bloomsburg two years, and then at Nescopeck, Luzerne County, until 
August 26, 1886, when he sold out at the latter place, and at present is traveling. The Doc- 
tor expects t© take a special course in New York on diseases of the throat, heart and lungs, 
after which he will settle at Bloomsburg, where he will follow his profession. The Doctor 
has already become noted for his successful treatment of diseases of the throat and lungs, 
especially diphtheria. He has shown much skill as a surgeon, and has brigiit promises for 
the near future in his chosen profession. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 
BEAVER TOWNSHIP. 



THE DAVIS FAMILY, postoffice Zion's Grove, Schuylkill County. David Davis, 
one of the early settlers of Columbia County, a native of Philadelphia, and a minister of 
the Methodist Episcopal denomination, came to this county in 1814. His father-in-law, 
Roberts, had taken up land in what is now Beaver Township, and David Davis took pos- 
session of same, where he lived a number of years and then removed to Roaringcreek 
Township where he died. His wife died several years prior and both were buried in the 
Michael Cemetery, Beaver Township. They were the parents of fourteen children, only two 



BEAVER TOWNSHIP. 369 

of whom are now living, John, in Hastings, Adams Co., Neb., and William in Beaver Town- 
ship. Isaac Davis, the second of their children, was born May 29, 1792, in Philadelphia. 
His father moved from there to Sunbury, Northumberland County, and there our subject 
remained until he was sixteen years of age; then removed with his father to Columbia 
County and remained with him until he was twenty years of age. He then bought a 
piece of land in Beaver Township and lived on it (with the exception of three years spent 
in Chester County) imtil his death. He married in Chester County in 1817 Miss Julianna 
Thomas, a native of that county, a daughter of Samuel and Esther Thomas. Mr. and 
Mrs. Davis came to Columbia County and here resided until their death, he dying Sep- 
tember 30, 1868, and his widow March 26, 1872; both are buried in the family cemetery on 
the old homestead. They were the parents of the following named children: those liv- 
ing — David, a resident of Greenfield, Hancock Co., Ind.; Julianna, widow of Robert C. 
Diehl. in Hopeville, Luzerne Co., Penn.; Maria, Anthonj' Wayne and Eliza Jane; those 
deceased — John Wesley. William A., Isaac Roberts, Esther Ann, wife of William Mat- 
thews, and Margaret Ann. wife of Henry F. Bird, who is also deceased. The Davis fam- 
ily are members of the Methodist Church. Politically Isaac Davis was a Republican, 
Five hundred and ninety-one acres of land belong to the heirs of Isaac Davis, deceased. 

JAMES T. FOX, dentist and representative elect of Columbia County, Beaver Val- 
ley, was born in Greenwood Township, Columbia County, July 2, 1847, a son of Daniel 
and Jane (Morris) Fox. His grandfather, Jacob Fox, came from Berks County, Penn., 
settled in Catawissa Township and there lived until his death. His great-grandfathers 
came from England and Scotland, respectively. Our subject's father was a farmer 
and teacher, following the former occupation in summer and the latter in winter; 
he died in August, 1849, and his widow in March, 1878; the former is buried in Green- 
wood Township and the latter in Bloomsburg. Our subject lived in Greenwood Town- 
ship until he was five years of age, when he removed with his mother to Hemlock Town- 
ship, where they resided nearly two years, moving thence to Jerseytown and afterward 
to Millviile. He attended school at Jerseytown, and on moving to Millville, completed a 
course at the Millville Seminary. On leaving school he commenced to study dentistry; 
then practiced dentistry in summer and taught school in winter until 1880, since which 
time he has turned his entire attention to dentistry. His practice extends over all the 
country on the south side of the river and into a portion of Luzerne and Schuylkill Coun- 
ties, and he is considered master of his profession. He has been a member of the County 
Democratic Committee, and has served as tax collector, assessor, auditor, justice of the 
peace eight years and school director a number of times. He moved to Beaver Town- 
ship in 1866 and has been a resident of the same since June, 1871. He received the nomin- 
ation as representative of the Democratic party in the Legislature July 27, 1886, and was 
elected by 2,351 majority. Mr Fox married in this county, June 10, 1871, Lydia Ann 
Fisher, a native of this county, a daughter of John and Sarah Fisher, former deceased, 
latter residing in Beaver Township. Mr. and Mrs. Fox are the parents of six children- 
Minnie Elmerta, Fannie Adora, John C, Sarah E.. Mary R. and Elsie J. The family 
attend the services of the Reformed Lutheran Church. 

J. F. HASSRICK, an employe of the Tide-water Pipe Line Company, Beaver Val- 
ley, was born at Schenectady, N. Y., Juue 24, 1857, a son of Julius and Catherine Hass- 
rick, the former of whom is a farmer, residing in Montgomery, Lycoming Co., Penn.; the 
latter died at Gloucester, Atlantic Co., N. J., when our subject was but three years old, 
He was but one year old when his parents moved to Gloucester, N. J., and after residing 
there "kbout nine years the father moved to Egg Harbor City, where he followed the 
butchering business. Later they moved to Allenwood, Lycoming Co., Penn.. and here 
our subject followed railroading on the Catawissa Railroad (now the Philadelphia & 
Reading). He then went to Montgomery to learn the machinist business with Houston. 
Smith & Co., and was employed by them something over two years. He then engaged 
with the Tide-water Pipe Line Company as patrolman, walking the line from Williams- 
port to Sollidaysburg. He was thus engaged about two months when he went to Olm^ 
stead. Potter Couuty, and was there employed at the Tide-water company's station as 
operator until August, 1882, when he was transferred to the company's station at ShU' 
man's or Beaver Valley, where he was operator until December, 1885. He was then pro 
moted to the position of assistant engineer of the station, and has been connected with the 
works longer than any one now at Shuman's Station. He married, July 2. 1884, Miss 
Mary Brown, a native of Roulette, Potter County, a daughter of Philip and Helen Brown, 
Mr. and Mrs. Hassrick are the parents of one child. Romain Calvin. 

F. G. LAUER, superintendent of Tide-water Pipe Line Pumping Station. No. 5, Shu- 
man's Station, was born at Phifnixville, Chester Co., Penn., February 10, 1854. His. 
parents, Maurice and Catherine (Loeb) Lauer, natives of Berlin, Germaii}', came to this 
country when young, and were married in Philadelphia, moving thence to Chester 
County, Penn. The father was a chemist, having acquired his knowledge of the science 
in his native country, and followed it after removing to Chester County. In 1859 he and 
family moved to Laporte, Sullivan Co., Penn., where he kept hotel until his death. May 8, 
1886. His widow still resides in Laporte and conducts the "Mountain House." Our sub- 



370 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

ject commenced to learn the machinist trade at the age of sixteen years in Camden, N. J., 
at the National Armor Works, where he remained two years. He then went to Muucy, 
Lycoming Co., Penn., where he finished a five years' apprenticeship by serving three 
years with P. M. Trumbower & Co. After completely learning his trade he worked there 
about six weeks, and then went to the Dixson Manufacturing Company at Hcranton, where 
he remained nearly two years, putting together the fine parts of locomotives, and some of 
his work was sent to the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia. He was then employed 
in the machinery department of the Reading Railroad Shops, at Catawissa. Returning to 
Muucy he had charge of the shops there about one year; was then employed by Waldron 
& Sproat, Muncy, about six months; then worked four weeks for the Pennsylvania Rail- 
road Company at Renovo, and again returned to Muncy, remaining several months as as- 
sistant engineer for his present employers; thence he went to Williamsport, and after seven 
weeks came to Beaver Valley and took charge of the works of the company at this place. 
Mr. Lauer was married in Lycoming County December 20, 1876, to Miss Allie Lillie, and 
one child, Roy G., was born to them. Mr. Lauer is a member of the Masonic lodge at 
Catawissa. In politics he is a solid Republican. The family attend the services of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. 

DANIEL L. LINGLEY, merchant, Beaver Valley, was born in Beaver Township, 
•Columbia Co., Pena., January 15, 1850, a son of Daniel and Mary (Lehr) Lingley. Jacob 
Lingley, grandfather of our subject, was born in Berks County, and from there after his 
marriage came to Columbia County and settled at what is now^ called Mifflin Cross-roads, 
in Beaver Township. He was a farmer by occupation, which he followed until his death 
in 1844, his widow surviving him until 1853; both are buried in St. Peter's churchyard in 
Beaver Township. The father of our subject was born and reared in this township, and 
has always followed farming. He married Miss Mary Lehr, a native of Columbia County, 
and a daughter of Henry and Catherine Lehr. Her parents, natives of this Stale are now 
deceased, and are buried in St. Peter's Church graveyard. Mr. and Mrs. Lingley were the 
parents of eight children, seven of whom are living, our subject being fourth. Both par- 
ents reside in Beaver Township. Our subject was reared to farm life, and remained with 
his parents until thirty-one years of age, when he conmienced in mercantile business 
at his present location. He was married in Columbia County Novembers, 1874, to Miss 
Catherine Bredbenner, a native of Columbia County, and a daughter of Nathan and Leah 
(Swank) Bredbenner. Thej"^ were born in tliis county, but their parents came from Berks 
County, and are now deceased, Nathan Bredbenner died in March, 1881, and is buried in 
St. Peter's churchyard. His widow makes her home with Mr. Lingley. Our subject and 
wife were the parents of five children, of whom four are living: Nathan Tiliman, William 
Lloyd, Ida Leah and Mary Alice. Mr. and Mrs. Lingley are members of the Lutheran 
Church. He has held the office of tax collector one term. 

M. W. McHENRY, one of the proprietors of the Beaver Valley mill, was born in 
Fishingcreek Township, Columbia Co., Penn., June 4, 1826, a son of Daniel and Mary 
(Coleman) McHenry. His grandfather was one of the pioneer settlers of Stillwater, Fish- 
ingcreek Township, was a farmer by occupation and at one time the owmer of immense 
•tracts of land in the Fishing creek country. Daniel McHenry was born in Fishingcreek 
Township, followed farming and also had two or three sawmills in the locality;- he cut a 
great deal of lumber, and was a very active man, retaining his vigor to the last; it may be 
related of him that he was elected assessor at the age of seventy and went his rounds on 
foot; was also supervisor and held other local and township offices. He died in March, 
in the eightieth year of his age, his widow surviving him some three years; both are 
buried at Stillwater, Fishingcreek Township. They were the parents of eleven children, 
nine of whom are living: IBenjamin, residing at Benton, this county; Mary, widow of 
Elisha Olverson; William, in Sullivan County, Penn.; Adaline, wife of Thomas Peeler; 
Martha K., wife of Jacob Carey, residing in Cambria; M. W., our subject; U. P., residing 
at Mlllville; Joseph, at Stillwater; Elizabeth, wife of George Laubauch, who died at the 
age of about seventy; Charlotte, wife of George Laubauch, residing at Orangeville, this 
county, and Sarah, wife of James Edgar, who died at the age of about seventy. Our sub- 
ject was reared in Fishingcreek Township and made his home with his parents until he 
had reached the age of about eighteen years, when he went to Huntington Township, 
Luzerne County, to learn the miller's trade at the Dodson mill. He remained there 
three years and after learning his trade moved to Greenwood Township, this county, 
and took charge of the lola mills of that place, remaining one year. He was then 
employed at Jones' mill, Fishingcreek Township, over one year; Lingtrell's mill, 
Luzerne County, three years, and Dodson 's mill, Luzerne County, over three years. 
He then bought a house and lot at Town Hill, Luzerne County, and lived there 
while he worked at different mills at Huntsville, Luzerne County, three years and six 
months. He then farmed for two years in Sugarloaf Township, "Columbia County, but 
his house and barn were destioyed by fire, and he resumed the milling business at 
Swortnort's mill, Benton Township, where he remained seven years; worked at Frank- 
lin mill. Roaring creek, twelve years, the last two years and a half renting the mill; 
then at Eyer's Grove mill. Greenwood Township, six years. He then bought a lot 



BEAVER TOWNSHIP. 371 

in that place and built on it. and for one year and a half engaged at Fowlersvillo mill. 
After that he went to Helm's mill, Benton Township, and was there engaged until 
coming to take charge of the mill of which he is now one of the partners. He was married' 
in tiiis county on the 18th of April, 1850, to Miss Sarah Ann Montgomery, a native of 
Washingtonville, now in Montour County, and daughter of Samuel and Mary Ann Mont- 
gomery. Her father was born at Lewisburg, Penn., and both her parents are buried at 
Beech Grove, Luzerne County. Mr. and Mrs. McHenry were the parents of ten children, 
seven of whom are living: Ruggles, in Franklin Township; Alice, wife of George Will- 
iams, in Catawissa; Margaret Adaline, wife of Charles Hazleton, in Dallas Town.ship, 
Luzerne County; H. G., miller at lola mills: Lizzie, wife of George J. Munson, merchant, at 
Beaver Valley; Blanclie B., wife of Sherman Heller, her father's partner, and Charles W., 
miller at Miner's mill, Luzerne County; the decea.sed are Minnie, Annie and Nettie. 
Mr. McHenry has a house and a lot of six acres at Ej'er's Grove. He and his wife are 
members of the Christian Church. Mr. McHenry has served as auditor; is a member of 
an old family of the county, and is a miller of wide practical experience, having followed 
the business for forty-four consecutive years. He is constantly improving and remodeling 
his present enterprise. 

JAMES B. MARTIN, operator at Beaver Valley Pump Station, No. 5, Tide-water- 
Pipe Line Company, is a native of Ohio, born February 19, 1865. His parents, John W. and 
Sarah S. (Bell) Martin, were both born in Armstrong County, Penn., and were of Scotch- 
Irish descent. His grandfather, Dennis Martin, came from Scotland and settled at Oil 
City, Venango Co., Penn., where he remained until his death. His maternal grandfather 
came from Ireland and lived the remainder of his life in Armstrong County, Penn. The 
parents of our subject reside at Rixford, Penn., where the father is a machinist. They 
had twelve children, of whom nine are living; Frederick, Joseph, James B., John, Har- 
vey, Mary, Belle, Frank and Charles. The deceased are Margaret, Nellie and an infant. 
Our subject at the age of seventeen years commenced to learn telegraphy, and served an 
apprenticeship of one year at Rixford. In 1884 he was employed by the Tide-water Pipe 
Line Company, and for the first four mouths was stationed at Allentown. He was then 
transferred to the office at County Line Station, where he remained until taking his 
present position, January 1, 1886. He is an accomplished operator and deservedly popu- 
lar. In politics he is a Republican. 

LEVI MICHAEL, merchant, Beaver Valley, was born in Berks County, Penn., March 5, 
1833, a son of Manassah and Susannah ( Hossler) Michael. Adam Michael, the grandfather, 
a native of Columbia County, was a farmer and kept hotel in the house now occupied by 
Charles Michael, near Singley's store, until his death in 1841. His widow died several 
years after, and both are buried in the family cemetery on the old homestead. Manas- 
sah Michael lived with his parents until arriving at manhood, when he removed to Berks 
County, where he married and followed boating on the Schuylkill, having his own boat. 
He was engaged in the coal-carrying trade from the vicinity of Pottsville to Philadel- 
phia until his death in December, 1838. He is buried in Michael's Church Cemetery, 
Barn Township. Berks County. About 1850 his widow and family removed to Columbia 
County, and located in Beaver Township, where she died February 16, 1884. and is buried 
in St. Peter's churchyard, in Beaver Township. They were the parents of four children, 
of whom three are living: Levi, our subject; Angeline, wife of Judffe V. L. Shuman, re- 
siding at Catawissa; Manassah, a hotel-keeper at Pottsville; (William is deceased). 
When Levi was eighteen years of age the family moved to Columbia County, and here he 
has since resided. He worked by the month until 1863, also farmed a piece of land 
which he had purchased. He then went into the service of his country, and after return- 
ing clerked in the store of Judge F. L. Shuman for twelve years, and in 1878 started in 
business for himself. He handles a general stock valued at f 1,500, besides plows, cast- 
ings, etc., for farm use. He was married in this county, July 20, 1874, to Miss Emma 
Jane Gearhart. a native of this county and a daughter of Daniel and Eliza (Shuman) 
Gearhart, both members of early families and now residing at Shumantown. Mr. 
and Mrs. Michaels are the parents of five children: Harry Mannassah, Alfred Levi, 
George Walter, Gertie Enola and Lottie Ellen. Mr. and Mrs. Michael are members of 
the Lutheran Church. He has held the office of judge of elections and overseer of the 
poor. In 1863 he enlisted in Company H, Seventeenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, at Potts- 
ville, and proceeded to Harrisburg, where he was mustered; his regiment was connected 
with Sheridan's cavalry and took part in the campaigns of those famous troopers until 
the close of the war. Mr. Michael was at Gettysburg, Spottsylvania Court House, all 
through the Wilderness, at Cold Harbor, Chancellorsville, and in fact in most of the 
heavy engagements of the war, and took part in the operations which resulted in the fall 
of Richmond and surrender of Lee. He was discharged in August, 1865, at Clark's mill, 
Virginia, and returned home. 

GEORGE J. MUNSON, merchant, Beaver Valley, was born in Kingston Township, Lu- 
zerne Co., Penn., a son of David A. and Louisa (Johnson) Munson, natives of Luzerne 
County, and of German-English descent. His great-grandparents were among the pioneers 
of the Wyoming Valley, and were living there at the time of the massacre; there, also, the 



372 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

first two generations of the family in this country resided. Our subject's father was born 
in Luzerne County, and there grew to manhood. He removed to Columbia County, in 1873, 
and is now living in Franklin Township, where he owns a fine farm, and is well respected. 
He is the father of live children: George J., Miner S., Mary E., Nelson J. and Walter S. 
Our subject was reared on a farm and remained at home until twenty-four years of age, 
when he went into business for himself. In the spring of 1885 he bought the store of C. 
A. Shuman at Beaver Valley, which he now conducts. He carries a general stock of 
merchandise valued at $3,500. He married, February 15. 1883, Miss Lizzie, daughter of 
Moses and Sarah McHenry. Mr. and Mrs. Munson are the parents of one child, Iva R. ; 
they are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Munson enjoys a good busi- 
ness. His building is 30x50 feet, two stories high, with a large salesroom and a smaller 
storeroom. Mr. Munson is assistant postmaster of Beaver Vallev. 

SAMUEL NUNGESSER, retired farmer, P. O. Beaver Valley, was born in Mifflin 
Township, Columbia Co., Penn., January 35, 1818, a son of George and Barbara (Swank) 
Nungesser. His grandparents came from one of the lower counties to Columbia and here 
the grandfather purchased a piece of land along the Ten Mile Creek, erected a grist-mill 
and being a miller opertited it until his death in the early part of the present century. 
He is buried at Mifflinville, where his widow, who died about 1830, is also buried. George 
Nungesser was born in this county, where he followed farming until a few years before 
his death, in 1851. His wife preceded him bv about fifteen years and both are buried at 
Mifflinville. Our subject was reared in Mifflin Township, and on arriving at manhood 
went to learn the blacksmith's trade with Christian Lutz, of that township. He served 
two years and then worked at journey work for about eight years; then bought a lot in 
Mifflin Township; erected a blacksmith shop, which he conducted four or five years. He then 
went to Black Creek, Luzerne County, where he erected a large shop, which he operated 
about ten years; then bought a farm in Beaver Township, and carried it on Until the spring 
of 1885, when he rented out his farm, bought a lot near McAuley's Station, and erected the 
house where he now resides. He married in Black Creek Township, Luzerne County. April 
2, 1848, Miss Mary Tornbach, a native of Luzerne County, and daughter of Samuel and Mary 
(Hill) Tornbach. She died in 1858 and is buried in Black Creek Township. By their mar- 
riage there were two children: Frances, married to William E. Yaeger.and an infant who died 
at the age of four months. Mi-. Nungesser married. May 3, 1860, his present wife, Lydia, 
daughter of Peter and Veronica (Schweppenheiser) Longenberger, both deceased, her 
father having died in the spring of 1876, and her mother in 1858; the former is buried at 
Ringtown Cemetery, and the latter at Mifflinville. Mr. and Mrs. Nungesser are the 
parents of one child, Henry William, a telegrapher, who acquired his knowledge of the 
Brt at McAuley's Station, P. & R. R. R. Mr. Nungesser is a member of the Reformed 
Church, and Mrs. Nungesser of the Lutheran; both are descended from well known 
pioneer families of the county. In politics he is a Democrat. 

ALBERT PETIT, operator for the Tide-water Pipe Line Company, at Shuman's, 
was born in Pine Township, Lycoming Co.. Penn, December 3. 1857. His grand- 
father Petit was a soldier under Bonaparte, in Russia. His parents, Francis and Virginia 
(Guillaume) Petit, were born in France near the Swiss border; when young, came to this 
country and were married in New York. Their first permanent settlement was in Cogan 
House Township, Lycoming County, where the father purcha.sed a farm which he still 
■owns and conducts. During his early life Francis Petit serj^ed an apprenticeship at the 
mason's trade, and also a term in the French army. To him and his wife were born 
^even children, five of whom are living: Augustus, Albert, Theodore, Clare and Florence. 
Our subject was reared on the farm and remained with his father ujitil twenty-two years 
of age, when he went to Oberlin, Ohio, to learn telegraph}'. In the spring of 1883 he 
entered the service of the Tide-water Pipe Line Company, and was located at Salladas- 
burg. After one year he was transferred to Waterville; thence to Tamanend, and after 
fourteen months to County Line Station No. 3. Fifteen months later he came to his present 
locatioH, and is still in the employ of the Tidewater Company. He was married May 37, 
1886, to Miss Emma D. Bell. Both are members of the Catholic Church. In politics he 
is a Democrat. 

ABRAHAM RICE, retired merchant and farmer, Beaver Valley, was born near 
Heidleberg, Baden, February 31, 1839, a son of Samuel and Bertha (Sterbergt) Rice, 
natives of Baden, where the father was a drover and butcher. Our subject commenced 
life for himself as a clerk in his native country, and followed that occupation until 1848, 
when he took passage on a sailing vessel bound for America. After a voyage of over a 
month he landed at New York, where he remained about two months and then moved to 
Easton, Penn., where he engaged first at peddling and later at clerking. He remained at 
Easton about three years and then went to Ringtown, Schuylkill County, where he 
clerked for two years; thence moved to Port Carbon, where he clerked for the same firm 
as at Ringtown, Culp & Strauss, and remained three years. Desiring to start in business 
for himself, in April, 1859, he came to Numidia, Columbia County, bought a stock of 
goods and conducted a general mercantile business until 1868. He then purchased a store 
and property at Beaver Valley and carried on the mercantile trade until 1876, when he 



BEAVER TOWNSHIP. 373 

retired. He marrie;!, <it Port Carbon, Penn., Ausrust 9, 1856, Miss Sarah Parent, a uative 
of Norlhumberlaiul County, and a daughter of Ephraim and Anna Sophia Parent, both 
deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Rice have six children: Clara, wife of Benjamin Michael, resid- 
ing in Beaver Township; Paulina, wife of Davis Runyan, a telegraph operator at Beaver 
Valley station; Sophia, married to Franli A. Robins, residing in Shamokin, Northumber- 
land County; Samuel P.; Emanuel, wlio married Mi.ss Anna Reeder, and resides in Beaver 
Township, and Nathan. Mr. Rice has about 300 acres of land in Beaver Township and 
forty acres on Roaring creek, some of which he rents out and some he has farmed. He 
is a memljer of the following: A. F. & A. M., at Catawissa; the I. O. O. F.. in which he 
has passed all the chairs; the K. of P., being one of the charter members and originators 
of Lynchburg Lodge at Beaver Valley (still retains the charter at his home). He was the 
representative to the State lodge as long as the local lodge was in existence, and was Dis- 
trict Deputy of the lodge for seven years. He also belongs to the Free Sons of Israel, of 
Philadelphia. He was postmaster at Numidia from 1862 until the time he left that place, 
and retained his commission two years afterward. He was appointed postmaster of 
Beaver Valley after coming here, and held the office continuously until the coming in of 
the present administration. He was jury commissioner of Columbia County for the three- 
year term ending January 1, 1886. Mr. Rice has been a very active man, taking a live 
interest in public affairs, and is the present overseer of the poor of Beaver Township. 

JESSE RITTENHOUSE, farmer, P. O. Mountain Grove, Luzerne County, was born 
in Black Creek Township, Luzerne Co., Penn., May 14, 1841, to Amos and Nancy (Wolf) 
Rittenhouse, both natives of the same township. The grandfather, Martin Rittenhouse, 
came from Germantown (now in Philadelphia) in an early day, followed farming and 
erected and operated a grist-mill until a few years before his death. Subject's father 
followed farming in his native county until the death of his father, Amos Rittenhouse, 
when he took charge of the mill and followed milling, also farming to some extent until 
his death. Subject's mother died in May 80, 1881, and November 11. 1882, his father died. 
Both are buried in Mountain Grove Cemetery. Our subject resided in Luzerne County 
until he was twenty-six j'ears of age when he came to Beaver Township, Columbia County, 
and has since here resided. He bought his present tract of land, consisting of 158 acres, 
from his father. He was married in Luzerne County, March 22, 1866, to Miss Elmira 
Smith, a native of that county, a daughter of Abraham and Catherine Smith, former of 
whom is deceased, latter still resides in Blaclv Creek Town.ship. Luzerne County. By this 
union there were six children, five now living: Charles, Catherine, Thomas, Sallie and 
Robert; (Ida is deceased). Mrs. Rittenhouse died March 25, 1879, and is buried in Moun- 
tain Grove Cemetery. In 1881 our subject married for his second wife Miss Jane Cath- 
erine Johnson, a native of Stockton, Penn., and to this union were born four children, 
two now living: Abram and Grover Cleveland; the deceased two were named Gertie and 
Mnnie. Mr. Rittenhouse is one of the school directors of Beaver Township. In politics 
he is a Democrat. 

THOMAS J. SHUMAN, merchant, Beaver Valley, was born in Beaver Township, 
Columbia Co., Penn., March 6, 1S42, a son of Christian and Elizabeth (Hendershot) 
Shuman, natives of this county, and of German descent, the great-grandfather of our 
subject having been of German birth. His grandfather was one of the early settlers of 
this county, locating near Catawissa, where he followed farming until the time of 
his death. Christian Shuman, father of our subject, was born in Columbia Count}' in 
1805, and learned the tanner's trade at Bethlehem. On starting out for himself he located 
at Beaver Valley, and built a tannery which he conducted for several years, also keeping 
a hotel. He owned a large farm as well, and besides hotel-keeping and tanning carried 
on agriculture. He was also engaged in mercantile business for a few years. His wife 
died in 1881, he August 14, 1885, and they are buried in Harriger's Church Cemetery. 
They were the parents of eleven children, eight living: Joseph, Elizabeth (wife of Daniel 
Gearhart), Frank L., Catherine (wife of Henry CroU), William, Johanna, Thomas J. and 
Charles. The father was quite a prominent man, well known, and has held the office of 
justice of the peace for over tweniy years. Thomas J., our subject, was reared on a farm 
and remained at home until twenty-four years of age. He then engaged in railroading 
on the P. & R. Railroad and was in its employ about sixteen years. In the spring of 1885 
he embarked in mercantile business at Beaver Valley, and so continues, carrying a gen- 
eral line of merchandise and owning the building which he occupies. He married, May 
22, 1866, Miss Lucy Sont, and four children have been born to them: Harvey, Clark, 
Dora and Willie. Mr. and Mrs. Shuman are members of the Lutheran Church. He has 
held the office of of supervisor two years. 

JOHN P. SMITH, proprietor of "Shuman's Hotel," P. O. Beaver ValleJ^ was born 
in Shamokin, in the Mahoning Valley, this county, April 2, 1854, a son of Aaron and 
Mary E. (Fry) Smith. John Smith, his grandfather, was born and reared near Trevorton, 
Northumberland County, this State, where he farmed, dying there in about 1882. Aaron 
Smith was born in Irish Valley, near Trevorton, and lived there until about 1832, follow- 
ing the trade of stone-cutter and stone-mason. In 1832 he removed to Shamokin, where 
he followed contracting on stone-cutting and mason work, and has erected most of the 



374 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

large stone structures in that city for the last twelve years, among which may be men- 
tioned the Polish Catholic Church. He followed business actively until the time of his. 
death, December 12, 1883. His wife died in March, 1882, and both are buried in Irish 
Valley, Northumberland County. Our subject was reared in Sliamokin, and at the age 
of sixteen commenced railroading on the Shamokin division of the Northern Centra! 
Railroad. He acted as brakeman on a freight train for about five years, and then went 
on the passenger train for about eighteen months; was then employed at flagging for 
about two years for the Pennsylvania Company, on the Delaware, Lackawanna & West- 
ern Road. After that he was appointed to a freight conductorship on the Sunbury divi- 
sion, which he held until March, 1883, when he resigned on account of feeble health. 
Later he took charge of the hotel which he now controls, and bought in December. 1885, 
a piece of land in Beaver Township, consisting of about fifty acres, to whicli, in March, 
1886j he added thirteen acres and 'twenty perches. He was married in Black Creek 
Township, Luzerne County, June 18, 1873, to Miss Mary C. Fry, a native of Columbia 
County, daughter of Henry and Catherine Fry. Her father was a soldier in the civil 
war; was captured by the rebels, and died during the latter part of the war in Anderson- 
ville Prison, where he had been confined some four weeks. Her mother resides at Bran- 
donville, Schuylkill County, and is now the wife of Henry Croll. Mr. and Mrs. Smith 
are the parents of two children: Cora Belle and Gertrude. Mrs. Smith is a member of 
the Reformed Church. Mr. Smith is a member of Lodge No. 22, A. F. & A. M., at 
Sunbury. 

C. W. STEAD, agent and operator on the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad at Mc- 
Auley Station, was born in Bloomsburg, Columbia County, October 19, 1856, a son of 
Samuel and Mary (Long) Stead, the former a native of England. The parents reside near 
Muncy, Lycoming County. When ©ur subject was ten or eleven years of age his parents 
moved to Lycoming County, Penn., and there he resided until coming to Columbia Coun- 
ty to fill his present position. He entered the office of the Philadelphia & Reading Rail- 
road at Muncy, about 1876, and served an apprenticeship. He worked as extra operator 
at the different offices of the Phihidelphia & Reading Railroad between Lofty and Will- 
iamsport for over two years, and was assigned to his present position in April, 1882. 

DANIEL E. TROY, farmer. P. O. Zion's Grove, Schuylkill County, was born in 
Beaver Township. Columbia County, July 22, 1843, a son of C. B. and Priscilla (Davis> 
Troy. The father was born in Allegheny County and moved thence to Columbia Count}', 
where he still resides in Beaver Township. Subject's maternal grandfather, David Davis, 
was born in Columbia County and followed farmingunlil his death. Daniel E. was reared irs 
Beaver Township and remained with his parents until twenty-one years of age, when he 
started out for himself, rented a piece of land in Beaver Township, and, after farming for two- 
years,bought the farm consisting of 212 acres where he has since resided. Besides farming he 
carries on lumbering to some extent. He was married November 13,1869, to Miss Nancy Jane 
Gearhart, a native of Columbia County, a granddaughter of Peter Gearhart, who was a 
soldier in the Revolutionary war and is buried in Mifflinville Cemetery. Her parents 
were Henry and Catherine (Buck) Gearhart, both natives of this county, former of whom 
died in Carbon County, latter is still living and makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Troy. 
Our subject and wife are the parents of six children; Charles Henry, Anthony Marshall. 
William Wesley, Elsie lola. Daniel Garfield and George Russell. Mr. and Mrs. Troy are- 
members of the Methodist Church. 



CHAPTER XXV. 
BENTON TOWNSHIP. 

ELIJAH P. ALBERTSON, liveryman, Benton, was born at Stillwater, Columbia 
County, October 23, 1857. In 1861 he removed with his parents to Sugarloaf Township 
and remained with his parents on the farm until 1876. He then took a trip west and was 
gone about three years. Returning home he farmed his father's place, and June 23, 1879, 
married Mi.ss Ella, a daughter of Cyrus Larish of Sugarloaf Township. Four children 
have been born to them: E. Joe, Atta, Charley and Chancey. After his marriage Mr. 
Albertson continued to farm and in partnership with his father did some lumbering 
until 1884. He then received the contract to carr}' the mail between Benton and 
Bloomsburg. His commission will expire July 1, 1889. He continued to carry the mail 
and also drove stage between these places until the summer of 1886, when he hired 



BENTON TOWNSHIP. 375 

some one to attend to that business and devoted his time to the livery luisiness in Benton. 
His father, Elijah J. Albcitsou, is a resident of Sus^arloaf Townsliip and was l)orn in 
Greenwood Township, Columbia County, March 18, 1819, a son of John H. .-md Jane 
(Kitchen) Albertson. June 13, 1841, lie married Sarah A., daughter of John and Martha 
(McHenry) Stiles. In 1865 he moved to the place he now occupies, purchasing eighty- 
seven acres of the Robert Moore property. Tiiis has been highly improved and is now 
one of the nicest places in the township. To him and his wife uine children were born: 
Melissa J., wife of A. Fullmer, of MiUville: Alonzo B., Martha A., wife of William Kase; 
Clarence E., of Benton Township; Esther E., wife of William Keeler, of Cincinnati, Ohio; 
Mary E.. wife of Cliristian Rantz, of Lycoming County; John W., Elijah P.. Sarah A., 
wife of Samuel Pennington, of Catawissa. The parents are members of the Christian 
Churcli at Benton. Mr. Albertson has served in all the offices in the township. 

HIRAM ASH, farmer, P. O. Benton, was born in Fishingcreek Township, Novem- 
ber 22, 1828, a son of Christian and Magdalena (Osderday) Ash. October 22, 1852, he 
married Mary Davis, daughter of John R. Davis (deceased). Until his marriage he re- 
mained at home, but after that event he engaged in wagon-making, removing to Benton 
Village. After a time he bought the farm of ninety acres on which he now lives, where he 
has made most of tlie improvements, and has a pleasant home. Here he has reared his 
children, eight in all, as follows: Christian D. (deceased), Dora A. (deceased), Elizabeth 
E. (deceased), John B., Hiram Thomas, Hosa R., Mary C. (wife of R. L. Sighfried. of Ben- 
ton Township) and Minnie. Mr. and Mrs. Ash and family are members of the Hamline 
Methodist Episcopal Ciiurch. 

THOMAS BELLES, farmer. P. O. Benton, the eldest living representative of the 
Belles family, was born March 27, 1818, in Union Township, Benton Co., Penn. William 
Belles, grandfather of Thomas, was a native of New Jersey, and upon coming to Benton 
settled on what is known as the "old Belles farm," in 1820. He first settled in Shick- 
shinny. Luzerne County, in 1813, where he kept hotel until his removal in 1820. He and 
his wife, Catherine Belles, are buried in the cemetery devoted to the family use. They 
had a family of twelve cliildren: Elias, Susan, Chrislena, Salloma, Catharine, Elizabeth, 
Maiy, Anthony, Simon, Andrew, Adam and Peter. Elias Belles, father of our subject, 
had a family of seven children, as foUow^s: Thomas, Elia^, Lydia (died April 19, 1826), 
Susanna (died in 1883), Margaret (died August 4, 1834), William, John (died February 
19, 1832). Thomas Belles removed to his present home April 2, 1844. He married in 
Februaiy, 1844, Susan Ann Krickbaum, and eleven children were born to them, Lydia E., 
Mary C, Frances I., William L., Elias S., Samuel B., Isaac P., John W., Cyrus L., Syd- 
ney E. and Thomas F. Mary C, Samuel B., Elias S., Sydney E. and William L. are 
dead and lie buried in the Hamiline Cemetery. The farm consists of 130 acres, with at'out 
100 acres under cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Belles are members of the Hamline Methodist 
Episcopal Churcii, of which Mr. Belles has been class steward for manv years. 

DR. T. S. CHAPIN, dentist, Benton, was born June 1, 1851, in Luzerne County, 
Penn., where his early life was spent, and where his father, William Chapin, still resides. 
Like most country boys he was obliged to work on the farm, attending school when he 
could be spared, but still received a good education. At the age of nineteen he com- 
menced the study of dentistry, and coming to Benton was engaged for a short time in the 
office gf Dr. Laubach. He then went to Bloomsburg, where for si.\ months he was in the 
office of Dr. H. C. Hower, and also for a time clerked in a store and w^orked at other busi- 
ness. Having relatives in Michigan he went there in 1882 and worked in the city of 
Schoolcraft; thence to Howell, where he entered the office of Dr. Wing, a prominent 
dentist, and was under his instruction for about four months. He then returned to 
Schoolcraft, and in 1883 to Benton, where he has since remained and enjoys a large prac- 
tice, extending through Columbia, Luzerne and Sullivan Counties. His wife is a Miss 
Savage, daughter of Rev. George Savage, now of Muhlenburg, Luzerne County, but then 
a resident of Benton. 

EZEKIEL COLE was born where he now lives, son of Benjamin Cole, who came to 
the county in an early day. Our subject was married to Christena, daughter of Conrad 
Hess, and they then located east of Benton Village, coming in 1860 to their present place 
which compi-ises about 200 acres of well improved land. Mr. Cole has kept hotel since 
March, 1864, and since 1876 a general store. Mr. and Mrs. Cole have had a family of 
twenty children, thirteen now living: John, Lavina. Susanna, Clinton, William B., Alice, 
Christy Ann. Sarah L., Elmira, Mary E., Alfred, Delila and Charles W. Mr. Cole owns 
the saw-mill which was built in 1832. 

Clinton Cole, son of Ezekiel and Christena (Hess) Cole, was born July 8, 1842, near 
Benton, this count}^ on the old Cole farm. He was married Januaiy lO!^ 1869, to Miss 
Elnia E., daughter of William Y. Hess, and they had four children, three now living: 
Ella B., Dora R. and Arden B. (Hurley R. is deceased). After their marriage, j\Ir. and 
Mrs. Cole lived on the old farm till the spring of 1875, when they moved to near Benton, 
remaining there one year, and then came to their farm of 122 acres, which is rented, 
near the Thomas mill. Our subject and wife attend the services of the Evangelical 
Church. 

29 



376 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

NORMAN COLE, farmer and merchant, P. O. Cole's Creek, was born near where bis 
store now stands in this township, March 20, 1857, son of Alinas and Rhoda Ann (Kile) 
Cole, now of Greenwood Township, this county. He commenced business in November, 
1883, buying out W. B. Cole's general stock, and his store is near the old Cole mill. Mr. 
Cole was married March 13, 1873, to Miss Kate M., daughter of George Steadman, of 
Sugarloaf, and by her has four children: Nina C, Atta Maud, Luella G. and Perry 
Reece. V/hen first married our subject and wife moved to Raven Creek, and there re- 
mained one year; thence to Daniel Laubach's place, and from there to their present home 
in 1875. Mr. Cole operated the farmfouly till 1884, and is now engaged in farming, store- 
keeping, and huckstering to Nanticoke and Wilkesbarre. 

STOTT E. COLLEY, farmer, P. O. Benton, is a sou of Alexander Colley, St., of whom 
so many speak, and whose record in the county will be found elsewhere. He was born 
November 6, 1813, and December 28, 1838, married Miss Sarah Hess, and has continued to 
reside on the same place where he was married, and where he owns 143 acres of improved 
land. He and wife have eight children, four living: Melissa, wife of Benjamin Peterman; 
William, living in Jackson Township; Alexander A., at home, and Wesley S. in Benton 
Village, a blacksmith. 

THOMAS EDGAR, farmer, P. O. Benton, was born in Sullivan County May 31, 1839, 
a son of Andrew Edgar, a native of Town Hill, Luzerne County. His mother died in 
1878, but his father is still living. Thomas resided in Sullivan County until he enlisted in 
1861, in Company B, Eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, third brigade, third corps, 
Army of the Potomac, and participated in the following battles: Bath (Va.), Hancock 
(Md.), Winchester (Va.), Port Republic, Slaughter Mountain, Rappahannock Station, 
Thoroughfare Gap, Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Wapping Heights, Kel- 
ley's Ford, Mine Run(Va.), Wilderness.and was with Grant until discharged. December 18, 
1864, front of Petersburg, he was wounded by being thrown from a mule and both ankles 
injured. He returned home after being mustered out and remained in Sullivan County 
about four years. February 4, 1866. he married Miss Rosanna M., of Sullivan County, 
daughter of C. B. Sperry. In 1869 Mr. Edgar came to Columbia County and bought forty- 
eight acres which he has since improved. Mr. Edgar is a member of the Grange, and 
politically a Republican. 

I. L. EDWARDS, M. D., Benton, is a native of Lime Ridge, Centre Township, 
Columbia County, born November 36, 1846, and is a son of William Edwards, who was 
born in Briarcreek Township, and now resides in Berwick. At the age of eighteen he 
entered the academy at Orangeville, where he spent two terms, teaching a part of 
the time. In the spring of 1866 he entered V/yoming Seminary in Luzerne County, 
Penn., where two years later he graduated in the literary course. Previous to entering 
the seminary he had taught one term at Wilkesbarre, and on leaving that institution he 
again taught at the same place. He began to study medicine in 1868 under Dr. P. M. 
Senderling, of Berwick, and later entered Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, from 
which he graduated in 1871. He immediately commenced to practice at Oranaeville, 
where he remained until 1873, when he came to Benton and remained two years. Thence 
he went to Berwick, remaining one year, when his attachment for Benton brought him 
back to the village, and here he has since resided. Dr. Edwards owns property beauti- 
fully located in the village, a nice residence, and also a farm near the village of seventy- 
two acres. He married, March 11, 1873, Sally, daughter of William Patterson, of Orange 
Township, and three children have been born to them: Myron P., Anna C. and Garrett. 
Dr. Edwards is a well posted gentleman, and is held in high favor in the village. 

HIRAM F. EVERITT. lumber dealer, Benton, was born in Northampton County, 
Penn., a son of James and Mary Everitt. The parents were of German descent, and 
reared a family of ten boys and six girls and are both deceased. Hiram F. was reared on 
a farm, and resided near Orangeville until 1853. He learned the carpenter trade and fol- 
lowed it until 1859, when he went into the mercantile business, and later, in 1873, the 
lumber business, which he has since continued. He also keeps a store. He married in 
1854 Miss Hannah Stiles, by whom he had seven children: Mary A., Elliott B., Anna R., 
Nora M., Jennie M., Lizzie G. and Hervey E., all living but the eldest two. Mrs. Everitt 
died July 36, 1873, and our subject married. May 1, 1877, Elmira, daughter of Benjamin 
McHenry, and one child bles.ses their union, Tressie E. Mr. Everitt owns a farm near the 
village, on which there are two dwelling-houses, and also'owns a storehouse on said farm. 
During the late war he was drafted in the $300 draft, and paid over his $300 without com- 
plaint. He was arrested at his home on the night of August 34, 1864. and incarcerated in 
Bomb Proof No. 3, in Fort MifHin, for four months, and was discharged the same manner 
lie was arrested, without knowing any cause for arrest or discharge. 

JOHN HEACOCK, merchant, Benton, was born in Greenwood Township, September 
18, 1833, a son of Joseph and Margaret Heacock. His father was a mechanic and followed 
building and millwrighting, and with him John worked until he was twenty-two years 
old. In 1855 John came to Benton and began clerking in the store of his brother, Samuel, 
with whom he remained until 1860. In 1866 he purchased the cabinet and undertaking 
business of S. C. Krickbaum and conducted it until 1870. From 1876 to 1880 he was 



BENTON TOWNSHIP. 377 

assistant postmaster, his brother, Samuel, being the postmaster. Our subject became 
postmaster Fel)ruary 1, 1881, and served as such until tlie incoming of the present admin- 
istration; although the people wished him retained, he was dismissed. He married, June 
17, 1880, Miss Hannah, daughter of William W. E. and Mary (Hess) Roberts. Mr. 
Heacock has suffered many years with rheumatism, incapacitating him from manual 
labor. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. 

HIRAM HESS, proprietor of the E.Kchange Hotel at Benton, was born in Centre 
Township, Columbia Co., Penn., January 28, 1821. a son of John Hess, Jr., whose father 
was John Hess also. The latter with his family(of which John, Jr., was the eldest) came to 
ColumbiaCounty from the "Dry Lands" and settled in Centre Township. He died in Centre 
Township about 1851, between seventy and eighty years of age. John Hess, Jr., settled 
after his marriage in Centre Township, later moved to Wapwallopen, Luzerue County, 
but returned in 1831 to this county. His wife, Mary Hogenbaoh, came with her people 
from the "Dry Lands" and bore her husband eight children. Of these our subject is the 
eldest, and when a young man rented land from Elias McHenry. At the time of his 
marriage he lived in Centre Township on the farm of his grandfather. He married Olive, 
daughter of Elias McHenry, in October, 1849. That jear he purchased a farm near 
Stillwater, of 108 acres, and in the fall of 1851 moved on it; it now consists of 130 acres 
under a splendid state of cultivation. Here they resided until 1872 when thej^ came to 
Benton and began keeping hotel across the street from their present location, and in 1873 
moved into their present commodious quarters. In 1864, in connection with E. J. Mc- 
Henry, Mr. Hess purchased the flouring-mill at Stillwater; operated it there two years 
and then sold out. In 1878 he bought 165 acres two miles below Benton, on Fishing 
creek, and in 1880 twenty-two acres adjoining, but in Benton Township; on this farm 
in 1884 they erected the finest house and barn between Bloomsburg and the North Moun- 
tain, costing upward of $5,000, and in securing so much valuable property Mrs. Hess has 
been a great aid. Two children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hess: Francis M., 
born January 29. 1850, married in 1871 Cymantba Thomas (they have four children: 
Cora, Charley W., Warren and Ray) and Wesley M., born July 3, 1855, married in 1881 
Miss Allie, daughter of S. P. Krickbaum (thej- have one child, Ray,) and reside on the 
farm two miles south of Benton. The E.xchange Hotel was built in 1872 by Hiram Hess. 
The main part is 20.\;40. three stories high and contains seventeen rooms, besides the 
public bailor ball room; another part. 20x35, two stories high, contains four rooms, three 
below and one above, besides a kitchen 14x18 as another addition. A barn 40x50 feet 
is also near, for the accommodation of horses. The hotel is situated on the corner over- 
looking the bridge roads and Fishing creek and is well known to the traveling public. 
Mrs. Hess is one of the best cooks in the State, and for forty miles around the people 
come to partake of her buckwheat cakes. No lady in the State knows better than she the 
wants of the traveling public, and the house is kept in perfect order. The bar is always 
supplied with the choicest wines and liquors. 

WILLIAM HULME (deceased) was born December 9, 1812, in Jefferson Township, 
Morris Co., N. J., a son of William A. and Susan (Strait) Hulme. The former was born 
May 5, 1770, in Passaic County, N. J., and died in Jefferson Township, Morris County, same 
State, October 25, 1829. The paternal grandfather of our subject w^as William Augustus 
Hulme, a native of England, who upon coming to this country settled in New Jersey, 
where he pursued his trade, that of a miller. His maternal grandfatlier, Christopher 
Strait, removed to Columbus, Ohio, and there he and uis wife are buried. William re- 
mained at home until the age of twentj'-two, when he moved to Luzerne Count}', Penn., 
and remained two years, engaged in charcoal burning to which he had been reared. 
Later he came to Columbia Countj'. March 10. 1836, he married Miss Mar}', daughter of 
Jonas and Elizabeth (Shellhart) Buss. Mr. Hulme remained with his father-in-law until 
April 4, 1843, when he went to Salem, Luzerne County, and there tended locks in the canal 
until the fall of 1846. At that time he was engaged witli William R. Maffet to superintend 
the work at the Blackman mines, and when the railway was built from Pitson to Hanley, 
forty-seven miles, he went to Greenville. At that time he formed a partnership with 
Hudson Owen, contracting and clearing $2,500. In 1852 he was engaged on the railroad 
by Mr. Pardee for six months, and in 1853 went to Nescopeck and worked in the store of 
J. W. Fry. In 1855 he again engaged with Maffet a short time on the canal, and again went 
to Nescopeck. There he engaged in erecting some buildings, having l)y this time a goodly 
start in worldly affairs. His first wife having died April 1, 1855, he married, June 18, 
1857, Phoebe E., daughter of John Stoker, and one child was born to their union, Hilbert 
Hudson, born August 14, 1860. Hilbert H. was educated at Lafayette College, Easton, 
Penn., entering that institution in September, 1880, and remaining until December, 1882. 
His intention was to complete a course in civil engineering and he has drawn several con- 
tour maps. He intends, however, to follow agriculture iu which he is well posted, and is 
at present engaged in breeding Duroc-Jersey hogs from registered stock. To William 
Hulme's first marriage no children were born. His late residence in Benton dates 
from 1857; while passing through the beautiful valley he negotiated for the land 
at a good bargain and at once commenced improving it. The home place consists 



378 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

of fifty-six acres of fine lanrl, all under cultivation, and the air of neatness and thrift 
which pervades the surround iu.irs causes the passer-by to remark: "This is one of the 
neatest places in the county." iNIr. Hulme also owned the first mill up the creek from 
Benton, formerly known as Cole's mill, and valuable timber land. He started out a poor, 
friendless, uneducated boy, but by thrift, exertion and careful business transactions he 
made his mark in the world. William Hulme died February 14, 18S7. at 9:37 A. M., and 
his remains were interred in Slauyher's Cemetery, near Nescopeck, Luzerne County. 

WILLIAM IPHER, farmer, P. O. Cambra, Luzerne County, was born in Huntington 
Township, Luzerne County, March 10, 1836, where he lived a part of the time before his 
marriage, which occurred September 21, 1863. Mrs. Ipher was Sibyl, the only daughter 
of John C. Doty, and was born in Benton Township, Columbia County, July 6, 1889. 
Her mother was Martha Benedict, who died March 24. 1842, and her husband followed, 
June 7, 1872. They are both buried in the family cemetery. Joseph Doty, grandfather 
of John C, settled in New Jersey upon coming from the mother countr}-. One of his chil- 
dren, David, married Sibyl Clark, and their family consisted of John C, Joseph. Jonas, 
Sarah, Anthony. Martha and Clarinda. Jonas Doty settled in Fishingcreek, and John C. 
in Benton in 1840. The latter settled in the southeast part of the township and took up 
fifty acres at first, subsequently adding until he owned about 300 acres, all of which fell 
to his daughter Sibyl. Some of this land was very rough, but the coal which was dis- 
covered on it made Mr. Doty quite wealthy. He was very strongly allied to Demo- 
cratic principles of government, and was a good and kind neighbor. His only child. 
Sibyl, with her husband, Mr. Ipher, own 345 acres of land and have three children: 
John D., born April 25, 1869; Sarah A., born July 8, 1873, and James W.. born Novem- 
ber 19, 1877. 

LAFAYETTE KEELER, farmer, P. O. Benton, son of George Keeler, was born 
near where he now lives October 20, 1849. His great-grandparents, John and Elizabeth 
(South) Keeler, were early settlers in this county. They came from Orange County, N.Y., 
and were born respectively December 11, 1764, and November 24, 1766. They were the 
parents of the following named children: Ebenezer, born November 16, 1788; Jane, Au- 
gust 12 1790; James, November 10,1791; Nancv. March 12, 1793; Mary, September 23, 
1794; John, June 12, 1796; Elizabeth, March 28, 1798; Benjamin. December 20, 1797; 
Esther, August 3, 1802; Susanna, September 23, 1804; William, May 28, 1806; and Phebe, 
September 23, 1810. John Keeler married for his second wife Eleanor Wilson, who was 
born August 27, 1795, and bore him two children: Harriet E., born December 10, 1835, 
and Sarah Agnes, February 7, 1840. Ebenezer Keeler married a Miss Priest, and to 
them were born the following; Henry, born October 27. 1817; Jane, September 10, 1819; 
Elizabeth, May 24, 1822; John, August 2, 1824; George W. P., January 2, 1827; Dorothy, 
June 15, 1829; Levi, December 13. 1831; Elizabeth T., December 11. 1833; Magdalene. 
July 6, 1835. George W. P. was the second child born in Benton Township. He mar 
ried Elizabeth, born September 29, 1830, a daughter of John Fritz. Their children were 
Lafayette (our subiect); Levi F.. born August 16, 1851; Daniel E.. November 11. 1852; 
Harriet May 14, 1854; Magdaleua C, December 23, 1855; Leonard, February 18, 1857: 
Esther Jane, September 22.^1858; Clara, March 18, 1860; George B.. January 20, 1862; 
John E., June 16, 1864; Thomas, June 21. 1866; Mary Ann, January 2, 1868; Dorothv E., 
November 5, 1869; Harry Bruce, July 29, 1872. Magdalena died January 22, 1870; John 
E. died September 4, 1868, and Thomas, April 2, 1870. Lafayette (subject) in early life 
learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed until 1880. December 4, 1875, he mar- 
ried Miss Marv A., dau<fhter of Thomas and Anna (Davis) Singfried, and three children 
have blessed their union: Anna E.. born October 21, 1876; Clarinda A., August 25, 1881. 
and Malan A., March 11, 1882. Mr. Keeler is now engaged in the lumbering busines.r 
and also in farming. Since 1876 he has been superintendent of the Maple Grove Sunday- 
school, in which he takes a great interest. 

JOHN S. KLINE, farmer, P. O. Benton, was born in Luzerne County, Huntington 
Township, December 18, 1840, a son of A. J. Kline, of Fishingcreek. He married. Feb- 
ruary 1, 1870, Mary E. Appleman of Benton Township. She was born July 31, 1844, a 
daughter of Samuel Appleman. They were married in the house they now occupy, and 
the farm of 100 acres, which IMr. Kline owns, was a part of the old Appleman homestead. 
They have had four childi en: Rosa M.. born September 24, 1871, and died January 6, 
1872; Lillian M., born February 9, 1876; Samuel R., December 26, 1879, and Otis C, Oc- 
tober, 8, 1884. Mr. Kline enlisted, January 1, 1862, in Battery F, Second Pennsylvania 
Heavy Artillery. One Hundred and Twelfth in the line; was mustered in Philadelphia as 
a private, and mustered out as first lieutenant. January 29, 1866, in City Point, Va. His 
company joined Grant's army at Cold Harbor, and operated with him until the close of 
the war, when he came home. He then traveled six months in the west, and on returning 
hired on his father's farm. Mr. Kline has also been engaged in teaching school; is a good 
penman, and favors the modern modes of education. He is an experienced business man. 
and has been connected with many of the enterprises of the town, as will be noticed else- 
where. 



BENTON TOWNSHIP. 379 

ISAAC KINNEY KRICKBAUM, farmer, P. O. Cambria, Luz^enie County, was born 
in Benton Township on the farm now occupied by him, February 23, 1825. His father, 
Philip K. Krickbaum, was born in Montgomery County, October 10, 1793, and was a son 
of Philip, who was born in the same count}" in 1759, and died in 1822. Philip K. passed 
his early life in Catawissa Township, and came to Benton Township in 1819, and in 1820 
built a cabin near the creek, a little beyond the place where he last built. His sister kept 
house for him, and he cleared about twenty acres and built a house, which after two years 
was destroyed by fire, but on the site of which he built another. March 24, 1824, he mar- 
ried Anna, daughter of Joim Kinney, who settled in Bloom Township about 1800. Mrs. 
Krickbaum was reared on what is known as the " Waller Farm," and her people were 
from New Jersey. Our subject's father died November 10, 1856, of typhoid fever after 
an illness of a few days, and with his wife is buried in Benton Cemetery. Isaac Kinney 
Krickbaum married, February 22, 1866, Miss Susanna Drum, of Butler Township, Luzerne 
County, and a daughter of Philip Drum, deceased. Mr. Krickbaum is one of the prominent 
and prosperous men of the township; served as justice of the peace continuously from 1860 
to 1877; was elected associate judge in 1877, and served five years, and has also held 
minor positions. His education has bejn acquired bj' his own efforts, first attending 
school at Cambria when he was ten years old. The advantages at Catawissa were very 
poor, and, moreover, he was the eldest of six children, as follows: Isaac K., Susan C, born 
September 30, 1826; Mary A., born in October, 1827, and died April 6, 1829; Samuel Powell, 
Margaret and Elmira. Both the last named are deceased. Our subject's farm consists 
of 196 acres, with about 140 under a high state of cultivation, and considering the stony 
nature of the country and the terrible task to clear and fence a farm, Mr. Krickbaum 
has succeeded admirablv. 

SAMUEL P. KRICKBAUM. farmer, P. O. Cambria, Luzerne County, was born April 
fi, 1829, and spent his early life on his father's homestead, which the latter had cleared 
and improved. February 26, 1857. be married Miss Margaret McBride, daughter of Hugh 
McBride, who now resides near Columbus. Mrs. Krickbaum was born near Berwick, 
Columbia County, where her father was a farmer. To Mr. and Mrs. Krickbaum have 
been born two children: Clara A., wife of Francis I. Shultz, of Raven Creek, and Mary 
R., at home. When the Krickbaum estate was divided, 186 acres were given to our sub- 
ject, and at this time he has 100 acres under cultivation. On coming to the farm he built 
a plank house, which was very substantial, but when the country became miproved was 
torn down, and the new white house erected in 1880. All the other improvements have 
also been made by Mr. Krickbaum. He is a popular citizen, and has held some minor 
offices, especially in his school district. He comes of a family whose members were 
alwaj's useful citizens, and foremost in lending a helping hand to worthy enterprises. 

PETER LAUBACH, farmer, P. O. Raven Creek, was born April 15, 1825, in Sugar 
Loaf Township, on a part of the old Laubach homestead. At the age of eight years he 
moved with his parents to Benton Township, and lived on the old John Laubach farm, 
first settled by Benjamin Coleman. December 14, 1848, he married Miss Susan C, daugh- 
ter of Philip Krickbaum. After his marriage he conducted a store in Benton about nine 
months, and in 1847 purchased 100 acres where he now resides. This he improved with 
buildings, etc., and moved on it in 1850. He now owns 440 acres and is considered one of 
the most substantial farmers in northern Columbia County. The following named chil- 
dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Laubach; Isaac K. K., born October 28, 1849, married 
Anna, daughter of Thomas Gibbons, audircsides in Benton Township; John C, born Jan- 
uary 12, 1851, died September 17, 1854; Rhoda Ann and Margaret Ann (twins), born April 
5, 1855 — the former is the wife of Henry C. Learn and resides near Berwick, Margaret Ann is 
the wife of Frank P. Dildine, near Benton; Sarah E. B. and Freace Brown (twins) born 
September 19, 1858; the latter died in infancy, the former is the wife of Alvin W. Dresher and 
resides 'in Benton Township; Winfield Scott, born April 26, 1861, conducts the home farm 
and married February 10, 1886, Elizabeth C, daughter of Samuel Roberts, and Susan Ma- 
tilda, born November 25, 1868, died January 19, 1869. Mr. Laubach joined the Presbyterian 
Church in 1863 and has served as ruling elder, secretary of the session and treasurer of the 
church fund. He was postmaster at Raven Creek from November 11, 1872, to March 9, 1886. 
Politically he is a Republican; is a member of the Masonic frateruity, R. A. degree, char- 
ter member of Oriental Lodge, No. 460, at Orangeville. He was drafted twice, sent two 
substitutes to the civil war, one in the nine months' draft and the other in the last three 
years' draft service. John G. Laubach (great-grandfather of our subject), emigrated 
with his father from Holland and settled in Philadelphia in 1736. His children were 
Susan, John Michael. John. John Christian, Ann Mary, John Conrad (died young), John 
Conrad, Anna Margaret. Catharine, John Ge<irge, Wilherg and Elizabeth. John Chris- 
tian, the grandfather of our subject, was born June 30, 1764, iu Bucks County, Peun., and 
married Anna Mary Frutchy, wlio was born February 3, 1773. She died July 8, 1823, and 
he March 15, 1825, and both are buried at St. Gabriel's Church. He was the first Laubach 
to settle in Columbia County in 1790, and came to Sugarloaf Township in 1793. There 
he took up a farm on what is now known as " Fritz Hill, " a tract of about 400 acres. His 
family consisted of Susan, who married John Moore, to whom she bore eight children 



380 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

and died in her ninety-first year; George married Eiizabetli, daughter of Benjamin Cole- 
man, one of the first settlers in Sugarloaf Township and now in his ninetieth year and 
lives in Michigan; Frederick, married Mary Larish, and their eight cliildren are now all 
married and living; Peter, died in childhood; Hannah, resides in the Town of Bloomsburg. 
the widow of Thomas Connor, and has three sons and two daughters: Elizabeth, wife 
of William Cole and mother of nine children, eight now living: Anna Margaret, married 
William Ikeler, and died in Fishingcreek Township; Polly wife of John Ikeler, 
they reside in Michigan and have five children living; Catharine, is the widow 
of John R. Davis, and lives in Benton — she has nine children living; Christian, married 
Hannah Hefley and resides in Danville, Montour County; John (father of our sub- 
ject), married Ann, daughter of Abraham Kline, Jr. The following are the names of 
their children: Abraham, in Washington Territory, a minister in the Methodist Episcopal 
Church; Rhoda Ann, married J. H. Harrison and died January 29, 188-1. in Union Town- 
ship, Luzerne County; Isaac, married Sarah, daughter of Christian Ash, served in the 
civil war three years as volunteer and volunteered three more years, now resides in Iowa; 
Peter; George, married Charlotte McHenry, a daughter of Daniel McHenry, Jr.; George, 
enlisted in the One Hundred and Ninety-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers and served one 
year, receiving an honorable discharge; Christian, married Sarah Ann, daughter of 
Jonathan C. Pennington; John Frutchy, married Susan Taylor, and died October 24, 
1863; Daniel S., married Elizabeth Young, served in the One Hundred and Seventy-eighth 
nine-months' draft men; David Kline, married Mary Pennington (he served in the One 
Hundred and Ninety-ninth Penn.sylvania Volunteer Infantry), and Frederick, married 
Lucy, daughter of Rev. M. H. Harrison; he enlisted in the Ninety-third Pennsylvania 
Volunteer three years, and enlisted three years more after the close of his first term, and 
died October 29, 1881. 

DR. J. B. LAUBACH, dentist. Benton, was born in Sugarl;)af Township, Colum- 
bia County, January 8, 1849, a son of Andrew and Nancy (Britton)Laubach, natives, re- 
spectively, of Columbia and Luzerne Counties, the former of whom is well known in 
this county. Tracing the ancestry, we find that Frederick Laubach, the grandfather of 
our subject, was a native of Germany, of a very hardy stock, and whose descendants 
have all been strong, healthy men and women. Our subject remained on the farm until 
the age of twenty, when he went to Batavia, N. Y., and engaged for two years with Dr. J. 
Larish, and then moved to Muir, Mich., where he was with John Kuder for a time. In 1873 
he came to Benton and remained until 1876; thence moved to Stanardsville, Va., where 
he remained two years. In 1878 he returned to Benton, where he has since been engaged 
in the practice of his profession, and is now the oldest dentist in the village. January 1, 
1872, he married Miss Alvaretta McHenry, a daughter of Benjamin McHenry. She died 
December 10, 1881, and our subject married for his second wife Hattie Derr. of Hughes- 
ville, Lycoming County, and two children bless their union: Frank B. and Emma B. Dr. 
Laubach has a nice home in the village, where he has settled down, intending to serve 
the people to the best of his ability. 

ELIAS McHENRY, insurance agent, Benton, the eldest son of Moses McHenry, 
was born March 25, 1817, in a log house which stood near the present residence of Daniel 
McHenry, in Stillwater, Fishingcreek Township. September 6, 1838, he married Sallie 
Ann, daughter of John Stoker of Fishingcreek, and shortly after the young couple re- 
moved to Jackson Township, where they resided until the fall of 1840. Mr. McHenry 
then purchased a farm in the southwest part of the township of Benton on which he re- 
mained until 1873. He then sold to his son and removed to Benton Village, where he 
clerked for his brother, and four years later began to solicit for insurance, in which busi- 
ness he has since been constantly engaged. He has resided on the same lot since coming 
to Benton, and a few years ago erecfed a comfortable home. To Mr. and Mrs. McHenry 
six children were born, as follows: Russell P., born in 1839, married to Sarah A. Apple - 
man August 24, 1859, and resides near the village (they have had seven children, three of 
whom are living); John S., born December 28, 1841; Mary E., born May 27, 1843, wife of 
Ellis McHenry of Jackson Township; James A., born October 22, 18 , and died at the 
age of three months; L}'man P.. born December 22. 1846, married Anna Applcman, and 
resides in Benton, and 'Myron T., born November 15, 1849. Mr. McHenry has served his 
district as school director and supervisor, and his fame as a fisherman extends throughout 
the entire county. 

JAMES B. McHENRY, the genial host of the McHenry House, Benton, was born 
in Greenwood Township, February 8, 1851, a son of Benjamin McHenry. In 1863 he 
moved with his parents to Fishingcreek Township, where he remained three years. He 
then went to Cambria, Luzerne County, and began to learn the trade of blacksmithing, 
to which he applied himself for four years. In 1875 he came to Benton and followed his 
trade until 1886, when he assumed the control of the McHenry House. Mr. McHenry has 
been an active, industrious business man. and has made scores of friends. He married, 
February 8, 1871, Miss Maria, daughter of George Moore, of Sugarloaf Township. 
Mrs. McHenry was born November 2, 1849. and has borne her husband four children: 
Annetta, born August 26, 1872, in Cambria; Rebecca A., August 30, 1882, in Benton Village;, 



BENTON TOWNSHIP. 381 

Lloyd C, born April 2, 1884, in Benton Village; F. H. McHenry, born October 30, 1886. 
in Benton Villas^e. 

JOHN J. MrHENRY, merchant.Benton.wasborn April 3,1834. at Stillwater, Columbia 
Co., Penn., and spent his early life at home. At the age of^ twenty-three he 
went to Rohrsburg, engaired as a clerk with Mills & Schuyler, and while thus employed 
married Miss Sarah, daughter of John Lundy, a nierchant of Rohrsburg and Danville, 
the ceremony bein? performed at the latter place. After the marriage he remained four 
years in the store of Mr. Lundy, removing thence to Mifflinville, where he conducted 
a store for the same gentleman. He next removed to Berwick and remained six years; 
thence to Cambria, Luzerne County, and after seven years' residence at that place came 
to Benton. Here since 1865 he has been engaged in mercantile business, and since 
1880 has also engaged in handling and cutting lumber at Benton and other points. He 
has a half interest in 100 acres of timber land in Su^arloaf Township. To Mr. McHenry 
and wife the following children were born: Anna M., Albert L., Harriett E. (wife of J. 
W. Hoyt). Hudson O. (married to Miss Anna Stadon, and engaged in the business with 
his father), Mary M. and Charles J.; the latter possesses fine musical talent and is en- 
gaged in teaching the art. Mr. McHenry is a good citizen and owns considerable property 
in the village, becomes of a hardy family, and looks and acts as young as most men of 
fortv. 

ALEXANDER McHENRY, farmer and teacher. P. O. Benton, was born near Still- 
water, Columbia Co., Penn.. March 26, 1828, the eldest child of James D. and 
Rachel (Colley) McHenry (both now deceased). He was educated in tlie common schools and 
at the age of eighteen began teaching at West Creek schoolhouse, and followed the pro- 
fession for seventeen successive winters and still teaches,h!iving taught eleven terms since 
the war.in the winter season. While teaching he enlisted.September 2,1864.in Company D, 
Two Hundred and Tenth Pennsylvania Infanlrv, atTroy,and was discharged May 27, 1865, 
at Annapolis, Md. He was taken prisoner at Five Forks Marcii 28, I865,and remained two 
days and then paroled. While in the service he acted as company clerk and corporal.and 
in this double capacity worked so hard that his health was severely affected. In 1867 he 
bought his present place of fifty acres two miles southwest of Benton. Hi- married at 
Town Hill, January 1, 1852, Elizabeth. d;iui;hter of James Buckalew Mrs. McHenry was 
born January 9, 1883, and died February 9,' 1882 the mother of the fo, lowing children: 
Lucretia A., born September 22,1855, died November 28, 1876; Harriet Ida. born September 
29. 1858, died March 21, 1875; Mary Mott, born July 5, 1861; Alice Maude (wife of A. C. 
Karnes of Benton); Franklin G., born May 8, 1867, died May 15, 1867. 

THOMAS C. McHENRY. M. D., Benton, was born in Greenwood Township, Col- 
umbia Co., Penn.. February 9. 1844. son of Benjamin and Lovina (Conner) McHenry. 
He spent his early life on a farm, and at the age of eighteen went to the iwademy at New 
Columbus, Luzerne County, where he remained two or three years. He then went to 
Lewisburg, where after two years he graduated in 1867. He then commenced the study 
of medicine with Dr. Bradley of Blooinsburg; then attended lectures at tlie University of 
Ann Arbor, Mich., where he graduated in 1870. That year he commenced to practice his 
profession in Benton, and now has a large patronage in Columbia. Luzerne and Lycoming 
Counties. In February, 1871, he married Susan Millord. who died within a year after 
marriage, and March 24, 1874, Dr. McHenry married Lizzie Ikeler. They have two chil- 
dren: Lula M.. born February 25, 1875. and Benjamin J., b)rn August 17. 1882. Ben- 
jamin McHenry. father of the "above, was born in Stillwater. Coumhia County. May 13. 
1812. and is the eldest of the name living in the county. When about twenty-three years 
of age he left Stillwater and went to Greenwood Township, where h? married Lavina 
Conner. She was born in Greenwood Township. April 13, 1814, ilied October 16. 1884. 
and is buried in Benton Cemetery. At the age of thirty-eight Mr. McHenry moved to 
Fishingcreek, where he remained about six years; thence to Maucli Chunk. Carbon 
County; later returned to Greenwood. Columbia County, and thence to Fishingcreek, 
where he conducted the hotel, "Cottage Inn," during the "latter part i-i the war. He then 
resided in Greenwood until shortly after the death of his wife, since which event he makes 
his home with his sons in Benton and Cambria. 

ISAAC E. PATTERSON. M. D., Benton, was born in Orange Township, Columbia 
Co., Penn., April 1, 1844, a son of William Patterson, who was born in Greenwood Town- 
ship, this county, and died in Fishingcreek Township in 1852. After his father's death 
Isaac returned to Orange Township and remained under the care of an uncle. M. C. Vance, 
until eighteen years of age. attending school a portion of the time. From 1862 to 1864 
he was a student in Orangeville Academy, and on Septemiier 2 of the latter year enlisted 
in Company D, Two Hundred and Tenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was 
mustered in at Harrisburg. He served until May 31). 18f)5. and iSIarcli 1 of that year 
was promoted quartermaster-sergeant. Heparticipated in many of the hard-fought battles, 
among which may be mentioned Arlington Heights, before Petersburg, with the Army of 
the Potomac. Bellfield raid. HatclieV's Run. and in the destruction of the Weldon 
Railroad. Gravel Run and Appomattox, where the flag of truce was carried back 
through the lines of his company, and at the close of the war he i)articipated in the 



382 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

graucl ri'view at \V:ishin_i,4()ii. Reluniint^ to Orangeville lie a2;aiii entered school, and in 
the winter of lS6.")-6fi was en>!;aged asateaclier jit Beach Haven, Luzerne County. The 
next summer he beu:ati the study of medicine under Drs. llittenliouse and McRay, and the 
following wintrr (IH66-6T) again taught scliool, continuing tlirough the summer also. He 
tlien entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, where he took his first course of 
lectures in the winier of 1867-68; attended tlie summer session and graduated in March, 
1869. He commenced practice in Beach Haven, Luzerne County, whore he intended 
locating, hut moved to Laporte, Sullivan County, where he was employed by the tannery 
companies to practice among their people. He remained there until 1874, when he came 
to Benton and bought the real estate and practice of Dr. Chapin, who continued to 
" ride " with Dr. Patterson for one year. Our subject then formed a partnership with 
Dr. Elwards, which lasted four years, since which time he has been alone. The Doctor 
married, April 7, 1870, Miss Martha Seeley, a native of Salem, Luzerne County. Dr. Pat- 
terson owns a farm of sixty-five acres a short distance north of Benton and his residence 
in the village. 

AARON SMITH (deceased) was born January 2. 1830, on the banks of the Susque- 
hanna River, Hanover Township, Luzerne County, and w^as the eldest of ten children. 
His parents were of German descent and moved to Columbia County when he was four- 
teen years of age. He was reared on the farm and received a good common-school educa-' 
tion. In 184;^ he married Miss Charlotte A. Campbell, of Scotch descent. He was converted 
about 1842, joined the Methodist Episcopal CUiurch and served as class leader about thirty- 
five years, or up to the time of his death. He contributed largely to church and church 
funds, and was a great pillar of support to the Hamline Methodist Episcopal Church, of 
which he was a member from the time of his conversion. After the death of his first wife 
he married Amanda L. Davis in the spring of 1884. He took a trip through the Western 
States and returned home in the summer of 1884 and died June 14, ISSo.^aged sixty-five 
years, rive mcmths and twelve days. He was buried in the Hamiline Cemetery. There 
were l)orn to the union of Aaron and (Charlotte A. (Campbell) Smith. Firman S., born 
January 27, 1844; Richard T., July 4, 184;j; William A. and Alice A. (twins), June 3, 1856, 
and died in infancy, and H. WiU)er, February 26, 1860. 

Firman S. S.mitii, P. O. Raven Creek, is a son of Aaron and Charlotte A. (Campbell) 
Smith, and was l)orn in Benton Township, Columbia Co. He lived with his parents on the 
farm assisting his father in the summer and attending school in Benton District in winter 
until he was nineteen years of age. He then attended school for one year at New Columbus 
Academy. Luzerne County, after which he taught school during the winter of 1863-64 in 
Benton Dislnct. He enlisted at Troy, Bradford Co., Penn., March 31, 1864, for three 
years or during the war, and was in the following engagements: Wilderness, Mine Run, 
Spottsyivania Court House, Va., North Ann River, Cold Harbor, and the charge in front 
of Petersburg, June 17 and 18, 1834. His company was later detached from the regiment 
to serve in mortar battery, and engaged in all the artillery movements in front of Peters- 
burg, throwing over 6,000 shells in tiie rebel works and blowing up three magazines. The 
company was relieved frour the battery August 24, 1864, and ordered back to join the reg- 
iment. At Ream Station, Va., Mr. Smith was taken sick and sent to the division hospital 
in front of Petersburg; thence to City Point; thence to Fort Schuyler McDougall General 
Hospital. N. Y. ; furloughed November 1. 1864. and remained at homesick eighty-four 
days. He returned to the hospital January 23, 1865. and served as ward master at general 
kitchen department until discharged June 17, 1865. During the winter of 1865-66 he 
taught school, and in 1866 married Mi.ss Huld.di R. Dodson, tlie daughter of George and 
Hannah (Seely) Dodson. In 1867 Mr. Smith attended Commercial College at Poughkeep- 
sie, N. Y., and graduated August 15 of the same j'ear. He engaged in mercantile 
business at Mahanoy City in 1868. Subsequently he returned to BentonTownship, Colum- 
bia County, where he purchased and located on a farm, and has since been engaged in 
farming and teaching, having taught twenty-three terms. The following are tlie names 
of the children born'to Mr. and Mrs. Smith:" Lcnore E-itelle, b irn March b. 1867; Minnie 
Gertrude, born July 17. 1868; Aaron Raymond, born December 31, 1869; Fannie Evada, 
J)orn August 16, 1871. died Julv 10, 1875; Jennie Adrielle, born May 6, 1874; Ada and Eva 
(twins) born and died March 20, 1873; Ninolia Tlieberne born May 18, 1876; Susie May, 
horn May 1, 1879; Carrie Josephine, born March 28, 1881; Pei'millie liorn November 19, 
1882, and Geraldine, born November 5, 1884. Mrs. Smith is of English descent on the 
paternal and German on the maternal side, and was born August 5, 1846. 

RICHARD T. SMITH, farmer, P. O. Taurus, was born July 4, 1845, in BentonTown- 
ship. and remained on the old liomestead until 1872. In 1873 he worked on the N. W. 
R. R., and in 1875 located on a farm in Briarcreek Township this county, one year, re- 
moving thence to Ncscopeck. He came to his present home in 1878, buying a farm of 
ninety-seven and a half acres. This was the George Dodson estate, is well cultivated and 
kept neat and tidy. Mr. Smith began teaching in 1869, and followed that profession for 
four successive winters, and again in 1875, since which time he has devoted his attention 
to farming, but still takes a groat interest in educational matters, and likes to see all 
modern improvements in school work succeed. Besides teaching and farming he has en- 



BRIARCREEK TOWNSHIP. 383 

•gaged in lunibcrinir for three years at Nescopeck, his family residing on the farm. A.t 
present he is engaged in conjunction with C. A. Wesley in erecting a large planing-mill 
and sash and door factory at Benton this county. Mr. Smith married, February 5, 1870, 
Frances, daughter of George and Hannah (Seeley) Dodsou. and the following children 
have been born to their union: Torrence C, born January 31. 1871; Anna G., May 24, 
1872; Edna G.. May 23, 1876; Verdie E.. December 4, 1877; Atta M., Mayo, 1879; Lane 
T., December 17, 1884, and Firman E.. November 13. 1885. Mr. Smith is a member of the 
I. O. O. F., and keejjs the Taurus postoffice. George Dodson, the father of Mrs. Smith, 
came to Benton Township in 1839 from Town Hill. He was born February 1, 1804, near 
Harveyville. Luzerne Co., Penn.. and died January 20, 1885, at his home at R. T. Smith's 
■in Benton Township, Columbia Co., Penn. Until his marriage he made his home at " Dod- 
son's mill," on Pine Creek, in Huntington Township, Luzerne County. July 10, 1828, he 
married Hannah Seeley. who was l)orn in Salem Township July 4, 1806. In 1839 Mr. Dod- 
son and his wife came "to Benton Township, this county, where he took up a tract of land, 
450 acres in all, covered with timber, and began to make a home out of the wilderness. 
Until 1866 he lived in a small house, which was situated across the road from the present 
residence of our subject. Later he erected the house which still stands there, but which 
has been greatly repaired. Here a larsre family was reared as follows: Susan B., born May 
28. 1829; 'Mary'Ann, April 14, 1831; Elias E., February 2, 1833; Margaret S., December 5, 
1834; James t., June 11, 1837; Charles M.. June 17, 1839: Caroline B., December 13, 1840 
■(died April 11. 1876); Chester S.. January 6, 1843; Hulda R.. August 5, lb46, and Frances 
A.. December 17, 1848. Mr. Dodson was a man universally esteemed in Benton Township, 
and his death was deeply regretted. He was true to his principles of right, very evenly dis- 
positioned. and reared a family worthy of himself. His widcw makes her home with her 
■daughter, Mrs. R. T. Smith. 

JOHN C. WENNER. farmer. P. O. Cambria, was born April 10, 1836, in Fishing- 
creek Township, near Bendertown, a son of Jacob and Leah (Kauff) Wenner. Our 
subject remained at home until his marriage, January 1, 1859, to Hannah, a daughter of 
William Savage and Mary (Clinerman) Savage of Fishingcreek Township. They were 
■natives of Berks County, Penn., are l)oth deceased and buried in Fishingcreek Town- 
ship. Mr. and Mrs. Wenner lived about two years in Fishingcreek before removing 
to their present home in Benton in 1861. The farm consists of seventy acres and is well 
improved; the house is comparatively new, having been built by Mr. Wenner, and is 
nicely located, making quite a desirable home. There are three children in the family, as 
follows: Rebecca, born December 9, 1859; Frances A., born November 28, 1861, wife of J. 
F. Ashelman: Sallie C, born March 23, 1864, wife of William Ashelman, all living near 
him. Mr. Wenner was engaged in school-'teacning a long time— from 1858 to 1882 — and 
almost every winter found him in that capacity in Fishingcreek and Benton Townships. 
During the term of 1858-59, he taught the village school at Benton, but his health failing 
he abandoned the profession and engaged in farming. He is a correspondent to the 
Benton papers, and a friend of education. The family are identified with the Reformed 
church in Fishingcreek. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 
BRIARCREEK TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH OF BERWICK. 

ENOS L. ADAMS, retired farmer, P. O. Berwick, was born in Briarcreek Township, 
July 28, 1824, a son of Samuel and Esther (Hill) Adams, natives of Columbia County and 
of German descent. His great-grandfather came from Germany and located in Berks 
County, and over 130 years ago bought 900 acres where our subject now lives. The 
grandfather of Enos L. next took the homestead in this county, where he farmed all 
his life, and here also his son, subject's father, farmed. Enos L. is of the fourth generation 
now on this farm where he was born and reared. He owns 265 acres of land, beside three 
houses and lots in Berwick. He married in March, 1847, Margaret Kisner, a native of 
Luzerne County, and nine children blessed their union, eight of whom are living: Alice, 
wife of James Freas; Samuel. Kenny, Anna M., William. Elliott. Margaret and Fannie. 
Mr. and Mrs. Adams are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is a member of the 
-Orange and has held the office of townsliip assessor. 

GEORGE WESLEY ASH, proprietor Briar Creek Excelsior Mills, P. O. Ber- 
wick. Tais mill was built in 1874, to take the place of one destroyed by fire, by Ruckle & 
Ash. The mill was owned bv that firna up to 18S0. when Charles Ash. father of George 
"Wesley,, bouglit the interest of Mr. Ruckle, and the i)laut is now owned by the Messrs. 



384 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Asli, Charles and George W. The building is 40x50 feet in ground area, and is three 
and one-half stories in height; is supplied with three run of buhrs; is run by water, and 
tbe power is supplied Ifrom a turbine wheel. They have a dam across Briar creek from 
which the water is supplied. George W. Ash is the managing miller. George Wesley 
Ash. operator of Briar Creek Excelsior Mills, was born in Fishingcreek Township, this 
county, October 15, 1850, son of Charles and Sarah (Ruckle) Ash. Christian Ash, grand- 
father of George W., came to this county in the early days from Northampton County, 
Penn., and bouglit a tract of land along Briar creek, now known as the " Bower place." 
There he resided a short time, and then moved up into what is now Fishingcreek Town- 
ship, where he bought a trantof iand now owned by William and Charles Ash, two of his 
sons, and here he lived until his death. He died about 1879. his wife having preceded 
him in death by a number of years. They are Ituried at Zion Church. Fishingcreek 
Township. Charles Ash, father of G. W., was born in Northampton County, Penn., and 
was but a boy seven years old wlien his parents removed to this county. He made hi& 
home with his parents until he married, and then bought a part of the old home- 
stead of his father, in Fishingcreek Township, where he has resided ever since. He was 
married in this county to Miss Sarah Ruckle, and they were the parents of nine children, 
of whom eight are living: George Wesley, William S., who lives in Briarcreek Township, 
this county; Pierce Wilson, who lives in Fishingcreek Town.ship. this county, farming 
his father's place; Harvey Reuben, who lives in Berwick, this county; Stewart Alexan- 
der, who works in the mill; Miles Wilbert. who lives on the old homestead, and with his 
brother. Pierce Wilson, farms the place; Thomas Elliott, who lives on the old homestead, 
and Amy Florentine. Alvin Willits is deceased. The father of this family still resides 
on the old homestead, which was bought by his father when he came to Fishingcreek 
Township. His wife died February ji9. 188G. andis buried in Zion Church graveyard. 
George Wesley Ash, subject of this sketch, was reared in Fishingcreek Township, this 
county, and when he had reached the age of nearly twenty-two years he went to learn the 
milling trade in the mill which stood on the site of the one he at present operates. This 
mill was then owned by his father and Mr. Ruckle, and wben it burned down and the new 
one was rebuilt he continued in the employ of the firm, and the second year after it was 
rebuilt he was the miller of the plant. The mill is now owned by Mr. Ash and his father. 
George Wesley and his brother, William, erected a distillery in 1883, and have operated it 
up to April 31, 1886, when Mr. Ash bought his brother William's share, and since that date 
has operated it himself. The capacity of this distillery is considerable. Mr. Ash and his 
father have an eight-acre lot in connection with the works, which he farms. He was mar- 
ried in thiscountv February 22, 1880, to Miss Amelia Freas. a native of Columbia County, 
and daughter of William L" and Fannie (Rittenhouse) Freas. Mr. and Mrs. Ash are the 
parents of one child. Wilbert Charles. Our subject is at present one of the school direct- 
ors of Briarcreek Township, having been elected in 1884. 

DAVID BAUCHER. mason, Berwick, was born in Mahoning Township July 27, 
1822, and is a son of .Jacob and Zena (Zimmerman) Baucher, natives of Schuylkill County, 
Penn., and of German descent. His great-grandfather came from Germany and located' 
in Schuylkill County. His grandfather followed farming and died in that countj'. 
Jacob Baucher was reared in Schuylkill County and remained there until he was thirty- 
five years of age. He then moved to what is now Montour County and bought a farm in 
Mahoning Township, which he had operated by his sons. He was a millwright, which 
trade he followed nearly all his life. He died in 1827. He was the father of nine chil- 
dren, five of whom are living: Joseph, Nancy, Jacob, David and Thomas. Our subject 
was only seven years old when his father died, and he remained with his mother until he 
was twenty-one, in the meantime learning the mason's trade. In 1842 he came to Ber- 
wick and worked at his trade several years; then in partnership with Daniel Reedy he 
began contracting. After some years the partnershij) was dissolved and Mr. Baucher 
continued in business alone. In April, 1844, he married Rachel Sybert, a native of Lu- 
zerne County. They are the parents of eight children, five of whom are living: Fannie, 
wife of Frank Corkins; William E., Eliza, wife of Joseph G. Williamson; Lillie, wife of 
Sterling Dickson, and Gilbert. The deceased are Cordelia A.. Jane R. and Janetta. Mr. 
and Mrs. Baucher are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church; he is a member of the 
I. O. O. F., in which he lias passed all the chairs. He has been on the town council sev- 
eral terms, and school director; has also been constable. He is steward in the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. 

ISAIAH BOWER, merchant and real estate dealer, Berwick, was born in Briarcreek 
Township. Columbia Co., Penn. .March 19,1829, a son of George Michael and Mary (Zahner) 
Bower, natives of Columbia County and of German descent. His grandfather, George 
Michael Bower, was born in Germany; came to America when thirteen years of age and 
settled in Lehigh County along tlie Leliigh. He came to Columbia County in the latter 
part of the last century and settled in Briarcreek Township, at which time there was but 
one house in Berwick. He bought a large tract of land and there resided until his death. 
Both the grandfathers settled here. The grandfather, George Zahner, was a great hunter, 
and at the time of his coming, game was very plentiful. He first built a log cabin. The 



BRIARCREEK TOWNSHIP. 385> 

nearest market was then at Philadelphia or Reading. George Michael Bower was a 
weaver by trade, also followed farming and taught a school at his own house. A promi- 
nent man in his day, he died in Briarcreek Township in December, 1863, in his eighty- 
third year. His wife died about six years prior. Isaiah was reared on a farm and when 
eighteen years of age went to learn ihe carpenter's trade and the building of threshing 
machinery. He was thus employed until 1852 when he came to Berwick and worked for 
Jackson & Woodin two and a half years. He then rented their foundry and did all the 
manufacturing of plows, threshing machines, etc., for twelve years. In 1864 he engaged 
in mercantile business which he has since carried on, with the exception of two years he 
was engaged in running a foundry and manufacturing agricultural implements. He owns 
several small farms and a great deal of town property, also some in Nescopeck. In De- 
cember, 1850, he married Hannah Hagenbuch. Mr. Bower has also been extensively en- 
gaged in the real estate business. He and his wife are members of the Evangelical Asso- 
ciation, to which he has belonged for thirty-eight years. 

EDMUND J. BOWMAN, Berwick, was born in Briarcreek Township, Columbia Co., 
Penn., December 21, 1835; a son of Jesse and Anna (Brown) Bowman. His grandfather, 
the Rev. Thomas Bowman, Sr., was born in Bucks County in 1760, and in 1782 married 
Mary Treas, of Northampton County. In April, 1793, he and his family left the old farm 
at Mount Bethel, traveling by* wagon via Mauch Chunk, Nazareth and Lehigh, to make 
their new home in a wilderness country. They settled in Briarcreek Township, Colum- 
bia County, and occupied, temporarily, a log house near the site of the three-story Pilk- 
ington dwelling, situated upon the public road leading from Berwick to Orangeville. 
The grandfather was a Methodist preacher, wiiose talents were of a commanding order. 
Socially, he was very agreeable; humorous, apt at anecdote, keen in argument, ready of 
utterance and quick at repartee, and in a public address he was often powerful. Subject's 
father was the fourth son and child and was in his fifth year when his parents moved to 
Briarcreek. The next year he began to attend school and succeeded in acquiring a prac- 
tical education. After his marriage he lived in Briarcreek eleven years, when he moved 
to Berwick Plains in 1820. Two years later the Rev. John Thomas, who was then 
preacher in charge of Northumberland Circuit, appointed him class leader of a little soci- 
ety composed of the pious neighbors who gathered on Sundays to hold prayer-meetings, 
Sunday-school and class meetings. In 1829 he was transferred to Berwick, where he con- 
tinued his leadership until the close of his life, a period of almost fifty consecutive years. 
For fifteen years he had the chief management of the camp-meetings at a time when the 
ruder elements of society opposed Methodism in the spirit of hatred. He was held in high 
esteem by the entire community by whom he was called " Uncle Jesse." He was a direct- 
or of a State bank at Danville for many years and also of the National Bank at Berwick, 
and through his personal efforts with the Legislature of Pennsylvania, a subsidy of $10,- 
000 was secured from the State for the building of the present bridge across the Susque- 
hanna River, at Berwick. In 1821 he was appointed captain of the first company of the 
Second Brigade, Eighth Division of the State Militia. He was recognized as a pioneer in 
the matter of higher education, and was among the first in the community to give his chil- 
dren a classical education. He was a member of the board of trustees of Dickinson Col- 
lege about 1847. In 1849 he sold his farm and moved to Berwick, resolved to live retired. 
He died in 1880, his wife's death occurring four years prior. The Bowmans were among 
the early settlers of the county and have been a noted family^in its history. Our subject's 
maternal grandfather Robert, with his brother, John Brown, were among the founders of 
Berwick, closely following Evan Owen. Robert had three children: John, who died 
young; Anna, who married Jesse Bowman, and Sarah, who became the wife of a Mr. Hicks 
and settled in Salem Township, Luzerne County. Edmund J. Bowman, our subject, is 
the youngest of his father's family and early evinced a taste for intellectual pursuits. He 
received liberal educational advantages, having attended Williamsport Dickinson Semi- 
nary; later graduated from DickinsonlCollege, "and at one time attained considerable local 
fame as a public .speaker. In his public lectures his subjects were well chosen and evi- 
denced broad reading. In a recent newspaper notice he is spoken of as " one of the finest 
lecturers in the State." He never chose a profession, but as his pen productions were of 
a high order, he figured somewhat as a contributor and correspondent of the public jour- 
nals. For some years his occupation was that of a school-teacher, and he served his coun- 
try as a soldier in the civil war. He owns 160 acres of land, also property in Kansas City, 
Mo. He is the only member of the family unmarried. 

ROBERT S. BOWMAN, postmaster, Berwick, was born in Centre Township, Colum- 
bia Co., Penn., July 8, 1858. a son of D. A. and Jane S. (Clark) Bowman, natives of Penn- 
sylvania. The latter, of Irish extraction, was a descendant of the Clarks of Revolutionary 
fame, her grandfather being a colonel during that struggle. Our subject's great-great- 
grandfather, who spelled his name Baumann, came to this country from Germany when 
thirteen years of age. The grandfather, 'Jesse Bowman, was 'born in Northampton 
County, but came to this county in the latter part of the last century, took a large tract of 
land, and was among the first settlers of the place. He followed farming, and died in 
1828. Our subject's father was born in Columbia County in 1803; was reared on a farm. 



386 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

and followed agricultural pursuits. He was twice married, and was the father of eight 
children, tliree by his first wife and five by his second. Six of the children still survive: 
Caroline, Sarah A. (wife of Thomas F. Scliuyler), Charles S., George D. (married to Kate 
Kerns), John A. (married to Annie Large), Robert S. (married to Mary Isadore Gilroy). 
The deceased are Ezekiel and Jesse G. The father died in 1877, but "the mother is still 
living, and resides in Mifllinville. Robert S., our subject, was reared on a farm until 
twelve years of age, when his parents moved to the town of Mifilinville. There he 
attended school until he was eighteen years of age, when he entered the Republican otfice 
at Bloomsburg. He served.a tliree years' apprenticeship, and at the age of twenty-one, in 
1879, came to Berwick and bought out the B/rwick Independent. Mr. Bowman was 
appointed postmaster at Berwick, under Arthur's administration, and took ciiarge of the 
office in that mouth. Oct )ber VS. 1881, he married Mary Isadore Gilroy. a native of Ber- 
wick, and their union has been blessed witli two childVen: Roy W. and Clark A. Mr. 
Bowman is a member of the Met'uodist Episcopal Church, and Mrs. Bowman of the 
Baptist. 

JONAS CRTSMAN, miller, P. O. Berwick, was born in Warren County, N. J., March 
4, 1881, a son of Jacob and Margaret (Hill) Crismati, natives of Warren County, N. J., 
and of English-German descent. His grandfather came from Germany, settled in New 
Jersey, built the first grist-mill in Warren County, and was extensively engaged in mill- 
ing. He shipped flour to all parts of the country, but chiefly to Philadelphia. He was 
very wealthy, and at his death his property was divided among his ten children. Our 
subject's maternal grandfather. Gen. Hill, came from England and settled in New Jersey. 
He was obliged to flee from his native country on account of siding with the colonies, 
and, after arriving in America, served in the Revolution under Washington. After the 
close of that struggle he built a mill and followed milling. Our subject'slfalher was born 
in WaiTen County. N. J., in 1795; was reared on a farm and engaged in milling, which he 
followed all his life. He served in the war of 1813, and while rejoicing over the election 
of President Harrison, in 1841, he was accidentally killed by the explosion of a cannon. 
He was the father of ten children, five of whom survive: three reside in New Jersey, 
one in California, and one in Pennsylvania. Jonas Crisman was reared to the miller's 
trade, which he followed in New Jersey until coming to this State. He owned two or 
three grist-mills in New Jersey, and followed milling extensively. In 1883 he sold out, 
came to Columbia County, and purchased the grist-mill which lie is now operating. He 
also has the contract to run the stage from Berwick to Conyngham. In October, 1855, he 
married Ellen Gray, a native of New Jersey, and six children were born to them: Annie 
(wife of F. P. Freas), John (married to Mary Linaberry). Frederick, Frank, George and 
Virgil H. Mrs. Crisman is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Crisman is a F. 
& A. M. 

B. F. CRISPIN, Jr., teller of the First National Bank, Berwick, was born in Phil- 
adelphia July 21, 1847, a son of Benjamin F. and ERzabeth R. (Glenn) Crispin, natives of 
Philadelphia, and of English descent. His father was born August 1. 1834. and educated 
in Philadelphia, where he has always resided. Our subject was reared and educated in 
Philadelphia, and during the great excitement in oil circles, being then eighteen years old, 
he took charge of his father's business, while the latter was absent in the oil regions. He 
remained with his father until 1870, when he engaged as a partner in the firm of Lougacre 
& Co., in the printing and lithographing business. Thus he remained until the spring of 
1873, when he came to Berwick and was employed as secretary of the Berwick Rolling 
Mill Company; was later elected treasurer, and held both offices until the mill closed in 
January, 1873. He then entered the First National Bank as teller, and in 1880 was elected 
one of the directors. In the spring of that year he engaged in the iron business under 
the firm name of Jackson Bros. & Crispin, in the manufacture of charcoal, pig iron, 
etc., in which he is still interested, the business being now conducted under the firm name 
■of Jackson Iron Co. jMr. Crispin married, in 1873, Maggie, daughter of M. W. and 
Margaret (Gearhart) Jackson. Mr. and Mrs. Crispin are the parents of three children: M. 
Jackson, Clarence G. and Helen. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. Mr. Crispin is a member of the Masonic fraternity. 

R. G. CRISPIN, merchant, Berwick, was born in Philadelphia, Penn., a son of B.F. 
and Elizabeth (Glenn) Crispin, both natives of Philadelphia, and of English-Welsh descent. 
His ancestors came over from England in 1653, with William Penn, and located in Phila- 
delphia. The grandfather, Benjamin, was born in Philadelphia, and there learned the 
saddler's trade, which he followed in his youth. In the prime of life he became quite a 
politician; somewhere about 1840 was speaker of the Senate and also served as lieutenant- 
governor for some years. His latter years he spent in retirement,havin2c amassed a fortune. 
Our subject's father was also born in Philadelphia, and there attended school. He served 
as public weigher in that city for many years, and still resides there. Our subject, the 
third of eight children, was reared in Philadelphia until twenty-one years of age, and 
there received his education. At the age of seventeen he engaged in the insurance busi- 
ness, which he followed until leaving the city. In 1870 he came to Berwick and engaged 
an mercantile business, which he has since followed. He carries a general stock of dry 



BRIARCREEK TOWNSHIP. 387 

goods, boots, shoes, groceries, etc., valued at |7,000. In September, 1873, he married 
Fannie Bowmun, a native of Columbia County. 

EMMOIi DIETTERICH, farmer, P. O. Berwick, was born in Centre Township July 
7, 1821, a sou of Lewis and Elizabeth (Hoofnagle) Dietterich, natives of Penn.sylvania and 
of German descent. His great-grandfather came from Germany and settled in Nortiiamp- 
ton County, Penn., where he resided until his death. He was among the first settlers of 
that county. His son, Jacob, was a farmer and came to Columbia County in 1800, and 
settled in Centre Township. He owned a large tract of land, all_ timber, which required 
many years of labor to clear. He was a strong Democrat in politics, and was sixty-four 
years* old at the lime of his death. Subject's father was only ten yenrs old when his. 
parents came to this county, and he used to take the grain on horseback to the old Ritten- 
house mill. He was a carpenter by trade, which he followed all his life as long as he was 
able to work. He was the father of five children: Emmor, Stephen and Sarah (wife of 
Andrew Terwilliger), living, and Phoebe and Elias, deceased (the latter served in the 
civil war and died "a short time after his discharge). Our subject was reared on a farm, 
and has followed agricultural pursuits since he was seventeen years old. He farmed for 
his father until he was twenty-four years old. and then farmed on shares until he was 
twenty-eight. He bought the farm where he now resides in 1870, and owns seventy acres 
of good land in Briarcreek Township. He married, March 4, 1849, Mary Mosteller, and 
four children were born to them, two of w^hom are living: Edella and Dora, wife of War- 
ren Terwilliger. The deceased are Clark and Lewis H. Mr. and Mrs. Dietterich are 
members of ^he Lutheran Church. He has served as school director, auditor, judge of 
elections and inspector, and was supervisor eleven terms. 

B. F. DREISBACH, dealer in pianos, organs and sewing machines, Berwick, was 
born in Roaringcreek Township, Columbia Co., Penn., October 30, 1837, a son of Nathan 
and Sarah (Levan) Dreisbach, natives of Pennsylvania and of German-French descent. 
His great-grandfather came from Germany and settled first in Philadelphia, and after 
several j^ears immigrated to Northampton County, where he died. Subject's maternal 
great-grandfather came from France and resided in the Wyoming Valley during the 
Indian massacre. Our subject's great-grandmother was captured l)y the Indians during 
the massacre and kept a prisoner eleven years. She had a little girl with her at the time, 
who was two years old. All the other children were burned to death by the Indians in 
the cabin. The great-grandmother was taken into Ohio and had tried to make her escape 
several times, but was always unsuccessful. She was compelled to many the Indian 
chief, and bore him two sons. While the Indians were on a trading trip she made her 
escape. Yost Dreisbach, subject's grandfather, settled in Salem Township, Luzerne 
County, in 1800, and was a millwright, which trade he followed most of his life. He 
bought a large tract of land in Roaringcreek, about 1,000 acres, which he divided among 
his children. Nathan Dreisbach has followed millwrighting all his life, which was the 
occupation of his ancestors. He now resides in Jonestown, this county, and is now 
engaged in mercantile business. He reared a family of eight children, six living: 
Mrs. Forniuger, Benjamin F., Mrs. Kunkel, Mrs. Hosier, Nathaniel and Albert. Our 
subject was reared on a farm until about two years of age, when he resided eight years in 
Kerntown, where his father was engaged in mercantile business. He then lived with 
his uncle, John P. Levan, four years, and later went to Ashland, Schuylkill County, where 
he clerked for fourteen years and had an interest in the business for two years. He was 
for three j'ears in partnership with R. P. Bellman, and then sold out on account of ill 
health and moved to Conyngham, Luzerne County, where he enaraged in mercantile 
business three years. He then moved to Fishingcreek, where he followed the same busi- 
ness two years. In the spring of 1877 he moved to Berwick, where he has since been 
engaged in his present business. He was employed as traveling salesman for a dry goods 
house in Philadelphia three years, and also dealt in musical instruments. He married 
January 7, 1867, Doretta Distlehurst. and they are both members of the Lutheran Church. 
He is also a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the G. A. R. In 1863 he enlisted in Companj'" 
C, Sixth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantrj', and served three months; then re-enlisted, this 
time in Company C. Fifty-first Regiment, and served one year. He was then drafted, but 
paid a substitute. He participated in the battles of Antieiam, Gettysburg, Chancellors- 
ville, Fredericksburg and several skirmishes. He was postmaster at Conyngham, 
Luzerne Covinty, three years. 

J. W. EVANS, insurance agent, Berwick, was born July 7, 1845, at Evansville, this 
county, a son of George and Rebecca (Shellenbarger) Evans, natives of Columbia County, 
and of Welsh descent on tlie father's side and German on the mother's. The first of the 
family settled in Briarcreek Township the latter part of tlie last centurj-, and his grand- 
father, James Evans, was the first millwright of the county. He built nearly all tlie old 
mills in this county, and also owned a large tract of land. Our subject's father learned 
the millwright's trade, which he followed a number of years, then learned the tanner's 
trade and built a tannery at Evansville, following the business until his death in 1870. 
His widow died in 1880. Our subject received a liberal education. At the breaking out 
of the Rebellion, when a mere lad, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Seventv-eightli 



■388 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Pennsylvania Volunteers, in Capt. J. M. Buckalew's (a brother of the Hon. Charles R. 
Buckalew of Bloonis])urg) companj'. He rendered gallant service to his country in the 
ranks, where he served fourteen months, and was then honorabl}' discharged. At the 
close of his soldier experience he went to Hazelton and entered the large mercantile house 
of William Kisner, remaining three years; then he went toW\'oming Seminarj', at Kings- 
ton, taking a full three years' course of study. Upon his graduation from this excellent in- 
stitution he received the appointment of teller of the First National Bank of Berwick, in 
which capacity he served .seven ,years with distinction as a financier and accountant. In 
1877 he established the now well known Berwick Insurance Agency, which, by the way, 
is the most reliable and largest agency in Columbia County. Only old and well established 
fire, marine and life insurance companies are represented by Mr. Evans. He has had 
quite a number of heavy losses in each of these departments of insurance, which have 
been promptly and satisfactorily adjusted. At present he offers perfect security in the 
following first-class companies: ^Etuaof Hartford. Liverpool and London and Globe, Com- 
mercial Union of London, Phcenix of Hartford, Fire Association of Philadelphia, ^tna 
Life of Hartford, Springfield of Missouri, Fire and Marine. Any information by mail or 
tjtherwise will receive prompt attention by addressing Mr. Evans. He also is largely inter- 
ested in real estate transact ions in this town. He has laid out and is offering for sale some 
very fine building lots at the upper end of Market Street, a suburb of Berwick. Mr. Evans 
is the president of the home Young Men's Christian Association, and a leading member 
of the Metiiodist Episcopal Church. He is a gentleman of fine business and social qualities, 
having hosts of friends at home and abroad, won by a genial disposition and uniform 
courtesy which always mark the true gentleman. He married, November 15, 1871, Anna 
E., daughter of Rev. Jared H. and Sarah B. Young. Mr. and Mrs. Evans are the parents 
■of five children, one living — John Harrison. The deceased are Daisy B., aged seven 
years; Sarah Y., aged five and a half years; Anna F., aged four and a half j^ears, and an 
infant son. Mrs. Evans is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a 
member of the Masonic fraternity and of the I. O. O. F. Lodge, and has passed all the 
chairs. 

CHARLES C. EVANS, attorney, Berwick, was born in Briarcreek Township Col- 
iimbia Co..Penn., January 10, 1858, a son of Francis and Jane (Lamon) Evans, natives of 
Pennsylvania, and of Welsh and Irish descent. His great-grandfather came from 
Wales, and his grandfather, James Evans, was born in this county in 1799. The 
latter was a millwright by trade, which he followed most of his life, and built nearly 
all the grist-mills in the neighborhood, some of which are still standing. He also 
was interested in agriculture, but never followed it extensively. He built and 
owned an oil-mill near Evansville, and died in Luzerne County, in June, 1879, in the 
eighteenth j'ear of his age. Our subject's father was reared on a farm and followed 
agricultural pursuits extensively until 1885, when he moved into Berwick, and 
is now leading a retired life. Charles C. was reared on the farm and attended the dis- 
trict school until 1874, when he attended the State normal school two years. In tlie win- 
ter of 1876-77 he taught school in the township of Briarcreek, and in the fall of 1877 went 
to Lafa.yette College, where he graduated in June, 1881. He then entered the office of the 
Hon. Simon P. Wolverton, of Sunbury, and read law under him for two years. July 14, 
1883, he was admitted to practice^in the several courts of Northumberland County, and was 
subsequently admitted to the bars of Columbia and Luzerne Counties. August 23, 1883, 
he opened a law office in Berwick, where he has since remained. Mr. Evans is a man of 
fine intellect and well fitted for the profession he has chosen. He is a member of the Phi 
Delta Theta fraternity and of the Presbyterian Church. 

JOHN M. FAIliCHILD, farmer, 'P. O. Berwick, was born in Newport Township, 
Luzerne Co., Penn., October 6, 1853, a son of John and Martha (Line) Fairchild, natives 
of Luzerne County, and of German descent. His grandfather, Solomon Fairchild, came 
from Connecticut, and settled in Luzerne County, Penn., where he followed agriculture 
all his life. Our subject's father ali^o followed farming, and the farm owned by him, on 
which he first settled in Luzerne Count}', is now cut up into town lots for part of Nanti- 
coke. He was the father of six children, four of whom are living: Henry, Alfred, Martha 
(wife of O. F. Ferns) and John M. The last named was reared on a farm, and remained 
with his parents until their death. He then took the homestead and lived on it until the 
spring of 1886, when he moved to Columbia County. Here he bought 148 acres where 
he now resides, in Briarcreek Township, and wliich are well improved. He has been 
twice married: first, in 1878, to Nettie Curtis, who died April 7, 1883; second occasion, 
January 27, 1884, to Clara B. Wolfe, who has borne him two children: Willie J. and Wes- 
ley B. Mrs. Fairchild is a member of the Reformed Church. 

OLAF F. FERRIS, farmer, was born in Mehoopany Township, Wyoming Co., 
Penn., March 21, 1848, a son of Simeon and Hiley (June) Ferris, natives, respectively, of 
Connecticut and New Jersey. The former moved to New Jersey, where he married and 
engaged in farming many years. He then immigrated to Wyoming County about 1820, 
bought a farm, and there resided until his death in 1875. He was the father of twelve 
children: Apollos, David L., Michael (deceased), Harriet (deceased), Jane, Henry (de- 



BRIAECREEK TOWNSHIP, 389 

-ceased), Levi (deceased), Emily, Charles (deceased). Clarissa. OJaf F. and Simeon 
(deceased). Henry died in the service of his country, and Levi was Icilled at the battle 
of Fair Oaks. May ol, 1863. Charles also died in the army. Olaf F. was reared on a 
farm, and remained at home until twenty-one years of age. He then commenced to learn 
the carpenter's trade, and followed it in Luzerne County, having moved to Nanticoke in 
the spring of 1870. In March, 1885. he moved to Columbia County, and bought 150 acres 
of valuable land about one-half mile from Berwick. There he built a large two-story 
house about a year prior to moving into it, and also owns another house on his farm, 
which he rents. Since then he has bought an adjoining farm of 133 acres, with good 
buildings. He was engaged in mercantile business in Nanticoke for about four years, 
and still owns an interest in it. He married, in January, 1875, Martha L. Fairchild, wiio 
bore him four children: Ada A.. John H., Martha E. and Olaf C. Mr. and Mrs. Ferris 
are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, 
K. T. and Grange. While living in Luzerne County he was a member of the town coun- 
cil. He has passed all the chairs in the Masonic lodge. He is also a member of the I. O. 
O. F., having passed all the chairs in the lodge. He has represented the Masonic lodge 
for two years in the Grand Lodge. 

FREAS FOWLER, farmer. P. O. Berwick, was born in Briarcreek Township, May 
25, 1830, a son of Gilbert and Sarah (Freas) Fowler, natives of the same township. His 

grandfather, Daniel , came from New York State and located in Briarcreek in 1775, 

and was among the early settlers of that place. He bought a large tract of land, most of 
which was in timber, and the place now occupied by our subject was all scrubby pine 
trees, but is now one of the best farms in the neighborhood. Gilbert Fowler was born in 
1792, and always made Briarcreek Township his home. He followed farming, and owned 
at one time about 500 acres. He was the father of seven children, four of whom are now 
living: Andrew, Freas, Charles and Lyman. Gilbert died in January, 1885, and his wife 
in 1878. Freas Fowler was reared on the farm, and received his education in Berwick. 
He remained at home until twenty-two years of age, when he went into business with his 
brother-in-law, keeping hotel at Berwick. He served as constable and collector of Ber- 
wick five years. In 1862 he took the homestead farm, and has since been engaged in 
agricultural pursuits, and in 1882 bought the farm, which consists of 129 acres of fine land. 
In 1858 Mr. Fowler married Sarah Hagenbuch, a native of this county, and one child 
blessed their union, Ida A. Mr. and Mrs. Fowler and daughter are members of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church. In 1879 Mr. Freas Fowler was elected as one of the vice-presi- 
dents of the Columbia County Agricultural, Horticultural and Mechanical Association, in 
which he served four successive years, and in 1883 was elected as president of the same 
association, in which he served three years successively. 

F. P. HILL, M. D., physician and surgeon, Berwick, was born in Centre Township, 
Columbia County, February 12, 1853, a son of John and Mercy (Hoffman) Hill, natives 
of Pennsylvania and of German descent. His grandfather, Frederick Hill, settled in Cen- 
tre Township the latter part of the last century. His grandfather Hoffman moved to 
Berwick, where he lived during the latter part of his life. Our subject's father followed 
farming in Centre Township until 1872, when he moved to Berwick, bought property and 
there has since resided. He was the father of eleven children, eight of whom are living: 
Sarah.wifeof Wesley Fortner; William, Phoebe, Ezra B. , Thomas G., Alice M., Hester A. and 
Frank B. Our subject was reared on a farm until sixteen years of age, and attended and 
taught school until he was twenty years of age. He took a course at Bloomsburg State 
Normal School and Williamsport Dickinson Seminary, where he graduated at the age of 
nineteen. He also took a course at the Wyoming Seminary, Kingston. In 1873 he came to 
Berwick and entered the office of Dr. R. H. Little as a student, and there remained until 
he completed his medical course in the spring of 1876. He graduated at Jefferson 
Medical College in 1876, after which he became a partner with his preceptor. Dr. R. H. 
Little, and contiuued practice with him until his death in January, 1885. Since then Dr. 
Hill has been alone and has a large and lucrative practice both as a surgeon and physician. 
He married in March, 1886. Hattie Wesley, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

M. L. HOUSKNECHT, farmer, was born in Columbia County, Penn., April 2, 
1840, a son of Solomon and Mary (Miller) Housknecht, both natives of Pennsylvania and 
of German descent. His grandfather, Martin Housknecht, was born in Northampton 
County and moved to Luzerne County after his marriage, where he bought a farm near 
Butler and resided until his death. Our subject's father was born in Northampton 
County and has followed cabinet-making the most of his life. He resided in Bloomsburg 
about fourteen years and on the farm about six years. In 1875 he moved to Berwick, 
where he still resides, and is now in his {seventy -first year. His wife is living also, in her 
seventieth year. They were the parents of three children; of these our subject is the only 
«urvivor. He was reared in Mifflinville and there received a part of his education. He 
entered a store as clerk when he was fourteen years ;of age, and remained until he was 
twenty-nine. He also attended school at Bloomsburg and Union Seminar}% New Berlin. 
In 1869 he moved to where he now resides, purchased a farm, and has since followed agri- 
cultural pursuits. He married in November, 1862, Annie M. Hosier, and seven children 



390 . BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

were born to them: Mary E., John S. (a bookkeeper in Philadelphia and a graduate of the 
College of Philadelphia), Fannie, Ezra, Addie, Freas B. and Charles C. Mr. and Mrs. 
Housknecht are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has served as auditor 
and assessor. 

M. W. JACKSON, proprietor of the rolling-mill, car shops, wheel foundry and: 
manufacturer of castings, etc., Berwick, his native place, was born January 28, 1815, a 
son of J. C. and Elizabeth (Doane) Jackson. His father was a native of Goshen, N. Y.. 
and his mother of Chester County, Peuu., and of the Quaker faith. His grandfather, 
Benjamin Doane, was born in Chester County, and immigrated to Columbia County in the 
latter part of the last century, settled at Berwick and followed his trade, that of a tailor, 
until his death in 1845. Our subject's father came to this place in the early part of the 
present century, and here resided until his death, in 1850. Our subject was reared in 
Berwick and educated at such schools as the neighborhood afforded in his youth. He be- 
gan life for himself without a dollar, acting as clerk in a store for about six years. 
While in this position he gained a little more knowledge of business ways and determined 
to embark in .some business of his own. In 1840, in connection with George Mack, he 
started a foundry on a small scale for the manufacture of plows and plow castings, ket- 
tles and almost everything that farmers would want. The present site of his dwelling 
was at that time an orchard, and Berwick was very small. The partuei-ship continued 
three years when Mr. Jackson bought out Mr. Mack and took in Robert McCurdy as a 
partner, and continued thus about three years. He then l)Ou,!>ht out Mr. McCurdy and 
continued the business alone up to 1849, when he took in W. H. Woodin as a partner, and 
the firm continued under the name ofjjackson & Woodin up to 1873. The name was then 
changed to The Jackson & Woodin Manufacturing Company, and incorporated under the 
laws of the Legislature, with Clarence G. Jackson and C. R. Woodin as the active men. 
our subject and Mr. Woodin retiring from active business. Mr. Jackson's son died May 
3, 1880, but the stock is still retained by the family. The company is now organized with 
C. R. Woodin, president; G. Mallory, vice-president; Charles H. Zehnder, secretary, and 
M. W. Jackson and W. H. Woodin, executive committee. The foundry was first started 
on a very small scale, doing a business for the first few years of about $10,000 to $20,000 
per annum. In 186(5 the t)uildings were all destroyed by fire but were immediately rebuilt. 
The firm worked night and day and their business increased very rapidly until now they 
do about $1,500,000 per year, and give employment to about 1,200 men when running at 
full capacity. The firm also own and operate a large store and do a business from $100,- 
000 to $125,000 per annum. The capacity of the rolling-mill is forty to fifty tons per day 
of finished iron or merchitnt bar iron. The car wheel factory manufactures from 150 to. 
200 wheels per day, and in connection with the wheel foundry they manufacture all kinds 
of castings. The pipe factory runs twenty-five to thirty tons per day, from three ta 
twelve inches in diameter, used for water and gas. Wiien the works are run under full 
capacity, 140 to 150 tons of pig iron per day are used. This gives some idea of the work 
done by them. The car shops have a capacity of twenty cars per day. Mr. Jackson has 
one of the finest residence properties in the borough, beautifully located, and by industry and 
economy he has amassed quite a fortune. He has been twice married; first in 1839, to Marga- 
ret Gearhart, granddaughter of Judge Gearhart, a native of Northumberland County, who 
bore him seven children, two living: Marg?iret Jackson (wife of B. F. Crispm. Jr.) and 
Frank R. (married to Miss Amniprman). Mrs. Jackson died in 1871, and our subject next 
married in 1877, Mrs. Mary (Shuize) Gotwalt, niece of Gov. J. Andrew Shulze, of Penn- 
sylvania, who has borne him one child, Mary Woodin. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson are members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is president of the First National Bank, and 
owns about 1,200 acres of land, and is quite extensively engaged in farming. He is one of 
the most popular men in Berwick, standing very high in the estimation of all who have 
had the pleasure of his acquaintance. 

COL. CLARENCE G. JACKSON, deceased, was born March 25, 1843, in Berwick, 
where he spent his early years. He was a sou of M. W. and Margaret (Gearhart) Jackson. 
At the age of fourteen he entered Dickinson Seminary at Williamsport, where, two years 
later, he graduated with the highest honors of his class. He then entered Dickinson 
College, Carlisle, where, at the age of eighteen he graduated at the head of his class. After 
his college career he returned home, wliere he remained during the eventful period cover- 
ing the beginning of the civil war. At the age of twenty years he felt that it was his duty 
to aid his country -and entered the service, August 2. 1862. as second lieutenant of Com- 
pany H, Eighty-fourth Regiment. January 2, of the following year, he was promoted 
first lieutenant, and passed safely through many sanguinary battles. At Chancellorsville 
he was captured by the enemy and taken to Libby Prison, where he remained many 
months, but not without making a daring attempt at escaping. He with his companions 
succeeded in getting away from the prison to the country, but was captured and brougiit 
back. Later he was exchanged and appointed to a ca])taincy, serving in that capacity 
until the close of the war. At the battle of the Wilderness he was wounded and again 
taken prisoner and returned to that prison from which he had been released but a short 
time before. His stay, however, was short, for he Avas included among 600 officers that 



BRIARCREEK TOWNSHIP. ;391 

were taken to Charleston and placed under lire of the Federal cannon that thundered on 
them from Ft. Moultrie. From Charleston they were taken to Columbia and placed in a 
guarded field, with no roof to shelter them, and where Ihey dug underground cells for 
themselves. Our subject was finally exchanged and returned home to engage in a more 
peaceful occupation. In 1870 he was appointed major on Gen. Osborne's staff and later 
promoted to colonel on Gov. Hartranfl's staff. In 1879 he was honored by an appoint- 
ment from Gov. Hoyt, making him quartermaster-general, which office he held at the 
time of his death. He was a delegate-elect to the convention at Chicago. Occasionally 
he appeared before the public as a lecturer, where he was always appreciated. At the 
time of his death he was vice-president of The Jackson & Woodin Manufacturing Com- 
pany, president of the rollirig-mill, a director of the First National Bank, and a member 
of the firms of Jackson. Woodin & Jackson, bankers, and Jackson Bros. & Crispin. He 
was a trustee of Dickinson College and of the State normal school at Bloomsburg, a 
director of the schools of Berwick, and a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church, all 
of which positions he creditably filled. He was liberal in thought and deed and a liberal 
friend of the laboring class. He had just completed a fine residence at an enormous ex- 
pense, in which he resided one year before his death. The firms with which he was con- 
nected have lost an able, active associate, the church a valuable and liberal supporter, the 
town a progressive citizen, and the county a loyal, patriotic and brave soldier. February 
1, 1866, he married Elizabeth Sybert, by whom he had two children: Henrietta M. and 
Jane B. Mrs. Jackson is a liberal supporter of Christianity and a member of the MethodisS 
Episcopal Church. 

FRANK R. JACKSON, director of The Jackson & Woodin Manufacturing Company, 
was born in Berwick, November 10, 1850, a son of M. W. and Margaret (Gearhart) Jack- 
son, natives of Pennsylvania. He was reared in Berwick and remained at home until he 
became of age. He received his education at Berwick, Williamsport and Mcchanicsburg. 
In 1870 he became interested in the firm of Jackson & Woodin, and still retains an interest 
in the same; in 1880 he bought a third interest in tlie Jackson Iron Company in Union 
County, and is also one of the directors of the National Bank. He is treasurer of the 
agricultural society and trustee of the Y. M. C. A. Mr. Jackson married, September 3, 1873, 
Alice Ammerman, a native of Danville. They are the parents of one child, Catherine E, 
Mr. and Mrs. Jackson are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a gentle- 
man of fine education, very enterprising and has a host of friends. 

CHARLES N. KISNER, druggist, Berwick, was born in Luzerne County, Penn., 
May 26, 1859, a son of Reubert and Cordelia (Seybert) Kisner, natives of Luzerne County, 
and of German descent. His great-grandfather came from Germany, and first settled in 
one of the lower counties. His grandfather lived in Luzerne County and there followed 
farming. Reuben Kisner was also a farmer, owned a farm in Luzerne County and died in 
1882. His widow is yet living on the old homestead near Berwick, in Luzerne County. 
Charles N. Kisner was reared on a farm until eighteen years of age when he engaged in 
the drug business in Berwick, where he remained two years. He then attended lectures 
at the college of pharmacy, Philadelphia, Penn., tw-o terms. He then returned to Berwick 
where he has since been engaged in the drug business. He carries a stock valued at 
$3,500 and has a half interest in the business, his partner being I. E. Grove, who resides 
in Philadelphia. 

LEVI KURTZ, or more properly spelt Kutz, was born in Fork Township, Northamp- 
ton Co., Penn., March 80, 1825, a son of Henry and Charity (Snyder) Kutz, natives of 
Pennsylvania. He is of German extraction, his great-grandfather having emigrated from 
Germany and being one of the early settlers of Pennsylvania. The father of the subjecS 
of this sketch served with honor in the war of 1812; he died in 1830, in the sixty-fifth 
year of his age, in Northampton County, Penn. There were ten children in the family 
of whom Levi and five older than he — Henry, Millie (wife of Frederick Ullmer. residing 
in New Jersey), Jeremiah, William and Samuel— survived the father. In 1843, when nine- 
teen years old, Levi came to Columbia County, then thinly settled, and began the world for 
himself. Having saved enough to buy a small farm, he followed the plow'for twelve j^ears. 
He traded the farm for a store in Foundryville, Columbia County, in 1858; but subsequently 
moved his store to Evansville, same county, where he remained until 1862, when he dis- 
posed of his store and removed to Berwick. In 1870 he established the Berwick Marble & 
Granite Works. In 1879 he took his son, Jennings U., into partnership and the firm is now 
known as L. Kurtz & Son. In April. 1844, Mr. Kurtz married Elizabeth, daughter of 
Daniel and Annie (Moore) Schlabach. Twelve children were born to their union, of whom 
six are living: C. Louisa, Jennings U., D. Morris, Annie S., Kittle E. and S. Burton. 

GEORGE P. LEARN, retired farmer, was born in Luzerne County, February 7, 
1819, a son of George and Mary Catherine Learn. His grandfather, Jacob Learn, was 
born in Northampton County, Penn., and lived and died in that county. He followed 
farming, and as the country was in a wild state, he had many diflicuitics to contend 
against. Indians were also numerous, and his wife and brother were killed by them.. 
George Learn, our subject's father, was born in Northampton County in August, 1788=. 
and resided there with his parents until he was twenty-six years of age. He then moved 

30 



392 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

to Luzerne Countj', where he engaged in farming until his death, at the age of sixty-two 
years. He married Mary Catherine Dreher, an aunt to Judge Dreher, of Monroe County. 
Our subject resided in Hanover, his native townsliip, until he was forty-seven years of 
age, and then moved to Columbia County. March 31, 1850, he married Lenora Keller, 
who bore him five children: Henrj- Clinton, married Rhoda Laubach; John M., married 
Mary Jane Mowrer; Alexander Jameson, married Ida Hess; Mary S.. wife of W. S. Ash, 
and Augustus Frederick, all of whom reside in Columbia County. Mr. Learn has served 
as overseer of the poor and school director. He and Mrs. Learn ai"e members of the 
Reformed Church. 

M. LEVY, clothing merchant, Berwick, was born in Alsace, France (now Germany), 
April 2, 1853, a son of Joseph and Mary (Woog)[Levy, natives of France. His father is 
still living in his native country, engaged in the mercantile business, which he has fol- 
lowed since a boy, and is now sixty-eight 3'ears old. He is the father of seven children, 
five of whom are living: Emanuel, Marx, Caroline, Jeanette and Flora. The deceased 
are David and Elise. Marx, our subject, was engaged in the mercantile business with 
his father in France until 1873, when in the fall of that year he took passage on the 
steamer " Queen," and after a voyage of seventeen days landed in the City of New York. 
There he remained one year, engaged in mercantile business. He was then employed 
by a New York dry goods house and sent west to travel, his points being Chicago, St. 
Louis and New Orleans, and all the large cities, and was thus engaged about five years. 
He then went to Philadelphia, where he was engaged about two years in mercantile 
iiusiness. In the fall of 1883 he came to Berwick and engaged in "the clothing trade, 
which he still follows. He carries a general line of clothing, boots, shoes, hats, caps, 
Srueks, etc., his stock being valued at about $7,000, insured. In March, 1882, he married 
Rosa Dukes, a native of San Francisco, Cal. Thej- are the parents of three children, two 
of whom are living: Mabel and Arthur. Mr. Levy is a member of the Free Sons, and he 
and wife are of the Jewish faith. 

SHADRACK L. McBRIDE, Berwick, was born in Columbia County, January 29, 1835. 
a son of Hugh and Mary (Mack)'McBride, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Irish descent 
on the paternal side. HughMcBride was born near Danville; has always followed farming, 
and now resides in Luzerne County, retired from active life. He was the father of seven chil- 
dren, four of whom are living: S. L., Sallie, Roxana and Margaret. Our subject was 
reared on a far.i and followed agricultural pursuits until 1861, when he came to Berwick, 
and has since been in the employ of The Jackson & Woodin Manufacturing Company for 
■fifteen years. He married, in i854, Caroline A. Taylor, and two children were born to 
their union: Fannie, wife of Thomas W. Sherwood, and Samuel H., married to Martha 
Henry. Mr. and Mrs. McBride are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

GARRICK MALLERY, vice-president of The Jackson & Woodin Manufacturing Com- 
■pany, Berwick, was born in Mechanicsburg, Cumbei'land Co., Penn. His father, Garrick 
V. Mallery, a native of Jefferson County, N. Y., resided in Cumberland County, Penn., 
at his death in 1864, and was a nephew of Judge Garrick Mallery, who lived for a timeat^^ 
Wilkesbarre; was afterward judge of Berks County, and for many years a resident of 
Philadelphia. Our subject was reared and educated in Mechanicsburg, and came to Ber- 
wick in July, 1864. He entered the store of The Jackson & Woodin Manufacturing Com- 
tpany as clerk, which position he held until January 5, 1865. He was then promoted book- 
fkeeper of the company, and retained that position until the reorganization of the firm 
iin 1873. He was then made treasurer, which position he held until December, 1883, when 
he was made vice-president of the company, and has since served as such, giving entire 
satisfaction. He married in October, 1872, Helen A. Hoyt, a native of Columbia County, 
who has borne him three children, two living — Garrick, jr., and Pauline; the deceased one 
was named Earnest. Mr. and Mrs. Mallery are members respectively of the Methodist 
Episcopal and Pres])yterian Churches. 

W. ELLIS MICHAEL, dentist, Berwick, was born in Briarcreek Township, Colum- 
l)ia Co., Penn., August 30, 1857, a son of Stephen and Sarah A. (Gensel) Michael, natives 
of Columbia County and of German descent. His grandfather came from some of the 
lower counties and settled in this county in the latter part of the last century. Our sub- 
ject's father was brought up on a farm and followed agricultural pursuits all his life. 
When he married he moved to his present place, where he has since remained; he bought 
300 acres of land but has since divided it up, his sons purchasing a part of the homestead. 
*Our subject was reared on a farm and attended school until sixteen years of age. In the 
•spring of 1881 he entered the Philadelphia Dental College and graduated in the spring of 

1883. In the spring of 1884 he located in Berwick, where he has since practiced. Prior 
to entering the dental college he attended and taught school. He married, February 14, 

1884, Laura McHenry. Mr. Michael is an enterprising gentleman and he and bis wife are 
anembers of the Christian Church. 

GEORGE W. MILLER, farmer, was born in Maine Township, Columbia Co., Penn., 
April 15. 1839, a son of David and Susanna (Eaton) Miller, natives of Mifflin Township 
and of German descent. His paternal grandfather came from New Jersey and settled in 
Mifliin Township in the latter part of the last century, where he bought a farm and re- 



BRIARCREEK TOWNSajP. 393 

sided until his death. His fatlier was born in 1812 and remained in Mifflin Township un- 
til 1851, when he moved to where George W. now resides, ani died March 28, 1873. His 
widow is yet living in her seventy-fifth year. George W. was reared on a farm and re- 
mained with his parents until he was twenty-two years of age. He was engaged by Reu- 
ben Miller as a traveling salesman, with whom he remained two years. His farm where 
he has alwaj's resided, contains 216 acres. He married in 1860 Mary A. Sitler, and seven 
children blessed their union, six of whom are living: Dora, Delia P., Catharine A., Ger- 
trude, Elizabeth and Robert C. Mrs. Miller is a member of the Evangelical Church. 

HUDSON OWEN, superintendent of the Pennsylvania Canal of the Wyoming divis- 
ion, was born in Orange County, N. Y., January 25, 1811, a son of William and Nancy 
(McCord) Owen, the latter a native of Ireland. His father was a native of Orange Coun- 
ty, N. y., but of Welsh descent. He was a tanner by trade and followed the'business 
during the earlj^ part of his life. He owned a tannerj^ and property in Middletown, N, 
Y. In 1819 he sold out and moved to Wyoming County, where he bought a farm and re- 
sided until about three years before his death, when he went to live with his .son, Hudson, 
at Berwick, where he died in 1855. His wife died in 1814. William Owen served in the 
war of 1812 and belonged to the Light Horse Company. He was a life-long Democrat 
and a man of prominence in his day. lie had a family of four children by his first wife, 
only one of whom is living — Hudson, and by his last wife had five sous, three of whom 
are living: John, in Washington Territory; Shubel, in Wisconsin, and Boyd, in Dodge 
Centre, Minn. Our subject was only three years old when his mother died, and at the age 
of sixteen he was employed by the Delaware Canal Company at Port Jervis, N. Y., where 
he remained about one year. He was then emplo^'ed on the Juniata Canal for one year. 
In Januar3^ 1839, he went to Danville, Penn., and was employed by the Pennsylvania 
Canal Companj' and helped build the canal. He became foreman of one division and re- 
mained in that position until 1858, when he was appointed superintendent of the Wyom- 
ing division and has since remained as such. In 1836 he removed to Berwick, where he 
has since resided. When he moved to Danville he was appointed under a Democratic 
governor and it was necessary that the canal men should support that ticket, but when a 
Republican was elected, Mr. Owen was still retained in his position. He began to work 
for the company as a laborer, and since 1829 has held nearly all the offices of the com- 
pany. He married in July, 1837, Emily Jackson, a sister of M. W. Jackson. To them 
were born seven children, four living: Frances (deceased), who was married to Robert 
Gilroy, a resident of Shickshinny, Luzerne County; Harriet, wife of Jerome Welcott, in 
Cold Water, Mich.; Saral), wife of Jeremiah S. McMurtrie; Augusta, wife of Abner 
Welch, and Ellen E., wife of H. D. Albright, in Union County. Mrs. Owen died in 1855, 
and in 1856 Mr. Owen married Elizabeth Jackson, a sister of his first wife, and five chil- 
dren were born to their union, four of whom are living: William, in Helena, Mont.; Kate, 
wife of Augustus Shuman, in Nescopeck; George and Annie. Mr. and Mrs. Owen are 
members of tlie church. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternitj^ and the I. O. O. 
F. He has been town councilman and school director for a number of terms and has 
been a life-long Democrat. 

MATTHIAS H. PETTY, farmer, was born in Wilkesbarre, Luzerne Co., Penn., 
November 25,1832, a son of William and Lydia(Stroh) Petty, natives,respectively, of North- 
ampton and Berks Counties and of French descent. His grandfather, John Petty, came 
from Connecticut and settled in Northampton County, where he bought a farm and fol- 
lowed agriculture all his life. William Pettj" was born January 81, 1787, was reared on a 
farm and followed lumber dealing for eleven years in Northampton Count}', where he 
owned a tract of timber land. He immigrated to Luzerne County in 1827 and engaged in 
farming for about ten years for Judge Hollenbach; he then moved to Pittston and 
farmed five years; he then bought a tract of land in Hanover Township, Luzerne County, 
erected a grist-mill, which he operated until some time before his death, when he sold it 
and lived retired. He died in 1869 aged eighty-three years. His wife, who was born in 1797, 
died in 1883. Both were consistent members of the German Reformed Church. They had 
four children, three now living: Levi, in Colorado; Amie, wife of Peter Wagner, of Pitts- 
ton, and Matthias H. (Peter is deceased). Our subject remained at home until twenty- 
three years of age, when he married. He farmed in Hanover Township, Luzerne County, 
fourteen years and then moved to Salem Township, same county. There he bought a 
farm and'remained six years. In March, 1876. he moved to Columbia County and settled 
in Briarcreek Township, where he now resides. He bought a farm of sixty acres and has 
a fine residence, out-buildings, etc. He married December 28, 1S54, Mary Pell, a native of 
Luzerne County, and ten children blessed their union: Hattie, wife of James E. Smith; 
Amy; Samuel; William, a graduate of Long Island Hospital Medical College, Brooklyn, 
N. Y., and now a practicing physician; Charles M., Maggie, Mary, Lulu, Edith and Emma. 
Mr. and Mrs. Petty are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is a member of the 
•Grange and is overseer of the poor. While residing in Luzerne County he was justice of 
the peace one term. 

DANIEL REEDY, mason, w^as born in Columbia County, Penn., May 14, 1835, a son 
of Peter and Leah (Clause) Reedy, the former a native of Lehigh County, as was also his 



394 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

mother, and bolh of French-German descent. His grandfather, Peter Reedy, came from 
France and settled in Lehigh County, Penn., where he resided for several years. He was 
a local evangelist and often preached away from home. He came to Columbia County, 
bought a farm near the Montour line, and there spent the remainder of his life. Peter 
Reedy was quite young when his parents moved to this county. He followed carpenter- 
ing all his life, and was accidentally killed by a falling tree in 1843. His widow is yet living^ 
atthe age of seventy-nine years. They were the parents of six children, five of whom 
are living: Eliza, wife of Hiram Kitchen, resides in this county; Daniel (subject); Jere- 
miah, residing in Michigan; Josiah, in Columbia County, and Peter, a resident of Berwick. 
The deceased one was named Mary. Mrs. Reedy is a member of the Lutheran Church, of 
which her husband was also a member. Our subject was only seven years old when his 
father died, and he was put out to work for his board and clothes until he was thirteen. He 
then worked for two years at the rate of $3 per month, attending school in the winter. 
Until eighteen years old the highest wages he received was $8 per month. He then 
drove a team two years, hauling iron ore to Danville, and at this earned enough to take 
care of his mother. In 1855 he came to Berwick and learned the mason's trade and 
worked as journeyman for about ten years. He then, in 1870, began taking contracts for 
building in partnership with David Baucher, and so continued until 1879, when the part- 
nership was dissolved. Mr. Reedy now has a good business and is doing well; he owns a 
fine residence in Berwick and also some land. In 1880 he took a pleasure trip west and 
was absent about two months. September 17, 1856, he married Martha J. Heavner, a 
native of Luzerne County, Penn. Eight children were born to them, seven of whom are 
living: Alice, wife of John D. Creary; Lillie E., wife of S. A. Peck; John C, Harry R., 
William J., Sadie and Daniel. Jeremiah is deceased. Mr. ar>d Mrs. Reedy are members- 
of the Methodist Church. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., of the Masonic fraternity 
and is a K. T. He has served as a member of the Berwick school board and borough 
council several years; has also been assessor, treasurer and collector, and is treasurer 
of the board of managers of the Berwick fair. 

M. H. RITTENHOUSE, farmer, P. O. Berwick, was born in Briarcreek on the old 
homestead, December 25, 1836, a son of Henry and Rachel (Hulton) Rittenhouse, natives 
of Columbia County. His grandfather, William Rittenhouse, came from Philadelphia tO' 
Columbia County in 1794, and settled in what is now Mifflinville. He and John Kunckle 
laid out Mifflinville and there remained a few years. In 1798 he removed to what is now 
Briarcreek Township and bought two tracts of land, which were patented; both contained 
about 700 acres. In 1800 he erected a grist-mill on the forks of Briarcreek and operated it a 
number of years. He also built a woolen factory and saw-mill, which he conducted until 
his death. The factory was destroyed by fire, but the old mill frame is still standing. 
He always had his farming done for him; was very successful and had a host of friends. 
He reared a family of sixchildren. Of these Henry, subject's father, was the youngest 
and inherited the homestead, where he resided until his death, engaged in farming. He 
was born September 7, 1792. and died April 2, 1873. His wife was born in October, 1793, 
and died August 17, 1872. They were the parents of twelve children, eleven of whom are 
now living: Sarah, wife of William Eddiugs; Mary, wife of John Rittenhouse; Enoch; 
Margaret, wife of Asa Hull; William; Uzilla, wife of John Mosteller; Elizabeth, wife of 
David Kline; Hannah, wife of Wesley Freas; Nehemiah; Fannie, wife of William L. Freas 
and Morris H. Ann died July 12, 1881. Our subject, Morris H., Avas reared on a farm 
and remained home until his marriage, after whicht he resided seven years on the old 
homestead. In 1869 he moved to and bought the farm which he now owns and on which 
he still resides. He married 'July 31, 1860, Effle A., daughter of W. A. J. and Mary A. 
(Craig) Brittain, who were both natives of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Rittenhouse are 
the parents of four children, three of whom survive: Henry, Gertrude and Mary. The de- 
ceased was named Hattie. Mrs. Rittenhouse's great-grandfather, Silas Engel, was among 
the early settlers of this county. He located in Briarcreek at a very early day and 
followed farming. He came here from Philadelphia, where he was educated for the legal 
profession, but which he never practiced, although he did a great deal of business for the 
people of his day. 

THOMAS W. SHERWOOD, superintendent of rolling-mill, The Jackson & Woodin 
Manufacturing Co., Berwick, was born in Montour County,' Penn., Feb. 3, 1856,a son of Eli 
and Ellen (Kemp) Sherwood, the latter a native of Pittsburgh and of English descent. 
His father was also a native of England and left his native country when he was twelve 
years of age. He settled with his parents near Danville when there were but a few houses 
in that place. He learned the puddler's trade in Danville and followed it until 1877, when 
he moved to Berwick, where he has since resided, and has charge of the puddling depart- 
ment when it is in operation. He is the father of eleven children, eight of whom are liv- 
ing: Thomas W., Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, Benjamin, Anna, Bertha and Sallie. At the 
age of ten years our subject went to work in the ore mines, and after remaining there 
eight months left and went to school three months. He then went to work in the mills 
at Danville, at the age of eleven, carrying water for the puddlers two weeks. He then 
ran iron from the squeezer to the rolls about one year, and worked around the rolls five 



BKIARCREEK TOWNSHIP. 395 

years in tbe same mill. He worked in Northumberland mills one year. In 1875 he came 
to Berwick and entered the employ of The Jackson & Woodin Manufacturing Company. 
He was first engaged to help the puddlers, then squeezing the iron, until he received in- 
juries which necessitated his arm being amputated at the shoulder. As soon as he was 
able to resume work he was engaged in one of the offices, and there remained until the 
fall of 1878. He was then appointed superintendent of the rolling mill, which position 
he still fills. He married, in January, 1880, Fannie McBride, and one child has blessed 
their union, Mabel T. Mrs. Sherwood is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
He is a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge, No. 240. 

SAMUEL E. SMITH, farmer, P. O. Berwick.was born in Mifflin Township Feb. 9, 1828, 
a son of Samuel and Jane (Engle) Smith, the former a native of New Jersey and the latter 
of Mifflin Township. His great-grandfathers on both sides came from England and fought 
with Wolfe at the capture of Quebec. They afterward settled in New Jersey, purchased 
a farm and followed agriculture. The maternal grandfather, John Engle, came from New 
Jersey to this county in the latter part of the last century, while he was a young man, re- 
mained a short time, made a settlement, returned to New Jersey, where he married; then 
came back to this county and resided until his death. During the Revolution he drove four 
horses to an ambulance, and on one occasion the heads of the two leading animals were 
taken off by a cannon ball. He was among the early settlers of Mifflin Township, and 
used to farm the old Henry Rittenhouse farm, now owned by S. J. Conner. Samuel 
Smith was quite young when he came to this county. He followed farming and was 
accidentally killed by a train of cars. He reared a family of twelve children, nine of 
whom are still living. Samuel E. was reared in Mifflin Township, and there remained 
untrl the spring of 1865; in 1866 he moved to where he now resides and bought a farm of 
seventy-one acres, on which he has made all the improvements. Part of his land is in 
the borough of Berwick. In 1850 he married Esther A. Hull, and they are the parents of 
four children, two of whom are living: Boyd M. and Ida M. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has served two terms as auditor, and 
has also served as supervisor and overseer of the poor. Our subject's maternal grand- 
father, while in the Revolution, was sent out to capture some cattle, which were in a field 
surrounded by a brush fence, and while thus engaged he received a buckshot wound. 
Mr. Smith's father owned the first iron plow in this countj', which he ordered made when 
he first settled at Mifiiin. His nearest market at that time was Easton; fifteen and twenty 
bushels of grain were counted a big load. 

J. D. THOMPSON,retired farmer, P. O. Berwick, was born in Berwick, Nov. 7, 1820, 
a son of Hugh and Nancy (Dodson) Thompson, the former of Scotch-Irish descent. His 
grandfather came from Ireland to this State at a very early day, and located in Berwick 
when there were but a few houses in the town. Our subject's father was only fourteen 
years of age when his parents moved to this county. He learned the potter's trade, but 
also carried on farming,, owning a farm near Berwick. He died at the age of eighty-eight 
years, and was the father of six children: Richard, Alexander (deceased), Susanna (wife 
of Oliver Ege), Jane (deceased), Joseph D. and Elizabeth. The last named was born and 
reared in Berwick, and remained with his parents until 1866, when he moved to the farm 
where he now resides. He owns sixty-five acres of good land, but originally owned a 
great deal more, which he has sold off as town lots. He has been twice married; first, in 
1847, to Mary Bonam, who bore him one child, now deceased. His first wife died in 1854, 
and in 1858 Mr. Thompson married May Hull, who has borne him two children, Hugh 
and Anna. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
He has served as town councilman for a number of years. 

REV. E. H. YOCUM, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Berwick, was born 
in Columbia County. Penn., September 20, 1843, a son of Jesse and Martha (Mears) Yocum, 
natives of Pennsylvania and of German-Scotch descent. His ancestors, as far back as four 
or five generations,came from Germany, and first located in Berks County, but later moved to 
Columbia County during its early settlement, took up a large tract of land and carriedon 
farming extensively. Jesse Yocum was born in 1807 and was reared to agricultural pursuits, 
which he followed in Columbia County until 1849. He then moved to Union County, 
where he purchased a farm and remained a few years. He then sold out and removed to 
what is now Snyder County, which was then being organized. He moved next to the 
borough of Seliu's Grove, where he remained a short time; thence to Northumberland 
County, where he purchased a farm and resided until his death in 1872. His wife died in 
September, 1843. Our subject w^as but seven days old when his mother died. He re- 
mained at home until about seventeen y^ears of age, when he began teaching school; taught 
two years and also attended school. In 1860 he entered the old Bank of Northumberland, 
afterward organized as the First National Bank of Sunbury. He served the bank as clerk 
until the fall of 1866, when he entered Dickinson Seminary, Williamsport, where he 
graduated in the classical course in June, 1868. He returned to the bank at the solicita- 
tion of his former emplo3'ers, and remained twelve mouths. In March, 1869, he became a 
member of the Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He 
was sent to the Muhlenburg Circuit, Luzerne County, as his first appointment, and spent 



896 BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

one year at this point; was next appointed to the Shickshinny station and served one year. 
In March, 1871, he was ordained a deacon, and at that conference was appointed to Hazel- 
ton, where he served as its pastor three years. His next appointment was at Newberry, 
or Seventh Ward, Williamsport, where he remained three years; thence went to Tyrone, 
Blair Coiiuty, where he spent two years; thence to Bloomsbur^, where he also remained two 
years. In March, 1881, he was appointed presiding elder of the Williamsport District, in 
which office he served four years. In 1885 he was appointed pastor of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church at Berwick, which charge he still retains. March 21, 1871, our subject 
married Laura M. Caslow, a native of Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., Penn. They are the 
parents of four children, three living: George C, Lottie M. and John P. The deceased 
one was named Grace P. Mr. Yocum is a finely educated gentleman, and has made a host 
of friends. 

CHARLES H. ZEHNDER, secretary and superintendent of The Jackson & Woodin 
Manufacturing Company, Berwick, was born in Northumberland County, Penn., April 16. 
1856, of German descent. His grandfather came from Germany in the early part of the 
present century. He followed his trade, that of a miller, nearly all his life, and was for 
some years a resident at Rupert, this county. Subject's father has spent most of his life 
in Columbia and Montour Counties; is also a miller by trade, and a resident of Danville. 
In 1874 he was employed as clerk in the Danville National Bank, which position he held 
until October. 1878. He then went to Harrisburg where he was employed as assistant sec- 
retary of the Y. M. C. A., and remained as such three months; thence moved to Norristown, 
where he was general secretary of the association for four months. He then re.'iigned on 
account of ill health, and in March, 1879, was employed as private secretary to Col. Jack- 
son, and remained in that position until the latter's death. After that event he served in 
same position for C. R. Woodin for some time, when he was elected secretary of the com- 
pany, and still retains that position, and in December, 1885, was also installed superin- 
tendent. He is one of the active members of the Y. M. C. A., having been president of 
the association, and was managing trustee during the erection of their building and is, at 
present, one of its managers. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 
CATAWISSA TOWNSHIP. 

STEPHEN BALDY, merchant, Catawissa, was born in Tamaqua, Penn., January 20, 
1860, a son of Peter R. and Sarah (Horn) Baldy, natives of this State and of Germi.n de- 
scent. His grandfather, Stephen, engaged in mercantile business in Catawissa in the year 
1817, followed it for a number of years, but retired when he was getting old, and the 
remainder of his days was spent in serving the public. He was associate judge an(l jus- 
tice of the peace a great many years, and filled several minor offices. He was a faithful 
member of the Lutheran Church; politically a Democrat. Our subject's father, Peter, 
was born in Catawissa, and has been an employe of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad 
Company for a number of years, now holding the position of time clerk. Stephen Baldy 
came to Catawissa at the age of five years, and attended school until thirteen years of age, 
when he entered the store of W. P. Jones as clerk and remained four years. Since 1877 
he has been engaged in mercantile business, having bought out I. John & Sons, and 
during eighteen months of that time was associated with H. C. John as partner. Mr. 
Baldy carries a general stock of groceries, dry goods, crockery, etc. He owns a house 
and lot where he resides. He was married October 20, 1880, to Hallie R., daughter of 
John and Caroline Chrisman, and three children have been born to them: Helen, Lucy 
and Sarah. Mrs. Baldv is a member of the Episcopal Church. 

T. D. BERNINGER, painter, undertaker and dealer in furniture, P. O. Catawissa, 
was born in Columbia County, this State, January 21, 1842, a son of Aaron and Anna 
(Yost) Berninger, natives of Pennsylvania and of German descent. His grandfather, 
who was born in Berks County, Penn., was a millwright and came to Columbia 
County, where he followed his trade until his death. Our subject's father was also bora 
in Berks County, and lis a millwright, but has followed the manufacture and repair of 
furniture for a number of years. He also carried on the furniture business in Maine Town- 
ship for twenty years, and is now seventy years of age. He is the father of four sons. 
Our subject was reared near Catawissa, and when eighteen years of age served an appren- 
ticeship at the chair and cabinet-maker's trades, and went to work in the Philadelphia & 
Reading shops at painting and car building, in which employ he spent twenty years. la 



CATAWISSA TOWNSHir. 397 

April, 1883. he boueht out the stock of furniture of William Hartmiin, put in anew stock . 
of furniture, and has since continued the business. The stock is valued at $3,000 and is 
insured at almost its value. Mr. Berninger married in January, 1866, Margaret Bowdoin, 
-who has borne him seven children: Anna M., William, Martha, Aaron, Maude, Susan and 
Tobias. Mr. and Mrs. Berninger and two elder daughters are members of the Lutheran 
Church. He is a member of the United American Mechanics' Organization. Mr. Bern- 
inger does house and sign painting and devotes his time almost entirely to his business, 
employing four steady hands. WW*l( 

WILLIAM BERNINGER. miller, P. O. Catawissa. was born in Maine Township, 
Columbia County, October 6, 1843. a son of Aaron and Phoebe A. (Yost) Berninger. natives 
of Pennsylvania and of German descent. His grandfather, Henry, was born in Berks 
County, and was a miller, which trade he followed the greater part of his life. He moved 
to this county about 1825 and here remained until his death. Our subject's father was 
born in Berks County, Penn.. and was ten years of age when his parents moved to this 
county. He is the father of four children; three of these reside in Catawissa and one in 
Mifflinville, Penn. Our subject was put to the miller's trade when about eighteen years 
old, and learned the same under Noah Crites in the same mill which he now operates. He 
worked for him eighteen months and then went to Franklin Township and worked in the 
Mendenhall mill for three years; thence to Roaringcreek, where he remained six years, 
and thence to Rupert, where he worked in the mill five years. In the spring of 1879 he 
bought his present mill from I. W. McKelvy, and has since operated it. The mill is in 
constant use except on Sunday. Mr. Berninger supplies the home trade and competes 
with some of the best mills in the State, both in price and quality. He has the combina- 
tion process, three run of buhrs, one double roller-mill, (>ne twenty-inch underrunner, 
regrinder, bolts, purifier, etc.. Home & Ewell smutter, etc. The mill is run by water- 
power and is equipped with all the necessary machinery. Franklin, his brother, is an 
employe in the mill, and has been working here more or h ss since Mr. Berninger pur- 
chased it. Mr. Berninger married, November 14, 1867, Matilda, daughter of Michael and 
Margaret Mensch. and they are the parents of seven children, lour living: Minnie B., 
Franklin, Lloyd P. and Vaughn. Mr. and Mrs. Berninger are members of the Lutheran 
Church. He owns eighteen acres of land south of Catawif^sa on which he has his mill 
and residence. He also farms to some extent. 

MATTHEW A. BIBBY, agent, D. L. & W. R. R., Catawissa, was born in Lakesville. 
Dorchester Co.. Md.. January 26, 1842, a .son of Henry and Sarah (Graham) 
Bibby, and of Scotch-English descent. His father was born in Maryland ancl was a 
farmer, which occupation he followed near Lakesville, Md., until his death in 1860. 
Our subject was reared on a farm until he was fourteen years of age, when he entered D. 
W. Wells' store in Havre de Grace, Md., and remained seven years. In 1862 he 
went to Baltimore where he clerked in the store of George H. Edgar, until 1868, when he 
removed to Renovo, Penn., and entered the ofHce of the Philadelphia & Erie Railroad as 
clerk. There he remained until the fall of 1871, when he came to Catawissa and here 
has since been employed by the D. L, & W. R. R., as station agent, express and freight 
agent, and operator of the' road— and the positions he has filled with perfect satisfaction 
to the company l)v which he is employed. He married May 23, 1872, Julia, daughter of 
David W. and Elizabeth (Boon) Clark, and three sons were born to their union: David 
B., Frank and Robert. Mrs. Bibby is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

JOSEPH BREISCH, farmer, P. O. Catawissa. was born in Catawissa Township, this 
county, August 15, 1822, and is a son of George and Rebecca (Wall) Breisch. His parents 
were natives of this State and of German descent. His grandfather. Jacoh Breisch, was 
born in Germany and came to America at an early day. His grandfather, Wall, was sold 
on board of a vessel to pay his passage to Ameiica. Our suitject's father was born in 
Montgomery County, this State, and came to Columbia County in 1802, locating where 
our subject now resides. He died on the place now owned by John T. Shuman. in 1870, 
and which he at that time owned. Joseph was reared on the farm and remained with his 
parents until 1852. In 1853 he married Harriet Miller, l)y whom he has five children: 
Emma J. (married to Chas. W. Newhauser) and John E. (twins). Rebecca, Harmon 
and Regina. In 1852 Mr. Breisch bought the farm where his son John now lives, con- 
sisting of 153 acres, moved on it in 1854 nnd there resided uutil 1864, when he came to 
his present place of 250 acres. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church. 

JOHN E. BREISCH, farmer, P. O. Catawissa, was born in Catawissa Township, 
this county. November 3. 1854. a son of Joseph and Harriet (Miller) Breisch. natives of 
Pennyslvania and of German descent. His great-grandfather came from Germany at an 
early day and settled in Columbia County, where he owned a farm and followed 
agricultural pursuits all his life. Subject's father was born in this county; has Ix'en 
a farmer all his life, and is yet living on his farm. John E. was rearrd on the farm and 
remained at home until twenty-one years of age, when he married and moved to where he 
now resides and owns 155 acres of good land with about 100 acres under cultivation. He 
has been building during the last few years and now has one of the finest farm residences 
In this part of the county. He married, November 22, 1875, Lydia Fram, a native of 



398 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Schuylkill County, Perm. They are the parents of two children: Cora E., and Raymond E. 
Mr. and Mrs. Breisch are menil»ersof the Lutheran Church at Catavvissa. He is almember 
of the Grand Lodge, F. & A. M. in 1885 Mr. Breisch started a dairy business at which 
he has since been enga<;ed. He has a good, trade and keeps fifteen head of fine cows. 

CHUIST[AN E. CLiEWELL, merchant, Catawissa, was born in Catawissa, July 12, 
1840, a son of Jacob and Eliza (Brobst) Clewell. natives of Pennsylvania and of German 
descent. His grandfather, Jacob, lived near Catawissa, was a farmer and owned two 
farms; he resided here until his death in 1862. Our subject's father came to Catawissa 
when a young man, also followed agriculture and lived on a farm adjoining the old 
homestead. He died in 1877 at his home. Our subject was reared on a farm, and re- 
mained with his parents until the war broke out. August 8, 1861. he enlisted in Company 
H, One Hundred and Thirty-second Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and 
served nine months under Capt. Brobst. He was in the battles of Chancellorsville and 
Fredericksburg, and after the expiration of nine months returned home, and until 1883 
followed agriculture, which he was obliged to abandon on account of ill health. At the 
last mentioned date he moved to Catawissa, bought property, and engaged in mercan 
tile business, which he has since followed. He carries a general line of groceries, flour 
and feed. He married, July 30, 1863, Amelia Martz, by whom he has had six children, 
five of whom are living: Sarah C. (wife of Porter S. Sook), John, Anna, Ella and George. 
Mr. and Mrs. ClewelT are members of the German Reformed Church. Mr. Clewell has 
built up a good trade and is doing a thriving business. 

JACOB H. CREASY, P. O. Catawissa, traveling salesman for the notion house of File, 
Derr, Haney «fe Co., of Philadelphia, was born in Mifflin Township, thiscount3% October 7, 
1838. He is a son of Levi and Catherine (Hartsell) Creasy, natives of Columbia County, 
Penn., and of German descent. His grandfather, Adam Creasy, was born in this county 
in 1780, and his (Adam Creasy's) brother was a member of the Legislature in the early 
times. Our subject's father was reared in Mifflin Township, where he also followed farm- 
Jng. He was lieutenant of a military company during the war of 1812, owned about 200 
acres of land, was a member of the Lutheran Churcii, and died September 15, 1876. Our 
subject was reared on a farm until about eigliteeu years of age when he worked at the 
carriage trade for about eighteen months. He was then employed as clerlv with Swank & 
Grover, at Hobby, Luzerne County, for seven months; then moved to Berwick where he 
was engaged as clerk two years. In 1861 he engaged in mercantile business for him- 
self in Catawissa Township for two years and nine months. He then formed a partner- 
ship with N. P. John, which continued until 1867, when the firm dissolved, and Mr. Creasy 
again conducted the business alone. In the spring of 1868 he sold out to I. John & Sons, 
and in 1869 moved to Mifflin where he engaged in mercantile business until the spring of 
1872, when he again sold out. The same year he returned to Catawissa and bought a cigar 
and tobacco establishment at Berwick, which he conducted seven months, and again re- 
turned to Catawissa where lie has since resided. In Jul}', 1873, he was engaged by his pres- 
ent employers. He married January 23, 1866, Sarah E., daughter of Isaiah and Mary (Bitler) 
John, and they are the parents of four chiklren, two living: Milton B. and Harry B. Mr. 
and Mrs. Creasy are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church; he has been a member 
of the I. O. O. F. and American Mechanics and of the K. of P., but lately has dropped 
out. He owns a lot in Catawissa and 618 acres of good land. 

WILLIAM T. CREASY, farmer, P. O. Catawissa, was born in this township, Febru- 
ary 23, 1856, a son of Nathan and Susanna (Krickbaum) Creasy; the latter was a native 
of Catawissa Township and of German descent. Tlie former's ancestors came from Ger- 
many and settled in New Jersey, whence they moved to this county about 100 years ago. 
Some settled about Mifflin Township, this county, wliere they farmed. Subject's grand- 
father William was one of the earlier settlers in Catawissa Valley, Schuylkill County. 
He was a farmer, whicli occupation he followed all his life, with the exception of the last 
few years, wiien he lived retired in Catawissa. He died in January, 1886, being in his 
seventy-ninth year. Our subject's father was born in Catawissa Valley, and was there 
reared. After his marriage lie bought a farm where Henry L. now resides, and there re- 
mained until his death in 1881. He was a member of the Lutheran Church. His wife 
died in 1883. Our subject was reared on a faim and remained with his grandparents un- 
til twenty years of age. He graduated at Bioomsburg Normal School in 1875; began 
teaching when sixteen years old, and taught eleven terms. In 1876 he moved to where he 
now resides. He married, March 23, 1876, Sarah Jane Weaver, by whom he has three 
■f:hildren: Charles, Katie and Sadie. Mr. and Mrs. Creasy are members of the Lutheran 
Church. He is a member of the Giange and is at present school director. He was one of 
the originators of the White Plymouth chicken, which breed now adorns his poultry yards. 
Mr. Creasy has three brothers and two sisters living, and two sisters dead. 

HENRY L. CREASY, farmer, P. O. Catawissa, was born m Catawissa Township, 
September 12, 1861, a son of Nathan and Susanna (Krickbaum) Creasy, both of whom were 
horn and reared on the farm wliere our subject now resides. They :were of German de- 
scent, and were the parents of eight children, six now living: William T., Francis P., 
Elmira (wife of W. H. Hess), Heiirv L., Nathan and Dora. Our subject was born and 



CATAWISSA TOWNSHIP. 399 

reared on the old homestead where he now resides, and owns 135 acres of good land, all 
under cultivation. This farm originally contained 300 acres, but has been divided into 
two farms. Mr. Creasy was married in 1884 to Anna Sweppenhiser, of Centre Township, 
this county, and one child has been born to them, Hiram W. Mr. and Mrs. Creasy are 
members of the old Lutheran Church. He is an intelligent and enterprising farmer; has 
just commenced in life forliimself, butis^gifted with that energy which is sure to succeed. 

PETER B. ERVIN, harness maker, Catawissa, was born August 21, 1864, in Cata- 
wissa, a sou of John and Henrietta (Bodine) Etvin, natives of this county, and of German 
and English descent. His great-grandfathers came from the old country and settled in 
this county, near Catawissa, and Jonas Metz, a brother to his great-grandmother, was the 
first farmer in the vicinity of Catawissa, and lived and died here. The great-grandfather 
lived to be ninety-four years of age, and was a soldier in the Revolution. Our subject's 
maternal grandfather was a cabinet-maker but during the latter part of his life followed 
farming. His paternal grandfather, Isaac Ervin, is yet living at the age of eighty years; is 
stout and strong, and does a good deal of his farming. He owns a farm, a part of which lies 
in Locust Township and a part in Catawissa. He learned the mason's trade and worked at 
it in his younger days. He helped to build the furnace at Danville, and, while so engaged, 
he had three ribs broken and was otherwise injured. Our subject's father was born on 
■the homestead in Locust Township, and learned the carpenter's trade. He served in the 
'war of the Rebellion, and after marriage moved to Catawissa, where he since worked at 
his trade. He is now employed by the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad, as car builder. 
Our subject was reared in Catawissa, attended school until seventeen years of age, and 
later was employed by T. E. Harder. He then engaged for three years in the confection- 
ery business. In October, 1885, he commenced to learn the harness-making trade, and 
has since been engaged in making and selling harness. He is a member of the Evangeli- 
cal Lutheran Church; is also a member of the P. O. S. of A. In politics he is a Republican. 

WILLIAM EYER, surveyor and draftsman of the Catawissa division of tlie Phila- 
delphia & Reading Railroad, P. O. Catawissa, was born in that place in 1844, and is a son 
of William J. and Charlotte (Havemeyer) Eyer, former a native of Pennsylvania, latter 
of the city of New York. His grandparents on both sides came from Germany at an early 
day, and located in New York City, where they engaged in the manufacture of sugar, in 
which the Havemeyer family are still engaged, and have one of the largest manufactories 
in New York. They have also a large sugar refinery in Philadelphia. His grandmother 
Havemeyer was about ninety-eight years of age when she died; his grandfather died at 
the age of eighty years. Our subject's father was born in Selin's Grove, Snyder Co., 
Penn., and was reared on a farm until about twenty-one years of age. He began edu- 
cating himself when young, studied for the ministry, and was ordained a minister of the 
Lutheran denomination. He came to Catawissa, where he was engaged in the ministry 
until his death. He was a man of noble qualities and beloved by all who knew him. 
Our subject was brought up in Catawissa and attended school until twenty years of age, 
when he commenced work at surveying for the Catawissa Railroad, at Summit Station, 
and was employed there two years. He was then engaged as station agent at Catawissa 
for six years; then entered the office of W. G. Yetter, division engineer of Catawissa 
division, as surveyor and draftsman, which po.siti®n he still holds. He was married, 
January 11, 1873, to Mary Ritter, a daughter of David and Eliza Ritter. Mr. and Mrs. 
Eyer are the parents of two children, John R. and Susan H. Mrs. Eyer is a member of 
the Lutheran Church. 

LUTHER EYER, farmer, P. O. Catawissa, was born March 12, 1846, son of Rev. 
William J. Eyer (whose sketch and portrait appear elsewhere), and was educated princi- 
pally at Millersville, Lancaster Co., Penn. During the years 1868-69 he was engaged 
with Havemeyers & Elder, New York, in a sugar refinery, and in 1870 resumed farming 
in Montour Township, this county. In 1873 he was married to Jane, a daughter of 
David Clark, son of Andrew Clark," one of the pioneers of Columbia County. By this 
union Mr. Eyer has been blessed with four children: William, David, Kate and George. 
After marriage he settled on his farm in Montour Township, where he remained until 
1880, when he bought property in Catawissa where he now resides, but still attends to his 
farm. He took anactive interest in helping to establish the present excellent school and 
building, of which institution he has served as school director. For ten years he has been 
a director of the Catawissa bank. In politics he is a Democrat. 

WILLIAM L. EYERLY, attorney at law. Catawissa, was born in Bloomsburg, 
Penn., August 18, 1852, a son of Michael F. and Eliza T. (Kluge) Eyerly, natives of Penn- 
sylvania and of German descent. His maternal great-grandfather came from Germany. 
His grandfather, Jacob Eyerly, was appointed, by Gov. Wolf, prothonotary of Columbia 
Count}-, which office he filled "for about thirty-five years. He died in Bloomsburg. Our 
subject's father was born near Danville, this county, but later moved to Blooms- 
burg, where he was employed as clerk in the prothonotary's office for a number of years. 
He was then employed with W. F. Clark, attorney at law, as clerk, with whom he 
remained several years. He then formed a partnership with Col. John G. Freeze, attor- 
aiey at law, and was with him several years, but is now leading a retired life. William L. 



400 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

attended school at Bloomsbur,!^ until twenty years of age, when he graduated and entered 
Col. J. G. Freeze's law office in 1873 as a student. After two years of hard study he was 
admitted to the bar in September, 1874, and the same month located at Catawissa, where he 
has since been in practice, and is admitted to the supreme court. Mr. E.yerly was mar- 
ried, November 15, 1877, to Maggie M., daughter of John and Nancy Reifsnyder, and 
they are the parents of one child, Paul R., born May 15, 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Eyerly are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Eyerly owns a house and lot on North 
Third Street. He is a member of the College society, and is one of the prominent men 
of his profession, to which he is well adapted. 

BENJAMIN P. FORTNER, of the town of Catawissa, was born in Locust Township. 
Columbia Co., Penn., October 81, 1811, a son of John and Sarah B. Fortner. Natives of 
Pennsylvania, the Fortner family are of Scotch descent, being the descendants of Lord 
Archibald Douglas, of Bothwell Castle, Scotland, whose only daughter, Isabella, having 
a desire to see this continent, prevailed upon her father to consent to her coming to 
America, in company with a lady friend, which they did, and while on their passage the 
vessel in which they were was seized by a piratical crew of Algiers and robbed of all their 
effects, and they were landed in New York destitute of friends or the wherewith to sup- 
port themselves. It happened that a farmer from New Jersey met them, of whom they 
inquired what they should do, and he replied he would take them home with him, which 
he did. Isabella JDouglas resided with his family and married a man by the name of 
Fortner. and resided in New Jersey until their death. They had twelve children, one of 
whom, Jona.s, went to Canada during the Revolutionary war with England, as he was- 
prejudiced against the war. The grandfather of Benjamin P. Fortner was born in New 
Jersey, and at the breaking out of the Revolutionary war he enlisted in the army and 
served nine campaigns in the army under Gen. Washington; was in the battle of Brandy- 
wine; was in camp in Valley Forge all winter, and marched with his regiment on foot 
from Philadelphia to Yorktown, and was there at the surrender of the Briti'sh army. He 
moved to Columbia County near MifHinville, Penn., and he had three sons and four 
daughters: George, Andrew, John, Anna, Naomi, Frances and Mercy. He died near 
MifHinville, aged sixty-five years. His occupation was a farmer. Our subject's father, 
John, was born in Sussex County, N. J., and when about fifteen years of age moved with 
his father to Columbia County, Penn., and after marriage purchased a farm south of 
Catawissa, where he lived and died in his fifty-ninth year. He was the father of three 
children, two sons and one daughter, viz.: Benjamin "P., Jonathan and Martha B., who. 
died in 1837. Benjamin P. remained with his father until he was eighteen years old, 
when he engaged with Samuel D. Brobst, of Catawissa, as a salesman, with whom he re- 
mained until he was twenty-one years, when lie was elected constable, and served in that 
office two years. On March 5, 1835, he married Mary Davis, daughter of John and Sarah 
Davis, near Catawissa. In 1836 he and his father-in-law purchased a hotel at that place, 
which they lived in and kept as a hotel until 1838, at which time they sold the hoteL 
He then bought and ran two boats on the Schuylkill Canal, hauling coal from Pottsville 
to Philadelphia. In consequence of the completion of the Philadelphia & Reading Rail- 
road boating became poor, and he sold out and bid for and was allotted work grading otk 
the Tioga & Corning Railroad. After finishing, he, in 1840, got work on the Wisconsin 
Canal, and worked there until the work was abandoned, after which he bought a farm 
near Catawissa, which he resided on with his family until 1860 (which he yet owns), 
when he moved to Catawissa. having considerable property there, where he now lives a 
retired life. He was, while living on his farm, elected justice of the peace, and in 1849' 
he was elected a member of the Legislature from Columbia County, and served one term. 
At the commencement of the Rebellion he was appointed by President Lincoln internal 
revenue assessor for the Tliirteenth Congressional District of Pennsylvania, and served 
about two years, when he resigned and accepted the appointment of revenue collector for 
Columbia and ^Montour Counties, which he held for three years, after wiiich he Avas re- 
elected justice of Catawissa. which office he still holds. His wife was the mother of ten 
children, five of whom are still living, viz.: Burton W., Alem B., Alice M. Millard, John 
W. and Sadie Myers. Four of her sons were in the army, either as volunteers or enlisted, 
one of whom died in the service in Camp Mary, near Washington, D. C, named Harrison 
Fortner. B. P. Fortner's father married Sarah Brooke, whose father lived in Columbia 
County, Penn. 

CLARK F. HARDER, contractor and builder, Catawissa, was born in Columbia 
County, Penn., September 28, 1841, a son of Thomas and Catherine (Feister) Harder, 
natives of Pennsylvania. His grandparents were among the first settlers of Catawissa 
Township, being here before the massacre at Wyoming. His maternal grandfather came 
direct from Germany to this country, and his paternal grandparents from Switzerland. 
His grandfather Harder was a blacksmith, which trade he followed a number of years. 
His grandfather Feister kept a hotel for a number of years where the Catawissa House 
now stands. They both took quite an active part in politics, the former being a Democrat 
and the latter a Whig. Our subject's father was born in Catawissa Township, and when 
quite young learned the blacksmith's trade which he carried on a number of years and 



CATAWISSA TOWNSHIP, 401 

also followed farming. He owned a farm in Catawissa Township. He was a Republican 
in politics. He died in 1860. Our subject was only fourteen years of age when his father 
died, and he then remained with his mother until her death in 1872. At sixteen years of 
age he began to learn the carpenter and cabinet-maker's trades, which he had just mas- 
tered when the war broke out. August 6, 1862, he enlisted in Company H. One Hundred 
and Thirty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers in the nine months' service. He served eight 
months, participated in the battle of Antietam, and after that engagement was detailed 
to take care of the wounded, but was taken ill and removed to the convalescent camp ia 
Virginia, where later on he was discharged on account of disability. After his discharge 
he went to Washington and wanted to join his regiment, but was refused. He arrived 
home one month before the return of his regiment and tried again to enlist, but would 
not be taken on account of disability. He then resumed his trade which he has since 
followed. In 1866 he built a planing-niill which he has since operated, and is doing a good 
business. He built seventeen houses in the summer of 1885, furnishing all his own ma- 
terials and has erected more houses in Catawissa than any other man. He formerly 
owned seven houses and lots, but has sold off until he now owns but two, also a lot 100x80 
feet on which his mill and wareroom (the latter 20x65 feet, two stories in height) stand. 
Mr. Harder married, March 11, 1868, Sarah Hayhurst, granddaughter of Stephen Baldy. 
and they are the parents of five children: Err, Edwin, Bessie, Jennie and Robert. Mr. and 
Mrs. Harder are members of the Lutheran Church. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., 
No. 60, Catawissa, and G. A. R., No. 170. He has held all the offices in the Odd Fellows 
lodge, having passed all the chairs. Mr. Harder is Republican in political views. 

THOMAS E. HARDER, proprietor of the mammoth furniture store, furnishing 
undertaker and embalmer, Catawissa, was born in Catawissa Township, this coun- 
ty, in December, 1843, a son of Washington and Mary (McAllister) Harder, natives of 
Pennsylvania and of German descent. His grandfather Err was a blacksmith, and 
died in Catawissa. Our subject's father was born in Catawissa, this county, and was a 
wheelwright, which occupation he followed the most of his life. He died here in 1861. 
Our subject was brought up in Catawissa, where he attended school and learned the 
cabinet-maker's trade, which he followed until going into business for himself. He 
started on a small scale, and his business grew to such an extent that in 1888 he built a 
large four-story stone building, with basement and attic, at a cost of about $15,000. 
He manufactures furniture in the basement, and the balance of the building is stored 
with goods common to his line. His stock of furniture is valued at $12,000. Tliis building 
is a magnificent one, and the largest in this section of the country, which shows that Mr. 
Harder's business has been a success, and that he has won the confidence of the people by 
his honesty and low figures. He manufactures a great deal of his furniture, and does 
painting of all kinds. He is also engaged in the undertaking business. He married, in 
January, 1873, Clara Hamlin, by whom he has three children: Charles M., Guy W. and 
Pearl. Mr. Harder is a member of the Masonic fraternity, M. S. of A. and G. A. R., No. 
170. In 1862 he enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Thirty-second Regiment, 
Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, serving nine months; was in the battles of Antietam, Fred- 
ericksburg, Chancellorsville, and at the end of nine months entered the Thirtieth Penn- 
sylvania Volunteer Infantry as second lieutenant; was detached as sergeant-major of his 
regiment, which commission he held about three months during an emergency. He then 
enlisted in Company D, Third Heavy Artillery, and served two years. He was on de- 
tached service as paymaster's clerk, but previous to getting that charge served in the 
front at Fort Spring Hill, and subsequently at Dutch Gap Canal, but no very heavy en- 
gagements occurred. Mr. Harder, during his campaign, marched through Maryland, 
West Virginia and Pennsylvania, and during the battle of Gettysburg his regiment was to 
the left at Carlyle, and no doubt Harrisburg would have been captured haid it not been 
that his regiment aided to the success and headed the enemy off. Gen. Smith was the 
division general. Mr. Harder was a brave soldier, and never flinched where duty called. 
He is now one of the most successful busines.s men in this vicinity, and one of the leading 
men of Columbia County. He takes no part in politics, but sides with the Republicans. 

NELSON C. HARTMAN, farmer, P. O. Catawissa, was born in this county Decem- 
ber 8, 1845, a son of Moses and Rebecca (Clayton) Hartman, the parents of the latter be- 
ing among the early settlers of this county. Her ancestors came from Scotland and her 
husband's from Germany. Our subject's grandfather, Casper, was born in this county, 
his father coming direct from Germany, and settling where Nelson C. now resides about 
1760, and taking up a section of land. At the outbreak of the Revolution he was thought 
by many to have been a Tory; he was a man of few words, strong ideas, orthodox in 
religion, and strongly opposed to war, but when the crisis came and one side or the other 
had to be recognized, his sympathies were with the American colonies. He was a tanner 
by trade, tanned hides for the Indians, and prepared all kinds of furs. He lived here un- 
til his death, after which the estate was divided, and Casper, the grandfather of our sub- 
ject, got a third of the homestead and lived on it until his death. One of his sons moved 
on the great-grandfather's place. Our subject's father was born on the homestead of his 
father and after years bought the place where our subject now lives. He resided there 



402 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

about thirty years, but in liis later days moved to Catawissa, where he died ia 1871. He 
was the father of four children, three of whom are living: Harriet, wife of Nelson John, 
residing in Minnesota; Deborah, deceased; Nelson C, and Jane, wife of J. M. Smith, re- 
siding in Catawissa. Nelson C. was reared on a farm and remained at home until twenty 
years of age, when he went West through Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota and as far as 
the Rocky Mountains. After an absence of one year he returned home and was em- 
ployed on the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad as fireman for four years. He abandoned 
that, however, and went on the farm, where he now lives. Here he owns about 200 acres 
of good land. February 16, 1870, he mai-ried Alice, daughter of Andrew and Anna 
(Boone) Clark, and they are the parents of two children, Andrew C and Harry Garfield. 
Mrs. Hartman is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Hartman has served as school 
director several years. He has one of the finest farms in this section and one of the best 
residences, with all the latest improvements. 

REV. DAVID M. HENKEL, D. D. , Catawissa, was born in Point Pleasant, Monas 
•Co., W. Va., April 12, 1820, and is a son of Rev. Charles and Mary (Siegrist) Henkel, na- 
tives of West Virginia. The first of the family to come to this country was Gearhart 
Henkel, who came from Frankfort, Germany, and who served as chaplain under Duke — 
(not now known), and located at Germantown, Philadelphia, in 1735, where he resided 
until his death, which was occasioned by an accident. He was found by the roadside 
dead, and the supposition was that his horse had thrown him. He was a Lutheran minis- 
ter. The generations back are Gearhart. Justice, Jacob, Paul, Charles and David M., 
the last being the sixth generation, and it may be stated that a number of the ancestors 
were Lutheran ministers. Paul, the grandfather, was the father of six sons, five of whom 
were ministers, and one a physician. The grandfather died in New Market, Shenandoah 
Co., Va., in 1825. Our subject's father was the first Lutheran minister in Columbus, 
Ohio. He moved from Columbus to Somerset, Ohio, where he lived until his death, 
which occurred in 1840. Our subject was still young when his parents moved to Colum- 
bus, Ohio, and was educated at the Capital Universitj'' of that place, where he also re- 
ceived his theological training. He graduated in 1849 and was ordained a pastor of the 
Lutheran Church. His first charge was at Goshen, Ind., when it was j'et in a wild state. 
He remained here only eighteen months, when he was forced to leave on account of sick- 
ness, and returned to the valley of Virginia until he had recuperated, when he took the 
■charge at StewartsviDe, N. J. In 1859 he was called to Danville, Montour County, 
there organized and built Trinity Lutlieran Church and served as its pastor eight years. 
He was then called to Stroud.sburg, Monroe Co., Penn., where he organized and built 
St. John's Church, in that county, and remained as its pastor four years. He was then 
sent to Richmond, Va., to build up an English church, but his health failing him he was 
unable to accomplish his undertaking. He then moved to Mount Pleasant, N. C; thence 
to Nokomis, 111., where he remained six years, and, failing in health, he in 1882 moved to 
Catawissa, where he has no regular charge, but still delivers sermons. Mr. Henkel is a 
very able speaker, and has been engaged in this good cause since 1848. He married first, 
in September, 1849, Heleah Henkel, who bore him six children: Mary, wife of Rev. C. 
W. Sifferd; Leah, wife of Rev. A. L. Youut; Charles, married to Miss Lease, of Nokomis, 
111. ; Solon, William and Luther. Mrs. Henkel died in 1873, and he next married, in 
November, 1875. Susan C. Eyer, eldest daughter of Rev. W. J. Eyer, of Catawissa. who 
was born in 1803, and came to Catawissa in 1838. He served as minister in the Lutheran 
Church until his death in 1874. Mr. Eyer was a noted man, an able speaker, and his 
death was deeply felt by his friends and family. Mrs. Htjnkel's grandfather, Frederick 
C. Havemeyer, opened a sugar refinery in the city of New York in 1823, and made it one 
of the largest concerns in that city. It is still in the Havemeyer name, and the family is 
also connected with a sugar refinery in Philadelphia. 

MINNER HILE, traveling salesman for A. A Shumway & Co., of Philadelphia, Penn., 
was born in Northumberland County, Penn., January 23, 1834, and is a son of James and 
Hannah (Campbell) Hile, natives of Penn.sylvania and of German descent. His great- 
grandfather, Henry Hile, came from Germany and located near Sunbury, Northum- 
berland Co., Penn., where he owned and cultivated two farms. He moved to Clearfield 
County and bought a farm where he resided until his death. Our subject's father, a 
native of Northumberland County, Penn., was a farmer, and resided near Sunburj^ for a 
number of years, when he moved to Clearfield County, where he followed farming until 
1866 (previously he came to this county and bought a farm of 220 acres, in 1856, in Frank- 
lin Township, which he still carries on). He is seventy-seven }'ears of age. Our subject 
was reared on a farm and at the asre of twenty-four years, married and moved to Franklin 
Township, this county, where he engaged in farming for about four years. He then bought a 
farm in Catawissa Township, moved on it, farmed and operated a dairy. He was the first 
man to start a dairy in Catawissa, and continued it three years and two weeks. In 1869 he 
moved to Philadelphia, where he was employed by a wholesale tea firm for a short time. Then 
moved back to Catawissa, this county, and he and his brother. Amos, started a dry goods 
and grocery store in the place, which they conduced six j^ears. He was engaged with a Read- 
ing boot and shoe house for about four years, as traveling salesman. In 1877 he was em- 



CATAWISSA TOWNSHIP. 403 

ployed by A. A. Shumway & Co., boot and shoe dealers of Philadelphia, as traveling sales- 
man, and is still in their employ. He married, April 22, 1859, Hannah Fox, wlio has 
borne him three children: Elizabeth (wife of E. G. Sanburn, Jersey City), Anna B., and 
Elmer, who carries on a boot and shoe store in Catawissa. Mr. and Mrs. Hile are members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he is a Democrat. Mr. Hile owns a house 
and lot in Catawissa. 

ALFRED HOWER, teacher, P. O. Catawissa, was born in Numidia, Penn., Novem- 
ber 10, 1851, a son of Michael and Catherine (Bachraan) Hower, natives of Pennsylvania 
and of German descent. His great-grandfather settled in Catawissa about the latter part 
of the eighteenth century and was one of the first settlers in this part of the country. He 
owned about 1,000 acres and lived and died here. Our subject's grandfather Sebastiaa 
was reared on the homestead, and while young learned the carpenter's trade, but later 
bought a farm near Slabtown in Locust Township, where he lived until his death which 
occurred in 1860. Our subject's father was reared near Slabtown, but had lived in the 
coal regions a part of his time. He moved to Numidia, where he lived until his death ia 
1882. He was a blacksmith, which trade he followed the most of his life; also carried on 
farming to some extent. At the age of eighteen our subject learned the carpenter's trade 
at Shamokin, Penn., where he worked about a year. Previous to learning this trade he 
had taught two terms of school, and after completing his apprenticeship, again taught in 
the winter and went to school in the summer. He attended Bloomsburg Normal 
School, Greenwood's Seminary and Lowell's Commercial College at Binghampton, and 
graduated in 1874. In the fall of 1877 he moved to Catawissa, and resided here four years, 
teaching school. In 1882 he moved to Oranfeville where he lived two years, having the 
principalship of the graded school. In the spring of 1884 he moved back to Catawissa 
where he has since lived, engaged in teaching in the winter and working at this trade in 
the summer. He owns two houses and lots, and is at present engaged in building a two- 
story frame house. He married, December 4, 1877, Isabella, daughter of John T. and 
Catherine (Breisch) Shuman. Mr. and Mrs. Hower are the parents of four children-. 
John S., Lillian C, Laura Jennie and Warren A. Mr. and Mrs. Hower are members of 
the Lutheran Church. One of Mr. Hower's relatives was buiied in the cemetery here in 1802. 
PETER KERN, farmer, P. O. Catawissa, was born in Warren County, N. J., 
November 17, 1817, a son of John and Gertrude (Ridgeway) Kern, both of whom were 
born in Warren County, N. J., and were of German descent. His grandparents on both 
sides came from Germany, emigrating direct to Pennsylvania, where, however, they re- 
mained but a short time, when they emigrated to New Jersey where they lookup land and 
lived until their deaths. The grandfather died in his eighty-fifth year. He and his wife 
were highly educated in the old country. Our subject's father was born in Warren 
County, N. J., in 1809 and was in his sixty-eighth year when he died. He was reared 
to farming which he followed all his life. Peter was reared on the homestead in his na- 
tive State, where he remained until married, when he and his father-in-law came to Penn- 
sylvania and bought a tract of land where he now resides. This was in 1840. The tract 
was a very large one, and when it was sold Mr. Kern bought 120 acres of the estate on which 
he has since lived. He married, August 23, 1839, Jane Davison, a native of New Jersey, 
by whom he had seven children, five of whom are living: Emma, wife of George Teits- 
worth; Martha, widow of Hiram Cool (Mr. Cool was wounded in the service of his coun- 
try at the battle of Antietam, a bullet entering under his eye and coming out at the back 
of his neck; he suffered from this for seven years, at times in intense pain, and died No- 
vember 10, 1870. His widow and three children make their home with Mr. Kern — Albert 
L., married to Matilta Rue; Ida, married to Wm. B. Snyder, and Norman G., a graduate 
of Bloomsburg Normal School); Easic D., married to Loretta Reinbold; John B., mar- 
ried to Hannah Traub; Margaret, wife of Rev. John B. Bodine; Jane and Lemuel are 
deceased. Mrs. Kern died April 1, 1884, deeply lamented by her husband. He is a mem- 
ber of the church; in politics a Republican. 

LUTHER B. KLINE, M. D., physician and surgeon, Catawissa, was born in Rush 
Township, Northumberland County, this State, December 24, 1842, and is a son of Har- 
mon G. and Mary (Bassett)4Kline, natives of Pennsylvania and of German-Scotch descent. 
His grandparents came from New Jersey to Northumberland County at an early day, and 
engaged in farming until their death. Harmon G. Kline is a farmer and resides in North- 
umberland County, near Sunbury, where he owns a farm. Luther B. was reared on a 
farm until about eighteen years of age, when he taught school several years, and also 
attended the Sunbury Academy. In the fall of 1865 he entered Jefferson Medical Col- 
lege, Philadelphia, from which he graduated in March, 1867. In April following he came 
to Catawissa, where he began his now extensive practice and has since resided. He mar- 
ried, September 14, 1870, Desda W.. daughter of J. K. and Mary M. Sharpless. They 
are the parents of four children, two living: Charles S. and Grace E. Dr. and Mrs. Kline 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a member of the Masonic fra- 
ternity. Lodge No. 349, Catawissa; has held the office of school director and is now serving 
his second term. Dr. Kline is a member of the State Medical Society and Incorporated 
County Medical Society. 



404 BioGRArniCAL sketches: 

WILLIAM J. MARTIN, farmer and brickmaker, P. O. Catawissa, was born in Sax- 
ony, Germany, April 24, 1825, a son of John and Catherine (Keel) Martin, natives of Ger- 
many, the former being a farmer. When fourteen j^ears of age our subject left school and 
learned the cutler's trade, at which he worked until nineteen years of age. He and 
his brother, Charles, then took passage in a sailing vessel bound tor America, and after 
a voyage of six weeks lauded in New York. There they separated, Charles going to Del- 
aware, while our subject remained in New York and worked at his trade for two years. 
Jle then went up the Hudson and engaged in the manufacture of hames, receiving $1.50 
per day, but after six months, not liking his associates, he returned to New York. There 
he again worked at his trade, receiving $3 per week and his board. In 1856 he moved 
to Danville, Penn., and worked in a rolling-mill one year, then came to Columbia County 
and hired on the farm of Judge Baldy, which he now owns; then worked a year for A. 
Feterolf; then, March 4, 1860, he married Susan M., daughter of Judge Baldy, and here 
has since remained. Our subject and wife have four children: Sarah B., George B. (mar- 
ried to Rebecca Fetterman, and residing in Bloomsburg, this county), Stephen B. and 
Lizzie. Mr. and Mrs. Martin and family are members of the Lutheran Church. He 
owns 140 acres of cleared laud and 100 acres of mountain land. In 1883 he commenced 
the manufacture of briciv, which he has since carried on. Mr. Martin introduced the 
" Martin Amber Wheat," in 1878, and took it to the Philadelphia State fair, where he sold 
it for ten cents per grain. He has taken the first premium in wheat at every fair for the 
county and Stale. 

REV. U. MYERS, P. O. Catawissa, was born near Easton, Northumberland Co., 
Penn., January 23, 1847, son of Abraham and Mary (Root) Myers, natives of Pennsylvania 
and of German-English descent. His great-grandfather on the maternal side came from 
-Germany and located in Bucks County, where he followed farming, and his grandfather, 
Philip, was a cabinet-maker and also carried on farming until his death at an advanced 
age, in 1883, near Easton. Our subject's father was for a number of years a justice of the 
peace at Bethlehem, Penn., but is now living a retired life. During his early life, in the 
Mexican war, he organized a militia company of which he was captain, and waited for 
orders, but was never called out, although he stood ready. He was captain in the militia 
for a term of years, also assisted in drilling companies during the civil war. He is now 
about sixty-eight years of age. Our subject was brought up as a clerk until about sixteen 
years of age, when he entered upon and pursued a course of study for the ministry. He 
then laught a number of terms, holding a State professional certificate. He entered the 
work of the ministry as a home missionary in 1868, and after continuing in tlie good cause 
for one year was ordained a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1869, but con- 
tinued in the mission work for eighteeen months later. His first charge was organized by 
his efforts in Lycoming County, Penn., along the Allegheny Mountains. In 1870 he was 
called to a large field of labor at Turbotville, Northumberland Co., Penn , and there re- 
mained during a successful ministry of nine years. In 1880 he was called to Seneca 
County, N. Y., where he labored two and one-half years, when, suffering from an attack 
of pneumonia, he was compelled forest, spending one year near Muncy, Penn. In May, 
1883, he took charge of St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Catawissa. and has 
since been laboring here with acceptance and abundant success. He has taken a great 
Interest, wherever he has labored, in the building of new churches, and since coming here 
the church has been rebuilt and nicely furnished, while the membership has been doubled. 
Rev. Mr. Myers was married October 11, 1870, to Sadie J., daughter of Isaac and Mary 
(Sechler) Beeber, of Muncy, Penn. 

DAVID R. RANDALL was born August 21, 1818, in Cheshire County, N. H.. and 
died August 31, 1875. His father, Joseph Randall, was a farmer, and moved to McDon- 
ough, Chenango Co., N. Y., when David was about six years of age. Some eight years 
later his father died, leaving him the eldest child and only son of a family of eight chil- 
dren, and but little propert}'. Young Randall thus found himself, at the age of fifteen, 
the head of a family who looked to him for support, with nothing to assist him in the 
struggle of life but his own perseverance of character, guided by the counsel of a devoted 
mother and the kind hand of a beneficent Providence. Left thus with seven sisters, he 
struggled on to support the family and educate himself. Daylight found him at his work, 
night at his books by the light of pine faggots. In this way he educated himself and 
supported his mother and sisters till he arrived at the age and acquired the necessary edu- 
cation to enable him to become a teacher, having passed a most flattering graduation 
from Oxford Academj', Oxford, N. Y. Asa teacher he labored with the same energy 
that had characterized him from boyhood, and at the age of twenty-six was elected super- 
intendent of common schools for the county of Chenango. His labors in belialf of the 
common schools of Luzerne County, Penn., will ever be gratefullj' remembered by that 
people. Devoting his time and efforts to the cause of education in this capacity for two 
years, he then concluded to enter upon the study of law, and accordingly entered his 
name as a student in the ofiice of Hon. Ransom Balcomb, now one of the judges of the 
supreme court of the State of New York. This was in 1843, and he continued to read law 
with Judge Balcomb until 1846, being obliged, however, to devote much time to teaching 



CATAWISSA TOWNSHIP. 405 

to support liis famil}'. In 1846 Mr. Randall left his home and came to Hyde Park, 
Luzerne Co. (now Lackawanna County;, commencing here to build up his fortune by 
teaching, and soon afterward entered ins name as a law student with Chai-lesH. Silkman, 
Esq., of Providence, now a portion of the city of Scranton. He was admitted to the bar 
■of Luzerne County November 4, 1847, and opened an office at Providence, wuere soon his 
frank manners and ready business tact brought him clients, whose numbers increased up to 
the time of his sickness. Mr. Randall had all his life been a Democrat, aud in the fall of 
1860 he was nominated as a candidate for Congress bj^ the Democracy of the Twelfth 
Congressional District of Pennsylvania, composed of the counties of Luzerne, AVyoming, 
Oolumbia and Montour. His opponent was Hon. George W. Scranton, the strongest man 
by all odds in his party, and who defeated Mr. Randall by a majority of 695 in the dis- 
trict where Col. Scranton had two jears before received a majoritj^ of 3,980. Upon the 
death of Hon. E. B. Chase, the district attorney of Luzerne County, Mr. Randall was 
appointed February 18, 1864, by Judge Conyngham, district attorney of the county until 
the next election. Upon receiving this appointment he removed to Williesbarre, the 
county seat. When the Democratic convention met in the fall of the same year he was 
unanimously nominated as the candidate for district attorney. He received a majority of 
2,335 in the county. This was the last time he suffered his name to go before the people 
as a candidate for office. Upon the incorporation of the city of Wilkesbarre iu 1871, Mr. 
Randall was appointed chief assessor of the city by Hon. Garrick M. Harding, a Repub- 
lican judge, upon the unanimous recommendation of the members of the city council and 
the commissioners of the county-, serving until his death. Mr. Randall was twice mar- 
ried, August 25, 1849, to Mary Child, who bore him four children (none of whom are 
living), and died February 7, 1855. March 5, 1856, he married Miss Elizabeth S. Emerson, 
of McDonough, N. Y., who survives him. She bore him seven children, of whom two 
sons, Charles E. and David V., and two daughters, Nettie E. and Jennie M., survive him. 
The qualities of the deceased endeared him to his friends and commanded the respect of 
all who knew him. He was a true friend and generous foe. Bluff, hearty and outspoken 
in his dealings with his fellows, he was honored and beloved, and has now left to his chil- 
dren the priceless legacy of an unstained name. The grave, dark and silent, has shut up 
from sight his manly form. His firm step and cheerful voice will be heard no more in the 
haunts of men; but the memory of his generous deeds, his kindly waj^s, his warm friend- 
ship, his heart}" humor, and his sturdy courage will be long remembered by those who 
knew him. — Extract from Luzerne Legal Register. 

CHARLES E. RANDALL, of the firm of Randall & Yocum, editors and proprietors 
of the Vatmoissa News Item, Catawissa, was bcrn in Providence, Luzerne Co., Penn., No- 
vember 4, 1856, a son of David R. and Elizabeth (Emerson) Randall. (See sketch.) His 
maternal grandfather, Moses Emerson, a merchant and miller, was a native of New Hamp- 
shire. His paternal grandfather, Joseph Randall, was also a native of New Hampshire 
and was a farmer. Our subject received his education at Wilkesbarre and at the age of 
seventeen had finished his course in the high school at that place, and was given his choice 
of a profession or a trade. He chose the latter and entered the office of the Luzerne 
Union, under H. B. Beardslee, where he served an apprenticeship of four years, after 
which he worked at his trade in that place until 1879. His health failing he went to White 
Haven and worked at his trade two years. In the fall of 1881 he came to Catawissa aud 
was employed as foreman of the Catawissa News Item until October, 1884. At that date 
he and John C. Yocum, Esq., purchased the office of G. E. Myers, and have since been the 
owners and proprietors of the Ntios Item, Mr. Randall conducting the editorial depart- 
ment and office in general. The paper is a newsy sheet, 24x36, seven columns, and has a 
circulation of 1,500. The office is supplied with a three-horse power engine, and is the 
best equipped and only one operated by steam in the county. In September, 1880, Mr. 
Randall married Lizzie M., daughter of Elijah and Sarah Search, and one child has blessed 
their union, Eugene Y. Mr. Randall edits the paper independent in politics, is well 
adapted to his chosen profession and gives satisfaction to all his readers. 

GEORGE W. REIFSNYDER, merchant, Catawissa, born in Schuylkill County, Penn., 
March 24, 1848, a son of George and Harriet (Sharpless) Reifsnyder, natives of Pennsyl- 
vania and of German-English descent. His grandfather came from England; was one of 
the settlers under William Penn. His grandfather, Benjamin Sharpless, came to Cata- 
wissa at an early day and was one of the founders of the paper-mill here, and also of the 
Quaker Church; he owned and operated the mill for a number of years and died at the 
age of ninety-four years. Our subject's father was born in Montgomery County, this 
State, in 1804, and lived there but a short time; thence moved to Perry County and thence 
to this county, where he engaged in mercantile business for several years. He then 
moved to Schuylkill County and located at New Castle, where he carried on mercantile 
business, and there resided until he reared his family, which consisted of twelve children, 
five of whom are living: Mrs. William Hartman, Mrs. E* S. Jackson, (a resident of Scran- 
ton), George W. (our subject), Mrs. Isaac Hartman (a resident of Ontario, Canada), and 
Mrs. Charles Pearson (a resident of Berlin, Ontario). The father died in 1856. Our sub- 
ject was about nine years of age when he came to Catawissa where he received his edu- 



406 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

cation. In 1874 he engaged in conducting tlie yiisquehanna hotel which he continued! 
proprietor of until 1883, when he embarked in mercantile business. He carries a general 
line of dry goods and groceries, his stock being valued at about $5,000. He married in 
December, 1870, Anna Kostenbauder, by whom he has had five children, three living: 
Samuel, Leonard and Karl. Mr. and Mrs. Reifsnyder are members of ihe Lutheran Church; 
he is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the G. A. R. In 1862 he enlisted in the 
State militia, and in January, 1864, enlisted in the Third Pennsylvania Artillery, and 
served until 1865; was one year on picket duty continuously, and the rest of the time 
served on detached duty; he served two years in the militia and regular service. He owns 
several properties in Catawissa; he is the best pigeon shot in the county. 

SOLOMON RIDER, farmer, P. O. Catawissa, was born in Montour County, Penn., in 
June, 1827, a son of John and Betsey (Berkhart) Rider, natives of Berks County, Penn., and 
of German descent. His father came here at an early day and settled in Montour County, 
"where he lived several years and then moved to Lycoming County, where he bought a 
farm and resided until his death in his eighty-eighth year. He was a soldier in the war of 
1812. Mrs. Betsey Rider died in her eighty-sixth j^ear. She was the mother of fourteen 
children, twelve of whom are living: John; Katie (wife of Daniel Shuler); Samuel; Sarah 
(deceased);Peggy (wife of Daniel Miller, residing in Lycoming County, Penn.); Lawrence; 
Daniel (residing in Lycoming County); Rachel (wife of Cleaver Davis, residing in the 
West); Susan (wife of Jacob Hertman); Jacob (deceased); Solomon; Mary and Hannah, 
(twins). Our subject was only six years of age when his father moved to Lycoming County- 
and vrhen eighteen years of age he came to Schuylkill County, located at Ashland and re- 
mained there about ten years, being engaged as stable foreman. He then came to Colum- 
bia County and bought a farm where his son-in-law now lives, and there resided for three 
years, when he sold' out and bought the farm of 112 acres adjoining; moved on it and there 
has since lived. He married, in October, 1848, Hannah Leiby, and nine children were 
born to them, two living; Mary J. (wife of William Davis) and Martin. Mrs. Rider is a. 
member of the Presbyterian Church. In politics Mr. Rider is a Democrat. 

WILLIAM H. ROBERTS, farmer, P. O. Catawissa, was born in Montour Town- 
ship, this county, April 28, 1846, a son of Josiah A. and Anna M. (Clewell) Roberts, 
natives of Columbia County, and of Welsh-German descent. His grandfather, Edward, 
was reared near Philadelphia, and came to Columbia County at an early day, where he 
settled and cleared up a farm and resided until his death. He was found dead, after a 
storm, between Catawissa and his home, and the supposition is that he was killed hy 
lightning. He started out to purchase a knife for his grandson (our subject) but never re- 
turned. Subject's father was also born in Montour Township and was reared a farmer. 
He is master of four trades, being a stone-mason, stone-cutter, plasterer and brick-layer. 
He owns a farm in Montour Township, and is the father of eleven children, nine of whoni. 
are living: William H., Harvey, Arthur, Sarah, Edw^ard. David, Anna, Clarence and 
Joseph E. William H. was reared on the farm, and attended school until after he was- 
twenty-one years of age. He worked for Sloan, in Bloomsburg, this county, a short time, 
and then started out for himself. After marriage he located near Danville, Montour Co., 
Penn., on a farm, where he lived one year. He was appointed keeper of the Columbia 
County poorhouse, but, finding it unsuitable to his taste, after one year moved back to 
the farm and remained three years. He then resided two years in Mechanicsville, Penn.^, 
and then moved on the Holfingshead farm where he remained for one year. In 1884 he 
bought the farm where he now resides, and which consists of 140 acres. This property 
is the old homestead of his mother. He married, in September, 1868, Ellen Barnd, a 
daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Barnd. They are the parents of nine children; 
Charles, Josiah, Frank, Andrew, May, Elizabeth, Mattie, Lutora and Roy. Mr. and Mrs. 
Roberts are members of the German Reformed Church; politically be is a Republican. 

JOHN K. ROBINS, M. D., P. O. Catawissa, was born in Sunbury, Northumberland: 
County, April 14, 1820. His parents, Aaron and Rebecca (Richardson) Robins, were 
natives of Pennsylvania and of English descent. His paternal ancestors came from Eng- 
land to this country with Wm. Penn. His paternal ancestors are traced to three brothers, 
who came to this country from England; two of them remained at Rhode Island, and the 
other came to Philadelphia, Penn. His grandfather, Joseph Richardson, went into the 
Revolutionary war when about eighteen years of age, was wounded at the battle of 
Brandywine and suffered from lameness the rest of his life. About the time of the Revo- 
lution he had begun the study of medicine; but after that struggle turned his attention to 
farming, and owned two farms near Danville. Our subject's father was a contractor and 
builder, which occupation he followed all his life. He built the abutments for the Sun- 
bury dam, which was a noted piece of work. He owned 200 acres of land in Michigan, a 
farm near Sunbury, another at Union Corners, a number of town and city proj^mies 
in different places, and was quite wealthy at his death, which occurred in Sunbury in 
1843. John K. remained at home and attended the schools of his neighborhood. At the 
age of twenty years he commenced the study of medicine and graduated in the allopathic- 
course at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in 1842. In April of the same year he- 
went to Shamokin, Penn., where he soon had a good practice and remained three years. 



CATAWISSA TOWNSHIP. 407 

In January, 1846, he removed to Catawissa, where he has since enjoyed a very large practice. 
In 1874 he took his son, WilHam B., who is also agraduate of Jefferson Medical College, into 
partnership with him, and the firm has since been known as John K. Robins & Son. Dr. 
Robins married, in November, 1847, Jane, daughter of Joseph Brobst. Five children have 
been born to their union: Mary, wife of A. H. Sharpless; Ada; William B., married to 
Emma Cleaver; Joseph and Rebecca. Dr. Robins is a member of the Episcopal Church, 
and also of the Masonic fraternity. Lodge tSTo. 349, Chapter 272. He has held nearly all 
the ofHces of the Blue Lodge and Chapter, and is a member of the Crusade Knight 
Templars at Danville. 

CAPT. I. H. SEESHOLTZ, merchant, Catawi'^sa, was born in Catawissa, Columbia 
Co., Penn., November 14, 1837, a son of Philip and Mary (Hull) Seesholtz. His father 
was a native of Pennsj'lvania and his mother of New Jersey, and both were of German 
descent. His paternal grandfather came from Germany and located in Northumberland 
County, near Sunbury, where he owned a farm and cultivated it until his death. Sub- 
ject's father, a native of Northumberland County, Penn., was a potter, which trade he 
followed a number of years. He came to Columbia County about 1830 and located in 
Roaringcreek, where he resided several years, and then moved to Catawissa, bought 
property and followed his trade a few years. He then bought a couple of farms and 
turned his attention to agriculture, which he followed until his death in 1872. He lived 
in one house over fifty years; was a Republican in politics. He was the father of the 
following named children: Matilda, Piifaler, Jeremiah S., Christian B., James M., 
Edmund H., Isaac H., William (who was killed at the battle of the Wilderness), and Sarah 
C. Sharpless. Our subject attended school until 1859, when he read medicine and 
attended two courses of lectures at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. In April, 
1861, he enlisted in Company A, Sixth P. R V. C, "Iron Guards," and served under 
Capt. Wallace Ricketts. He was appointed and served as second lieutenant six months; 
resigned and enlisted in Company H, Ninety-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and 
was soon commissioned first lieutenant; in a short lime he resigned and joined Company 
C, One Hundred and Eighteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and rose to the position of 
captain. In June, 1865, he was mustered out. He participated in nearly all of the battles 
of the Army of the Potomac; was wounded September 20, 1862, at Shepardstown, Va., 
by a gunshot, which disabled him from duty for three or four months. He was. again 
wounded by a gunshot in 1863, at Peeble's farm. Capt. Seesholtz was a brave soldier, to 
which is due his promotion. At the close of the war he returned home and engaged in 
mercantile business, which he has since carried on. He keeps a general line of merchan- 
dise and fertilizers, and his stock is valued at f o.OOO, insured. He owns four houses and 
four town lots and his store building. He married, in November, 1880, Martha Poland, 
and they have one child, Sarah P. Mr. and Mrs. Seesholtz are members of the church. 
He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the G. A. R., Post 170; is serving as 
quartermaster, and has held most of the ofl[ices of the post. He is a member of tiie 
school board of which he was president in 1885, and is its present secretary. Politically 
he is a Republican. 

GEORGE H. SHARPLESS, clerk, P. O. Catawissa, was born May 29. 1852, a son of 
John and Sarah Ann (Harder) Sharpless, natives of Catawissa. Benjamin Sharpless, 
grandfather of our subject, came to this county while a young man. and was one of the 
originators of the Catawissa Paper Company, with which he was connected until his death 
in 1855. At the time of his death he was ninety-tbree years old, and his wife had preced- 
ed him a number of years. They are buried in the Quaker Cemetery at Catawissa. Our 
subject's father was reared in Catawissa, and in early life was employed in the paper- 
mills. He erected the building which is now known as "the corner drug store," there 
kept a general stock of goods and operated the store until his death in 1868. He is buried 
in Greenwood Cemetery, Catawissa. His wife died in 1852 and is buried in the Quaker 
Cemetery at Catawissa. Both were members of the Society of Friends. Our subject was 
reared in Catawissa and received his early education in the schools of that place. In 1861 
he entered the Kingston Seminary where he spent two years, and in his nineteenth year 
became a student at the Westchester Classical Institute, where he also spent two years. 
He then returned to Columbia County and commenced business in a store, building on 
what was then known as " the Willetts farm," but now as " the Sharpless farm." He con- 
tinued in this place doing business for three years, when he came to Catawissa and entered 
the employ of C. F. Harder, with whom he remained until taking his present position 
with A. S. Truckenmiller, in May, 1886. He was married at Catawissa November 23, 
1873, to Miss Ella Schmick, a native of Norristown, Penn., and a daughter of Daniel and 
Catherine (Baldv) Schmick, natives of Catawissa, where the latter still resides, the former 
having died in Korristown, in 1855. where he was general manager of the canal. Mr. 
and Mrs. Sharpless have four children : John, Gilbert, Kate and Anna. The parents 
are members of the Lutheran Church. In politics he is a Republican-Democrat. 

FRANKLIN L. SHUMAN, associate judge, Catawissa, was born in Beaver Valley, 
Penn., October 6, 1834, a son of Christian and Elizabeth (Hendershot) Shuman, both natives 
of Pennsylvania and of German descent. His great-grandfather came from Ger- 

31 



408 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

many at an early day. His paternal grandfather, John, was one of the early settlers of 
Catawissa ToAvnship, and here purchased a farm where he lived until his death. 
He was a 'leading citizen and a substantial Democrat. Our subject's father. Christian, 
was born and reared in Catawissa, and when about eighteen years of age, moved 
to Northampton County, this State, where he learned the tanner's trade and worked 
at it some time. He then moved to Beaver Valley, this county, where he bought a mill 
property, which he operated several years, and also carried on tanning. In 1855 he 
entered mercantile business at the same place. He owned three farms, a grist-mill. 
tannery, store and hotel, all of which he had in operation at the same time. He at one 
period possessed considerable wealth, but owing to misfortunes it w^as very much reduced 
at the time of his death. As a Democrat he took a deep interest in politics, and, although 
never an aspirant for office, had a great influence over his Democratic friends. His death 
occurred in 1885. Our subject was reared in Beaver Valley, this county, where he attend- 
ed school until he had reached the age of nineteen years. Being of a very ambitious 
character he longed for something higher and made up his mind to do something for him- 
self. He commenced to work for his father at one thing or another on his farm, in the 
store and the mill, and so continued until he was married, when he engaged in the lumber 
business, keeping hotel at Beaver Valley, which industry he carried on until 1873. In the 
meantime he had owned a half dozen farms, but disposed of them, except twenty acres 
adjoining Catawissa, which he still retains. In 1870 he built a house in Catawissa into 
which he moved, but which was destroyed by fire June 7, 1885. He then erected a large 
two-story frame house, built on the same spot, in which he lives at present. He had only 
resided here a short time after his first move when sickness attacked his family, and he 
was compelled to abandon his home here and seek other quarters. However he was not 
long in making up his mind, so he moved back to his old home in Beaver Valley, and 
again embarked in mercantile business, to which he soon after added coal trade, also 
carrying on a number of trades while living here. He moved back to Catawissa in 1875 
where he has since lived. In 1881 he bought the Zarr farm, which consisted of forty 
acres, adjoining Catawissa, and laid it out in town |lots. which is known as "Shuman's 
addition," on which there have been erected over 100 houses within the last few years. 
The schoolhouse, one of the finest in the county, is also built on this addition. In 1884 
he put in water-works in the town, which he and his sons control and are the individual 
owners of, although, under a chartered company, it is all in the Shuman family. In the 
fall of 1885 he laid out a new cemetery in Catawissa in the'east end of Shuman's addition. 
In 1876 he was elected associate judge, and after serving his first term and performing 
hisduty'so manfully, he was re-elected in 1881, and is now serving his second term. He 
has also been justice of the peace several terms. He married, July 27, 1854, Angeline, 
daughter of Minessa and Susanna (Hosier) Michael and to them have been born four chil- 
dren, only one of whom survives — Paris H., married to Ada Boyer. Mr. and Mrs. Shuman 
are members of St. John's Lutheran Church. In politics he is a Democrat. He has proba- 
bly done more for Catawissa since living here in the way of building it up than any other 
man in the vicinity. In educational interests, public improvements and all that pertains to 
progress and advancement of the town, Mr. Shuman has taken an active and prom- 
inent part, and the record of his life will live, in the memory of those whose rugged ways 
he smoothed and softened, after he has passed away. 

M. A. SWANK, merchant, Catawissa. was born in Catawissa Township, this county, 
May 6, 1845, a son of Jacob and Lydia (Waterhouse) Swank, natives of Pennsylvania and 
of German descent. His grandfather, George, lived in Northumberland County, Penn., 
where he owned a farm and followed agricultural pursuits all his life. Our subject's 
father was born in Northumberland County, and was a brick-maker by trade, w'hich he 
followed until coming to this county, in 1838, and for a number of years thereafter. He 
was then employed by the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad for about eleven years; then 
took up farming and gardening, which he has followed since. He resides about two miles 
east of Catawissa, -where he owns a farm; is now in his seventieth year, but hale and 
stout. He was the father of nine children, si.x of whom are now living: Sarah Getchey, 
Martin A., Wellington, Elwood, Clara Irwine and Anna Getchey. Our subject was reared 
on the farm, but, being crippled, never worked much on it. He attended school until he 
was about eighteen years old, and remained at home until the spring of 1877, when he 
engaged in rnercantiie business in Catawissa, and here has since remained. He carries a 
general line of groceries and dry goods valued at $5,000; has quite an extensive trade 
and is one of the leading merchants of the town. He married in 1881 Louisa Geist, by 
whom he bad two children: George and Ethel. Mr. and Mrs. Swank attend the services 
of the Church. 

E. M. TEWKSBURY, farmer, P. O. Catawissa, was born in Brooklyn, Susquehanna 
Co., Penn., September 10, 1837, a son of Reuben and Martha (Cory) Tewksbury, the 
former a native of Vermont, the latter of Rhode Island. The family is of pure English 
descent, dating back to the early history of England. Among the London merchants was 
John Tewksbury, one of the oldest friends of the Scriptures in England. As early as 1513 
he had become the po.ssessor of a manuscript copy of the Bible and had attentively 



CATAWISSA TOWNSHIP. 40'9" 

studied it. Being a man of understanding, clever in all he undertook, a ready and fluent 
speaker, and liking to get at the bottom of everything, Tewksbury, like Monmouth, 
became very influential in the city of London, and one of the most learned in the Scrip- 
tures of any of the evangelicals. Our subject's grandfather was born in Massachusetts. 
Reuben Tewksbury moved to Susquehanna County, Penn., witii his father, Sergt. Tewks- 
bury, in 1803, and there resided until his death in 1861. He was a farmer and owned a 
good farm. Our subject was reared on a farm, and remained witli his parents until fif- 
teen years of age, when he entered Harford University, Susquehanna County, Penn., from 
which he graduated after three years' hard study. His next pursuit was teaching school 
in Dauphin County, near Harrisburg, Penn., where he taught one term in the winter of 
1855-56. In the summer of the latter year he came to this county and taught school in 
Catawissa Township. He was engaged in teaching school and farming up to 1869, when 
he bought the farm of 160 acres, where he has since remained. Tliis farm was taken up 
in 1772 by David Shakespeare, who bought it from Thomas and John Penn, proprietors of 
Pennsylvania. They paid £10 18 shillings for the whole tract of 218 acres. It is one of the 
oldest farms in the section, and is known as "Shakespeare Springs." eighteen miles 
north of Ft. Augusta (Sunbury). This section was then in Northumberland County, and ' 
it is said to be the oldest title paper for many miles, having been patented during the 
reign of George III. The next deed was from David Shakespeare to Joseph Mclntyre, 
recorded August 26, 1797, but was sold in 1796. The next transfer was a will and deed by- 
Joseph Mclntyre to his heirs and deed of heirs to William Mclntyre, April 29. 1816. The 
first heirs were William Mclntyre, Mary (wife of John Yocum), Rachel (wife of Jacob 
Fox), Patience, Sarah and Eleanor, and were the heirs among whom the estate was 
divided. The next deed is given by William Mclntyre, April 9, 1840, to William H. Davi- 
son, from New Jerse}% the father of E. M. Tewksbury's wife. This deed covers a tract of 
about 400 acres. The next title is by a will made in 1849 by William H. Davison to his 
wife during her lifetime. After her death the farm fell to Barnett D., Jane (wife of 
Peter Kern). Mary (wife of John Osburn), Elizabeth (wife of Lemuel Titsworth). Sarah 
C. (wife of Franklin Titsworth) and Ellen (wife of E. M. Tewksbury). This family were 
all born in New Jersey. The tarm was divided among them in tracts by deed of above- 
named heirs of AVilliam H. Davison, deceased, to Edward M. Tewksbury, bearing date 
April 1, 1869, who retams the 160 acres. One part of the original tract is owned by Peter 
Kern; 120 acres and sixty-five acres were deeded to Billmeyer & Co. at the same date. 
Mr. Tewksbury was married July 3, 1858, by the Rev. D. J. Waller, to Ellen Davison, by 
whom he has two children: Martha D. and Eugene D. The family are all members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Tewksbnry is a prominent and successful citizen. 
He was run over by a team of horses and suffers from lameness. In addition to his other 
business he operates a dairy, and has been in that business for nine years. He is a member 
of the Grange, in politics a Democrat; and now (1887) a member of the board of county 
auditors, having been elected by a leading vote on the ticket. 

WILLIAM H. TUTHILL, yard-fqreman of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad, 
Catawissa, was born in Orange County, N. Y., November 2. 1833, and is a a son of Harris 
and Mary (Duzenberry) Tuthlll, natives of the State of New York and of French-German 
descent. His grandfather was born in the above named State and was a farmer, as is 
also Harris Tuthill. who is yet living in Orange Count}', N. Y. Our subject, at 
twenty-five years of age, went to Tioga County, N. Y., and engaged in farming five 
years. In the spring of 1864 he came to Catawissa and was employed by the Catawissa 
Railroad Company as a laborer with a gang of carpenters, building shops, and worked, 
himself up to different positions until he was promoted yard-foreman, which oflice he has 
held for about seventeen years. He is one of the company's trustworthy men and an 
active railroad man. He was married in December, 1858, to A. E. Cornwall, a native of 
the State of New York, and they are the parents of one child, Mahala. They have an 
adopted daughter, Annie E. Mrs. Tuthill is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
Mr. Tuthill politically is a Democrat. He owns two houses and lots in Catawissa. 

JOHN AVALTZ, farmer, P. O. Catawissa, was born in Schuylkill County, this 
State, September 21, 1830, a son of John and Magdalene (Schmidt) Waltz. His father 
was a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, and his mother of Alsace, France. The former 
left the old country about 1823, landed in Baltimore and then came to Chester County, 
this State, where he remained for some years; then moved to Schuylkill County, where 
he married and lived a number of years. He came to Columbia County, bought a lot in 
Maine Township, where he lived about fifteen years, when he moved to Mifliiu Township, 
and there resided with his daughter until his death, at the age of eighty-three years. 
Our subject was reared in Schuylkill County until about five years of age, when he came 
to this county with his parents and remained with them until he was twenty-one. He- 
was then employed on the Lehigh Valley Railroad for about fifteen years in Carbon 
County, this State. He then came to Catawissa and was employed by the Catawi.ssa' 
Railroad Company for about ten years. In 1871 he moved to where he now lives where 
he had previously bought a small farm. He at once commenced to improve the place and 
built a fine barn at a cost of $1,100. He now owns seventy acres of good land on which 



410 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

he does all kinds of trucking. Mr. Waltz has the name of being the best berry (" Big 
Bob" and " Sharpless") raiser in this country, making it a specialty. He ships berries 
as far as California, and has raised some of the finest in the country, eight making a 
quart. He was married in 1857 to Anna L. Shuman, who bore him two children, Cv^igh- 
lon S. and AlfrettaJ H., and died iu 1865. He next married, in 1869, Barbara Ritter. 
Mr. Waltz and wife are members of the Evangelical Church. He formerly was a mem- 
ber of the K. of P. 

W. G. TETTER, division engineer of the Catawissa division of the Philadelphia & 
Reading Railroad, Catawissa, was born in Columbia County, Peuu., 'December 10, 1838, 
a son of Lewis and Harriet B. (Gearhart) Yetter, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German 
descent. His grandfather, John, a shoemaker by trade, lived in Catawissa, where he 
served as justice of the peace for a great many years. Our subject's great-grandfather. 
Samuel, came from Virginia and settled near Catawissa, where he followed farming until 
his death. He served as major under George Washington, and after the war located near 
Catawissa. Subject's father was born in 1811, and during his early life learned the trades 
of chairmaker and painter. He afterward took up surveying, which he followed about 
thirty-five years. He served for thirty-five years as justice of the peace, and as notary 
public for a long time, and had settled up some forty-five estates at the time of his death. 
He was a substantial Republican. He was the father of five children, three of whom are 
now living: William G., Albert and Mrs. Hannah A. Decker. He died January 24, 1880. 
Our subject was brought up iu Catawissa, and attended school until about twenty years 
of age, when he took up surveying under:ihis father, and followed it until September 20, 
1862. He was emplioyed by the Catawissa Railroad Company as rodman. which position 
he held until 1865, when, on June 10 of that year, he was appointed roadmaster of 
the Catawissa division, a responsibility he held until 1877, when he was promoted to 
engineer, which office he held until 1882, when the title was changed to " division road- 
master" until 1885, when he received the title of '" division engineer." While serving as 
roadmaster he did a great deal of railroad building for the company, and in 1871 built the 
extension line from Milton to Williamsport, and also several short branches. He has 
been an active railroad man since in the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad 
Company. He has an interest in the Catawissa Bridge Company, owns two houses and lots 
in Catawissa, and also two lots in the town. Mr. Yetter married, March 19, 1867, Diana, 
daughter of Seely and Sarah (Shoemaker) Swartwood. Mr. and Mrs. Yetter are the par- 
ents of two children: Harriet and Harry. Mrs. Yetter is a member of the Lutheran 
Church. Mr. Yetter is widely known all over the Slate, is connected with the signal 
service, is prominent in his county, and has hosts of friends. 

W. A. YETTER, proprietor of the Susquehanna House, Catawissa, was born in Main- 
ville, Penu., June 11, 1849, a son of Isaac and Mary (Kostenbander) Yetter, natives of the 
same State. His grandparents on both sides, farmers, came from Bucks County, Penn., to 
this county, where his paternal grandfather settled in Franklin Township and there died. 
Our subject's father first settled in Franklin Township, but later moved to Maine Town- 
ship, where he still resides, and is now about eighty years of age: his wife died iu Novem- 
ber, 1885. They were parents of eleven children, of whom survive Elizabeth, wife of 
William Hauk; Esther, wife of William T. Shuman; Matilda, wife of John Stokes; Jacob 
B. ; Alfred; Wright A. and Boyd. Our subject was reared on a farm, and at the age of 
eighteen learned telegraphy, and was given an office at Fairview on the Lehigh Valley 
Railroad. After a short tune he was appointed telegraph operator and assistant freight 
agent on the Catawissa Railroad (now the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad), which posi- 
tion he held five months, when he was promoted to an agency at Ringtown, for the same 
company. He occupied that place about two years, when he accepted a position as opera- 
tor on the Central Railroad of New Jersey, which, however, he resigned after a short time 
to accept a more remunerative one on the Lehigh & Susquehanna Railroad. With that 
company he remained five months, when he was appointed to a position with the Cata- 
wissa Railroad Company, and remained with them until 1872, when the road was changed 
to the Philadelphia & Reading. With the latter company he remained as station agent at 
Summit for about two years; then was transferred to Williamsport, where he acted as super- 
intendent's clerk and car agent for three and a half years. He was then transferred to a 
better position and increased salary at Temple, Berks County, where he acted as station 
agent for four years and a half. In September, 1883, he took charge of the "Susquehanna 
House " at Catawissa, which hotel he has since conducted, and which is first-class in every 
respect. Mr. Yetter married, November 10, 1875, Harriet Reifsnyder Keller, and five chil- 
dren were born to this union: Robert E., Hobert R., Desdamona, Marshall and Isaac. 
Mr. Yetter is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Lodge No. 349. In politics he is a Re- 
publican. 

JOHN" C. YOCUM. attorney at law, Catawissa, was born in Roaringcreek Township, 
Columbia Co., Penn., April 23, 1854, a son of Elijah and Jane (Campbell) Yocum, natives 
of Pennsylvania and of German-Scotch descent. His grandfather, Capt. John Yocum, 
came from Germany to Amercia when quite young, and settled in Roaringcreek Town- 
ship, this county, where he purchased a farm and followed agriculture all his life. He 



CENTRE TOWNSHIP. 411 

was a good farmer and owned considerable land. He was a very large man and always 
took great delight in showing his strength, and it is thought his life was shortened by 
overdoing himself. He died at the age of fifty-two years, in the prime of life. He was 
a Democrat poiiiically, which is rather remarkable, as all his children except the father 
of our subject, who was always a Democrat, are Republicans, and was a consistent mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject's father was a farmer and also 
dealt in lumber. He owned three saw-milis in Locust Township, this county, and started 
in life wiili not money enough to buy a team of horses. At the time of his death he 
owned l.^OO acres of land. He died in 1883, in his sixty-ninth year. He had been a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church until the war when, politics being introduced 
into the pulpit, he became disgusted and withdrew. Our subject was reared on a farm 
but was engaged in the lumber business with his father until seventeen years of age, 
when he entered Ebysburg Academy, which he attended four terms. He then entered 
Lebanon Valley College at Annville, Penn., where he graduated from the classical depart- 
ment in 1879. Previous to that, however, he had taught four terms of school at intervals 
during the college course. In 1880 he entered the office of the Hon. Charles R. Buckalew 
at Bloomsburg, with whom he read law two years, and was admitted to the bar in Decem- 
ber, 1881. In April, 1882, he came to Catawissa, and has since been practicing law here. 
Mr. Yocum is a very able attorney. He married, October 28, 1885, Fannie C, daughter 
of Jacob S. and Louise Killinger, a native of Annville, Lebanan Co., Penn. Mr. Yocum 
is a member of the United Brethren Church, and Mrs. Yocum of the Reformed Church. 
He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, No. 349, Catawissa Lodge; in politics a Dem- 
ocrat. Mr. Yocum is the owner of a tract of land in Locust Township in timber, and 
the house and lot where he resides. In October, 1884, he and C. E. Randall purchased the 
Catawissa News Item, which is a neat seven-column, four-page sheet, and has a circula- 
tion of 1,500. 

DANIEL ZARR, Jr., farmer, P. O. Catawissa, was born in Berks County, this 
State, March 17, 1835, a son of John and Catherine (Sline) Zarr, natives of Pennsylvania 
and of German descent. His ancestors came from that country and settled in Berks 
County where Ihej^ followed farming. His grandfather, George, lived in that county for 
a number of years, later moved to Columbia County nearly a century ago, bought a farm 
and built the stone house in the south end of Catawissa, which is now owned by Frank 
Shumau. There were but two or three houses in Catawissa when he moved here. Our sub- 
ject's father was born in Northampton County, Penn., and came here when a boy, but re- 
mained onl}^ a short time; then he moved to Berks County, where he remained a tew years 
and, about 1835, returned to Catawissa where he resided until his death which occurred in 
July, 1881, at the home of his son Daniel. He had been drafted in the service of his country, 
but the war closed before he was called to the field. He was the father of nine children, 
six of Avhom are living: David, John, Benjamin, Joel, Daniel and Jeremiah. Three 
daughters are dead. Daniel was only a babe when his parents moved here, and he re- 
mained at home until he was of age, attending school. He then worked for anybody and 
everybody in order to support his parents, whom he cared for till their death. In 18^81 he 
bought a farm of eighty-three acres of good land, where he now^ resides. He is a mem- 
ber of the Lutheran Church, and is an intelligent and enterprising citizen. 



CHAPTER XXVITT. 
CENTRE TOWNSHIP. 

LEVI AIKMAN, farmer, P. O. Light Street, was born in what is now Centre 
Township, this county, on the farm on which he now resides, on IMarch 4, 1816, son of 
Levi, Sr., and IMargaret (Hutchison) Aikman, the latter of whom was born in Northamp- 
ton County, Penn., her father being a farmer; she was reared in Northampton County, 
and, her parents dying when she was a child, slie afterward came to this county. Her an- 
cestors were of Scotch-Irish extraction. The Aikman family are also of Scotch-Irish ex- 
traction, Alexander Aikman having emigrated from the North of Ireland to this country. 
He came to this county from Morris County, N. J., during the progress of the Revolu- 
tionary war, about 1777 or 1778. He had been previously married in New Jersey to Miss 
Mary Lewis, and they came to this county with th^'ir children, among whom was Levi 
Aikman, Sr., father of the subject of this sketch. With him also came three brothers. 
He located on a tract of land which he purchased, the land on which Levi now resides 



412 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

ijeiiii? part of his original purchase, although he himself located about a half mile east. 
Tliere were but few settlers in this vicinity when he came, probably a couple of families, 
and he found his purchase, which is in the Briar creek valley, covered with a very heavy 
growth of timber. He commenced by cutting down trees enough to hew out the logs for u 
culnn in which he could domicile his family, and, this task accomplished, he set about clear- 
ing up a farm in the heart of the wilderness. Here there were bears and wolves in large 
jiumbers, and Levi Aikman, Sr., often related to his family in later days that when he 
came deer were more plentiful than are sheep at the present day. He became quite expert 
Jn deer hunting, and killed quite a number of bears during the time he lived in the county. 
When Alexander Aikman tirst came out he was accompanied only by his three sons, and 
after getting his 900 acres located, his cabin built and three acres of turnips planted, he 
and his sous went back to the neighborhood of Sunbury, Northumberland County, to bring- 
out the remainder of the family who had been temporarily left there. While they were 
at that place making prei)arations to return to this localit.y, the Indian war broke out. 
.rendering it unsafe to venture back to their then western home. So when Alexander 
Aikman received an offer from a man who wished to purchase a part of his land, he sold 
600 acres. He afterward often related how the compensation he got for this large tract 
was realized from the sale of thirty yards of tow cloth, he having been obliged to Take his 
paj- in Continental money. They then returned to Morris County, N.J. After the In- 
dian troubles, however, the family came out to this county, and here Alexander and his 
wife lived until their death. The former died in the latter part of the last century; the 
latter survived him some time. They are buried in Scott Township, but not in a regular 
•cemetery, as there was none in the county at the time of their death. Of their seven 
.children Levi, Sr., was the second in order of age. Born in New^ Jersey in 1766, he was 
but a boy when his parents came to this county, and as he grew up he also witnessed the 
/gradual progress of what is now Columbia County. He macle his home witii his parents 
until he was married. He had received some educational instruction in New Jersey, liut 
-on coming to this locality the meager educational facilities of that day allowed him but a 
month or so more of schooling. He spent his l:)oyhood days here at work on his father's 
ifarm, and when he was about thirty years of age he was married to Miss Margaret Hutchi- 
son. Before his marriage he had bought the land on which his son Levi now resides, and 
on which he had previously done some work, and after his marriage lie and his wife settled 
on this land. Here he followed farming until about fifteen years before his death, after 
which time he lived a retired life. They were the parents of eight children, of whom two 
.are living: Levi, subject of this sketch, and James Emmett, born April 19, 1819. and 
who makes his home with Levi. Those that died were Sarah, wife of George Hidlay; 
Esther, wife of Abraham Willett; Elizabeth, died at the age of three or four years; Mary, 
wife of James Dewitt; John Wilson and Margaret. Levi Aikman. Sr., died in 1846, being 
preceded in death by his wife some six or eight years. Thej^ are buried at the Hidlay 
Union Church. Levi Aikman, subject of this sketch, is next to the youngest of their eight 

■ children. He was lioru and reared on the tract of land where he now resides, has always 
made it his home, and has only removed once, and that time out of an old house into a 
.new one. He was reared to farm life, and received the advantages of the schools of his 
■day. He taught school three teims when a young man, but did not like the occupation, 
and afterward gave his attention to farming. He was married in Hemlock Township, this 
county. April 24, 1849, to Miss Elizabeth Ohl, a native of Hemlock Township, and daugh- 
ter of John and Lena (Girton) Ohl, the former of whom came when a bo.y with his parents 
to this county from Montgomery County, Penn.: the latter was Ijorn in Hemlock Town- 
ship, but her parents came from New Jersey. The Ohls were originally of German, the 
■■Girtons of English, lineage. Henry Ohl, grandfather of Mrs. Aikman, was a captain in 

the Revolutionary war. He died at the age of eighty-six years, and is buried in the Lutheran 

■ cemetery, in Bloomsburg, as is also his wife. The parents of Mrs. Aikman are both de- 
ceased, her father dying in 1855, at the age of sixty-three years, eleven months, and her 
mother in 1869, at the age of seventy years. They are buried in Rosemont Cemetery, 
Bloomsburg. Mr. and Mrs. Aikman are the parents of four children: John Hervey, a grad- 
uate of the State Normal School, Bloomsburg, Penn.; Lena Margaret, wife of Arthur C. 

•Creasy of Centre Township, this county; ClaVa Elizabeth, wife of H. V. White, attorney 
:and grain dealer, of Bloomsburg, Penn., and Mary Alvernon. Mr. and Mrs. Aikman are 
members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Aikman was identified in times past with the 
Whig party, and cast his first vote for Henry Clay. He is now a Republican. 

J. E. An<!MAN, retired farmer, P. O. Light Street, was born in what is now Centre 
Township, this county, April 28, 1819, son of Levi, Sr., and Margaret (Hutchison) Aik- 
man, a full sketch of whom appears above. Our subject made his home with his parents 
until they died, following farming, and helping his father until twenty-one years of age, 
after which he worked on shares on the place. After the father's death J. E. and Levi, 
Jr., purchased the old homestead, J. E buying about 137 acres. He now has 100 acres of 
fine farm land, among the finest in the valley, and also has thirty acres of timber land. 
He received his education in the subscription schools of his day, spending about three 
.months in the year in school during the time of his attendance, and the remainder of the 



CENTRE TOWNSHIP. -ilS 

year at work on the farm. He is a Republican politically. During the war he was a 
strong Union man. and contributed largely" from his funds toward the Union cause. He 
is a rnember of the P. of H. and a member of the Presbyterian Church. 

JACOB AUL, farmer, P. O. Lime Ridge, was born in New York City, March 30, 1847. 
son of Jacob and Catherine (Berger) Aul. Both parents were natives of Germany, but 
were married after coming to this country.. When Jacob was an infant of four weeks his 
parents removed to this county and located at Bloomsburg, where the father worked at 
ihe Irondale furnace. Both parents died at Bloomsburg; the father in 1854, and the 
mother about 1877, and are buried in Rosemont Cemetery. Jacob was reared at Blooms- 
burg till reaching the age of eleven years, when he returned to New York Cit3^ and was 
engaged in different occupations, among which were driving express wagon and working 
in the market, etc. He remained there about six years, and then entered the service of 
his country, although hardly seventeen years of age. After coming out of the service he 
went back to New'York, and was engaged in the market a short time, and then went 
to New Market, N. H., where he was engaged in the New Market Cotton Manufacturing 
Company's employ. He remained there one winter, then returned to New York and 
remained there about three months; then came back to Bloomsburg. Here he com- 
menced the blacksmith trade with Maurice Sloan, and remained with him and Stephen 
Know, while learning his trade, about two years, one year with each. Having finished 
his apprenticeship he was employed in the tunnel at Oxford, N. J., on the D. L. & W. 
Ry., throughout its construction, and after that returned to the blacksmith trade at 
Bloomsburg. He remained there one summer and then again went to New York, where 
he enlisted in the regular army in Company A, Fourth United States Cavalry, and from there 
went to Carlisle, where he stayed two weeks; then to St. Louis; was there one year; then 
to Jacksboro, Tex., and was there six or eight months; thence marched to Fort Clark on 
the Rio Grande, where he remained about one year; thence to McKavitt, and there he was 
transferred to Company G; was there five or six months, then went to Curryvillle, Tex., 
and after a short time was ordered back to Fort Clark; and after a time marched to Texas 
and to the Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, at which place he was discharged. Dur- 
ing the time of his service he was engaged in Indian fighting, and was in one regular 
engagement on Mexican soil. After his discharge he came back to Bloomsburg, and made 
that city his home until coming to his present location, which he bought and moved on 
in 1884. During his last residence in Bloomsburg, however, he traveled a great deal, 
'taking in," among other places, the Centennial at Philadelphia. He was married at 
Bloomsburg in September, 1877, to Miss Catherine Traub, a native of this county, and 
daughter of Jacob Traub. Her parents are both deceased and are buried at Numidia, 
this county. Mr. and Mrs. Aul are the parents of five children, of whom four are living: 
George E., Mabel Alice, Harry and Bruce Raymond. Mary is deceased. Mr. Aul is a 
Democrat, politically. As previously stated, he enlisted in the Union Army when not sev- 
enteen years of age. That was August 11, 1863, in Company H, Tenth New Hampshire 
Volunteers. He was in the Army of the Potomac under Butler, and was in engagements 
at Cold Harbor, and participated in the hot work and all the principal engagements in 
the vicinitj'of Petersburg and Richmond, and surrender of Lee. He remained in the serv- 
ice till the close of the war, was discharged at the Point of Rocks, and returned to New 
York. 

H. C. BARTON, farmer, P. O. Lime Ridge, was born at Epsy, this county, January 
10, 1832, son of Cyrus and Catherine (Brewer) Barton. Elisha Barton, grandfather of our 
subject, was born in Virginia, June 21, 1743, and was a son of Thomas Barton, a native 
of England. Elisha Barton came into Pennsylvania and located finally in what is 
now Hemlock Township, Columbia County, close to McKelvy's mill. He bought a 
very large tract of land which was of considerable width, and extended in length from 
Fishing creek to the vicinity of Buckhorn, a distance of between three and four miles. 
This land was, at the time he acquired possession, covered with a heavy growth of tim- 
ber, and he set about clearing up a portion of it, and on this cleared land he carried on 
agriculture. The maiden name of his wife was Anna McCarter, born in New Jersey, 
March 20, 1754. They reared a large familj', but none of their children now survive. On 
this land Elisha Barton and his wife lived until their death. They are buried in the old 
Episcopal graveyard at Bloomsburg. A portion of this large tract of land was afterward 
discovered to be very valuable ore land, and one of his sons, Caleb, afterward became 
wealthy from the proceeds of this land, having an income of between $4,000 and $5,000 
per year from that source. Cyrus Barton, father of H. C. was born at the old homestead 
of his father, where he was reared. He made his home with his father until arriving at 
age, assisting his father a portion of the time on the farm. When he came to Bloomsburg 
there was but a cluster of houses there, none of its industries having been then developed, 
and he and his brother John entered mercantile business, being among the early mer- 
chants of the place. There they remained in business until about 1828 or 1829, when 
Cyrus removed to Espy, and commenced keeping store in a building which had been put 
up by one Henry Edgar for a residence. In a portion of this Mr. Barton kept his store, 
and in the remainder he and his family lived. He was the first merchant in Espy, and 



4:14 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

be ranked amoug her business men until about 1860, when he sold out his stock and re- 
tired from active business. He died there about three years later and is buried at Afton. 
His widow still resides at Espy in the same house the family lived in so long. They were 
the parents of nine children, of whom seven are living: Anna Eliza, wife of Jacob Adams, 
a minister of the Methodist denomination at Delaware, Ohio; H. C.; John A., cashier of 
Pardee & Co., at Hazieton, Penn. (he has held that position for over twenty years); Mary 
Alice, who resides with her mother at Espy; William A., bookkeeper at Hazieton, Penn.; 
Charles Frank, residing at Buffalo, N. Y., where he is bookkeeper for a large milling con- 
cern; and Florence, wife of William Inglehart, an extensive miller, of Evansville, Ind. 
H. C. Barton, subject of this sketch, made his home with his parents until he was eighteen 
years of age, engaged principally in clerking in his father's store. He attended the 
schools of Espy, and when sufficiently advanced, went to the Wyoming Seminary, at 
Kingston, which he attended about one year. On arriving at the age of eighteen he 
went to Scranton, Penn., and sold goods for a merchant named Thompson for about six 
months; then engaged with the Scrantons, with whom he remained about two years 
selling goods. One year he sold $50,00(3 worth of goods behind the retail counter, an 
extraordinary amount for one clerk. After leaving their employ he entered the service of 
Weils & Co., who were then engaged in an extensive contract on the construction of the 
Lackawanna Railroad. While with them he clerked in their store, assisting on their 
books, etc., and was in their employ one year. He then returned to this county. While 
with his last employers he was appointed postmaster at Stanhope, a position he held until 
returning to his native county. At this time he embarked in mercantile business at Lime 
Ridge, and so continued about one year. Then in 1856 he moved to Espy, where he 
spent a portion of the summer, and then went back to Scranton and engaged in mercan- 
tile business in partnership with one Hawley. This business continued until the spring 
of 1858, when our subject again entered, along with his brother-in-law, E. W. M. Low, 
into mercantile business. This partnership continued until the spring of 1860 when he 
removed onto the farm then belonging to the heirs of Isaac Low, his wife being one of the 
heirs. At a sale afterward he became the piu-chaser and owner. In 1866 he went to Will- 
iamsport, where he was engaged in contracting and building, and afterward in the manu- 
facture of axes, continuing in tiiat until the spring of I871,"when he moved back to their 
farm in Centre Township, on which he has since"^ resided. He was married in the house 
in which he now resides while a resident of Scranton. May 8, 1856, to Miss Mary Frances 
Low, a native of what is now Centre Township, this county, born in the house where she now 
resides, and daughter of Isaac and Maria Low. Mr. and Mrs. Barton are the parents of 
two children: Laura and Edith, the latter a stenographer at Dansville, N. Y. Both 
were educated at the State Normal School at Bloom.sburg. Mr. Barton is a member of 
Centre Grange, No. 56, P. of H. He was its tirst secretary, a position he held for 
about three years: has been Master of the Grange and is now tilling the position of lecturer 
for the local Grange. He is a trustee of Lime Ridge Methodist Episcopal Church, of 
which denomination Mr. and Mrs. Barton are members. 

N. L. CAMPBELL, retired farmer, P. O. Espy, was born in Warren County, N. J., 
March 10, 1835, son of Richard and Mary C. (Lanning) Campbell. Daniel Campbell, 
grandfather of our subject, was born in New Jersey, of Scotch descent, his parents having 
come directly from Scotland to New Jersey. He was married to Rachel Howe, in New 
Jersey, and in that State they remained until coming to Northumberland County, Penn., 
where they died. Daniel belonged to a uniformed company of light infantry in the Con- 
tinental service, and served seven years in the colonial forces through the Revolutionary 
war immediately under Washington, and participated in the engagements at Bunker Hill 
and Brandywine; was also at the surrender of Cornvvallis at Yorktown. Although he 
went through that terrible winter at Valley Forge, he came through his seven years of 
service without having been on the sick list a single day, and was never wounded, 
although his military hat. which was kept in the family for a number of years after inde- 
pendence was gained, showed seven bullet holes in it, as mementoes of the struggle. He 
was a man of iron constitution, and considerably above the average in height, standing 
six feet two inches in his stockings. When he came to Northumberland County he lo- 
cated in what is called the Irish Valley, and took 1,500 acres of land, several of his sons 
locating around him. These sons were John, Robert, William, Benjamin and Daniel. 
His sons, Elijah, Jarred and Theodore, also located there, but when Richard, the father of 
N. L., came to that locality, these three had removed to Ohio. George Campbell, 
anotiier son, was the only one of the family who came immediately to what is now Col- 
umbia County. He located at Berwick when there was only a cluster of houses to mark 
the spot where that flourishing borough now stands. He lived there until he died, carry- 
ing on the tailoring business. Daniel Campbell, grandfather of N. L., died at his North- 
umberland County residence in 1834, at the age of ninety-six years. His wife 
had preceded him in death by a number of vears. They are buried in the 
Warrior Run Cemetery. Part of the land which Daniel took up is now used by the 
Treverton Coal Company, which does an extensive mining business. Richard Campbell, 
father of N. L., was born in New Jersey, and there grew up and was married to Miss 



CENTRE TOWNSHIP. 415 

Mary C. Lanning. Possessing the military spirit of bis father he went out in the war of 
1812, through Avhich he served, and on returning he remained at home until 1817, when the 
Indian troubles breaking out afresh, he again offered his services, and remained out until 
quiet was restored. He traveled about considerably in his early life, and was thirty-seven 

Sears of age when he settled down and married. In 1882 he and his family removed to 
forthumberland County, and from there they came to Madison Township, this county, 
thence to Hemlock Township, and thence to Centre Township, where they died while 
makina: their home with their son, N. L. The mother died October 31, 1855. the father 
one month later. They are buried in Rosemont Cemetery at Bloomsburg. They were 
the parents of six children, of wiiom four are now living: Rachel, wife of Evanuel 
Houpt, in Johnson City, Tenn. ; N. L. ; James I., living near Orangeville, this county; 
Andrew Jackson, living at Danville, this county. The deceased are Mehitable Ann. wife 
of Joseph Hunter, died in Danville, and Sarah "Elizabeth, who was unmarried. Our sub- 
ject was seven years of age when his parents removed to Northumberland County, Penn., 
and two years later they came to this county, where he was reared to manhood. He 
made his home with his parents until he was married, and then located at his present resi- 
dence in Centre Township. He was married, February 21, 1849, to Miss Sarah Webb, a 
daughter of Samuel and Mary Webb, both natives of this county, whose parents came 
here from one of the lower counties in Pennsylvania at a day when it was necessary to go 
to Northumberland County to mill. Both the parents and grandparents of Mrs. Camp- 
bell died in this county, and are all buried in Briarcreek Union Church Cemetery. Mr. 
and Mrs. Campbell were the parents of three children: David W., married to Miss Martha 
Bittenbender (they live in this township); Elmira Jane, wife of C. W. Walker (they live 
at Atchison, Kas.), and an infant (deceased). Mrs. Campbell died in the latter part of 
December, 1854, and is buried in the Bloomsburg Cemetery. Mr. Campbell then married, 
in 1856, Miss Eleanor N. McVicker, a native of this county, and daughter of James and 
Sarah McVicker. She died in 1866. In 1868 Mr. Campbell was married to Isabella Robi- 
son, a native of this county, who died in 1872. By this marriage there were three chil 
dren, of whom one is living— Ario Vistus. The deceased were Infants unnamed. Mr. 
Campbell is a member of the Presbyterian Church at Bloomsburg. He has sixty-three 
acres of land in this township, and thirty-two in Hemlock Township, this county. Mr. 
Campbell has been connected with the schools of Centre Township as director. He is a 
member of the P. of H., and was the organizer oT Centre Grange, No. 56, serving as Mas- 
ter of the Grange for three years, the first one to hold this position. He afterward served 
two terms as lecturer for the Grange. Mr. Campbell's last wife acted as volunteer nurse 
through the civil war in Mrs. Bigelow's corps. She was an eminently Christian woman, an 
affectionate wife, a kind mother and a warm friend until death. Her remains are buried in 
Rosemont Cemetery, at Bloomsburg. Our subject says he "was an active supporter of 
his Government during the late Rebellion; was twice summoned to Harrisliurg as wiiness 
on the trial of one who was a reported leader of what was then called the Fishingcreek 
confederacy. The rebutting testimony on that trial, which is now a matter of histor}-, is 
so wide of the truth and so improbable under the circumstances, the idea of an unarmed 
man going into a neighborhood — where it was reported and confidently believed at the time 
that there were 500 armed men to resist the draft and prohibit the enlisting of men for the 
service — and entering into a quarrel with a reputed leader, and in the presence of four 
bar-room loungers and communicating his business, is so highly improbable, that he 
never intended to treat the matter with any other than silent contempt, as no one but an 
idiot would ever believe the statement unless he believed he (our subject) possessed more 
courage than the combined Fi.shingcreek confederacy." 

PHILIP CREASY, farmer, P. O. Lime Ridge, was born in Mifflin Townshifi. this 
county, July 30, 1826; son of John and Margaret (Dietrich) Creasy. Philip Creasy, grand- 
father of the subject of this sketch, was born in one of the lower counties of Penns^^l- 
vania, and from there came to what is now Columbia County, when a young man. and 
located in Mifflin Township, where Philip Creasy now resides. He was a farmer by occu- 
pation, but game being plentiful when he came, he indulged a great deal in hunting. He 
was married in tliis county to a Miss Bauman, and they lived on that place until their 
death. He cleared up the land on the place where he located, all of it being then cov- 
ered with a heavy growth of timber. He and his wife are both buried on the old home- 
stead. John Creasy, father of the subject of this sketch, was born and reared on the old 
homestead of his father, and worked with the latter until his marriage. He then bought 
land in the vicinity of his father's home, part of which had been previously cleared, and 
on which there were some building improvements. He afterward sold that place, about 
1839, and bought a farm in what is now Centre Township, to which he removed. That tract 
is now the farms of Philip, Elias and Lafayette. He found about half of it cleared, and 
he and his boys cleared up the remainder. He died while living on this place. He was 
married in this county to Miss Margaret Dietrich. Her parents were also early settlers, 
having come from one of the lower counties. Mr. and Mrs. John Creasy were the parents 
of eleven children, of whom eight are now living; Elias, in Centre Township, this county; 
Eve, wife of Daniel Hess in Mifflin County; Jacob and Philip, twins, the former in Vir- 



416 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

ginia; Lafayette, also in Centre Township; Caleb, in Mifflinville, this count.y; John, in 
Fishingcree'k Township, this county, and Stephen in Gartield County, Iowa. John 
Creasy, father of the above, died in iS45: his widow survived him until I8t2. The former 
is buried at Creasy Cemetery in Mitflin Township, the latter at the Brick Church, Briar- 
creek Township, this county. Philip Creasy, subject of this sketch, was but a boy when 
his parents removed to Centre Township, and here w'as reared to manhood. He made his 
liome with his father until the latter's death, and continued to live on the homestead until 
he built his present large brick residence in 1872. He was married in this county about 
1851, to Miss Mary Rachel Hageubuch, a native of this township, daughter of Daniel and 
Elizabeth (Hill) Hagenbuch. Mr. and Mrs. Creasy are the parents of seven children: 
Arthur Clarence, married to Miss Margaret Aikman (they reside in this township); John 
Daniel, married to Miss Alice Reedy (they live inNescopeck, Peun.); Elizabeth, wife of T. 
D. Strauss (they live at Lime Ridge, Penn.); Verua, Charles, Wilson and Frank. Mr. and 
Mrs. Creasy are members of the Xew School Lutheran Church. He has held local town- 
ship otfices, having been school director, overseer of the poor, supervisor, etc. He is a 
member of the Grange Association. John Creasy, father of Philip, started west about 
two years before coming to Centre Township. Taking two horses and a truck wagon he 
and t3is wife teamed it through as far as Kalamazoo, MicJi., through a country, much of 
which was then inhabited by Indians, camping out at night. He went out merely on a 
visit, and would probably have stayed if tlie locality had suited him. He could then have 
bought all the good land he wanted there for 10 shillings per acre, but it did not suit 
him. and he returned by the same means as he had gone. 

SAMUEL CREVELING, farmer, P. O. Light Street, was born in what is now Centre 
Township, this county, September 30, 1830, a son of Alexander and Rebecca (Marr) Crev- 
eling. Andrew Creveling. grandfather of Samuel, came to what is now Columbia Coun- 
ty from the State of New Jersey, and located near what is now Espytown, in Scott Town- 
ship, where he bought land and made improvements after the fashion of that day. At 
that time, and for years, there were no milling facilities closer than Sunbury, and he 
used to send his boys down to Sunbury with wheat to be ground; the}^ generally loaded 
about fifteen bushels of grain on a canoe, "poling " to Sunbury and retuni. He was mar- 
ried in New Jersey before coming to this county, and, on locating in what is now Scott 
Township, they made their home in that vicinity until they died. Of their children all 
are deceased. Alexander Creveling, sou of the above, and father of Samuel, was born in 
what is now Columbia County, Penn.. and was reared to farm life. This he followed 
alone until 1850, when he built the tannery now owned bj' Jacob Rink, in Centre Town- 
ship. He had bought land, on part of which the tannery is located, in the early part of 
the present century, and after putting up the tannery, he managed that business and car- 
ried on farming until his death. He was married in this county to Miss Rebecca Marr, a 
native of this county and daughter of Lawrence Marr. Her parents came to this county 
from Scotland, located near Eastou, Penn.. and from there removed to this county, where 
both died and are buried in Hidlay Cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Creveling 
were the parents of sixteen children, of whom three are living: Cyrus, in Buffalo Valley, 
Union Co., Penn.; Samuel, and Franklin, in Centre Township, this county. Alexander 
Creveling died August 10, 1857; his wife in January, 1833. They are burled in Hidlay 
Cemetery. At the time of his death Mr. Creveling was the owner of 187 acres of land and 
the tannery property. Samuel Creveling, subject of this sketch, was born and reared at 
the place where he now resides. When'a boy he principally assisted his father in the 
farm work, but worked occasionally in the tannery, especially in winter, and in about 
1849-50 he used to haul hides in the winter season from Scranton, Pittston, Wilkesbarre 
and other places to the tannery. Scranton at that time contained but a few houses, and 
depended entirely on one or two ^collieries. After his father's death, however, Samuel 
gave his attention entirel}^ to farming. He was married in this county September 24, 
1857, to Miss Mary Ann Lamon. a native of this county and daughter of James and Han- 
nah (Spear) Lamon, natives of Ireland, who on coming to this country first located near 
Mauch Chunk; from there they removed to Briarcreek Township, this county, and there 
they lived until their death; the former died in 1872 and the latter in the fall of 1878, 
and are burled at Berwick, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Creveling were the parents of 
nine children, of whom six are living: Hiram Jasper, married to Miss Sarah Melick, liv- 
ing at Pittston, Penn.; Marietta, wife of Elmer Creveling, living near Espytown, this 
■county; Ella, Willbert 6., Clarence Alexander and Grace Edna. Annie Irene, Jennie 
Eudella and Charles Wesley are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Creveling are members of the 
Methodist Church. He has 177 acres of land. The place on which his home is located 
is a part of the first tract taken up between the mouths of Fishing creek and East Briar 
creek, the original grant, still in Mr. Creveling's possession, bearing the name and seal of 
William Penn, and bearing the date of 1769. The Creveling family were great hunters 
and rifle shots, and some of them were very expert at the latter act". The father of Sam- 
uel killed two bears in the vicinity of the latter's home. He, like the other men of the 
family, was a fine rifle shot. 



CENTRE TOWNSHIP. 417 

JOHN C. CRYDER, farmer, P. O. Willow Spring, was born in Briarcreek Town- 
ship, this count}-, March 1, 1860, son of Isaac L. and Mary (Hicks) Cryder. Thomas S. 
Cryder, irraudfather of John C, removed from Philadelphia to this coimtj' in the early 
part of the present century, coming- with his mother and sisters. He had been a carpen- 
ter in Philadelphia, an occupation he followed to some extent after coming to this county. 
He died March 16, 1878. his wife having preceded him in death by a number of years, and 
was buried in Philadelphia. He (Thomas S. Cryder) was buried in Berwick, Penn. Isaac 
L. Cryder, father of John C, was born in Philadelphia in August, 1834, and was reared to 
farm life. He bought a farm of 100 acres in Briarcreek Township, on which he located, 
and in November, 1867, removed to the Briarcreek grocery, which he conducted for eighteen 
months. In 1869 he bought the farm where his sou L. H. now resides in Centre Township, 
and there he lived and died. He was married in this county to Miss Mary Hicks, February 
18. 1858, and they were the parents of three children, two of whom are living: John C. 
and Leoni H. Edwin A. is deceased. The father of the family died May 5, 1877, and is 
buried at Berwick, this county. His widow resides with her son, Leoni H. John C. Cryder, 
the subject of this sketch, was reared in Briarcreek Township to farm life, attending the 
schools of Briarcreek and Centre Townships, and the State normal at Bloomsburg, where 
lie remained about two years taking the classical course. He was married in this county 
February 17, l88o, to Cora A. Creveliug, a member of an early settler's familj' of the 
count}', and they are the parents of one child, Harold Creveling Cryder. Mr. Cryder and 
his brother, Leoni H., have 143 acres of land in this township. Leoni H. Cryder was boin 
in Briarcreek Township, this county, August 5, 1865, and was reared in Briarcreek and 
Centre Townships. He makes his home in Centre Township, he and his mother living 
together. He received his education in the schools of Centre Township, attending also 
twc) terms at the State normal at Bloomsburg. 

Z. T. FOWLER, dealer in grain and coal, etc.. Willow Springs, was born in what is 
now Centre Township, this county, September 30, 1848, son of Gilbert H. and Catherine 
(Smith) Fowler. Benjamin Fowler, grandfather of Z. T.. came to what is now Columbia 
County from Reading, shortly after the close of the Revolutionary war. He was l)orn in 
England, and when seventeen years of age came to America, and, being a Briton by birth, 
he naturally drifted into the British army, and was engaged in that war entirely through 
that struggle, participating in all of the battles in which his regiment was engaged, 
being with the army at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. After the war he went 
into the Wyoming "Valley with a number of others, but those of the class to which he 
belonged did not affiliate in friendship with the Pennamites, or French and Indian classes, 
and the latter having the odds in numerical strength, Mr. Fowler and his friends, for 
their own safety, took their departure from the valley by way of New York State. From 
there they went to Reading, but being determined to locate farther up and along the 
Susquehanna River, he came to what is now Columbia County on a pack horse, and took 
up land— the home farm of Lafayette Creasy being part of the tract settled on. He found 
this land covered with scrub oak and hazel brush, and he settled about putting up a shanty 
for his own occupancy, but about the time he got started clearing up the place he was 
driven off by the Indians. He went back to Reading, and while there was married to 
Miss Catherine Fowler, who had previously lived in this vicinity. They packed provis- 
ions enough to last them a year, corn and rye being the principal staples, transporting 
them to their new home by packs. Arriving here they located on land which S. H. 
Swank now owns and lives on, and there Mr. Fowler built a log house. He had put out a 
small crop of corn and rye at his previous location, and when it was ripe he went up there 
and gathered the crops. There were two or three other families living within a radius of 
a few miles when they came, and when they found there was a new family among them, 
they being almost destitute, came and borrowed corn meal and other supplies which had 
been brought by Mr. Fowler, until nearly all his supplies were gone, and for four months, 
on account of their generosity, the only food they had besides wild game was dried apples 
and milk. At this location both Benjamin Fowler and his wife lived until they died. 
They are buried at the Stone Church, in Briarcreek Township, this county. Gilbert H., 
the youngest of their nine children, was born in the log house erected by his father, and 
here he was reared to manhood. He lived on that place until his death. He and his 
brother William purchased their father's farm of about 100 acres during the hard times of 
1836. Gilbert H. was twice married. His first wife was a Miss Mack, and by her he had 
ten children, the following named now living: M. P., at Shenandoah, Penn.; Charles S., 
at Scrautou, Penn. ; A. P., also at Scranton; John W., in Lehigh County, Penn. : Jane, wife 
of J. R. Millard, in Dunlap, Kan. The deceased are Sallie Ann, wife of Samuel Bitten- 
bender (he now lives in Kansas); Lydia, wife of J. P. Conner (both were drowned in the 
canal April 8, 1878), and three who clied in infancy. Mr. Fowler's second wife was a Miss 
Catherine Smith, born in Mifflin Township, this county, and by her he had four children, 
following named now living: S. S., living in Elizabeth City, N. C, where he is engaged 
in tlie dry goods and notion business, and also carries on the manufacture of cotton, he 
having established one of the first cotton factories in the South after the war; Elmira. 
wife of Samuel J. Conner, living in Briarcreek Township, this county, and Z. T. Clemuel 



418 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

L. died at the age of four years. Gilbert H. Fowler died March 24, 1873, at Elizabeth 
City, N. C, where he had been spending the winter on account of his health, and is buried 
in the Berwick Cemetery. Z. T. Fowler, subject of this sketch, received his early educa- 
tion in the common schools of his neighborhood, and afterward attended Williamsport 
Seminary. After returning from school he became engaged in general merchandising and 
farming in connection with his brother, S. S. After four years the latter went South, and 
Mr. Fowler's father took his interest; but after one year he retired from the farm, and Z. 
T. carried on Ihe business for three years alone. He then sold out his store, and bought 
a farm of twelve acres and residence at Willow Grove Station, since which time, 1875, he 
has carried on the coal and grain business there. He also has charge of the Delaware, 
Lackawanna & Western R. R. office at this point. He was appointed postmaster there when 
he came, which position he has since held. He was married in this county November 17, 
1868, to Miss Jennie S. Watts, a native of Luzerne County, Penn., and daughter of John 
W. and Julia Watts (both deceased), the former born in Juniata County, the latter near 
Plymouth, Luzerne Co., Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Fowler are the parents of three children, 
two of whom died in their infancy. Dayton Watts is the name of their living child. 
Mr. and Mrs. Fowler are members "of the Methodist Chnrch. He is a Republican, politi- 
cally. He was postmaster at Fowlerville for four years, succeeding his father, who had 
held the office from the time of Lincoln's first election. 

WESLEY B. FREAS, farmer, P. O. Fowlersville, was born in Briarcreek Town- 
ship, this county, April 10, 1813. son of Philip and Sarah (Fowler) Freas. John Freas, 
grandfather of Wesley B.. was born in Mount Bethel, Lehigh Co., Penn., and was there 
reared to farm life. He was there married to Miss Dorcas Hoffman, and they moved from 
Mount Bethel to what is now Columbia County, about 1795, and located on land which 
now belongs to Levi Ganett, in Briarcreek Township. He bought a small piece of rather 
rough land there, which he found covered with a heavy growth of timl)er. They had 
come up by wagon, and while Mr. Freas was enirageil in putting up his cabin, the family 
lived in their wagon. He cleared up a space sufficient to place his buildings on, and with 
the timber thus cut down, he put up his rude log cabin. At one end of his cabin he erect- 
ed a shed, in whit'h t» keep his cow. After getting up his cabin he cleared up a small 
piece more, and put out a small crop of rye. Thus thingswent on until he had cleared up 
a good portion of this land, each year putting out a little larger crop. Game of all kinds 
was abundant. The Indians were yet numerous, and when trouble was expected, the 
family were in the habit of retiring to Fort Jenkins until such excitement would calm 
down. He lived at this place a number of years, and when he left it and moved to a farm 
he had bought in what is now Centre Township (now owned l)yM. W. Jackson) his family 
was all grown up. Tiiere he remained the remainder of his lifetime, and when he died at 
the age of eighty-four years, about 1839, he was quite well off. His widow survived him some 
five orsix years. They are buried at the Stone Church, Briarcreek Township, this couuty. 
Of their twelve children, Philip, father of our subject, was the second in order of birth. 
He was born in Mount Bethel, Penn., and when the family removed to what is now Colum- 
bia County, he was about ten years of age. He made his home with his parents until 
he was married, and after that removed to the place which his father had bought, now 
known as the M. W. Jackson farm. . There he lived only about eight years, and then 
bought a farm which Jesse Freas now owns, also in CV ntre Township, and there he lived 
until his death. He was married to Miss Sarah Fowler, a native of this county and 
daughter of Benjamin Fowler, and they were the parents of eleven children, of whom six 
are living: Wesley B.; Rebecca, wife of Paul Zaner. living in this towMiship; Martha, 
widow of Abraham Hartmau; Minerva, wife of Stephen Hutten. living in Orangeville, this 
county; Jesse, also living in Orangeville; Berch, living in Bloomsburg. this county. The 
father of this family died in about 18(55; his widow survived him by about six j^ears. They 
are buried at the Stone Church. Briarcreek Township, this county. Wesley B. Freas. sub- 
ject of this sketch, was reared in this county, and madeliis home with his parents until he 
was married, when he removed to part of the land which he now owns, and lived there 
until removing to his present location, in 1869. He was married in this county on March 
23. 1858, to Miss Hannah Rittenhouse, a native of this county, and daughter of Heniy and 
Rachel (Hutten) Rittenhouse. both natives of this county, where they lived and died. 
Both are buried in the Berwick Cemetery. The Rittenhouse and Hutten families were 
both early settlers, and figured in many of the early events. Mr. and Mrs. Freas are the 
parents of one child — Bruce B., who was educated in the schools of his township and at 
Orangeville. Mrs. Freas and her son are members of the Methodist Church. Mr. Freas 
is a member of Briarcreek Grange. P. of H., of which he has held the office of treas- 
urer. He was commissioned by Gov. David R. Porter. May 15, 1839. second lieutenant of 
the Briarcreek Riflemen, attacDed to the volunteer brigade of the Columbia Guards, in 
the Second Brigade of the Eighth Division, Pennsylvania Militia, composed of tlie counties 
of Northumberland, Union, Columbia, Luzerne, Susquehanna and Wayne, and held the 
position until 1842, when he was commissioned captain of the Briarcreek Volunteer 
Rifles, Second Regiment, Second Brigade, Eighth Division Militia for the same counties, 
and served a term of four years. Heis a Democrat politically. He owns altogether 185 
acres of land in two farms. 



CENTRE TOWNSHIP. 419 

FREDERICK HAGENBUCH, farmer, P. O. Espy, was born in Centre Township, 
this county. May 27, 1837, a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Hill) Hagenbuch. John Hagen- 
buch, grandfather of subject, was born in Northampton County, Penn., but when a young 
man his parents removed to this county and located where F. H. Hagenbuch now resides, 
just east of the Hidlay Church. There they lived all their lives, following farming. 
They are buried in the Hidlay Cemetery. John Hagenbuch was married while in North- 
ampton County to a Miss Dreisbach, and they were the parents of eight sons, all of whom 
are deceased. Their names were Conrad, who resided where Mrs. Simon Frj^ now lives 
(he afterward moved to the West Branch, and there resided until his death); bimon lived 
near Summer Hill, in Centre Township; John lived where A. C. Hagenbuch now resides; 
Jacob lived adjoining, where J. S. Hagenbuch now resides; Michael lived where Joseph 
Hess now resides; Daniel, who lived where F. H. Hagenbuch now resides; Junius, who 
lived where Jacob Aul now resides, and Charles, a blacksmith by trade, who lived be- 
tween the residences of Junius and Michael. John Hagenbuch, father of the foregoing 
family, bought 400 acres of land from a man named Smith, which he set about clearing, 
and as his boys grew to manhood and set up in business for themselves, he erected build- 
ings for them on this tract. In this waj' Conrad set up in weaving after learning the 
trade, and had about thirty-live acres to start with; Simon engaged in farming and 
freighting to and from Philadelphia; he had sixty-three acres; John, also a farmer, began 
with fifty-seven acres and later bought out Conrad; Jacob, a wheelwright and colorer, 
started with about thirty acres; Michael, a wheelwright, had seventeen acres to begin 
life, also a timber lot; Daniel, a farmer, had sixty-three acres when he started, and after- 
ward bought out Simon and Charles; Junius, a weaver, began with about twenty acres; 
Charles, a blacksmith, started with twenty acres, and afterward sold out to Daniel, moved 
to Northumberland County, and died near the Sinking Springs. John Hagenbuch fol- 
lowed farming until about twenty-five j'ears before his death, when he led a retired life, 
and his place was farmed by Daniel and Jacob. John Hagenbuch died about 1845, his 
first wife, the mother of the sous mentioned above, having preceded him by a number of 
years. Daniel Hagenbuch, father of Frederick, and the sixth in order of age of John's 
eight sons, after his father had retired, still remained with him and divided the large 
farm among John's eight sons; built a little house on one part of the place near a flow- 
ing spring, and John lived there until his death, each one of his sons paying him a sort 
of dowry, or contributing to his support. So that, although the land that Daniel held 
was his own, it was still subject to this dower right, and Daniel contributed to his 
father's support. Daniel grew up and married Elizabeth Hill, a native of what is now 
Columbia County, and daughter of Frederick Hill. Her parents came to this county 
from Berks County, and here lived all their days. They aie buried in the old Hill home- 
stead. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Hagenbuch were the parents of seven children, of whom 
six are living: Frederick; Rachel, wife of Philip Creasy; Wilson, in Atlissa, Muscatine 
Co., Iowa; Sarah, wife of Manuel Kelchner, of Bloomsburg, this county; F. H., living 
on the old homestead of Daniel and John Hagenbuch, grandfather and father; Hester, 
wife of T. W. Hagenbuch, lives on the old Hill homestead; Josiah died at the age of 
thirty-three years, in April, 1861. Daniel Hagenbuch followed farming activelj* until 
the last few years of his life, after which he lived retired. He died in April, 1878; his 
wife died in May, 1867, and they are buried in Hidlay Cemetery. Frederick (our 
subject) lived with his parents until he was twenty-seven years of age, engaged in farm- 
ing. He then married and rented land from his father-in-law for two years, when he 
purchased his present home farm in partnership with his father, locating on this place in 
1855. He at once began to make improvements on the place, replacing the tumble down 
buildings by handsome and substantial ones. He also bought the place which he had 
first rented, and now owns 354 acres of farm land and sixteen acres of timber in Orange 
Township, this county. He married, February 33, 1853, Miss Margaret Hidlay, a native 
of Centre Township, this county, and daughter of George and Sarah (Aikman) Hidlay. 
Her parents came to this county from New Jersey and settled where Arthur Spear now 
resides, and there lived until their death. They are buried in Hidlay Cemetery. 
Mr. and Mrs. Hagenbuch are the parents of five children: George M., married to Mary 
Purcell, resides near his father; Oscar D. married Ella McHenry, and lives at Stillwater; 
Ida E., Clara E. and Sadie M. The family are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. 
Hagenbuch has held the offices of school director and supervisor in the township. He is 
a member of Washington Lodge, A. F. & A. M., at Bloomsburg; is also a member of the 
Grange, and has held offices in both. Mr. and Mrs. Hagenbuch are both members of 
early families. The first grant to the home farm now owned by Mr. Hagenbuch was 
made to Henry Owen, who sold to John Bittenbender, and he to Enos Fowler and S. H. 
Fowler, and in 1855 Mr. Hagenbuch and his father bought it. 

ELISHA HAGENBUCH, farmer, P. O. Light Street, was born in Centre Township, 
this county, June 7, 1838, son of Jeremiah and Sarah (Fulmer) Hagenbuch. Jacob Ha- 
genbuch, grandfather of Elisha, was born in this county, his parents having come here at 
an early day. His father bought a tract of land near where Elisha now resides. He found 
the land he had purchased mostly covered with a heavy growth of timber, and he set 



420 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

about cleariui^ enough to put up log buildings, using the timber cut down in the construc- 
tion of his cabin, etc. He followed farming until his death, which occurred al)out 1845. 
He and wife are buried in Hidlay Cemeterj'. Jacob Hagenbuch, grandfather of Elisha, 
was born and reared in this county, and learned the trade of wagon-making, and dyeing 
at different times. When he became of age his father gave him, as he did other members 
of the family, seventeen acres of land, and on this he cut logs and put up buildings for 
himself. Some idea of the density of the timber at that time may be gathered from the 
fact that he had to clear the land in order to dig a well. Although he had a very litile land 
to start with, every time he got $5 or $10 ahead he would buy two or three acres of land 
to add to his farm, until he tinally had 106 acres, and every time he added to his land he 
would increase the size of his barn, or put a shed on the edge of it, until these sheds en- 
tirely surrounded his barn, and he then tore down the whole building and erected a new 
one. He was married in this county to Miss Abalona Hay man, a native of this county, 
whose parents were also early settlers. He followed farming steadily until the last year 
or two of his life, when he gradually lessened his labors. He died about 18(51, his wife 
having preceded him some live or six years. They are both buried in Hidlay Ceme- 
tery. They left one child, Jeremiah, who was reared wiiile this vicinity was yet young, 
and amid the scenes generally attending the clearing up of a primitive country. He lived 
on his parents' place until both of them had been called away, and in the last years of his 
father's life he farmed the latter's place. He was married in this county to Miss Sarah 
Fulmer, a native of the county. Her parents were born in Columbia County, and removed 
to Clarion County, Penn., where they both died. Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah Hagenbuch were 
the parents of six children of whom two died in infancy. Those living are Elisha, Mar- 
garet E. (wife of A. C. Hagenbuch); Jacob Sanderson, in this township, and F. P., who 
also lives in this township. Jeremiah Hagenbuch died February 20, 1883, and is buried 
in Hidlay Cemetery. His widow lives at the place where her husband resided 
at the time of his death. Elisha Hagenbuch, subject of this sketch, was reared in Centre 
Township, and made his home with his parents until he was married, which event took 
place in January, 1862. His wife's maiden name was Delila Creveling. She was born in 
Scott Township, this county, and is a daughter of Andrew and Anna Creveling. Her 
father died September 1, 1886, in the eighty-second year of his age, having been preceded 
by his wife by about twenty-four years' Mr. and Mrs. Hagenbuch are the parents of two 
children: Anna B. and Sadie. Mr. and Mrs. Hagenbuch are members of the Lutheran 
Church. He was school director of Centre Township for nine years; also a member of 
the Grange. He has 127 acres of land in Centre Townhip. When Jeremiah Hagenbuch 
died he had not only the farm his father left him, but also two others, making in all 890 
acres of first-class land, for some of which he paid as high as f 117 per acre. 

F. P. HAGENBUCH. farmer, P. O. Light Street', was born in Centre Township, 
this county, December 11, 1852, son of Jeremiah and Sarah (Fulmer) Hagenbuch. Jacob 
Hagenbuch, grandfather of F. P., came to this county from one of the' lower counties, 
and located where J. S. Hagenbuch now resides, in Centre Township, and bought a tract 
of land there. He came up alone and cleared up enough of the land on which to put up a 
cabin, using the timber cut down in the erection of a building. At that time the vicinity 
was very wild, and the land he bought was covered with a heavy growth of timber. In 
after years he often related how he could have just as well located on more open land up 
near Berwick, but instead, like most of the settlers of that day, he cho.se the heavy timber 
land, all of which had to be cut down and carried off before the land was fit for farming. 
He has also related how they used to put bells on their horses and turned them loose, and 
in the morning they would find them on Summer Hill or beyond. In early life he was a 
wagon-maker, which he afterward abandoned and gave his attention to farming. He was 
married in this county to Miss Abalona Hayman. Both are deceased and are buried in 
Hidlay Cemetery. Jeremiah Hagenbuch, father of F. P., was their only child. He 
made his home with his parents until death called both of them away, and after that 
lived on the old homestead until about 1875, when he removed onto another place which 
he had previously bought, and resided until his death. He was married in this county to 
Miss Sarah Fulmer, a native of Berks County, Penn. They were the parents of six chil- 
dren, two of whom died in infancy. Those living are Elisha, in Centre TowMiship, this 
county; Margaret Alice, wife of A. C. Hagenbuch, also in Centre Township, and F. P.. 
subject of this sketch, Jeremiah Hagenbuch died in 1884, and is buried in Hidlay 
Cemetery. Our subject was reared in this township, and made his home with his 
parents until his marriage, working with his father on the farm, and receiving his educa- 
tion in the Hidlay school in the neighborhood of his home. After his marriage he 
bought his present home and residence, consisting of 115 acres of land, and here he has 
since resided. He was married in June. 1878, to Sliss Emma M. Miller, a native of this 
county, and daughter of George P. and Anna Miller, the former of whom is deceased and 
is buried in Hidlay Cemetery; the latter lives in Centre Township, this county. Mrs. 
Hagenbuch, mother of F. P., is still a resident of this township, living at the place where 
her husband died. Mrs. Hagenbuch is a member of the Lutheran Church. 

JESSE HOFFMAN, farmer, P. O. Espy, was born in Centre Township, this 
county, January 1, 1830, son of William and Annie (Dietrich) Hoffman. Philip Hoffman, 



CENTRE TOWNSHIP. 421 

great-graudfather of our subject, came to this county from the vicinity of Bethlehem. 
Penn., in the early days of the county, and located in what is now Centre Township, 
near Fowlersville. He was a farmer by occupation, and when he came here he found 
this country a wilderness, and had to clear up all the land he had for agricultural pur- 
poses. He was in the Revolutionary war. He and his wife both died in this county, 
and are buried in the cemetery near the old stone church, which is now used as the 
Grange Hall. John Hoffman, grandfather of Jesse, was either born in Columbia County 
or moved here when very young with his parents. He went from this county to the war 
of 1812. He had about 17() acres of land, most of which he cleared. He followed farm- 
ing until about twenty years before his death, and after that lived a retired life. He re- 
sided in the county until his death, which occurred about 1849, when about seventy-five 
years of age, having been preceded by his wife, who died about 18-10. (His second wife 
was Elizabeth Styer). They are buried in the cemetery at Berwick,^ this county. Will- 
iam HofEman, father of Jesse, was the second in order of age of his parents' famil3' of 
four children. He was reared in this township, and resided with his parents until he was 
of age. He married Miss Annie Dietrich, born in this county, but whose parents were 
from Germany. After his marriage he bought his father-in-law's farm, carried it on six 
years, and then moved back to the old homestead of his father. He followed agriculture 
until his death. They were the parents of six children, of whom three are living: Jesse ; 
John, proprietor of mills at Light Street, and Sarah, wife of Mordecai Millard, in Centre 
Township, this county. Charles, William and Elizabeth are deceased. William Hoff- 
man died July 4, 1858, and is buried in the same cemetery as his parents. His widow is 
now living with her daughter Sarah, at the age of eighty-six years. Jesse Hoffman, 
subject of this sketch, was reared in Centre Township, this countj', and made his home 
with his parents until twenty-six years of age. His father was then proprietor of what 
is now Wolverton's mills, and when Jesse was a boy he used to help his father in the 
mill. He was engaged there altogether four or tive years. On November 10, 1857, he 
was married to Miss Frances L. Millard, a native of this county, and daughter of Reese 
and Elizabeth Millard, both now deceased and buried at Berwick, this county. Mr. and 
Mrs. Jesse Hoffman are fjarents of five children: Charles (deceased in infancy); Cora 
(deceased when three years old) ; William, married to Sarah J. Miller, is an engineer at 
Creveling's Quarry, and was educated at the State normal, Bloomsburg, Penn., Reese 
and Ray attended the State normal school, Bloomsburg, Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Hoffman has 164 acres of land, 
well improved. Six generations of the Hoffman -.family may now be counted as having 
inhabited Columbia County in the various epochs of its history, and all six have been 
entirely identified with Centre Township. 

GEORGE H. HENKELMANN, farmer, P. O. Lime Ridge, was born at Dornburg, 
Hesse-Cassel, Germany, June 17, 1883, son of Henry and Elizabeth (Carl) Henkelmann. 
the former of whom served for thirty-three years as a soldier, being in all the campaign 
against the first Napoleon. When not in the army he followed the business of miner, 
and also did something at weaving. Mrs. Elizabeth Henklemann died June 17, 1833. Our 
subject lived with his father the remainder of his stay in the old country, learning the 
trade of butcher, and when he had reached the age of eighteen years, he and some 
friends decided to go to America to try their fortunes. Accordingly, taking a farewell 
leave of his friends and relatives at his native town, he went to Bremen, where he took 
passage on a sailing vessel bound for Baltimore, and after a somewhat stormy voyage of 
forty-one days, in which the ship collided with another one, they arrived at that city 
June 15, 1853. He started the next day for Philadelphia, and from there came to Hazle- 
ton, Luzerne County, where he engaged in the mines, and was thus employed about 
seven months. He then secured employment in the chemical works of Dornnemann & 
Matener, the senior member of which firm was a relative of Mr. Henkelmann. In their 
employment he remained about one year and a half, and then went to work in the mines 
again, in which he was employed for several years; then went toTamaqua, Schuykill Co., 
Penn., and was employed in the mines there for several months; and then recommenced 
his trade of butcher in the shop of Thomas Brod. He worked for him about six or 
eight months, and in the latter part of March, 1856, he went to Buffalo, N. Y., and be- 
came employed as a freight handler for the Western Transportation Compam-, loading 
and unloading canal boats. He remained in the employ of this company during October, 
1856; then went to Stockton, Luzerne County, where he worked at the butcher trade for 
William Dresaat, and afterward for the coal company, Packer, Carder & Lindemann. 
From there he returned to Tamaqua, and after working a short time in the mines, en- 
gaged again in butchering. He remained; there three years in the latter business, and 
then moved to Hazleton, where he engaged in the butcher business for himself, continu- 
ing about four years, and then went to Jeddo, Luzerne County, and opened a butcher 
shop, which he conducted sixteen years; then, October 14, 1883, located on the farm 
where he now resides, which he had bought in 1874, and where he has nearly seventy- 
two acres of land. He was married in Tamaqua, Schuykill Co., Penn., October 4, 1857, 
to Mi.ss Anne Elizabeth Stein, a native of Saxony, Germany, and daughter of Michael 



422 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Stein. When Mrs. Henkelmann was young her mother died, and her father died in 1883, 
near Wilkesbarre. Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Henkelmann were the parents of nine chikiren, 
of whom seven are living: Anna S., wife of Adam Fernan (they live at Drifton, Luzerne 
Co., Penn.); George, married to Miss Heneretta Vendamard (they live in Wanamie, 
Luzerne Co.. Penn.); Alice, married to George Weigand, January 25, 1887, and residing at 
Jeddo, Luzerne County; Matilda, Heneretta, Augusta and Clara. Cassie and Lizzie both 
died in March, 1886, twelve days apart. Mr. and Mrs. Henkelmann are attendants of the 
Lutheran and German Reformed Churches, Briarcreek Township. He is a member of the 
I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 65, at Hazleton, and of German Lodge, No. 79, at Hazleton. He 
has passed all the chairs in the latter. Politically he is a Republican. 

HENKY HESS, retired farmer, P. O. Lime Ridge, was born near Easton, Penn., 
December 12, 1808, son of Frederick and Catherine (Fleury) Hess. The grandparents of 
our subject came to this country from Germany, and located near Easion, where they 
lived all their days. Frederick Hess, father of Henry, was born and reared near Easton, 
Penn., and there learned the mason's trade, which lie followed altogether until coming to 
what is now Columbia County, about 1812; he located just above where the canal lock is 
situated at Lime Ridge. He bought fifty acres of this land, then mostly covered with tim- 
ber, and set about clearing up a portion of it. He w^as married twice before coming to 
this county, and after the death of his first wife he married Elizabeth Fleury, by whom 
he had four children, three now living: Henry; Susan, widow of Samuel Hagenbuch, and 
Rebecca, widow of David Coleman. Elizabeth, wife of Charles Hagenbuch, is deceased. 
After coming up here Frederick Hess ran the Stonytown ferry, followed his trade of mason 
and had his land cultivated. He died in,.1820, and is buried at the BricK Church, Briar- 
creek Township, this county. His widow, Elizabeth, survived him a number of years, 
dying about 1847. She is buried in Hidluy Cemetery. Henry Hess, subject of this 
sketch, was but a child when his parents moved from the neighborhood of Easton to what 
is now this county, and his father having died when he (Henry) was but twelve years of 
age, he was taken by his second cousin, John Hess, of Wapwallopen, Luzerne Co., Penn., 
and with him our subject worked on the farm until he was in his nineteenth year. He 
then came to what is now Centre Township, this county, and commenced to learn the 
wagon-making trade with Michael Hagenbuch, who had a shop on land now belonging to 
Joseph Hess, son of Henry, and adjoining Henry's land. Here he remained about three 
years, and after he had learned the trade he went down to Lime Ridge, and commenced 
tending lock on the canal there. He was in charge of that lock for ten years, and also 
worked at times at his trade, and farmed a little. After he had been there he was married 
March 25, 1832, to Miss Maria Hayman, a native of Berks County, Penn., and daughter 
of Peter and Sevilla Hayman, who removed from Berks County to this county when Mrs. 
Hess was about three years of age. They located about two miles from Orangeville on 
Fishing creek, and there lived the rest of their days, both dying in 1827, within four weeks 
of each other. They are buried in Hidlay Cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Hess, after their 
marriage, lived at Lime Ridge, and then thej' moved onto the farm in the neighborhood 
of where they now reside, and which farm Mr. Hess had previously purchased. He bought 
his present residence and lot in 1871, and since that they have lived retired from active 
labor. Mr. and Mrs. Hess were the parents of nine children, two of whom died in infancy. 
Those living are Sevilla, wife of Daniel Mourer, lives at Afton, this county; Levina, wife 
of Wesley Hess, lives in this township; Joseph A., married to Levina Coleman, also lives 
in Centre Township; William Henry, married to Sevilla Hayman, lives on the farm of his 
parents; Isaiah Jacob, married to Alice Hess, lives at Lime Ridge, this county; Emma 
Jane, wife of Lloyd Conner, live at Hazleton, Penn. ; James Harvey, clerking at Berwick, 
this county. Mr. Hess is a member of the German Reformed Church, in which he has 
been deacon and elder, and Mrs. Hess of the Lutheran denomination. He has held the 
office of road supervisor in times past. Mr. Hess owns about ninety acres of land, and 
has yet in his possession the old deed of his farm, which shows the survey of the laud to 
have been made in 1769. This deed is written in a good hand on sheepskin, and makes a 
very large document. 

ISAAC LOW was born in Lycoming County, Penn., April 6, 1802, a son of John Low, 
who was a blanket weaver and carried on the manufacture of fancy bed spreads in 
Lycoming County on the Muncy Hills. He died in 1813, Isaac being but eleven years of 
age at the time. Isaac then went to live with his brother, Thomas, by whom he was reared 
to the age of eighteen years. He then went to work on a farm for Jesse Bowman, in 
Columbia County, and was thus engaged for two years. He and Mr. Bowman then 
bought a team and carried goods from J^ew York and Philadelphia to supply the stores of 
this section, there being then no other freighting facilities, canals and railroads being 
then in the future. He was thus engaged for two or three years and then he and Mr. 
Bowman bought the farm of Abram Miller's heirs, in what is now Briarcreek Township, 
this county, and known as the old Clover mill property; the other farm was located at 
Lime Ridge, now in Centre Township. This property consists of 300 acres, which lie in 
the shape of an L around the point and rear of Lime Ridge. He then went to farming 
the Clover mill tract in Briarcreek Township, which was farmed about four years. John 



CENTRE TOWNSHIP. 423 

and Jesse Bowman had previously been holding the Bowman interests in common, and at 
this period, wishing to make a change iu their relations, offered Mr. Low his choice 
of the Briarcreek or Lime Ridge tracts, and he chose the latter; he then moved on 
it and went farming. He found the only improvements on the place to be log buildings of 
early construction, but afterward erected substantial improvements, which still remain. 
On this place he farmed until two years before his death, when he bought his residence 
property in Lime Ridge and there lived until his death. He married, in this county, in 
1823, Miss Maria Miller, a native of this county and daughter of Abraham Miller. Her 
parents came from Chester County, Penn., to this county and lived in Briarcreek Town- 
ship until their death. They are buried at Bloomsburg. Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Low were 
the parents of ten children, of whom three are now living: E. W. M., the subject of the 
following sketch; C. W.. who resides at Orange ville, this county, and Frances, wife of H. 
C. Barton of Lime Ridge. The deceased are Thomas, Abraham, George L., Thomas B., 
Maria Emily, S. Alice and Elizabeth M. Isaac Low died May 27, 1847; his widow survived 
him until 1856. The latter was born May 10, 1802, and both are buried in Lime 
Ridge Cemetery. Dr. E. W. M. Low was the third in order of age of the family of ten 
children and is the eldest of the three now living, and made his home with his parents 
until the time of their death. He attended the schools of his neighborhood when a 
boy and then went to Williamsport, this county, where he attended the seminary for two 
years. He was engaged in the boating business during 1853-54-55. He then entered on 
the study of medicine with Dr. F. C. Harrison at Bloomsburg, Penn., and commenced 
attendance in the winter of 1855 at Castleton, Vt., and there took his first course. He 
then entered Pennsylvania Medical College at Philadelphia and graduated from that insti- 
tution in March, 1857. He engaged at his profession, however, but little, as he devoted 
himself to the mercantile and limestone interests on the first of the following June, at 
Lime Ridge in company with C. W. & G. L. Low, under the firm name of Low Brothers; 
a few years later the firm changed to E. W. M. & G. L. Low, and this firm continued 
without any change until about 1870, when the stjde became Low Bros. & Co. Both firms 
are, however, doing business to-day. G. L. Low died in 1877 and on his death his son, 
Myron I., and his daughter have taken his interest. E. W. M. Low was married in this 
county, in 1860, to Miss Rebecca J. Hill, a nativeof this county and a daughter of Jacob 
and Anna Hill, the former of whom is decea.sed and is buried in the family graveyard on 
the farm near Lime Ridge. His widow resides with her children. Mr. and Mrs. Low are 
the parents of nine children, of whom eight are living: Elmer E., Helen May, Elizabeth 
A., Mary Rebecca, George L., Alice L., Thomas H. and John Vincent. Banks is deceased. 
Mr. Low is a Republican in politics. He was a member of the I. O. O. F. but withdrew, 
and is now a member of the A. F. & A. M. and A. A. & S. R. at Bloomsburg, in which 
he has had a number of offices. He is one of the directors of the First National Bank of 
Bloomsburg and general manager of the firms of E. W. M. & G. L. Low and Low Bros. 
& Co. Mr. and Mrs. Low are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

GEORGE L. LOW, late of Lime Ridge, Penn.. the fifth child and son of Isaac 
and Maria (Miller) Low, and member of the firm of E. W. M. & G. L. Low 
and Low, Bro. &_Co., was born February 25, 1834. The first eleven years of his life 
were passed with "his parents on the- farm, and, during the winter months, in the public 
school. The days of his youth were spent within a quarter of a mile of the old home. 
As manhood approached he went to Williamsport Seminary to complete his education. 
Returning home, teaching engaged his attention. He did credit to the profession, in not 
only inculcating "first principles, " but in illustrating practically "birch" appliances, as 
even now some of his older pupils feelingly assert. Since teaching iu the country was 
too periodical and the remuneration too small, some more permanent and lucrative employ- 
ment must be found, and merchandising was decided upon. A partnership, under the firm 
of C. W. & G. L. Low, was created and subsequently a portion of the quarry now owned 
by Low, Bro. & Co. was purchased. The financial panic of 1857 came, and with it financial 
embarrassments to this firm, which were overcome soon after E. W. M. Low, M. D., be- 
came the third member, he changmg his plans, which led him into a business life instead 
of a professional one. Later the firm of E. W. M. & G. L. Low was organized and its 
success assured financially, through the energy, sagacity and integrity of its organizers. 
In 1869 one portion of the firm of E. W. M. & G. L. Low was merged into Low, Bro. & 
Co., although both firms exist to-day. George Lane Low was married January 15, 1857, by 
Rev. Thomas Barnhart to Mary, daughter of Jacob and Rebecca (Webb) Garrison. The 
marriage was a happy one, as the domestic felicities of after years attested. In 1862 Mr. 
Low, in answer to the second emergency call, went out as a volunteer in the service 
for a short time in defense of the Union. He was commissioned second lieutenant of 
Company H, Thirty-fifth Regiment under Andrew G. Curtin, July 7, 1863; served as 
postmaster from 1864 until the time of his death, which occurred February 6, 1877. 
Mr. Low possessed remarkable business ability, sound judgment, unquestionable 
integrity and other personal qualities which not only won for him a fair name, 
but made many lasting friendships. His last illness was long, weary and trying — 
a great sufferer, afflicted, yet not a murmur of impatience fell from his lips. He accepted 

32 



424 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

the inevitable with a gentle resignation, realizing that the hand that afflicted, comforted. 
His death in the prime of manhood is universally deplored. To his memory is a granite 
monument erected in Lime Ridge Cemetery. The following we quote from a pres& 
obituary: "Take him all in all, George Lane Low was a model man. Quiet, modest and 
always moral, he only needed to be known to be appreciated. So unassuming was he, 
and so correct in his conversation and life, that many believed him, long before he made 
a profession, to be a religious man. Before his death, when told he ' hacTonly a few hours 
to live ' said : 'I have been expecting this; I am ready.'" Mrs. Mary (Garrison) Low 
died June 19, 1881, and is buried by the side of her husband. One son and one daughter 
survive, Myron I. and Annie B.,who hold their father's interest in the two named firms, 
the business in relation to this interest being done by the former. Both were educated 
at the State normal school, Bloomsburg. Myron I. Low was born at Lime Ridge, March 
11,1858, and received his education first at the Lime Ridge schools and finally at the 
Bloomsburg Normal School, where he graduated in 1876. In church affiliation he is a 
Methodist, in which body he is a zealous Sunday-school worker; in education he is an 
ardent Chautauquan; in politics a consistent Republican. 

MORDECAI MILLARD, farmer, P. O. Willow Spring, was born in Centre 
Township, this county, in the house he now lives in, April 7, 1831, son of Reese and Eliza- 
beth Millard. Joseph Millard, his grandfather, was one of the old settlers, moving into 
the county some time before 1800. He bought a tract of land consisting of something over 
500 acres. Joseph Millard was a Quaker and was regular in his attendance at meeting 
twice a week. He moved into this county from Berks County, Penn., settling upon land 
along the river now occupied by John C. Cryder, and within sight of where Mordecai 
now lives. Here he lived and died. Reese Millard, father of Mordecai, was born and 
reared in this county. He was twice married, first to Catherine Rittenhouse, and they 
were the parents of six children, four living; William, in Illinois; Joseph B., in Kalama- 
zoo, Mich.; Rebecca, wife of Col. James Tubbs, in Shickshinny, Penu.; Catherine, widow 
of Isaiah Conner, in Orangeville, this county. The mother of this family died in about 
1818, and is buried at Berwick, this county; and Mr. Millard afterward married Elizabeth 
Horton, by whom he had four children; Mary B., deceased wife of D. K. Sloan, of Orange- 
ville, this county; Frances L., married to Jesse Hoffman, residing in this township; Mor- 
decai; and Reese, who married Jane Fowler, now residiug in Morris County, Kas. (He 
was captain in the One Hundred and Twelfth Artiller}^.) Reese Millard, father of the 
above, died in 1833, and his widow survived him until 1852. Mordecai Millard, subject 
of this sketch, in 1867 received the nomination of the Democratic party for the office of 
sheriff of Columbia County, and removed to Bloomsburg, to reside there during his term 
of office. After serving his term as sheriff he was appointed steward of the State Normal 
University at Bloomsburg, and served in that capacity one year. The office was then va- 
cated for the time being. He received the appointment of doorkeeper of the State Senate 
for the session of 1871-72, and served in that position throughout that session. He resided 
in Bloomsburg until 1875, when he returned to his farm and has since conducted it. He 
was married in this county December 1, 1852. to Miss Sarah J. Hoffman, a native of this 
county, and daughter of William and Annie (Dietrich) Hoffman. Mr. and Mrs. Millard 
are the parents of nine children, of whom four are living; William H., Annie E.. Mary I. 
and Ernest S. ; the deceased are John L., Reese M., Fannie H., Charles B. and Hattie L. 
The family are members of the Methodist Church. 

ELISHA RINGROSE, farmer, P. O. Fowlersville. was born at Schuylerville, 
Luzerne Co., Penn., September 13, 18-45, son of Aaron and Catherine (Fowler) Ring- 
rose. The father of our subject was born in Wellingboro, England, and there was reared 
and learned the butcher trade, an occupation he followed there until coming to America. 
On arriving in the United States he located in Luzerne County, Penn., followed droving 
and butchering, and there lived until he died, following those lines of business. He was 
married in Luzerne County to Miss Catherine Fowler, a native of this county, and daugh- 
ter of William and Susannah (Rittenhouse) Fowler. She was a member of an early set- 
tler's family. Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Ringrose were the parents of eight children, of whom 
seven are living: Delias, wife of William Sterner, of Bloomsburg. this county; Mary; 
William, also a resident of Bloomsburg; Sarah, wife of William Stack, of Berwick, Penn.; 
Ellis, in this township; Elisha; J. W., in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland Co., Penn.; Henry, 
died in Briarcreek Township, this county. The father of this family died in about 1855. 
He is buried at Berwick. His widow now resides at Bloomsburg. Elisha Ringrose, sub- 
ject of this sketch, went to live with Mr. and Mr.^. Ashel Fowler, of Briarcreek Town- 
ship, when he was but five years of age, and was by them reared to manhood, following 
farming. He then engaged in boating on the canal from Wilkesbarre to Baltimore for 
about four years, when he bought a boat and embarked in the canal carrying trade for his 
own account between the points mentioned. He continued in this for three years, and 
then boated two years more for Weaver & McKelvj', of Bloomsburg, Penn. He then 
went to Bloomsburg and commenced the blacksmith trade, but after six months he 
engaged in carpenter work for John Sterner, helping in the construction of the "Ex- 
change Hotel " at Bloomsburg. He was employed al this trade about eighteen months. 



CENTRE TOWNSHIP. 425, 

and then ran the engine of the planing-mill company for about eighteen months; the» 
removed to this township and commenced farming, erecting his present residence in the 
fall of 1876, into which he moved in the following year, lie was married in this county 
February 22, 1872, to Miss Mary Hutten, a native of this county, and daughter of John 
and Catherine (Kane) Hutton, the former of whom is deceased; the latter is a resident of 
Centre Township. Mrs. Ringrose is a member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Ringrose 
is now overseer of the poor of Centre Township. 

GEORGE RUCKLE, farmer, P. O. Oraugeville.was born in what is now Centre Town- 
ship, this county, March 29. 1S39, son of Joseph and Margaret (Whitmire) Ruckle. Jacob 
Ruckle, grandfather of our subject, came from Berks County, Peuu., to this county in its 
early days, and located on the place now owned by Jacob Keller, where he had bought 
land,and there lived until his death. He and his wife both died at this place. Joseph Ruckle, 
father of George, was born and reared at the place where his father located when he came 
to this county. He was brought up to farm life, and made his home with his parents 
until his marriage, when he bought 110 acres of land in what is now Centre Township, 
where George now resides, at $3.50 an acre. He found this land covered -with a heavy- 
growth of timber, and he set about clearing it up and building a cabin. Here he lived, 
gradually clearing off his land, until he had a good farm. He was married in this county 
to Miss Margaret Whitmire, a native of this county, and daughter of David Whitmire. 
Her parents came to this county from one of the lower counties^ the father died in Snyder 
County, Penn,, and the mother in this county. Before he removed to Snyder County'Mr. 
Whitmire had owned three farms here, but he sold them to his sons, and moved dowa 
there. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Ruckle were the jWents of seven children, of whom six are 
living: Wesley, living in this county; Joseph, living in Bloomsbnrg; George; David, living 
in Danville, this county; Elizabeth, living in Light Street, this county; Hester, wife of 
Conrad Hippenshet, living in Scott Township, this county; Sarah, wife of Charles Ash, 
died February 1, 1886. The father of these children died about 1874, the mother in 
1855. They are buried in Hidlay Cemetery. George Ruckle, subject of this sketch, was 
reared in what is now Centre Township, this county, until he had reached the age of 
eighteen years, when he went to Espy to learn the miller's trade with his brother Wesley, 
who was then operating the mill. Here he remained about fourteen years, and then he 
and Charles Ash purchased a mill on Briar Creek. They bought in March and the mill 
burned down in December. They at once rebuilt it, and Mr. Ruckle retained his interest 
for eight years, when he went to Espy and remained there one year engaged in the gro- 
cery business; then removed to the place he now owns and resides on, which he had bought 
live years before. He was married in this county, December 30, 1875, to Miss Alvaretta 
Kline, a native of Orange Township, this county, and daughter of Hiram and Emily Kline, 
the former of whom is deceased; he is buried at Orangeville, at which place his'widow, 
now the wife of Jacob Snyder, resides. Mr. and Mrs. Ruckle are the parents of five chil- 
dren: Stanley, Maud, Clifton, George and Elsie. Mr. Ruckle is a member of the Reformed 
Church, Mrs. Ruckle of the Presbyterian Church. He is a Republican politically, and was 
elected justice of the peace for five years in Briarcreek, this county, but left the township- 
before he had completed his term. 

HENRY SHAFFER, retired farmer, P. O. Fowlersville, was born in what is now 
Centre Township, this county, December 8, 1818, son of John and Susan (Dietrich) Shaffer. 
Henry Shaffer, the grandfather of our subject, came to this county in its early days from 
Berks County, Penn., and located in Briarcreek Township on land now owned by Alfred' 
Steiner. He bought two pieces of land, one of which contains about 160 and the other 25 
acres, all covered with a heavy growth of timber; brought his family with him and set 
about clearing up a space sufficient to put up what buildings it was necessary to have. 
The log house which he erected contained a living room and a kitchen, and he also put up 
a log barn. At that time of course there were not many conveniences, and although there 
was plenty of meat to be obtained, they often had to stint themselves in other necessaries^ 
of life, and .sometimes had to cook their wheat bran for bread. He afterward put up a 
frame house, which is now occupied by Alfred Steiner. He died about 1843. His first 
wife, whom he married in Berks County, had preceded him in death by a number of years; 
his second wife survived him. He is buried at the Brick Church, of tiie Lutheran de- 
nomination, in Briarcreek Township. John Shaffer, father of the subject of this sketch, 
was born at the old homestead, in Briarcreek Township. He made his home with his- 
father until he was married (although he worked out part of the time), and some time 
after that event he bought a tract of land adjoining where his son, Henry, now lives. 
From there he removed to where Henry resides, and here he lived and died. He had-, 
learned the carpenter trade with a man named Daniel Merkle, and this he followed, to- 
gether with farming, until about two years before his death. He had been married im 
this county to Susan Dietrich, and they were the parents of seven children, of whom four 
are living: Henry; Angeline, wife of Levi Ganett (they live in Briarcreek Township); 
Susan, widow of Stephen Crawford (lives in this county), and Julia, wife of Jacob Slager 
(they live in Binghamton, N. Y.) The deceased are Phoebe; Elizabeth, wife of Peter 
Wenner, and Emily, wife of Mahloft Hicks. The father of this family died May 9, 186S;. 



426 BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

the mother died September 12, 1861. They are buried at the Brick Church, iu Briarcreek 
Township. Henry Shaffer, subject of this sketch, was born in the liouse where he now 
resides, and which was built by his grandfather, Jacob Dietrich. He was reared to farm 
life and has lived in this house and on this place where his father located when he lirst 
came to Centre Township, all his lifetime. He was married in this county, December 31, 
1861, to Miss Mary Ann Creasy, a native of Miftiin Township, this count}^ and daughter of 
Samuel and Catherine (Nungesser) Creasy. Her father died in the spring of 1860, her 
mother about 1848. They are both buried in the Creasy family graveyard. Mr. and Mrs. 
Shaffer are the parents of two children, one of whom died in infancy. Their living child 
is named Sarah Alice. Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. 
Shaffer has been connected with the schools of the township as director, and has been 
supervisor of the townsiiip. He is a Democrat pGlitically; is a member of the Briarcreek 
Grange P. of H., and has held the office of steward in Centre Grange. He is the owner 
of 80 acres on his home tract, and 160 on another farm also in Centre Township. 

WILLIAM SHAFFER, farmer, P. O. Lime Ridge, was born in Briarcreek Town- 
ship, this county, December 30, 1821, a son of Francis and Nancy (Hetler) Shaffer. The 
Shaffer family is originally of German descent. Francis Shaffer was born in the vicinity 
of Bethlehem, Penn., where he was reared, but came to this county when a young man, 
and bought something over 300 acres of land in Briarcreek Township. He found this 
land covered with a heavy growth of timber, while wild game abounded. He commenced 
by clearing up enough space on which to erect his buildings, and when he had got enough 
land cleared for that purpose, he used the timber so cut down in the construction of his 
log cabin, etc. Tlaere he lived until his death. He was married in this county to Miss 
Nancy Hetler, a native of the county, born on the Mifflin Hills, and whose parents were 
early settlers. Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer we're the parents of five children, of whom four are 
living: William; Nathan, living in Jones County, Iowa; Catherine, wife of Samuel 
Dalius, living in Maine Township, this county; George Washington, living in Greene 
'County, Iowa. Mary married Benjamin Miller, and both are deceased. The mother of 
these children died about 1831, and was buried in the Brick Church graveyard, in Briar- 
creek Township, this county. Francis Shaffer died in October, 1833, and is also buried in 
the Brick Church graveyard. By the early death of his parents, although he was the eld- 
est of their children, William was left an orphan before he was eleven years of age, and 
he was reared by Philip Freas, for whom he worked for his food and clothes until he was 
sixteen years of age. He then worked for Mr. Freas by the month, and after one year he 
worked for Andrew Freas by the year for two years. He and Andrew Freas and William 
Hoffman then bought a canal boat, and James K. Polk then being in the zenith of his 
popularity, they gave it his name. They followed boating in the coal trade from Pitts- 
ton to Columbia for one season, and then sold out the boat. Mr. Shaffer, taking sick the 
same fall, was unable to do anything the following winter. In the next spring he com- 
menced farming on the old place of his father, and taking the farm at the appraisement 
lie worked it a year and a half and then sold it. He then removed to Briarcreek, near 
Bowman's mill, farmed for Thomas Bowman, and hauled flour into the coal region for 
about eighteen months; then rented the Briarcreek grocery, where he carried on mercan- 
tile business for four years; then removed to the Rittenhouse mill, and was engaged in 
operating that mill and hauling flour, etc.. to Hazleton, Beaver Meadows, and other places 
in the coal regions. He was here altogether four years, and then removed to another 
place, and was engaged for one year iu huckstering to Hazleton. He then bought the 
farm where he now resides, and moved to it the following spring. This was in 1856. 
Mr. Shaffer was married in Luzerne County, Penn., May 7, 1844, to Miss Sophia Mowery, 
a native of Mifflin Township, this county, and daughter of John and Catherine (Hetler) 
Mowery, the former of whom was bora near Mauch Chunk, Penn., and the latter in 
Mifflin Township, this county. The father died iu 1824, his widow surviving him until 
about 1871. They are both buried at Mifflinville, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer 
were the parents of seven children, of whom four are living: Winfield Scott, married to 
Miss Flora Mosteller (they live in Briarcreek Township, this county); Wesley, married to 
Miss Harriet Knoop (they also live in Briarcreek Township); Alfred C, married to Miss 
Rachael Freas (they live in this county), and William Madison, who lives with his parents. 
Fannie Dorcas, Sarah Jane and Mary Minerva are deceased. Mr. Shaffer has 237 acres, 
being one of the large land holders of Centre Township. Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer are mem- 
bers of the Lutheran Church. He has held the office of county commissioner for three 
years, having been elected about 1871. He is a member of Centre Grange, No. 56, P. of H. 
A. W. SPEAR, farmer, P. O. Light Street, was born in Wayne County, N. Y., Novem- 
ber 4, 1848, son of Rev. N. and Diantha( Wells) Spear. Theformer was born in Ware, Mass., 
and was there reared until he was a young man. His parents died when he was young, 
and he went to Wayne County, N. Y., where he followed tailoring and kept a store and 
postoffice. He removed from there to Wayne County, Penn., and there became connected 
with the American Tract Society and the American Bible Society, in the interests of 
which he traveled a number of years. He then acquired a taste for the ministry and edu- 
cated himself for it while connected with these societies. From Wayne County he re- 



CENTKE TOWNSHIP. 42T 

moved to Scranton, Penn., and after severing his connection with these causes, he removed 
to Or'auireville, this county, where he became pastor of the Presbyterian Cliurch. He- 
preached atOrangeville, at Raven Creek Church, in Benton Township, at Rohrsburg and 
afterward at New Columbia, Hemlock Township. He also preached at Light Street. 
This and Hidlay Church in Centre Township were his last charges. He retired from the- 
ministry in 1883, and then bought property in Bloomsburg, where he has since resided. 
He is now tlie county agent of the American Bible Society. He has a farm of seventy- 
six acres in Centre Township. A. W. was ten years old when his family removed to- 
Scranton and two years later moved to Orangeville, and lived with his parents, except 
seven years in Berwick and Wilkesbarre, Penn., working at the machinist's trade 
until he was married, when he located on his father's farm, where he now resides. He 
was married at New Columbia Church, this county, December 24, 1878, to Miss Anna 
M., a native of Montour County and daughter of Cornelius and Rosanna Steyer. Mr. and. 
Mrs. Spear are the parents of two children: Eunice F. and Ruth W. The family are- 
members of the Presbyterian Church, of which he is an elder. He is secretary of the 
Columbia County Sunday-school Association; is also one of the county auditors, and is an.' 
auditor in the Briarcreek Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company. 

JOHN M. WHITE, farmer, P. O. Light Street, was born in Orange Township, this 
county, December 30, 1833, son of William and Jane (McMurtrie) White. Peter White, 
grandfather of .lohn M., a farmer, came to this county probably in the latter part of the 
last century. He located near Orangeville, where he lived until about 180(5, when he 
removed to the vicinity of Light Street and bought a farm iust on the edge of that village. 
This farm is now owned by Henry Hartman. Here he lived all his days, and his wife 
also died there. They are buried at Light Street., Of his family of ten children, William, 
father of our subject, was the fourth in order of age, born in what is now Orange Town- 
ship, this county, in 1803. He lived with his parents until he was married, and then 
bought a farm about a mile north of Light Street. This farm was partly cleared, and had' 
some improvements on it. There he lived for about twenty-tive years; then bought 
another farm adjoining it, to which he removed and here erected new buildings. There 
he lived until he died. He was married in this county to Mi^^s Jane McMurtrie. a native 
of Warren County, N. J., born near Belvidere, a daughter of Abraham McMurtrie, who- 
was a farmer in New Jersey, but toward the latter part of his life kept hotel. Herparents- 
both died in new Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. William White were the parents of twelve chil- 
dren, of whom nine are living: Elizabeth M., wife of J. D. Melick, a traveling salesman/ 
residing at Muncy, Penn.; Mary, wife of George Conner, residing in Centre Township, 
this county; John M. ; Abram M., in Wood County. Ohio; Isaiah S., in Orange Township, 
this county; SamanthaA.. wife of Peter Evans, living near Rupert, this county; W. 
Pierce, in Union County, Penn.; Anna Margaret, widow of Alem Van Liew, living in 
Light Street, this county, and M. Alvaretta, wife of A. P. Howell. Sarah Jane, wife of 
Howard Grimes, is deceased. The father of this family died February 18, 1879; the 
mother in 1871. Our subject was reared in this county, and made his Jiome with his 
parents until he was over twenty-three years of age. After that he cultivated one of his 
father's fotir farms for several years, and bought the tract of land on which he now re- 
sides in 1868, and three years later moved on to it. When he first purchased it there was 
a tannery in operation on the place, btithe rented that for several years and then sold it. 
He was married in this cotmty February 10, 1857, to Miss Tacy E.Vanderslice. a native 
of this county, and a daughter of John Hiester and Catherine (Melick) Vanderslice. Her 
father was born in Chester County, Penn., and her mother in this county. The Melicks 
came to this county from New Jersey. Both parents are deceased and are btiried in the 
Vanderslice graveyard in Hemlock Township, this county. Mr. and Mrs. White are 
parents of five children: Hiester V. (an attorney at law and senior member of the tirm of 
H. V. Wliite & Co., dealers in grain, flour, feed, coal, etc, at Bloomsburg; he is married 
to Clara E. Aikman), William L., Clara, Hattie and John. William LeRoy White wa& 
born in Orange Township, this cotinty, September 18, 1860. second son of John M. and 
Tacy E. (Vanderslice) White. After obtaining a liberal education in the scliools of his 
vicinity and the Orangeville Academy, he commenced teaching in l»Ti), and in 1880 he 
went west, spending some time in the States of Michigan, Illinois and Iowa, teaching- 
school and at times working on the farms. On his return he ente"ed into the grain ship- 
ping business with his brother, and is still the junior member of the firm of H. V. White 
& Co. He resides in Bloomsburg, Penn., where he has general supervision of their busi- 
ness. The parents are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. White is a Democrat 
politically and has held local offices in the township. 

PAUL ZANER, retired farmer, P. O. Fowlersville, was born in what is now Centre 
Township, this county, June 7, 1815. son of Daniel and Hannah (Adams) Zaner. The 
grandfather of Paul, on his father's side, came from Germany, and located in what was 
then a wilderness in the neighborhood of the present town of Tamaqua. Schuylkill Co., 
Penn., but then in Northampton. This country was then very wild, and bears, wolves, 
panthers, deer, etc., were about the only other living occupants of the surrounding forests. 
Fish of all kinds were abundant in the streams, and Mr. Zaner spent a great deal of his 



428 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

time hunting and fishing. He and his wife died and are buried in that vicinity. They 
were the parents of ten children— eight boys and two girls. Of these, four came to this 
county; Adam, Abraham, and George came to what is now Columbia County in about 
1800, and Abraham put up a distillery in Briarcreek Township. He carried on this busi- 
mess a few years only, but lived here until his death in 1833. He is buried at the Brick 
■Cluirch. Briarcreek Township. George is buried in the turnpike cemetery in Briarcreek 
Township. Adam moved out to Ohio. About eight or ten years after these three came out, 
their brother Daniel came and lived with his brothers a couple of years, then married and 
'bought land, which J. L. Wolverton now owns and lives on. He had learned the milling 
trade in the mill of his brother in Schuylkill County, and when he located at the place 
mentioned liere, he put up a grist-mill, the first one on the site of what is known as 
"' Wolverton mill." That mill was put up in 1816, and he operated it, carrying on farm- 
fing to some extent until 1851, when he sold the property and moved to where David Z. 
Remaley now lives, and there spent the remainder of his daj^s. He was married in this 
county to Miss Hannah Adams, a daughter of Anthony Adams. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel 
Zauer were the parents of six children, of whom five are living: Paul; John, living in 
Fishingcreek, this county: Julia Ann, wife of John Eckroth, Light Street, this county; 
Mary M., wife of Daniel W. Miller, living in Audubon County, Iowa; Levi, also in Audu- 
bon "County, Iowa. Catherine, wife of Charles Werkheiser, of Milllinville, this county, 
is deceased. The fatlier of this family died January 24, 1856; the motlier in September, 
1870. They are buried at the Briarcreek Church, in Briarcreek Township. Paul Zaiier, 
subject of this sketch, was born and reared in the house where J. L. Wolverton now 
resides, in this township. He made his home with his ]iarents until he reached the age of 
twenty-one years; and up to that time had assisted his father in the mill. But this work 
not being beneficial to his health he, on arriving at age, went to learn the trade of mill- 
-wrighting with Chamber Davis, of Bloomsburg, Penn. Mr. Davis went out of the busi- 
.■aess about eighteen montlis later, and then Mr. Zaner worked with another-mau about 
two months. In 1837 he went to work on the Berwick bridge, being employed all sum- 
rner on its construction. He then followed all kinds of work in wood, and now has a 
shop at his place. He has worked on the construction of nearly all of the buildings in 
this vicinit.y since that time, and in the summer of 188.~), at the age of over seventy years, 
ihe did nearly all the inside work on the house of Aaron Kelchner, making the doors and 
'sashes himself. Mr. Zaner is known as a very skilled worker in wood. He bought his 
.present place in 1854. He has twenty-five acres of land in his tract, and nine acres in an- 
other lot. He was married in this county January 34, 1841, to Miss Rebecca Freas, a 
native of this county, and a daughter of Philip Freas. Mr. and Mrs. Zaner were the 
parents of six children, of whom four are living: Charles W., married to Harriet Strow, 
living in Danville, Montour County; Alverua, wife of Addison Zimmerman, living in this 
township: Clemuel. at home; Alice, wife of Albert Kelchner, living in tWs township. 
The deceased are Mahaln. who died about 18.58, and an infant unnamed. Mr. Zaner is a 
Republican politically. He owns a much prized relic in the shape of a clock, about as 
old as himself, and which keeps excellent time, which Jacob Diefenbach, a Presbyterian 
minister of Bloomsburg, made for him. 



' CHAPTER XXIX. 

CONYNGHAM TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH OF CEN- 

TRALIA. 

D. CHATLEY BLACK, merchant, Centralia, was born in County Donegal, Ire- 
land, December 4, 1838, son of David and Martha (Chatley) Black. In 1845 the family 
came to America and located at Minersville, Schuylkill Co.. Penn., where the father 
was engaged in coal mining, and where the mother died in 1852. In 1861 oui' subject and 
his father came to Centralia, and here the latter died June 3, 1873. Our subject^then se- 
cured a position in the " Hazel Dell" colliery as engineer, which he lield until 1870. He 
then opened a store which he still conducts, handling groceries, flour, feed, etc. He mar- 
ried in Union County, July 15, 1869, Miss Carrie E. Danowsky, a native of Allentown, 
Penn., daughter of Dr. W. F. Danowsky of that place, whodied"therein 1875, and where he 
held a high rank as a physician. Her mother's maiden name was Carrie Barrens. She 
also <iied at Allentown, iii 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Black were the parents of seven children, 
■of whom five are living: Carrie, Saliie. Jennie, Addie and Tillie: the deceased are Mattie 



CONYNGHAM TOWNSHIP. 429 

and Willie. Mr. Black owns besides his store building and stock, a one-sixth interest in 
the Centralia Water Compan}\ He was one of the promoters and builders of the water 
system, and is justice of the peace of the borough of Centralia, having been elected in 
1884. In politics he is a Republican. Mr, Black's ancestors on both sides were of Scotch- 
Irish extraction, and were born in the town of Letterkenny, Ireland, in 1798. They were 
Presbyterians on both sides, to which church Mr, Black and his family belong. 

GEORGE W. BILLMAN, proprietor of the Montana Hotel, Centralia, was born in 
Schuylkill County. Penn., Octobers, 1851, son of Charles M. and Christina (Geist) Billman, 
natives of Barry Township, Schuylkill Co., Penn., where the former still re-ides; the latter 
died there about 1861, and is buried in the Lutheran Cemetery at Kimmels, Schuylkill 
County. George W. w^as reared in his native county, and there engaged in farming. In 
April, "1884, he came to Columbia County and purchased the Montana hotel, at Montana, 
Penn., which he still conducts. He married, in Schuylkill County. February 14, 1884, Miss 
Christina Miller, a native of New York City and daughter of Franklin and Catherine 
Miller, natives of Germany, former of whom died in New York, and the latter in Ashland, 
Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Billman have one child, Agnes Florence, born August 20, 1884. The 
parents are members of the Lutheran Church at Kimmels. In politics Mr. Billman is a 
Democrat. The above named house was built by a Mr. Roadenberger, in the year 1830; of 
stone, and was kept as a hotel by Mr. Roadenberger for a number of yeai's; he was suc- 
ceeded by a Mr. Joseph JMiller, William Hughes, Joseph Zimmerman, Isaac Betz, Jacob 
Zimmerman, Adam Claj-berger, John Jones, Peter Hower, Samuel Leiby, William Good- 
man, Samuel Leiby, Isaac Edwards, Daniel E, Kelnes, Jonathan Faust, George W. Bill- 
man. 

W. BRYSON'. attorney and representative in the General Assembly of Pennsyl- 
vania, Centralia. was born at Minersville, Schuj^lkill Co., Penn., June 13, 1849, a son 
of John and Catherine (Gorrell) Bryson. They were both natives of Ireland, and, coming 
to this country, were married in Philadelphia, whence they removed to Minersville, 
Schuylkill County. The mother died at Harrison, that county, but the father still resides 
at Philadelphia. " Our subject attended the public schools of Schuylkill Count}^ and in 
1867 entered the State normal school at Bloomsburg. He also attended Dickinson College 
at Williamsport, and is a graduate of Prof. A. Davis' Commercial College at the latter 
city. In July, 1863, he mov^ed to Columbia County, located at Centralia and taught school 
in the adjoining townships. He was afterward employed as bookkeeper in the First 
National Bank at Ashland, which position he held three years. He then went to Blooms- 
burg, this county, and commenced reading law with C. R. Buckalew & Son, and was ad- 
mitted to the bar at Bloomsburg in 1875! That year he opened an office in Centralia, 
where he still has his home. He was nominated by the Democratic party for representa- 
tive in 1882, and elected to that position in the fall of that year. In the autumn of 1884 
he was re-elected to represent the county in the Legislature, and is a member of the present 
House. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Bloomsburg. 

DANIEL F. CURRY, postmaster, Centralia, was born in Schuylkill County, this 
State, August 15,1843, a son of Thomas and Margaret (Moran) Curry. "^His father died in 
Schuylkill Countj', October 23. 1857. Daniel F. early engaged in mining and at the age 
of seventeen years was employed as superintendent of the collier}' of Hennett & Oliver, 
Schuylkill Couutv, which position he held until 1864, when he came to Centralia and be- 
came foreman of the Continental colliery, operated by Charles Goodrich & Co. He had 
charge both inside and out until 1870, when he retired from mining, and embarked in the 
wholesale liquor business at Centralia, which he carried on about three years, at the end 
of which time the block in which his store was situated was destroyed by fire. He then 
started in the hotel business, which he still conducts. He is a Democrat; was appointed 
postmaster of Centralia January 1, 1886, and has been a member of the borough council, 
also held other local positions. He was married November 1, 1865, to Miss Mary Farrell, 
daughter of Patrick and Elizabeth Farrell. Mr. and Mrs. Curry were the parents of 
ten children, of whom seven are living; Margaret, Annie, Thomas, Mollie, Elizabeth. 
Daniel and Gertrude. The deceased are Lizzie, Josephine and Michael. Mr. Curry en- 
listed in April, 1861, in company C, Fifth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, colonel Mc- 
Dowell. They were assigned toGen.Heiutzelman'scorps, and were in Alexandria atthe time 
of the shooting of Col.'Ellsworth. Mr. Curr.y was mustered out with his regiment at 
Harrisburg at the expiration of the term of enlistment. At the time of the invasion of 
Gen. Lee he raised a company in Schuylkill County, and was commissioned first lieutenant 
by Gov. Curtin. his commission bearing date June 15, 1863. Thecompanj^ was mustered 
in Company K, Fifty-third Pennsylvania Regiment, and mustered out;later in the year, 
there being no further need for the number raised at that time. 

G. W. DAVIS, Jr., druggist, P. O. Centralia, was born in Minersville, Schuylkill Co., 
Penn., September 5, 1855. His parents, George Wood and INIary E. (Edwards) Davis, 
were natives of Wales, and came to this country', the former in the early part of 1854, 
the latter arriving on the 7th of the following November, on which date thej' were mar- 
ried in New York. Thej^ then moved to Minersville, Schuylkill County, where the 
father engaged in mining. In 1880 he weut to the big mine run, and engaged as con- 



430 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

tractor in sinking a slope. He returned to Minersville, and later came to Centralia, and 
was one of the contractors for sinking the slope for J. M. Freck & Co., miners and ship- 
pers of coal. He continued to mine coal at that colliery until a spell of idleness, caused 
by the miners standing out for higher wages, compelled him to engage with R. Gorrell & 
Co. At the Continental colliery, with six others, he was employed on a slope at night, 
to avoid stopping the hoisting in the daytime. V/hile returning from work about 
1 A. M., they were shot at from an ambush while walking through a cut on the Lehigh 
Valley Railroad track, the lights on their heads making them easily discernible. Their 
assailants probably supposed that their victims had intended to take their places. Mr. 
Davis was shot through the lungs and so severely wounded that he never entirely re- 
covered from the effects. Some time after he was engaged with J. P. Jones at the No. 5 
tunnel, Lausford, where he remained about two years. An opening then offered to him 
at his home in Centralia, and he became foreman of the mine of G. M. Prevost, and after 
six months went to Bear Ridge colliery No. 1, Mahanoy Plain. From there, after three 
years, he went to Ashland and became foreman of the tunnel colliery. Philadelphia & 
Reading Coal and Iron Company, and was thus engaged about two years, when he ac- 
cepted a similar position at the Big Mine Run colliery, J. Taylor & Co. While thus en- 
gaged, passing through an entry November 7, 1885. a large piece of coal fell from the 
roof and so injured him that ne was confined to bed for three mouths. He then resumed 
his duties, but a day's trial compelled him to return to bed, and he died May 31, 1886, 
and was buried in the Oddfellows cemetery, Centralia. His widow and eleven children 
still reside here. George W., Jr., commenced the drug business in 1869, and finished his 
apprenticeship in 1872. In 1874 his father, who was then appointed postmaster, bought a 
drug store in the postoffice building. George W., Jr., who had been an assistant in the 
postoffice since 1869, conducted the store and transacted the principal business of the post- 
office. His father was postmaster until December, 1885. Our subject was a member of 
the borough school board for 1886. succeeding his father. The latter was a member of 
the I. O. O. F., and highly respected by all who knew him. 

H. J. FERGUSON, railroad agent L. V. Railroad, Centralia, was born in Miners- 
ville, Schuylkill Co., Penu., January 1, 1853, to Thomas and Martha (Christopher) 
Ferguson, natives of Ireland, who came to America in 1842, and located at Pottsville, 
Penn. J'rom Pottsville they removed to Branch Dale, thence to Minersville, thence to 
Shenandoah, where the father died in September, 1883, and where the mother still resides. 
Our subject was educated at Minersville, Fort Carbon and Boylestown, and on going to 
Shenandoah taught school in the vicinity and afterward in the borough. In 1870 he 
entered the ofiice of the Lehigh Valley Railroad at Shenandoah, where he was assistant 
agent under his brother. There he remained about eight years, varying his occupation 
sometimes by teaching school. In October, 1878, he was appointed bj^ the railroad 
managementi as agent at Centralia, which position he has held since that time. The 
business of the Centralia office, over which he has control, will amount to probably 
$30,000 per year; this is exclusive of the coal trade, with which this office has nothing to do. 

A. B. FORTNER, stoves and tinware, Centralia, was born in Catawissa, Col- 
umbia Co., Penn., Julj^ 28, 1843, son of B. P. and Mary (Davis) Fortner. They were 
both born in Columbia County, the former now living at Catawissa ; the laiter died 
there in April, 1884. Our subject was reared in Columbia County, and was employed on 
the Catawissa Railroad about nine months. In 1863 he was appointed assistant internal 
revenue assessor for the Thirteenth District. He was engaged in the Government service 
about one year, and then came to Centralia, and embarked in his present business which 
he has since followed. He married.'at Catawissa, in November, 1865, Miss Mary N. Dean, 
a native of Columbia County, Penn., and a daughter of Thomas L. Dean. Her father 
now resides in Catawissa. Her mother is dead. Mr. and Mrs. Fortner are the parents of 
five children, three of whom are living: Elizabeth, Charles and Mary ; the deceased are 
Harry and an infant. Mr. Fortner is a member of the K. of L. His father was a 
representative in the Legislature of the State of Pennsylvania at the time of the division 
of the counties of Columbia and Montour, served one term and al.so held the position of 
general internal revenue assessor of the Thirteenth District for about three years. 

WILLIAM GOODMAN, agent of mining companies, P. O. Centralia* was born in 
Northumberland County, Penn., August 14. 1825, a son of William and Sarah (Wetzel) 
Goodman, natives of Northumberland County where the former died about 1828. W^hen 
William had reached the age of about five years he moved with his mother to Columbia 
County, where she died March 15, 1882, William was reared in that county and on the 
23d of January, 1845, married Miss Rosanna Levan, a native of Columbia County, 
and a daughter of Daniel, Sr., and Elizabeth (Houck) Levan. Both died in this county, 
the former in 1863 and the latter about 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Goodman are the parents of 
nine children, seven of whom are living: Elizabeth, wife of Ira Roadermel, residing in 
Montana ; Daniel, married to Harriet Person, also residing in Montana ; Isaac, married 
to Amanda Moyer, residing at Girardville, Penn.; Benjamin, married to Mary Harris, 
residing in Conyngham Township ; Christiana, wife of Jerry George, residing in Montana ; 
Catherine, wife of Levi George, in Centralia, and Ira. The deceased are William and 



CONYNGHAM TOWNSHIP. 431 

Henry Clinton. In 1869 Mr. Goodman was given charge of the lands of the coal com- 
panies in Conyngham Township by the coal and mining companies, and in 1878 he was 
given charge of all repairs and buildings on the public roads. Mr. and Mrs. Goodman 
are members of the Presbyterian Church in Locust Township. 

J M. GWINNER, M. D., Centralia, was born at St. Clair, Schuylkill Co.. Penn , 
October 25, 1858, a son of Jacob J. and Mary M. (Gross) Gwinner, former of whom, a 
native of Wurtemburg, Germany, died in Schuylkill County, this Stale, where his widow 
still resides. Our subject commenced his education in the public schools of St. Clair, 
finishing at the Palatinate College, this State. After finishing at the Palatinate College, 
he entered the oflice of Dr. A. P. Carr, St. Clair, as a student and remained with him until 
his graduation in medicine. In the fall of 1879 he entered the Pennsylvania University, 
and graduated from that institution in March, 1881. After graduating he remained m the 
office of Dr. Carr until October, 1881. when he came to Centralia and entered upon the 
practice of medicine and surgery, and has since remained here. He was elected coroner 
of Columbia County at the fall election of 1885, his term commencing January 1, 1886. 
He has built up a good practice and made an enviable record since becoming a citizen 
of Centralia. Dr. Gwinner still retains his membership in the Schuylkill Medical Society. 

THOMAS IRVIN, of the firm of Irviu Bros., Centralia, was born in Ireland, 
June 12, 1844, a son of William and Ann Jane Irvin. His father died in that country, and 
in 1861 the family removed to the United States, and located at Christian Hundred, 
Brandy wine Banks, Del. There they resided until coming to Centralia, Penn., about 
1863. Thomas worked on the repairs in the mines for about three years and then obtained 
the position of boss of the loading, at which he was employed a number of years. He 
then engaged as clerk in the coal company's store and was there employed until 1879, 
when he and his brother embarked in mercantile business under the firm name of Irvin 
Bros. They carry a general stock of clothing, dry goods, boots and shoes, groceries, 
flour and feed, and own the building in which the store is kept. Thomas married in 1866, 
Miss Mary, a native of Schuylkill County, Penn., and a daughter of John and Catherine 
Bryson. Mr. and Mrs. Irvin were the parents of nine children, six living; Robert, Cath- 
arine Ann, Thomas, Mary, Eva Lillian and William John. The deceased are John, 
Jennie and an infant unnamed. In 1861 Mr. Irvin enlisted in Company B, Fifth Dela- 
ware Infantry, Col. McComas, and was assigned to garrison duty at Fort Delaware. He 
remained in the service nine months and then returned home. Mr. Irvin is a member of 
the Joe Hooker Post, G. A. R., at Ashland, and, with his family, attends the Protestant 
Episcopal Church. John Irvin, brother of Thomas, was born in Ireland, March 8, 1858. 
He came with his family to Centralia; is a member of the I. O. O. F. at this place. 

H. J. KELLY, foreman of the Logan colliery, Centralia, was born in Monmouth- 
shire, South AVales, June 6, 1844, son oif James C. and Elizabeth (Jones) Kelly. In 1863 
the family came to America and located in St. Clair, Schuylkill Co., Penn., where our 
subject went to work in the mines. His father died at St. Clair, December 9, 1884; his 
mother still resides there. Our subject commenced work in the mines of his native coun- 
try when he reached the age of eight years, and on arriving at St. Clair became engaged 
at the Mount LafEee colliery. There he worked until 1864, when he enlisted in Com- 
pany H, Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry; served in Virginia and Maryland, and at the 
close of the war was mustered out at Harri-sburg in July, 1865. He then went back 
to Si. Clair and to the mines, where he remained until 1872, when he went to Mahanoy 
City and there worked Jn several of the collieries. In^April, 1875, he went to Ashland 
to take charge of the Bast colliery. Big Mine Run, for the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & 
Iron Company. He remained there until 1877, when he,. took charge of the Richardson 
colliery for the same company. He was thus engaged for nearly four years, and in 1881, 
on the opening of the Logan colliery, he came to Centralia to take charge of it, and has 
held that position since, having under him 400 men and boys. He was married at St. 
Clair July 30, 1867, to Miss Ann Jones, a native of St. Clair and a daughter of Evan and 
Celia Jones, both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly are the parents of nine children, eight 
of whom are now living: Frank, Harry, Elizabeth, Rhoslyn, Ida and Edith (twins), Annie 
Logan and Celia; the deceased one was named Mary. Mr. Kelly is a member of Miners- 
ville Lodge, No. 222, A.,F. & A. M.; is one of the directors of the poor of the Conyngham 
and Centralia District, having served as such since April. 1884. 

JAMES McBREARTY, engineer, Centralia, was born in Carbon County, Penn., 
July 18. 1854, to Bernard and MaVy (Martin) McBrearty, both natives of Donegal, Ireland, 
where they married, and, immigra'ting to America, settled in Carbon County, after a short 
stay in New York City. The former died in Boonesboro, Iowa, and the latter at Cen- 
tralia. James came to Centralia with his parents when he had reached the age of eight 
years, in 1862, and here has since resided. When a boy he commenced work on a breaker, 
and afterward as a driver in the mines. He then served as fireman, and in 1871 was 
appointed engineer at the Centralia colliery. He remained there until 1875, and then 
engaged in the same capacity at the Continental colliery, where he was employed until 
1883. He then obtained a similar position at the Hazel Dell colliery, which he still holds. 
He married at Centralia, March 28, 1872, Miss Sarah, a native of Schuylkill County, and 



432 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

a daughter of James and Mary (McCarthy) Colihan, residents of Centralia. Mr. and 
Mrs. McBrearty are the ])areuts of three children: Mary, John and Bernard. Mr. Mc- 
Brearty retired from his position as engineer of the Hazel Dell colliery, and is now 
devoting himself to his business on Locust Avenue, Centralia, wliere he has a hotel. 

CHARLES G. MURPHY, merchant, Centralia, was Ijorn in County Fermanagh, 
Ireland, January IS, 1844. He is the son of Charles Murphy and Mary (Corrigan). 
Murphy. The former was the youngest of four brothers and died in 1879 at the advanced 
age of eighty-two years. The latter is still living in her native countrj^ and is now about 
eighty years old. Early in 1862 our subject came to this country, and after trying various 
occupations with indifferent success, finally, in 1864, came to Centralia,ColumbiaCo., Penn., 
not knowing a person in the county, worked at the coal mines and labored on the then new 
branch of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, spending his spare time studying the American 
system of education. After successfully passing an examination he was appointed to a 
school in Centralia in Januarj*, 186;'), which occupation he followed till 1874, when he 
embarked in mercantile business. This he has followed successfully since. He held a 
number of important positions, being treasurer of The Citizens Building and Loan Asso- 
ciation since 1872; elected justice of the peace, he .served for fifteen years, retiringof his own 
choice; has been school director and secretary of the board since 1876; was twice elected 
coroner of the county. and in 1886 was elected one of the associate judges of the Twenty-sixth 
Judicial District. Mr. Murphy was married to Maggie Curry in 1869, by whom ten chil- 
dren were born to him, four of whom are living: Mary, Maggie, Josephine and Susan. The 
family attend the Roman Catholic Church. In politics Mr. Murphy is a strong Democrat, 
and frequently represented his county in the State Convention. 

EDWARD REESE, superintendent of the collieries of L. A. Riley & Co., Centralia, 
was born in South Wales, May 29, l8o9, a son of Thomas and Hannah (Bull) Reese. There 
his father was engaged in mining, and there his mother died. Edward became engaged in 
the mining industry in his native country, and in 1863 came to America, and located at 
Wadesville, Penn., in the vicinity of which place, at Ball's Slope, Schuylkill County, he 
engaged in mining. He remained there but a short time, making his home, however, at 
Wadesville. After eighteen months he made a trip to Wales, returned in February, 
1865, and went to Mount Laffee, Schuylkill Co., Penn., where he worked for three years 
as a miner. He was then appointed mining foreman and held that position three and 
one-half years, when he received the appointment of inside boss at Bear Ridge. After 
four months he returned to Mount Laffee, Beechwood colliery, as superintendent, which 
position he filled about three years, and then took the position of inside foreman at the 
tunnel colliery at Ashland, Schuylkill County. After two years he went to Mahanoy City, 
where he was engaged for six months sinking slopes etc., as inside foreman. He then 
went to Alaska to sink the Mount Carmel shaft in Northumberland County; thence to 
Ashland to accept the position of assistant mining superintendent of the Philadelphia & 
Reading Coal & Iron Company. This position he held for about five years, when his abili- 
ties were recognized by his promotion to the position of assistant mining inspector by the 
same company. He had charge of 22 collieries, or all north of the Broad Mountain, and 
remained in that position until September, 1880, when he was offered and accepted the 
position of general superintendent of the collieries of L. A. Riley & Co., at and near Cen- 
tralia, Columbia Count3^ AVhen it became knowni that Mr. Reese had severed his 
connection with the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Company, a grand recep- 
tion was gotten up at the Odd Fellows Hall, Ashland, and there on the evening 
of September 25, 1880. about 400 of the leading people connected with the mining 
interests assembled to bid him farewell, and whicli was one of the greatest social 
gatherings known in the coal regions, on which occasion Mr. Reese was made the recipient 
of a splendid gold-headed cane. He had charge of the Centralia, Logan and Hazel Dell 
collieries, Columbia County, and in February, 1886, was made general superintendent of 
the Park No. 1, Park No. 2 and Park No 3 collieries of Lentz, Lilly & Co., Schuylkill 
County. He now has general supervision over works employing 3,000 men and boys. He 
married in Wales in 1863, Miss Ann Lewis, and to them have been born the following named 
children: Thomas, Rachel, James, George, John, Daniel and Edward. Mr. Reese is a mem- 
ber of the Mineral Odd Fellows Lodge at St. Clair; of the Masonic Anthracite Lodge, A. F. 
& A. M. at St. Clair and Griscom Chapter, R. A. M. at Ashland. He has worked his way up 
from a poor boy to his present high position in the confidence of two of Pennsylvania's 
great coal mining and shipping firms. His father died at Ashland in 1880. 

GEORGE TROUTMAN, coal operator. Centralia, was born in Schuylkill County, 
Penn., May 23, 1835, son of Jacob and Rosina (Gabelbecker) Troutman, both natives of 
Alsace (then in France, now in Germany). The father died in Schuylkill County, and 
the mother in Columbia County. Mr. Troutman first commenced work in a breaker, in 
what was then the New Philadelphia colliery, about six miles from Pottsville. He after- 
ward went to work in the mines, and in 1861 was made inside foreman at the Stewarts- 
ville colliery, of which he remained in charge about three j'ears, and then went to Girard 
colliery as foreman about five years, then went to Nevada to try his fortune in the gold 
fields. Not finding things to his liking there, in the fall of the same year he returned to 



CONYNGHAM TOWNSHIP. 433 

PenusVlvauia and obtained the position of inside foreman in the Girard colliery, Girard- 
ville. where he remained for six 3^ears. He then came to Centralia and about twelve 
months was foreman at the "Continental" colliery. He then leased laud west of Cen- 
tralia, and commenced the mining business for himself on a small scale, taking out only 
the out-crop coal. He continued in this line of mining about three years, gradually in- 
creasing operations, and in 1880 formed a partnership with Isaac May, Harr}- Morgan and 
James May, under the firm name of Isaac May & Co. The firm then constructed a breaker 
and continued operations on an increased scale, in tiie slope which Mr. Troutman had 
commenced in 1879. They employ about 400 men and boys, and the out-put in 1885 was 
103,000 tons, which was turned out. working on reduced time so that this amount does 
not represent the full capacity of the colliery. Their principal market is New York, and the 
works are on the line of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. Mr. Troutman was married in Schu3i- 
kill County. Penn., September 2, 1856, to Miss Mary Jane Quick, and they are the parents of 
twelve children, eleven of whom are living: Maria, Samuel J., Jennie, Laura, George F., 
Sallie, Edward J., Katie, Grayson, Lucretia and Eva; the deceased one was named 
Samuel. Mr. Troutman is a member of the A. F. & A. M. at Ashland, and of the I. O. 
O. F. at Girardville. 

JOHX J. WILLIAMS, mining inspector of the Lehigh Valley Coal Company, Cen- 
tralia, was born in Merthyr Tydvil, South Wales, April 32. 1838, son of Jacob and Mary 
Williams. In 1841 they immigrated to America, landing in New York on the 4th of 
July; then came to Pennsylvania and located in the Schuylkill Vallej', three or four 
■ mires above Fort Carbon, where the father of our subject engaged in the mines. There 
John J. was reared, and there, at St. Clair, Pottsville and Sanford, they remained until 
the fall of 1854. Our subject went to Jo Daviess County, 111., with his parents, and there, 
in the spring of 1855, his mother died, and the father, who was then temporarily in Penn- 
sylvania, went to Illinois, and, after the funeral of his wife, returned to Pennsylvania and 
died at Ashland in 1882. Our subject remained in Illinois until the spring of 1857 when 
he was engaged in farm work, but at the time mentioned he returned to Pennsylvania, 
and went to work in the Coaldale colliery, at Summit Hill. He was there emploj'ed until 
the winter of 1862-63. when they removed to Ashland, where and in the vicinity he fol- 
lowed mining, at Keystone, Locust Run, Continental, James R. Cleaver's, Preston No. 3 
of Girardsville, and iVIahanoy Plain, in all thus engaged until 1873. He was then em- 
ployed by the Reading Coal & Iron Company as mine in.spector of the Ashland District, 
anil remained in their employ until December, 1875, when he removed to Centralia and 
accepted the position of mining inspector for the Lehigh Valley Coal Company which he 
still holds. He was married at Mahanoy City May 27, 1879, to Mrs. Mary Williams, a 
native of Minersville, Penn., and a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Jones, who are 
both residents of Mahanoy City. Mr. and Mrs. WilJiams have two children: Arthur Lin 
and Clarence. Mrs. Williams had one son by her former marriage: Howard Williams. 
Mr. Williams is a member of the Ashland Locust Mountain Lodge, I. O. O. F., and of the 
Encampment at Ashland. He is also a member of the Ashland Lodge, A. F. & A. M., 
and a member of the Centralia Borough Council. In politics he is a Republican. The 
familv attend the Presbvterian Church. 

EDWARD WILLIA5IS, Jr., foreman Centralia collier}^ Centralia, was born in Corn- 
wall. England, August 21, 1849. a son of Edward and Elizabeth (Daws) Williams. He 
commenced to work in the mines in England in an early day, and in 1870 came to Amer- 
ica ;md located at Buffalo, N. Y. After six months he came to Centralia and worked at 
the Hazel Dell colliery. One year later he worked at the "Excelsior" colliery, North- 
umberland County, Penn.. and after another year returned to Centralia and took charge 
of the " Continental " colliery, where he remained one and a half years, and in the fall of 
1876 accepted a similar position at the Hazel Dell colliery. After eight months there he 
returned to the "Continental" colliery and remained until taking charge of the " Cen- 
tralia " and Hazel Dell collieries in September. 1881. He now has charge of both these 
collieries, which employ about 300 men and boys inside. Mr. Williams was married at 
Oakland, now in the borough of Ashland, on the 19th of Februarj'. 1874, to Miss Martha 
D. Goldsworthy, a native of Devonshire, England, and daughter of James and Eliza Golds- 
wor^h}^ both of whom died in Centralia. Mr. and Mrs. Williams were the parents of 
three children, of whom two are liying: Martha G. and James G. Mr. Williams is a 
member of the Odd Fellows Lodge at Centralia, No. 586. 



434 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

CHAPTER XXX. 
FISHINGCREEK TOWNSHIP. 

PHILIP APPLEMAN, Sr., farmer, P. O. Rohrsburg, is a son of Matthias Appleman 
who came from New Jersey and settled in Montour Township, near Bloomsburg. After 
his marriage he bought a farm in Madison Township on which he erected a distillery, and 
many years after bought 300 acres in Benton on which he died at the age of seventy-five. 
His wife, nee Margaret Beers, died some years previous, aged sixty-four. Their children 
were Hannah, Elizabeth, Sarah, Matthias, George, Peter and Samuel, deceased; William, 
in Benton; Mary Ann, wife of Samuel Betts, of Ohio, and Philip, who is the eldest of the 
survivors. Matthias was a member of the Episcopal Church in Benton. Our subject.was 
born February 17, 1808, and lived with his parents until the age of twenty-four. He then 
bought a farm of 240 acres where he now lives, and to which he added until he had 400 
acres. He erected a water mill which he operated four years, and when that failed erected 
a steam mill which is yet running. In 1830 he married Mary Ann Dnvis, of Benton, who 
was born March 26, 1808. They have had six children: Matthias M.. in Rohrsburg; Cath- 
erine M., wife of George W. Staten, in Illinois; Reuben D., in Iowa; Samuel, died aged one 
year; Mary E., died in 1870, aged twenty-eight years, and Philip D., who farms his father's 
place. Mr. Appleman has led an active life; he has cleared his farm, brought it to a high 
state of cultivation and engaged in lumbering. He has held township offices, but refused 
to be justice or constable. When supervisor he put the roads in good order for a smaller 
sum than was ever required. He has given all his children a good start in life. He and 
Mrs. Appleton are members of the Christian Churcli, and he is now one of the oldest 
residents in the township. 

CHARLES ASH, farmer, P. O. Stillwater, is a native of Northampton County, 
Penn., born October 18, 1820, a son of Christian and Mary (Osterday) Ash, natives of the 
same county. They removed to Briarcreek Township, this county, when our subjeci was 
seven years old; there the father bought a small farm and remained seven years, when he 
sold out and bought the place where his son Charles now lives. There he moved and died 
in 1879. His wife died about nine years before. They had ten children, all living: Mary, 
widow of Russell Creveling. in Wisconsin; William, residing in the house where his 
father died on a part of the home farm; Sarah, in Iowa; Hiram, in Benton Township; 
Catherine, in Luzerne County; Delia Ann, in Briarcreek; Christian J., in this township; 
Elizabeth and Hester in Benton, and Charles. Our subject is the second child, and on his 
marriage took possession of the home farm, his father moving to another part of it. He 
married' October 24, 1848, Sarah Ruckel, of Briarcreek, who died February 19, 1886. They 
had nine children, one of whom died in infancy; the others are George Wesley, husband 
of Amelia H. Freas, and William S., married to Hettie Learns, having one cliild named 
Clarence Reagan, both residing in Briarcreek; Pierce, married to Susan Werkbeiser, hav- 
ing one child, named Trellie Clementine, living on his father's farm; Harvey R., married 
to Mary Hill, having one child, N. Ernest Augustus, and living in Berwick; Stewart A., 
married to Murtie D. Freas, having one child, named Roscoe Laine, and living in Briar- 
creek; Miles Wilbert, married to Clara Smith; Thomas Elliott and Amy Florentine, living 
with their father. Mr. Ash has served as supervi-sor, school director, overseer of the poor 
and collector. He was also engaged in huckstering eleven years, but his time has been 
principally given to his farm which is in an excellent condition, improved with fine brick 
residence and out-buildings. He is a member of the Columbia Grange, and has been a 
deacon in the Lutheran Church, this township, for years. 

LEVI BEISHLINE, retired farmer, P. O. Van Camp, is a grandson of Michael 
Beishline, who came from Germany in the last century, settling in Luzerne County. Penn. 
His son, Henry, was the father of Levi and was born in that county, April 16, 1796, and 
lived there until his marriage. He then bought a farm in this township, near Van Camp, 
where he died in 1876 at the age of eighty years. He married, January 16, 1821, Elizabeth 
Yost, of Sugarloaf Township, Luzerne County, who was born September 28, 1800, and 
died in her seventy-seventh year. They had eleven children: John, who died in infancy; 
Michael resides in this township; Margaret Ann was wife of Sol Heller and died in Lu- 
zerne County; Susanna, wife of Andrew Wenner of Luzerne County, where she died; 
Lavina, wife of Anthony Lutz, died in Benton Township; Henry died unmarried; Jacob 
lives in Luzerne County; Solomon died when young; Sarah Ann is the wife of Andrew 
Stein of Benton Township; William lives in Greenwood Township. Levi is the third son 
and was born July 21, 1827, and in his youth,, with his brothers, helped to clear the farm. 



nSHINGCREEK TOWNSHIP, 435 

which was endrely in woods. A few months after his marriage he bought a lot at Bender- 
town, this township, to which he added until he had a farm of [eighty acres, on which he 
lived until 1884 when he retired. He also bought another farm near by, both of which he 
owns. In 1862 he was drafted and served nine months in the One Hundred and Eighty- 
seventh Pennsylvania, Company A. Dec. 19, 1847, he married Maria, daughter of Daniel 
Wenner, of Butler Township, Luzerne County, who was born August 31. 1827. They have had 
fourteen children: Catherine Ann. born February 8, 1849, died October 8, 1855; Daniel, born 
April 17, 1850, married Emma Coleman and resides in Nebraska; Henry J., born August 31, 
1851, died December 6, 1858; Elias, born July 5, 1853, died September 27, 1855; Sarah, born 
January 9, 1855, died January 24, 1869; Susannah, born July 4, 1856. died February 26, 1870; 
Andrew, born in 1857, died at birth; Samuel, born November 8, 1858, lives in York County, 
Neb.; Mary, born Novembers, 1858, died February28, 1870; John F., born July 20, 1860, 
died March 3, 1870; Nathaniel, born November 2, 1861, and lives on the home farm of his 
father; Eliza, born May 20, 1864, lives ^itli her parents; Amanda, born April 26, 1866, 
wife of Wallace W. Wenner (son of Michael Wenner), and lives near Bendertown and Ada- 
line, born June 20, 1867, living with her parents. Mr. Beishline has never held any office 
which he could avoid holding. He is now a school director and president of the board. 
He has accumulated what he has by hard work and is a self-made man. He and Mrs. 
Beishline are members of the Reformed Church at Van Camp, of which he has been dea- 
con and of which he is now trustee. Politically he is a Democrat. 

EVAN B. BEISHLINE, United States guager, Stillwater, is a great-grandson of 
Michael Beishline, who came from Germany iu the latter part of the last century. He 
settled in Butler Township, Luzerne County, and was a farmer. His son, John, was the 
grandfather of the subject of this sketch, and was born in that place in 1801, and died in 
iBenton Township, this county, iu February. 1877. When a young man he accumulated 
some money, bought a farm in Benton Township, on which he resided until his death. 
In 1830 he married Miss Elizabeth Pealer, who is still living near Orangeville, this count3^ 
They had ten children, of whom five are deceased, as follows: Samuel, who was drowned 
in a flood at Huntington Creek; Erastus, who died when young; Elias R. was a teacher 
and died at the age of about forty-four years; Susanna was the wife of P. Sittler, and 
John W,, who was captain of a company in a Pennsylvania regiment during the civil 
war, and died about seven j'ears ago. The living are Catherine, wife of Russell Shultz 
of Benton Township; Savilla, wife of Jacob Shultz, living in Orange Township; Gideon 
in Berwick, foreman in the car shop of Jackson & Woodin, and chief policeman of the 
borough; Frank H., unmarried and engineer on a railroad in Texas; and Jacob M., the 
father of Evan B. and the eldest survivor. Jacob M. was born July 28, 1831, in Benton 
Township, and lived on the home farm until his marriage at the age of twenty-two. His 
father then bought him a farm, to which he moved and which he has ever since made his 
home. In early life he joined the Reformed Church, in whicli he has been an elder for 
twenty-five years, and a greater part of the time has also been superintendent of the 
Sabbath-school. He is a consistent citizen and good Christian. June 14, 1854, he married 
Miss Mary M. Krickbaum of Benton Township, who was born in 1832. To their union 
eight children were born as follows: Mary E.; Oliver C, married Miss Kate Ruckle and 
lives in Benton Township; Eli A., single, "living with hisparents; Ida A., wife of Emanuel 
Wenner, of Benton Township; Charles N., died in childhood; Harvey W. and Susan I., 
both of whom reside with their parents, and Evan B. Our subject is the eldest of the 
family and was born April 25, 1855. He lived at home and worked on the farm until he 
was seventeen years of age. He then went to school, attending various academies and 
seminaries. In 1876 he began teaching, which profession he followed for eight winters. 
In 1881 he and his brother Eli A. engaged extensively in lumber operations, but on the 
night of May 8, 1884, their saw-mill, which was the largest in Columbia County ,_ to- 
gether with a large quantity of lumber, was destroyed by fire and was uninsured. Since 
Ihen he has been emplo3-ed at carpentering, and in August, 1866, he was appointed United 
States ganger. December 23, 1882, he married Frances I., daughter of Stephen Drescher 
of this township. She was born August 8, 1861. Mr. and Mrs. Beishline are prominent 
members of the Christian Church, in which he is an elder, and also superintendent of the 
Sabbath-school. He takes a warm interest in all religious matters, and has the respect of 
all who know him. Politicallv he is a Democrat. 

ELIAS P. BENDER, farmer, P. O. Stillwater, is a grandson of ]\Iorton Bender, a 
farmer, who died in Mount Pleasant Township, near Orangeville. His children were Jacob 
and Thomas, who died in Iowa; David and George (twins), the former living in Nebraska 
and the latter in Sullivan County, Penn.; Poll3\ who died in Mount Pleasant; Catherine, 
in Greenwood; Lydia, in Orange; Mary, in Sullivan County, and Aaron, the father of our 
subject. Aaron was born in Reading, May 17, 1814, and on his marriage bought a farm 
near Bendertown; in 1849 he bought another near the place where he now resides, and 
has always followed farming. His wife (Salome) daughter of John Pealer. of this town- 
ship, bore him the following named children: George Washington, who died in infancy; 
Samuel, who married Elizabeth Wenner (resides at Berwick, where he has been boss of 
the planing-mill for twenty years); Enandus, a farmer, married to Catherine Wenner (re- 



436 ^ BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

sides in this township); John M., lumberman, married to Mattie Derr (lives in Mimcy, 
Lycoming County); Thomas, a farmer, married to Sallie Cramer, after whose decease 
he married Maggie Kline (lives in Benton Township); Frank P., a farmer, married to Eliza 
Pealer (lives in this township); Susanua, wife of Elias Wenuer, of this township; Salome, 
unmarried, in this township, and Elias P. Our subject was born February 11, 1838, and 
lived with his father until he was twenty-five years of age. He then married and worked 
for a year at shoemaking, later buying a farm near Jonestown in this township. At the 
end of three years he sold out and bought another at Pealertovvn, which he sold after two 
years, and bought a farm in Greenwood Township, on which he resided three years. He 
then moved to Bendertown, where he built a store which he conducted for a year, going 
thence to Benton; then returned to Bendertown, and eight years later bought the farm 
on which he now resides near Stillwater. In October, 1862, he was drafted and entered 
the Union Army in the One Hundred and Seventy-eighth Regiment, and served nine 
months. He then returned home, married, and in the fall of 1864 enlisted in the One 
Hundred and Ninety-eighth Regiment and sei-Ved until the close of the war. He was 
severely wounded at Lee Farms, Va., where he received a bullet through his neck and a 
flesh wound in the arm, and was laid up in the hospital for three months. April 14, 1864, 
he married Rebecca, daughter of Jacob Markle, of this township. She was born March 
25, 1843, and has borne her husband six children: Clara; Torrance, who is a clerk in 
Wilkesbarre; Lloyd; Sallie C. ; Pearl; and Mary Agnes, who died December 19, 1877. Mr. 
Bender takes an active interest in political matters and has held many township oflices. 
He is an active member of the G. A. R., and also a member of the German Reformed 
Church. 

PERRY BUCKALEW, farmer, P. O. Fishingcreek, is a descendant of the Buckalew 
family mentioned in the succeeding sketch. He was born January 30, 1820,and in early life 
was engaged with his father farming and lumbering. After his marriage he farmed for 
his father, and in 1858 took the part of the farm which he afterward inherited and on 
which he has since resided. He is a man who has always lived a quiet life. In 1842 he 
married Sarah, daughter of William White, of Town Hill, Luzerne County, and who was 
born November 6, 1821. They have had eight children, one of whom died in infancy. The 
others were Maria, who died unmarried at the age of thirty years; Wadsworth, who 
entered the Union Army in his eighteenth year — served two years in the One Hundred and 
Seventy-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and died a year after the close of the war, of 
disease contracted while in the service; Charles is unmarried and works on the farm; 
Alfred W. is married to Alice J. Kindig, and lives in the same house with his father, whom 
he assists on the farm; John M. is single, a painter by trade and sometimes works on the 
farm; Mary is the wife of Alfred Chapin, of Jonestown, and Rebecca is married to Ches- 
ter Chapin, a farmer of Huntington Township, Luzerne County. Mr. Buckalew has been 
a hardworking man, and his property has been acquired by his industry and strict atten- 
tion to business. He is of careful, correct habits, and like his brother, votes the Repub- 
lican ticket. 

JOHN M. BUCKALEW, lumberman, P. O. Fishingcreek, is descended from the 
Buccleuchs, who went from Scotland to France with Queen Mary, and becoming Prot - 
estants, two brothers, Francis and Gilbert, immigrated to Long Island about 1663, while 
it was in the possession of the Dutch. They were both married in this country, and in 
time their names became corrupted, Francis being called Buckalew, and Gilbert Boileau. 
Francis went to South Amboy, N. J. An old will, now in possession of our subject, made 
by Samuel Buckalew, dated 1782, devises to his son John a certain tract at the place men- 
tioned, which it states was bequeathed to him by his father, Francis Buckalew. Family 
tradition has it that Francis lived to be one hundred and ten years old, and his son Samuel 
is known to have been ninety-six years old at his death in New Jersey in 1792. He was 
the great-grandfather of John M. His son John was born April 14, 1743, and in 1773 
married Mary McKinney, who was born October 5, 1754. Shortly after the young couple 
immigrated to where the town of Muncy now stands, in Lycoming County. He was a 
millwright and miller, and it is supposed carried on the business there. The next we 
hear of him is that in 1776 he and Robert Robb were appointed a committee of safety for 
Turbot Township, Northumberland County, under Franklin's central committee, at 
Philadelphia. In 1778 they were obliged to leave in consequence of Indian troubles, 
which culminated with the death of " Capt. Jim Brady," who was a near neighbor, and 
with whom they fought the redskins. John Buckalew's father-in-law followed him into 
the wilderness and went to Harrisburg. John went to Maryland and rented a mill at 
Rock Run; there he ground grain for the army under contract with the Continental Con- 
gress, and an old unpaid account of nearly £fOO is still in existence. At the close of the 
Revolution he returned to Northumberland County and settled on the Chillisquaque 
Creek, and there remained for a few years, thence going to Little Fishingcreek, and later 
came to this township, where he died July 3, 1833. His wife Mary died November 25, 
1829. They had five sons and seven daughters. One of the sons, John M., was the 
father of our subject. He was born at Chillisquaque on December 17, 1786; learned his 
father's trade in Catawissa, and worked at it for a few years. In 1808, while still young. 



FISHINGCREEK TOWNSHIP. 437 

he purchased and removed to the place now occupied by his sons, Perry and John M. He 
became a farmer and lumberman, and died November 15, 1859, aged seventy-three years. 
He married, in 1813. Martha Funston, who was born in 1789 and died in 1840, aged fifty- 
one years. They had nine children, four of whom died in childhood. Those who 
lived to maturity were William, who died on the homestead in 1864; Perry, who 
now owns a part of the farm; Charles R., of Bloomsburg, ex-United States senator; 
Mahala B., wife of Benjamin C. Hess, of this township, and John M., the j'oungest. Our 
subject was born October 17, 1836, in a house a short distance from the one he now occu- 
pies. He has always been engaged in lumbering and farming. In 1863 he enlisted a 
company at Harrisburg, which was assigned to the One Hundred and Seventy-eighth 
Pennsylvania as Company A. He commanded the company until the expiration of his 
|.erm of service. On his return he re-engaged at his former occupation, which he has 
ince followed. In 1861 he was married to Miss Delilah K., daughter of Andrew and 
Theresa Creveling, of this township. She is a sister of Rev. S. A. Creveling, whois a 
pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, connected with the Central Pennsylvania Con- 
ference. Of unbounded energy and force of character, Mr. Buckalew is a man of mark, 
and exercises a wide influence in the community. In politics he is a Republican. 

LEWIS M. CREVELING, farmer and insurance agent, P. O. Van Camp, is on the 
paternal side, descended from German ancestry. His great-grandfather, Andrew Crev- 
eling immigrated to this country with his wife and settled near Asbury, Warren Co., N. 
J., where he engaged in farming. At the outbreak of the Revolution he entered the 
Continental Army and served all' through the war. He was in the battle of Monmouth 
June 28, 1778, and on that day his son, Samuel, the grandfather of our subject, was born. 
After the close of the war he removed with his family to Columbia County, Penn., where 
he died, and is buried with his wife in the Afton graveyard near Bloomsburg. Samuel 
Creveling became a farmer and after his marriage, in 1803, removed to the farm now occu- 
pied by our subject, which he had bought. This farm he cleared and erected a cabin, the 
site of which is not far from the place where Lewis now lives. His farm at that time 
comprised 350 acres. During the war of 1813 he was drafted, but several young men 
wanting to go in his stead, he selected one as a substitute, Mr. Creveling having a family 
of young children. He lived on his farm until his death, in 1859, at tlie age of eighty-one. 
His wife, Catherine Willets, of this county, died about five years before her husband. 
Both are buried in Zion graveyard, this county. They had the following named children: 
Andrew, Isaiah, Samuel, Russell and Rachel, all deceased. Peter, John and Sarah are 
living. Peter and John each live on a portion of the old homestead which they inherited; 
Sarah is the wife of Jacob Wenner, and resides at Benderstown, this township. Isaiah 
was the father of Lewis M. and was born May 29, 1810, on the part of the farm now occu- 
pied by our subject, on which he lived until his marriage, when he moved to Huntington 
Township, Luzerne County, where he remained a few years. He then bought a farm in 
Fairmount Township, that county, where he resided until his death. He never engaged 
in any occupation than farming. He took a somewhat prominent part in local political 
matters, holding many township offices. Twice he was elected justice of the peace and 
was noted for his talents as a peacemaker, having great influence among his neighbors, 
which he exerted for good and was also noted for his charitable disposition. As a hunter and 
a fisherman he excelled. He died December 39. 1864, aged nearly fifty-five years. In 1835 
he married Catherine M.. daughter of Andrus Fellows, a prominent citizen of Huntington 
Township, Luzerne County, and the first white child born in that township. Mr. Fellows 
was a wealthy and enterprising farmer, and resided sixty years on the place where he died 
and where he accumulated a large fortune. He was a plain, unassuming man and was 
known as a philanthropist. In middle life he took his rifle and traveled to Kalamazoo 
County, Mich., where he took up land, but later came back to Pennsylvania. Isaiah 
Creveling and wife had six children, two of whom died in infancy: Andrus F. (resides on 
part of his father's farm in Luzerne County). Samuel W. (on the old homestead with his 
mother), Rachel B. (wife of Zephariah L. Kile, a farmer of Sugarloaf Township), and 
Lewis M., who was the second child. Our subject was born September 3, 1838, in Luzerne 
County, and lived on the farm until the breaking out of the war. August 8, 1863, he en- 
listed in Company F, One Hundred and Forty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, the "sec- 
ond bucktails," in which he served until the close of the war. He was in the battles of 
Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and twenty other engagements. He went out ak a private, 
was promoted successively corporal, first sergeant and commissioned second lieutenant, 
which rank he held on his return. While sergeant he commanded the company ail through 
the battles of the Wilderness and was fortunate to escape with only one wound all through 
the service. He was shot through the face at Spottsylvania Court House. On his return 
from the service he married and moved to the farm which he now owns and which was a 
part of the original tract, and has since been engaged in farming and lumbering. He is 
an incorporator in and director of the Fishingcreek Mutual Insurance Company, of which 
he is also an agent. September 11, 1865, he married Angeline Moss, daughter of Joseph 
and Emily (Trescott) Moss, of Fairmount. Luzerne County (and both are still living). Her 
father was born February 13, 1809, and Mrs. Moss April 6, 1809. He has been a farmer 



438 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

and lumberman and for years operated a mill in that county. He is a prominent and 
active citizen and one of the oldest settlers in the township. He also takes a leading 
position in religious matters in his neighborhood. Mr. and Mrs. Creveling have seven 
children living: Isaiah Osborne, Francis W., Eveline, Joseph C, Albert E., Andrus Fel- 
lows and Katie Emily. A son, Irviu, died in infancy. Mr. Creveling is a prominent man 
in the political affairs of his township, and has held several township offices. He is a 
thorough-going, active business man, and stands high in the community. Politically he 
is a Democrat. 

CLINTON K. DeWITT, farmer. P. O. Stillwater, is the eldest son of Isaac DeWitt 
<see sketcli of James M. DeWitt), and was born in Scott Township, June 25, 1837. In early 
life he began working on a farm and has always followed agricultural pursuits. He re- 
mained at home until his marriage, at the age of twenty-three, when he rented a farm in 
Greenwood Township, on which he resided for two years. He then moved to Centralia 
and followed the butchering business for three years. He then returned to Greenwood 
Township and for six years worked on farms, later renting a farm on which he resided 
three years. For the following six or seven years he followed huckstering and then re- 
moved to Fishingcreek Township, on the farm owned by his brother, James M., where he 
has since remained. January 5, 1860. he married Miss Emma J. Mu.sgrave, who was born 
January 8, 1842, in Mount Pleasant Township, and died June 14. 1884, aged forty-two 
years, live months and six days. To this union ten children were born: Dorcas A., who 
keeps house for her father; William, who died when four years of age; Norman M., living 
with his father; Ida May, wife of Clarence Yost, a son of David Yost of Van Camp, Fish- 
ingcreek; Minnie P., Isaac M., Amanda M., Heniy C, Hettie C. and Paul H., who make 
their home with their father. Mr. DeWitt is a hard-working man and gives his time and 
attention to his farm. He is not a politician, was once elected justice of the peace 
for live years, but resigned at the end of the year. Among his neighbors he bears the 
reputation of an honest, iionorable and upright man in all his dealings. 

JAMES M. DeWITT, farmer, butcher and lumberman, Stillwater,is a grandson of John 
DeWitt, who was a resident of New Jersey. John's children were James, who died in Green- 
wood Township, this county; Nellie, who was the wife of John Case, of Northumberland 
County, where she died; Sarah, wife of J. R. Patten, and died in Greenwood Township 
(her husband is now ninety years of age and resides in Light Street); Elizabeth, was the wife 
of Isaac Kline, and died in Augusta Township, and Isaac, who was the father of James M. 
Isaac was reared in Northumberland County, where he learned the trade of a wagon- 
maker, which he followed until a short time before his death in July, 1877. He lived in 
Scott, Orange and Greenwood Townships, this county, but died at Light Street while on 
a visit. He was an honest man and respected by all who knew him. For many years he 
was justice of the peace; he was also a tax collector, and had taken the census of the 
county. Late in life he became a member of the Presbyterian Church of which his wife 
had long been a member. He was twice married; his first wife, whose maiden name was 
Haughawant, died a few years after her marriage, leaving one child, John, who died at 
Light Street. His second wife was Nancy Stewart, the daughter of James Stewart, who then 
resided at Light Street. She died November 8, 1876, a few months before her husband. 
They had six children, viz.: Dorcas, died young; Amanda, w^as the wife of Jacob Terwill- 
iger, of Light Street, where she died; Clinton K. ; William, who died leaving two 
children; Joseph P., who lives in Rohrsburg; three who died in childhood, and Jame.s M., 
who is the second son. Our subject was born March 9, 1839, in Light Street. He lived 
with his parents until his marriage, and on attaining his majority, engaged in butchering 
and cattle dealing, and after his marriage moved to this township to the house in which 
he now lives, which has since been his home and which he bought thirteen years ago. He is 
still engaged to some extent in the lumber business. December 17, 1868, he married Esther 
v., daughter of Jacob B. Stoker of this township. She was born January 14, 1842, and 
died April 28, 1872, leaving one child, Elliot E., who was born November 6, 1871. Novem-, 
ber 28, 1874, Mr. DeWitt married Miss Phebe E., daughter of David Coleman, of Asbury, 
this township. She was born March 20, 1847, and has borne her husband three children: 
Clyde S., born September 13, 1875; Atta C, born December 27, 1877, and Gertie May, 
born May 23, 1884. Mr. DeWitt takes an active part in the political affairs of his town, 
but refuses to hold office. He belongs to the K. of P., and Columbia Grange. He is an 
active business man, and applies himself closelj' to his affairs, and never deserts a friend in 
need. Politically he is a Democrat. 

JONAS DOTY, deceased, was descended from a Puritan of the same name. His- 

grandparents, Joseph and Martha Doty, resided in New Providence Township, Essex 
o., N. J., where they died. One of their sons, David Doty, was the father of Jonas. 
He married Sybil Clark and moved with his family to the Wyoming Valley, where he 
bought a farm on which he lived until 1850. He then removed to Luzerne County, near 
the Columbia County line, where he bought a farm, and where he and his wife both died. 
They are buried in a private burying-ground in this county. They had seven children, 
as follows: Joseph, on the home farm in Luzerne County; John lived and died in Ben- 
ton Township, this county; Anthony died in Benton Township; Sarah died unmarried; 



FISHINGCREEK TOWNSHIP. 439 

Martha was the wife of Thaddeus Newton, and died in Huntington Township, Luzerne 
County: Claiinda is the wife of William Belles, and lives in Huntington Township, Lu- 
zerne County, and Jonas. Our subject was born August 9, 1808, in New Jersey. He lived 
with his parents until his marriage, when he bought a place in the Wyoming Valley, on 
which he lived until 1849, when he sold out there and removed to this county, buying the 
farm on which he has since lived. The house to which he removed stood on the site of 
his present residence, and was destroyed by fire in 1868. Mr. Doty was engaged in both 
farming and carpentering, but a few years prior to his death retired, and his son, Israel, 
now conducts the farm. In 1838 he married Jennet Campbell, who was born June 30, 
1816, and died in 1875. Mr. Doty next married, in 1880, Elizabeth Kennedy. By his first 
wife he had ten children: David, born March 30, 1840, married Elizabeth Pealer, and re- 
sides on part of his father's farm, which he now owns; Ira, born January 22, 1843, mar- 
ried Cordelia Rinard, and resided in Briarcreek Township; George, born October 31, 1843, 
married Alice Heath and resides in Huntington Township; Mary Margaret, born January 
17, 1846, and died in childhood; Jeremiah O., born February 10, 1848, married Emma Moore, 
and lives on a farm adjoining his father's; Sarah Elizabeth, born March 5, 1850, wife of 
Lewis W. Rozelle, in Kansas: Eugene, born May 16, 1852, died in childhood; Martha A., 
born September 13, 1853, and lives with her parents; Israel, born April 4, 1856, married 
Alveretta Eveland, resides on his father's farm, and Luther B., born August 16, 1860, sin- 
gle and living with his mother. Mr. Doty was a Republican, never held office, but was 
the candidate of his party for associate judge and other offices. He was an honest, 
straightforward man, who worked hard for what he acquired, and was respected by his 
fellow citizens. He died August 28, 1886. 

B. FRANK EDGAR, farmer, P. O. Stillwater, is a grandson of James Edgar, a na- 
tive of the State of New Yorii, who removed to Benton, Penn., thence to this, township 
in the latter part of the last century and died in the State of Ohio, whither he had later 
removed. His children, all deceased, were John, married Hester Zimmerman, died in 
Indiana; Robert, married Susannah McHenry. died in Benton Township; Martha, wife 
of Moses McHenry, died in this township; Ellen, wife of Elias McHenry (brother of 
Moses), also died here; Elizabeth, wife of John Jackson, died in Indiana; Edward, mar- 
ried and died in Ohio; Teanu, wife of Silas McHenry, died in Ohio. James, the young- 
est, was the father of our subject. James was born on the farm where his father re- 
sided, in this township, August 23, 1806, and died April 16, 1883, aged twenty-six years 
and seven months. He was a farmer and lumberman. He [sold his place in Benton 
Township and moved here. He took an active part in public'affairs, but never held any 
office except that of constable, which he filled several years. In 1828 he married Sarah, 
daughter of Daniel McHenry, a son of the pioneer of that name. She was born April 28, 
1810, and died in this township September 10, 1882. To this union were born nine sons 
and one daughter, the latter dying at the age of three years. The sons, all now living, 
are as follows: Daniel, married to Louisa Stoker, lives in New Columbus, Luzerne County; 
Robert, unmarried, resides with his brother, T. Hardy (he was a soldier in the Union 
Army, in the Two Hundred and Tenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, in which he served a 
year, until the close of the war, and received injuries which render him lame for life); 
Emanuel, married to Martha McHenry, and resides in Sonestown, Penn.; George W., 
married Nellie Smith, of Pittston, who died in Nebraska, where he resides and is mar- 
ried again; William E. ; Hiram R., in Nebraska; James C, who married Rosa Smith, a 
sister of Nellie, and resides in this township; T. Hardy and B. Frank. The last named 
was born September 9, 1836, and remained with his parents until he was eighteen years of 
age, when he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for about" twenty years. 
He also learned the distilling business, at which he worked in this township for eight 
jears, and at which he acquired some means, which he invested in farm property, own- 
ing three farms in different parts of the township. He has since disposed of two of them, 
retaining only the one on which he now lives. Before coming to this place he lived on 
iis farm, on the State road, ten years. In 1880 he moved to his present home, and in 
August, 1886, established a distillery on the place. Mr. Edgar has been twice married, 
first, June 30, 1864, to Susanna, daughter of Solomon Hartman, who was born June 4, 
1843, and died May 4, 1874, the mother of the following named children: Warren, born 
December 8, 1864, now in the drug business in Nanticoke; Dora B.,born February 1, 1866; 
Oharles M., born Marcli 23, 1869; Alfred H., born November 11, 1870; Hattie M., born 
December 16, 1873, and Thomas E., born August 16, 1867, who died when six years of 
age. April 18, 1879, Mr. Edgar married Martha Golder, born January 4, 1859, daughter 
■of Abraham Golder, of Hemlock Township, and by her he has three children: Herald, 
born June 27, 1880; Aimer, born April 8, 1882, and Madge, born April 1, 1884, all living 
with their parents. Mr. Edgar has held several responsible positions in the township: 
Constable, three years; auditor, two years: tax collector, three years; and in 1881 was 
elected county commissioner, which position he filled to the satisfaction of the citizens of 
the county for three years. 

WILLIAM E. EDGAR, farmer, P. O.Van Camp, is the sixth son of James Edgar, and 
was born February 10, 1841. He remained at home until the age of sixteen years, when 

33 



440 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

he went to learn the trade of carpenter with Jackson Ale. This he followed twelve years, 
when he moved to the farm which he had previously purchased, on which he now lives, and 
has since made it his home. During the time spent at this trade he also lumbered on West 
Branch four years. On February 2, 1867, he married Sadie E., daughter of James Deimer 
McHenry; she was born September 14, 1846; educated at the seminary, Starkey, N. Y., and 
later taught school five j'ears. On e child has blessed this union — Gracie May, born August 
30, 1875. Mr. Edgar has never held any public office, but contents himself in doing his 
duty as a citizen at the polls, and takes a warm interest in the Democratic party, with 
which he is identified. 

T. HARDY EDGAR (brother of B. Frank), lumberman, Stillwater, was born Feb- 
ruary 15, 1845, in this township. He worked on the farm until he was eighteen years old, 
when he went to Cambra, where he learned the trade of cabinet-maker, which he fol- 
lowed in different places until 1867. He then resided two years in Rohrsburg; thence 
moved to Centralia, where he remained a year; thence to Mt. Carmell, Northumberland 
County, in both of which places he kept store. His store in the latter place being de- 
stroyed by fire he moved to Benton and worked in the planing-mill, the machinery of 
which he purchased and moved to North Mountain; thence, in 1877 he moved it to this 
township to the property which he owns, and where he now resides in a house near the mill. 
He married, December 26, 1867, Miss Cecelia Alice McHenry, born July 26, 1848, daugh- 
ter of James Deimer McHenry, and she has borne her husband three children: Harry O., 
born April 16, 1869; Lelia I., born June 11, 1871, and Orvis Roy, born February 9, 1883. 
Mr. Edgar takes a warm interest in public affairs. He and Mrs. Edgar are members of 
the Christian Church. 

BENJAMIN M. COLDER, farmer, P. O. Stillwater, is a grandson of Abraham 
Golder, who came to this county from New Jersey. He settled in Jackson Township, 
where he took up 400 acres, on which he lived for thirty years. He then moved to Ohio 
where he died. His wife died in this county. They had a family of eight children, most of 
whom moved west, and none of whom are now living. Peter Golder, the father of our 
subject, was born in Jackson Township, September 7, 1808, and died May 31, 1878, in the 
seventieth year of his age. His wife, Martha McHenry, was a daughter of Benjamin Mc- 
Henry, and was born April 16, 1810. She now resides with Benjamin M. To her and her 
husband eight children were born: Abraham, who married Mary Brosius (resides in Mor- 
dansville, Luzerne County); Elizabeth Jane, wife of Peter Evelard (in Light Street); 
Sarah, who died young; Daniel, married to Sarah Tucker (living in Minnesota); Cordelia, 
wife of Reason Conner (living in Nebraska); Mary Ellen, wife of Jos. Tucker, died at 
Stillwater; Hiram Francis, married to Samantha Brosius (lives in Nescopeck, Luzerne 
County), and Benjamin M. Our subject is the eldest of the family and was born January 
23, 1828. He followed carpentering until 1862, making his home with his parents until he 
was seventeen years of age. He then lived in this township until 1853, when he bought 
the place where he now resides, and carried on his trade and farming. January 1, 1853, 
he married Rebecca Ann, daughter of Thomas Davis, of Benton Township, and who was 
born Jul}' 21, 1833. To this union seven children were born, two dying in infancy. The 
living are Joshua Deimer, married to Laura Dietrick, in Union County; Thomas Milard, 
married to Minnie Williams and lives with his father; Davis Lee, unmarried; Edith 
Lenora, and Sarah Ellen. When Mr. Golder bought this farm it was uncleared, and he 
has brought it to its present high state of cultivation. He and Mrs. Golder are member* 
of the Christian Church at Stillwater. 

SAMUEL J. HARRISON, farmer, P. O. Van Camp, was born in Wales, June 26, 
1837. His father, Samuel, came to America from Wales in 1838, locating first in Pittsburgh 
and later in Pittston, where he followed the occupation of a mason for about twelve 
years. He then bought a farm in this township on the Mill road, near Bendertown, 
whither he removed in April, 1857, and there died November 25, 1884, aged seventy-six 
years. He was of a happy, genial disposition, and well liked throughout the country. 
His wife, Jane Price, whom he married in Wales, died three months after her husband, 
at the age of seventy-four. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for 
thirty years, and bore her husband nine children, eight of whom survive. Jane died in 
Wales. The living are Elizabeth, wife of George Johnson, living in Illinois; John, who 
married Hettie Jones of Wilkesbarre (she is deceased), and is now living at that place, a 
minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church; Harriet, wife of Joseph Ireley, a car-builder 
in Berwick; Caroline, wife of J. E. Snyder, a jeweler of Berwick; Mary Jane lives with her 
brother in Wilkesbarre, taking care'of his two orphan children; Thomas AV., who mar- 
ried Lottie Schultz, lives on the old homestead; Hannah J., unmarried and residing at 
the homestead with her brother, and Samuel J. Our subject was but a year old when his 
parents came to this country. He worked on the farm until his marriage when he went 
to Pittston and engaged in coal mining. In 1864 he enlisted in the Fifty-first Pennsyl 
vania Volunteers, Company G, in which he served until the close of the war, when he 
was honorably discharged. He was in the engagements in front of Petersburg, and took 
part in all the battles before that event until the surrender of Lee, and was mustered out 
June 2, 1865. On his return he followed coal mining for sixteen years, when he 



FISHINGCREEK TOWNSHIP. 441 

worked two j'ears as a breaker boss at Pittston, ■when, owine to failing health, he 
bought the farm on Fishing creek, where he now resides. November 7, 1861, he 
married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph Dietrich. She was born in Briarcreek 
Township, this county, and bore her husband four children: William Bruce, born 
November 27, 1863, died June 13, 1867; John W., born September 30, 1864, married Eliza 
Thomas (whose father, Joseph, was killed at Hatcher's Run, in February, 1865, while a 
member of the One Hundred and Ninety-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers); Joseph Warren, 
born August 14, 1868. and James Garfield, born October 4, 1881, both of whom live with 
their parents. Mr. Harrison is a member of Thistle Lodge, No. 512, I. O. O. F., of Pitts- 
ton, and in politics is independent. 

AMOS HARTMAN, farmer, P. O. Van Camp, is a grandson of Frederick Hartman, 
who was born in Northumberland County, but who resided in this townsliip most of his 
life. He was a farmer; lived within half a nule of where our subject now resides and died 
in 1871. His wife died in 1824 at the age of twenty-eight years. He was eighty years 
and eleven months old at the time of his death. They had six children who lived to matu- 
rity: Mary Ann was twice married, first to John Laubach of Fairmount Township, Lu- 
zerne County, after whose death she married William Blish of the same place, where 
both died; Catherine, a twin sister of Mary Ann, is the widow of Henderson Baker of 
the same place, where she resides; Jesse is married to Lydia Gearhart and lives in Sugar- 
loaf Township; Eliza, widow of Thomas Lauderbauch, in Henry County, 111.; Frederick 
is married to Eliza Kendig, and both reside in this township. The third of this family was 
Solomon, father of Amos, and was all his life engaged in farming in this township, where 
he owned a farm, on which he died shortly after purchasing it. He had worked in various 
places but always at farming, and was noted for his industry, in fact, his comparatively early 
death was due to excessive labor and to his anxiety to provide well for his family. He died 
at the age of forty-one years, and six months, a member of the Reformed Church at Van 
Camp. His wife was Henrietta Lauderbach, of this township, who, after the death of 
her first hu.sband, was married to Samuel Yost of this township, where they live on a farm 
adjoining that of our subject. To Mr. Hartman she bore the following named children: 
Susanna, deceased wife of B. Frank Edgar; Amanda Ellen, wife of Wilber C. Penning- 
ton; Thomas L., and Sarah Catherine, widow of Eli Pealer, all of this township, and 
Amos. The last named is the second child, and was born April 5, 1848. He worked 
on his father's farm until he was twenty-five years of age, when he worked at car- 
pentering and on various farms until 1874. He Ihen went to Illinois, returning in 1875 to 
this township, where, for one year, he worked on the farm of B. C. Hess; a year later he 
drove a huckster wagon and another year worked at farming for B. F. Edgar. The year 
following he gave his time almost exclusively to his office of constable, which he refused to 
hold longer, returning to his trade for a year. He then began farming again at New Colum- 
bus, Luzerne Count}^ and a year later rented the farm from his stepfather, Samuel Yost, 
where he has since resided. December 8, 1877, he married Miss Carrie Hartman, daughter 
of Frederick Hartman, and who was born in Huntington Township, Luzerne County, 
October 3, 1849. They have two children, Sarah Luella, born February 11, 1880, and 
Lillian May, born January 9, 1884. Mr. Hartman has held several township offices and is 
now town clerk. He belongs to the K. of P. and he and his wife are members of the St. 
James Reformed (German) Church at Van Camp, in which he is a deacon. 

AARON HESS, farmer, P. O. Fishingcreek, is a grandson of John Hess, who came 
from Germany about the middle of the last century. He located in Wapwallopen, Luzerne 
County, where he owned a farm on which he died. He had a family of twelve children: 
John, Jacob, Charles, Thomas, Abraham, Isaac, Jeremiah, Aaron, Susannah, Mary, Han- 
nah and Nancy. Of these Aaron is the only survivor; John was the father of our 
subject, and died in Centre Township about 1846. Mrs. Catherine (Knorr) Hess died about 
1824, and after her death her husband married Catherine Conner, who also died, wlien he 
married Mary Fenstermacher, who died in Salem Township, Luzerne County, at the age 
of ninety-two years. Aaron (our subject) was born in Briarcreek August 8, 1813, and in his 
youth worked at wagon-making. He lived with his parents until his marriage, when for 
about seven years he worked on farms in summer and at his trade in winter. In 1840 he 
rented the farm on which he now lives, and seven years later bought it. At that time it 
contained 330 acres, forty of which were cleared. Later he sold off some acres, a part of 
which, however, he has since purchased back, and the remainder has been bought by his 
son, Benjamin, so that the farm is virtually in possession of the family. Augu.st 25, 1832, 
he married Judith Ann, daughter of John Sterner, of Briarcreek Townshijj. She was 
born on the same day as her husband and twelve children were born to them: John, born 
December 12, 1834, works for his father on the home farm; Thomas J., horn May 10, 1838, 
died when ten months old; Mary C, born February 15, 1840, wife of Abrahani Kline, of 
Orange Township; Benjamin, born June 11, 1841, resides in this township; Peter, born 
August 13, 1843, lives with his parents; Francis, l)orn April 2, 1848, died j'oung; Ira D., 
born January 29, 1845, lives in Benton Township; Matilda, born December 13, i"847, wife 
of Joe Albertson, of Greenwood Township; Harrison, born May 27, 1849, lives on his 
father's farm; Aaron, born January 23, 1851; Ann Eliza, born March 29, 1853, wife of 



442 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Nathaniel Driesbach, near Jonestown; Julia Ann, born September 2, 1855, died June 19, 
1868; Catherine Ann, born December 27, 1833, died in infancy, and two who died in in- 
fancy. Mr. Hess is one of the oldest citizens in the township. 

GEORGE M. HOWELL, merchant and postmaster. Van Camp, is a grandson of Noah 
Howell, who was a cooper and lived in Lawrence, near Trenton, N. J., where he 
died. His great-great-grandfather on his mother's side was John Muirheid, who was 
born in Glasgow, Scotland, immigrated to this country, married on Long Island, Novem- 
ber 22, 1706, Rebecca Bailey, and died in 1725. His son. Andrew, was born in 1717, and died 
in 1794 at the age of seventy-seven years. Andrew's son, George, was born September 25, 
1760, and died April 6, 1851, aged ninety years, six months and eleven days. He was the 
maternal grandfather of Mr. Howell. Noah Howell was born in New Jersey, where he 
was married to Hannah Lawrence. They had four children who lived to maturity, all 
now deceased. Their names are Elizabeth, Sarah, Mary and Jesse who was the father 
of our subject and was born in New Jersey, August 8, 1789. When a boy of fifteen, Jesse, 
on the death of his father, came to Easton, Penn., where he worked for his uncle in 
mercantile business. After his marriage he engaged in merchandising on his own account. 
This he gave up later and was made bookkeeper in the old Easton bank, nov/ the First 
National Bank of that place, which occupation he followed until his death. He was a 
pious, charitable man, and noted for his generosity; was a leading member of the Presby- 
terian Church of which he was an elder for many years and superintendent of the Sab- 
bath-school for twenty-four years. He was twice married; first to Sarah Hunt, August 11, 
1815, who bore him one child, Alfred, born January 11, 1816, and died at Cogan Station, 
Penn., May, 1886. His second marriage was with Deborah, daughter of George Muirheid, 
and their children were Mary Elizabeth, who was the wife of Dr. F. L. Crane and died at 
Easton in 1845; Sarah, widow of James Pollock, residing in Easton; Jesse Lawrence, who 
died May 4, 1875, in Minnesota; John Guild, who died in infancy; Ellen, wife of William 
Maxwell, of Easton, where she lives, and George Muirheid, the second child, who was 
born in Easton, September 2, 1822. Our subject attended school at that place until he 
was sixteen j^ears of age, when he went to Philadelphia and clerked in a store until 1842. 
He then removed to Orangeville and learned the trade of cabinet-making at which he 
worked for five years, when he went back to clerking, and after his marriage went to Van 
Camp, where he worked at his trade. He then clerked in a store at New Columbus for 
three years. In 1851 he built the place he now occupies at Van Camp, and started a gen- 
eral store. There he has since carried on business and has been instrumental in getting a 
postoflice established at that point, of which he was appointed postmaster, October, 1857, 
and has served under various administrations. March 8, 1849, he married Margaret A., 
daughter of Samuel Yost, of this township, and wiio was born October 6, 1827. To their 
union seven children have been born, two of whom died at birth. The others were 
Charles M., born July 17, 1851 (is married to Frances E. McCollum, of Carbon County, 
Penn., and resides at Leisenring, same State); Henry Yost, born March 18, 1854 (died 
December 15, 1862); Edward W., born November 4, 1856 (died September 24, 1868); Alfred, 
born January 22, 1861 (died February 4, of the same year), and Deborah, born December 
1, 1861 (is now the wife of Charles H. Moore, and resides with her parents at Van Camp). 
Mr. Howell takes no very active part in politics, but has served as county auditor. He 
and Mrs. Howell are members of the Reformed Church (St. James) of this place, in which 
he has been a deacon and is now trustee. TJie greater part of his life has been passed 
where he now resides, and among the people who have known him all that time he bears 
an unimpeachable reputation. 

JAMES N. JONES, retired, Fishingcreek, is a grandson of Richard Brown, who. with 
his son-in-law, Benjamin Jones (father of our subject), came to this township in 1809, 
settling directly in the village of Jonestown. The old log house erected by them is still 
standing, but has been remodeled and weather-boarded and is now used as a store by 
Jones & Davis. About 1820 Richard Brown removed to Greenwood Township, but Benj. 
Jones and wife remained. In 1809 they built a saw-mill, and in 1811 a grist-mill, and after 
the departure of Mr. Brown, Mr. Jones conducted botli mills until his death in 1849, at 
the age of seventy-four years. When the postoffice was established, about 1820, he was 
appointed postmaster and continued to hold that ofiice until elected justice of the peace, 
when he resigned. He served in the latter oflice until a few years before his death. He 
was an active enterprising man, acquired good property by his industry, and stood high in 
the community. His wife, Nancy Brown, died in 1868, aged eighty-two years, and their 
children were Richard. James N., Mary Ann, Eliza E. and Matilda. The last named is 
the widow of Reuben Hess and resides near Van Camp. The only survivors are Mrs. Hess 
and the subject of this biography, who was born September 17, 1813, in the old log house 
mentioned. He learned the trade of a miller, at which he worked together with lumbering, 
sawing and farming for his father until the latter's death. Then he and his brother, 
Richard, inherited the farm, grist and saw-mills, wiiich thej^ conducted in partnership 
until 1857. They then divided the property, Richard taking the saw-mill and farm and 
James taking the grist-mill, which he rebuilt. This is the same mill now standing in 
Jonestown. In this he took into partnership his brother-in-law, John Merrill, who sold 



nSHINGCREEK TOWNSHIP. 443 

out a few years after to William Mears, and this partnership continued until Mr. Jones 
sold his interest to Ira Thomas. Since then he had been living retired. December 1, 1846, 
he married Caroline Matilda Merrill, who was born in Hemlock Township, May 13, 1826. 
and is yet living in the old home. Two of their children died in infancy and four now 
survive: Henry C, born April 4, 1848, a bookkeeper in Kingston, married Merilda, 
daughter of William Buckalew, who died a few years after their marriage; Ashbel W., 
born March 31, 1857 (merchant in Jonestown, married March 4, 1883, Lizzie, daughter of 
Robert Maguire. a farmer in the vicinity of Jonestown); William W., born April 19, 1861 
(married Ann Eliza Fahringer, and is a civil and mining engineer in WilkeSbarre) and 
Estella, born March 1, 1851, the wife of John Kimball, and resides in Vernon Center. 
Minn. As soon as he was of age James N. Jones was commissioned postmaster of Fish- 
ingcreek under Jackson's administration and held the office for forty years. Mr. Jones 
has taken a warm interest in politics; first a Henry Clay Whig; then a Republican, which 
party he still votes with. 

FRANCIS W. JONES, miller, Fishingcreek, is a son of Richard B. Jones, a brother 
of James N. Jones, whose sketch appears above. Richard B. was born September 3, 
1815, and died July 3, 1877, aged sixty-one years and ten months. He also learned the 
trade of milling and lumbering which he followed until he and his brother, James N., 
dissolved partnership, when he devoted himself exclusively to farming and lumbering 
until a few years before his death. He married, in 1840, Miss Sallie Ann, daughter of 
George Kline of Orange Township. She was born October 23, 1815, and died March 14, 
1869,"aged fifty-one years, four months and twenty-two days. They had five children, 
two of whom died young. The others were James E., a farmer, who died in 1886 in 
Asbury, was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, serving in the Sixteenth Pennsylvania 
Cavalry, from which he was discharged on account of sickness, and, on recovering his 
health he enlisted in the One Hundred and Ninety-Eighth Regiment and served until 
the close of the war; Rebecca M., wife of Park Eveland, living in Steuben County, N. 
Y., and Francis W. Our subject was born June 1, 1846, and in his youth worked for his 
father on the farm and at lumbering until 1864. He then enlisted in the One Hundred 
and Ninety-Fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers and served 100 days ; re-enlisted, this time 
in the Sevent3'--fourth and served until the close of the vrar, when, with his regiment, he 
was honorably discharged. On his return he taught school for four terms and worked at 
lumbering in summer." In 1868 he and his brother, James E., bought from Mears & 
Thomas the grist-mill originally built by his grandfather, which he is now conducting, 
besides being engaged in lumbering. On his marriage he removed to the house where 
his father lived and the latter resided with him until his death. Our subject then bought 
the property, and in the summer of last year built for himself a fine new residence a 
few rods from the old home, to which he removed. July 24, 1870, he married Monema, 
daughter of Jacob Gregor}\ She was born in Union, Luzerne County, January 9.1849, 
and had been a teacher in that county for several years. To their union tliree children 
were born ; George G.. born December 5, 1872 ; Ellen, born August 26, 1877, and Fanny 
G., born March 25, 1881. Mr. Jones is a Republican. 

JOHN J. KARNS, farmer, P. O. Stillwater, is a grandson, on the maternal side, of 
Moses McHenry, the son of the pioneer McHenry, under which name, in this township, 
will be found a full history of his ancestors. His paternal grandfather was John Karns, 
who was a farmer in Benton Township where he died. He was one of the early settlers 
of the county and cleared a farm there. He died at an advanced age in 1876, the father 
of seven children, none of whom now survive. Tunis was the father of our subject, and 
was born on the home farm in Benton Township, where he lived until his marriage. He 
then removed to a farm which he owned in the same township, now known as the Rus- 
sel Karns farm, where he lived until his death in 1857. His wife was Isabella, daughter 
of Moses and Martha McIIenry. To Mr. and Mrs. Karns six children were born: Lavina 
in Benton Township; Moses in Colorado; Mary, wife of Hiram Siegfried, in Iowa; Frank 
J., who married Lavina Kauf and both are now deceased; Cyrus H., who is living in this 
township, and. John J., who is the youngest of the family. Our subject was born on the 
homestead in Benton Township, October 11, 1851. When less than four years old he 
was taken in charge by his uncle, Silas McHenry, and his father dying shortly after, he 
was reared by his uncle, with whom he remained until his marriage. He then went to 
farming on his own account until the death of his uncle, when he gave up the farm on 
which he then was, and moved back to the place which had always been his home and to 
which he was much attached. His uncle, in fact, had supplied the place of a father to 
him, and the widow was fortunate in having one who so loved her husband to take his 
place in operating the farm. In 1878 he married Miss Effie P. Burger, of South Danville, 
Steuben County. N. Y., daughter of William Burger. They have three children: Will- 
iam E., born July 3, 1880; Maud E., born December 15, 1883, and Hardy E., born August 
21, 1886. After his marriage, Mr. Karns worked in the planing-mill of T. Hardy Edgar 
for two years in Stillwater, thence went to his uncle Silas' farm, which he now owns. 
Mr. Karns has never held any political office. He is a member of the K. of P. ; belongs 
to the Christian Church, and is also connected with the Sabbath-school. He is a hard- 
working, industrious man and a good citizen. 



444 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

DAVID M. KINTER, minister, P. O. Stillwater, is a native of Indiana County, Penn., 
and was born April 5, 1836. The first of his family to settle in that county was his grand- 
father, John Kinter, who went there from Centre County. At the time of his settlement 
the neighborhood was very wild and sparsely settled. He had but one neighbor, and his 
supplies had to be brought from Hollidaysburg, east of the Allegheny Mountains. He 
had a tract of 330 acres, which is now owned by the father of our subject. He died April 
29, 1836, and his widow, whose maiden name was Isabella Finley, died some years later, 
aged eighty-eight years. They had nine children, all of whom are now deceased except 
one son, Isaac (father of our subject). The latter was born August 6, 1805, and was two 
years old when his parents moved to Indiana County. He was the youngest of the fam- 
ily; was brought up on the farm, on which his entire life, except one year, has been 
passed. He worked with his father, and when he became a man was the mainstay of his 
parents, who lived with him until their death. For some years, in addition to carrying 
on the farm, he kept a store, which he gave up about thirtyyears ago, and after the death 
of his wife resigned the active management of his farm to two of his sons, with one of 
whom he makes his home. In August, 1834, he married Miss Hannah Moyers, who was 
born August 3, 1812, and died July 2, 1868. They had eight children, viz. : Sarah Isabella, 
wife of James McLaughlin, resides on a farm adjoining the homestead; Peter Craig died 
in the service of his country early in the civil war; John was a captain in a Pennsylvania 
regiment, and now resides on the old homestead; Christiana was the wife of Peter W. 
Dilts, and after his death married George Gourley, and is now living in Jefferson County; 
Jacob Foster is living at Punxsutawney; Martha Jane died before reaching her majority; 
Isaac Newton is married, and resides on the old homestead, and with him his father 
makes his home, and David M. Our subject, is the eldest of the family. In early life he 
worked on the farm; helped in his father's store, and at the age of sixteen began teaching 
school. This profession he followed for seven winters, working on the farm or attending 
school in the intermediate seasons, and for two summers of that time clerked in the office 
of the register and recorder in the borough of Indiana. In 1859 he spent the winter in 
Louisiana and Mississippi, and in the spring of 1860 went to Adair County, Mo., where he 
was engaged on a farm for three months. He then obtained the position of teacher of the 
school in that place, and while there also united himself with the Christian Church; was 
baptized in February, and in March, 1861, w^as called to the ministry. He was then en- 
gaged in preaching and teaching until Februar}% 1862, when he entered the Eleventh Mis- 
souri Cavalry, in which he served as a private for nine months. The regiment was then 
consolidated with the Second Missouri Cavalry, in which he was commissioned second 
lieutenant, and five months later, in May, 1863, was promoted first lieutenant, and served 
until August of that year, when he resigned. He then returned to Kirksville, where he 
continued teaching and preaching until September, 1865, returning to his birthplace in 
Indiana County, and remaining until the spring of 1868, engaged in ministerial work. 
He then located in Johnstown as pastor of the Christian Church, remaining until 1870; 
thence went to Lock Haven, where he was pastor of a church until the spring of 1876. In 
that year he came to Stillwater, and has since served as pastor of that church, also of the 
churches at Benton, Jackson, Millville, Waller and Rohrsburg, this county, and at 
Cambra, Luzerne County. During that time he has organized three new congregations, 
built four meeting-houses, and repaired several others; married many couples, and bap- 
tized between 800 and 900 people. November 22, 1860, he married Miss Maggie P. Dab- 
ney, daughter of Thomas Jeff. Dabney, of Adair County, Mo. They had two children; 
the eldest died when five months old; the survivor is Minnie, now fifteen years of age. 
The religious bent of Mr. Kinter's life was primarily due to tlie teachings of a devout 
mother and grandmother, which bore fruit later in his joining the church, in which his 
labors have been arduous and successful. He has the respect and love of a large and grow- 
ing circle of friends and parishioners. 

DANIEL S. KITCHEN, farmer, P. O. Rohrsburg, is a grandson of Wheeler Kitchen, 
who was a resident of Greenwood Township, where he owned a farm on which he died. 
His children were Henry, Sarah, Margaret, Elsie, Jane, Ann and Daniel. The last named 
was the father of our subject and was born in Greenwood Township, in 1800, in the house 
now occupied by his son, Daniel S., and there died in 1872, in his seventy-third year. He 
was a farmer all his life and was highly esteemed. His wife, Elsie Smith, died sliortly 
after they removed to this farm, in 1832. They had four children: Samuel, who died un- 
married; A. Hiikson, who resides in Orange Township; Sallie Ann, who died when quite 
young, and Daniel S., who was but four weeks old when his mother died. After his first 
wife's death, Mr. Kitchen married Mrs. Hannah McHenry, who died before her husband. 
Seven children were born to their union: Emily, Mary Ann, Angeline, Savilla, Matilda, 
Sylvester (who died young), and Nehemiah. Daniel S. was born on the farm where he 
now resides, March 7, 1832, and has spent most of his life in the same place. He lived 
with his father until he was of age, when he farmed the home place for a couple of years; 
he then rented a farm in Benton, on which he resided about four years, when he resided 
in Greenwood two years. He then lived on a farm on the State road and owned by his 
father, when he returned to the home place. Mr. Kitchen has been twice married; first 



FISHINGCREEK TOWNSHIP. 445 

to Mary M., daughter of Daniel Roth, of Millville; she was bora September o, 1834, and 
died November 26, 1863, the mother of one child, Hannah Mary, who died in infancy, 
December 17, 1868, he married Mary M., daughter of Jacob Herring, of Orangeville. She 
was born August 15, 1843, and bore her husband three children: William M., born August 
23, 1869; John, born December 5. 1873, and Clark, born October 27, 1877. Mr. Kitchen 
has never held any office, preferring to give his time to his farm. 

ABRAHAM J. KLINE, retired farmer, Stillwater, is now the oldest resident of the 
township. His paternal grandfather, Abraham Kline, came from New Jersey to what is 
now Orange Township, where he took up a large tract of land, which was subsequently 
■divided into several farms. When he first settled he had to cut a road through the forest 
which covered his land. He died there at an advanced age. His wife, Annie, survived 
him several years. Their children were Abraham, Matthias, George, Harmon, Isaac and 
Elizabeth, all now deceased. George was the father of our subject and was born in New 
Jersey. When a boy he came with his parents to this county, and on his marriage, his 
father gave him a farm on which he lived until his death, in 1853. His wife, Catherine 
Johnson, was also from New Jersey, and died in 1854. Their eight children were named 
as follows: Abraham J.; Mary, who died unmarried; Permelia, wife of Absalom Mc- 
Henry, now deceased; George Lowry, served in the Union Army and died at Fortress 
Monroe after the war; Elizabeth Willett, died in infancy; Sally Ann, deceased wife of 
Richard Jones; Grazillai H.,-wife of George W. Jacoby, of Light Street, and Malvina 
Mineiva, deceased wife of Jacob Melick. Our subject was born November 8, 1802, and 
lived with his parents until his marriage. He then resided three years on his grand- 
father's place, moving thence to Luzerne County. Twelve years later he moved to his 
father's farm, and in the spring of 1854 came to the place where he now resides, and 
which he had previously purchased. February 25, 1826, he married Mary, daughter of 
Thomas McHenrj of Greenwood Township. She died May 30, 1886. They were parents 
of the following children: George Dunham married Sarah J. Richart, and resides in 
Dushore; Andrew Jackson died in infancy; Wesley Banghart, married to Margaret 
Dewitt, and living in Bradford County; Hiram W. is unmarried, and operates his father's 
farm; John S., married Elizabeth Appelman and lives in Benton, and Sarah A., wife of 
Francis I. Belles, of this township. While in Luzerne County Mr. Kline was captain of a 
militia company, and after coming to this county was, in 1858, elected justice of the 
peace, which office he filled for fifteen years. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopa. 
Church, of which he was for a long time class leader. He has always been a good neigh- 
bor and citizen. Jacob Johnson, father of Catherine Kline, was a native of Germany, 
and came to this country with the English army during the Revolutionary war. He 
deserted the English and espoused the American cause, enlisting in Washington's army; 
he was afterward taken prisoner, and to escape a prison life again enlisted in the English 
army; at the first opportunity he came into the American lines and once more joined the 
American army, serving until the close of the war. 

HARMON C. KLINE, farmer, P. O. Fishingcreek, is a great-grandson of Harmon 
Kline, one of the first settlers of this county. His son, also named Harmon, was the 
grandfather of our subject; was twice married, and became the father of twenty-four 
children. His first wife, Susanna Gilbert, died about sixty years ago, the mother of 
twelve children. His second wife was Sally Fox, and died in 1848. Her husband died in 
1852, aged seventy-five years. John, a son of the first wife, is the father of our subject, 
and was born in Mt. Pleasant Township, November 11, 1810, and after several changes 
bought a farm in this township, which he subsequently sold. He then bought a small 
place near Jonesboro, where he yet resides. He has been twice married; first in June, 
1832, to Mary E. Crawford, who died in 1852, when he married Sophia Coker. His first 
wife bore him the following named children: Harmon C; Joseph, residing in this town- 
ship; Andrew, who died of disease contracted while in the Union array; Stephen, resid- 
ing in the West; Elizabeth, deceased; Susan and Amanda, living in Luzerne County, 
Penn., and Mary Ann, deceased. His second wife is the mother of two children: Emanuel 
and Anna, living at home. Harmon C. was born November 11, 1832, and on coming of 
age, went west for a year. He then returned, married and settled ou the farm of his 
father-in-law, in Huntington Township, Luzerne Co., Penn., residing there for eighteen 
years, when he bought the property where he resides. March 6, 1856, he married Eliza- 
beth, daughter of William and Mary White, of Luzerne County. She was born August 
19, 1828. Her father was an old resident of Huntington Township, having settled there 
when the place was a wilderness, and cleared up a farm. He died about seventeen years 
ago. His wife died five years prior. Mr. and Mrs. Kline have four children: John W., 
born February 11, 1857, married Emma Hayman. and farms in Mount Pleasant Township; 
Mary C, born June 6, 1859, wife of William Wilson, a farmer in this township; Sarah 
E., born October 2, 1862, wife of Dallas Emor}', a farmer, of this township, and Susan A., 
born June 18, 1867, lives with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Kline are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church at New Columbus, of which he has been trustee for several 
years. Mr. Kline, with the aid of his faithful wife, has accumulated a competence, which 
he is now enjoying in his comfortable home and pleasant surroundings. Politically he is 
a Democrat. 



446 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

ELI MANDUS KUNKEL, blacksmith, Fishingcreek, is a son of D. and Lydia 
(Fahringer) Kunkel, residents of Roaringcreek Township, this county. They were mar- 
ried in this county, also, having come from Lehigh County when quite young, and set- 
tled with their parents in what is now Locust Township. After marriage the father of 
our subject bought a small farm in Roaringcreek, where he has since lived. He is a black- 
smith by trade, and for years carried on that business beside working on his farm, and is 
now living, retired, enjoying the fruits of his active years. He and his wife have had 
eleven children ; three died young, and Andrew, who was a soldier in the Union army, 
gave his life for his country on the historic field of Gettysburg. The other children are 
William, a blacksmith, in Roaringcreek; Charles, a carpenter, in Bloomsburg; Jeremiah, 
a blacksmith, in Roaringcreek; Mary E., wife of William Roup, in Kansas; Sarah, wife 
of Ed Strausser, of Allegheny County; Elizabeth, the wife of William Lawrence, a rail- 
road engineer, in Catawissa, and Eli M., our subject. The last named was born August 
15. 1846, in Roaringcreek, and when fourteen years of age began working on a farm at 
which he continued until sixteen. He then began to learn the blacksmith's trade, work- 
ing in various townships in the county until the spring of 1870, when he built the shop in 
Jonestown where he now carries on his business, and a couple of years later bought the 
house in which he resides. December 24, 1871, he married Elizabeth Driesbach, daughter 
of Nathan Driesbach, a merchant of Jonestown. They have no children of their own, 
but have an adopted daughter, Mary Ada, born July 19, 1879. Mr. Kunkel has never 
held any township office, but is now postmaster of Fishingcreek. Mrs. Kunkel is a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Kunkel of the Reformed Church. The 
people among whom the greater part of his mature years were passed give Mr. Kunkel a 
high reputation for integrity. 

ELIAS M. LAUBACH, farmer and pump manufacturer, P. 0. Forks, is a grandson 
of Peter Laubach, who resided near Easton, Northampton Co., Penn. He immigrated to 
Columbia County and settled near Lisht Street, in Scott Township, locating near what is 
known as Pealertown. He died in 1840, aged eighty-six years. His wife was Elizabeth 
Stetler, who died eight years after her husband. Peter Laubach was a cooper by trade, 
and in the latter part of his life devoted bis time entirely to farming. He and his wife 
were consistent members of the Presbyterian Church, and the parents of five children : 
Jacob, Lydia and George, deceased, and one who died in infancy ; John is the only one now 
living. George was the father of our subject and was born in Scott Township in 1804, and died 
March 24, 1852, aged forty-seven years and eleven months. He was a carpenter, and also 
owned a small farm in Fishingcreek, where he lived until his death. He was an esteemed 
citizen and took a deep interest in public affairs, and held nearly every township office. 
He was temperate and pious and a member of the Christian Church. His comparatively 
early death was mourned, not only by his family, but by the entire community. He 
married, in 1826, Miss Elizabeth McHenry, daughter of Daniel McHenry of this town- 
ship. She died March 6, 1883, a consistent member of the Christian Church. Their 
children were Mary, wife of Geo. Gearhart, living in Huntington Township, Luzerne 
County; Sarah Ann, wife of A. W. Patterson, of Berwick; John C, married to Sarah 
Eveland, and living in Luzerne County; An j aline, wife of W. W. Miller, of Shickshinny; 
Elias M. ,the eldest. Our subject was born November 14, 1828, in this township, and 
woi-ked at the carpenter trade until 1857. He then gave it up to engage in pump-making, 
which he still follows, and also owned a farm, to which he added as opportunity offered. 
In 1883 he bought the farm of Ed. Hull, across Huntington Creek from Forks, which he 
has since made his home. May 27, 1852, he married Miss Savilla, daughter of Daniel 
and Catherine Pealer, both now deceased. She was born February 14, 1825, and bore 
her husband two children: Mary Catherine, born April 21, 1855, married May 23, 1883, to 
Nevin Ale, and resides on her father's farm at Pealertown, and Alice Elizabeth, born 
March 21, 1857, and married January 27, 1881, to William B. Pennington; they live with 
her parents. Mr. Laubach is held in high esteem by his neighbors, and he and wife are 
members of the Reformed Church. 

ABIJAH LEWIS, farmer and merchant, P. O. Forks, is a son of Isaac Lewis, who 
was a farmer and lumberman in the State of Maine, where he was born. He followed these 
occupations in Maine and other eastern States many years, lumbering principally on the 
Penobscot, where he had a large hotel and farm. About 1848 he moved to Bethlehem, 
Penn., and engaged in lumbering on the Lehigh, near Stoddartsville, where he kept store 
and finally settled in Gouldsborough, Lackawanna County, where he still resides and is 
now about eighty-four years of age. He has been three times married; his second wife, 
Sarah Woodsome, was the mother of our subject. She was born in Maine and died at 
Stoddartsville, Penn., about thirty years ago, leaving three sons and three daughters, 
all of whom are still living, except Olive, who died young. The others are Christiana, 
wife of David Perkins, in Wyoming. Luzerne County; Elmira, wife of L. W. Holbrook, of 
Stroudsburg; Isaac, who lives in East Rockaway, N. Y. ; Charles W., at Pittston, and 
Abijah. who is the eldest of the sons. He was born in Maine, on the Kennebec River, 
April 20, 1832, and was sixteen years of age when his parents came to this State. He 
remained with his father assisting hira in his farming and lumbering until he was thirty 



FISHINGCKEEK TOWNSHIP. 447 

years of age. He then married, May 22, 1862, Miss Mary, daughter of Henry G. Daggers 
of Brooklyn, N. Y., where Mrs. Lewis was born March 20, 1840; he then went to work on. 
Bloomsburg division of the D. L. & W. R. R., and was engaged with that company four 
years, and was also engaged during that time in buying and shipping produce. The latter 
business he later devoted himself to exclusively, resigning his position on the road, for eight- 
een years and for the last sixteen years has been engaged in Bloomsburg. At that time he 
bought the farm where he now resides and in the spring of 1886 opened the store at Peal- 
ertown, which he still conducts with the aid of his family. To Mr. and Mrs. Lewis three 
children were born: Charles H., the second child died when in his thirteenth month; 
WilJiam Edgar, born March 17, 1863, resides in Orangeville engaged in the bakery busi- 
ness, and Lizzie B., born September 17. 1870, at home with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. 
Lewis are members of the Protestant Episcopal Church at Bloomsburg. He does not 
take much interest in politics but votes the Republican ticket. 

GEORGE L. LINES, farmer, P. O. Fishingcreek. is a grandson of Coonrad Lines, who 
was a native of Connecticut, whence he emigi-ated to Pennsylvania after the Revolution, in 
which he had been a soldier. He took up a large tract of land in Luzerne Coupty, includ- 
ing two islands in the Susquehanna below Shickshinny, called the Bald Eagle Islands, 
and 120 acres on the opposite side of the river in what is now Conynghan Township. On, 
first coming to this part of the country he lived in Luzerne County and after buying the 
farm built a tannery, having learned the trade in his old home. He died at an advanced 
age. His wife was of German extraction, her name being Sarah Schlutte, a sister of the 
general of that name who fought in the war of 1812. She died about fifteen years after 
her husband. On his mother's side Mr. Lines is a grandson of Abraham and Sally Court- 
wright who were members of the Massachusetts family of that name, and this family are 
the legitimate heirs of the great English estate of that name which has been accumulating 
for a long period. Coonrad and his wife had a large family, all of. whom are now deceased. 
Their names were as follows: John, Peter, James, Coonrad, Martin, Maria and Sarah. Martin 
was the father of our subject and was born on the farm in Luzerne County, where he lived 
until his death, in 1838, in the thirty-third year of his age. He learned the carpenter's trade, 
at which he worked until after his marriage, but some years before his death he becanie a 
farmer. He had a genius for working in wood and in the possession of Mr. Lines is a 
small chair with turned legs and posts which he made when seventeen years of age. He 
married in 1827, Ellen Courtwright, a daughter of Abraham and Sallie Courtwright, and 
the following children blessed their union: Clara, the widow of Hiram Berlin, of Salem 
Township, Luzerne County; Sallie C, wife of John Davis of Wilkesbarre; Huldah, wife of 
William Wridall in Nebraska; Jane, wife of Minor D. Harrison, in Huntington Township, 
Luzerne County; and George L., who is the third child. After her husband's death Mrs. 
Lines married Jared Harrison of Huntington Township, and both are now deceased; they 
had one child, Adaline, who is the wife of Rush M. Fink, of Luzerne County. Our sub- 
ject was born October 30, 1832, and when eighteen years of age learned the trade of a. 
carpenter, which he followed for fifteen years. He then began farming, and, in 1866. 
bought the place where he now resides, and to which he removed in November of that 
year. May 6, 1855, he married Ann Brittain, who was born May 11, 1828, and who died 
September 9, 1864 She had two children, Sarah Ellen, born February 20, 1858. died Sep- 
tember 12, 1861, and Clara Josephine, born June 30, 1861, the wife of Charles Emory and 
resides in this township. December 19, 1872, Mr. Lines married Hannah A., daughter of 
Elias and Charlotte Wenner. She was born May 14, 1851, and is the mother of two chil- 
dren, Martin Elmer, born June 29, 1881, and Ada Maud, born October 13, 1884. Mr. Lines 
has held the office of school director for seven years. He is a member of Waterton 
Grange, and a straightforward^ honorable man, whose neighbors speak in high terms of his 
honesty and integrity. 

THE McHENRY FAMILY deserves a prominent place in the history of this part of 
Columbia County, of which they were truly the pioneers. The ancestors were of Scotch- 
Irish extraction and the first to settle here were Daniel and Mary. They possessed the 
characteristics of honesty, industry and thrift, which distinguished that people. They 
built their cabin on the site now occupied by their grandson, Daniel, and here took up a 
large tract of land which is yet in the possession of their descendants. Here they both 
died. Daniel is buried at St. Gabriel's Church in Sugarloaf, and Mary in the cemetery at 
Stillwater, which was just opened a short time before her death. Their children were 
Benjamin, a farmer and lumberman, who died of yellow fever while down the Susque- 
hanna on a raft; Daniel, who resided all his life on a tract across the creek from Still- 
water and was a strict religious man of retiring disposition; John was also a farmer and 
was known in this region as "the old hunter." (He was never known to fail when 
he started after a deer and record shows that he killed about 2,000 in his lifetime.) 
Uriah, the next son, a farmer and shoemaker, was an intelligent and well-read man. 
Moses was born in 1791 and died in 1855; was a farmer, a man of marked religious char- 
acteristics, and really the founder of the Christian Church in Stillwater, where he wa» 
the first person baptized by immerson; Elias was a farmer, being all his life occupied on 
the place where he was born; was also a colonel in the old State militia and a stirring 



448 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

active man. All of the family were men of influence, who have transmitted to their 
•descendants the characteristics inherited from their ancestors. Below will be found a 
record of the prominent members of the family now living in this township. 

DANIEL McHENRY, farmer and lumberman, P. O. Stillwater, is now the represent- 
ative head of the family. He is a son of Moses, whose wife was Martha, a daughter of 
James Edgar. They had eleven children, viz.: Cynthia, wife of Samuel McHenry of 
Benton Township; Isabella, deceased wife of Tunis Karns; Elias, living in Benton; Mary, 
widow of Samuel Ammerman, of Benton; James, living in Cambria, Luzerne County; John 
J., in Benton; Ellen, wife of John Evans of Madisouville, Luzerne County; Martha, widow 
of Hiram B. McHenry of this township; Cyrus B. (see sketch); Silas, who died in June, 
1886, and Daniel. Our subject was born May 15, 1837, and when in his twentieth year, 
in company with his brother, James, opened the first store in Stillwater. At the end of 
five years he bought his brother's interest and conducted the store alone for fifteen years. 
During that time he bought a part of the farm of his uncle Elias, and some land adjoining 
from William Ikeler. Later he bought ninety acres more of his uncle's land and other 
additions give him a farm of over 200 acres besides 140 acres of woodland. ^ He has 
been an active man, in addition to farming, engaging extensively in lumbering, and 
operating mills for more than twenty years. In partnership with his son, Orvis Dell, 
he is still engaged in that business. In 1854 he was appointed postmaster under President 
Pierce, and has since held that position. September 30, 1867, he was appointed by the 
Secretary of the Treasury, Hugh McCulloch, assistant assessor for Division No. 5, of the 
Thirteenth Internal Revenue Collection District, and held that position until the district 
was consolidated. In 1862 he was elected county treasurer and served three years and 
has also held many minor positions. In 1876 he built a fine residence on the site of the 
original cabin, and in digging for foundations, found the remains of the old house, besides 
several relics of the past. November 17. 1859, Mr. McHenry married Mary A., daughter 
of James Deimer McHenry, and two children blessed their union: Orvis Dell, born 
November 17, 1861, is a graduate of Lafayette College, Easton, and his father's partner in 
business; is a young man of excellent repute; and May, born March 17, 1867, a graduate 
of the Moravian Seminary at Bethlehem. Mr. and Mrs. McHenry are members of the 
Christian Church. A man of mark in the community, thorough-going in business, he ex- 
ercises a wide influence, and has the respect of all. 

CYRUS B. McHENRY, farmer, P. O. Stillwater, is a brother of the above, and was 
born November 3, 1830, on the homestead, where he remained until his marriage. He 
then moved to the place where he now resides, which was a part of the original tract and 
•on which he built a large and well constructed house, arranged with every convenience. 
In 1880 he built a barn which is a model of its kind and is probably the best in thevalley, 
and is built in the most thorough manner. He has also added to his farm by buying the 
remaining twenty-seven acres belonging to his uncle, Elias, now all owned by himself 
and Daniel. He has also been engaged" in lumbering and has been successful in both 
occupations. December 28, 1852, he married Priscilla, daughter of John Cowenhoven of 
Orangeville; she was born February 23, 1830, and to their union have been born the follow- 
ing named children: Oliver, born March 20, 1854, died August 4, 1873; Lilly B., born Feb- 
ruary 18. 1859, wife of H. B. Low of Orangeville, and William L., born February 18, 1864, 
is married and resides with his parents. Mr. McHenry takes much interest in politics, but 
rarely holds any except honorary positions. He is a man of unexceptionable manners 
and habits, and a leading member of the Christian Church, of which he has been an elder 
for twenty-five years. 

STOTT E. McHENRY, farmer, Stillwater, is a grandson of Benjamin McHenry, who 
died of yellow fever, and of whom mention is made in the sketch of the McHenry family. 
His wife was named Elizabeth and they had six children, viz.: Daniel; James Deimer, 
now deceased; Martha, widow of Peter Colder of Columbia County; Elizabeth, widow of 
Thomas Davis of Greenwo»d Township; Maria, deceased wife of Isaac Kline; Sarah Ann 
was twice married, first to Mr. Wintersteen, after his death to Mr. Lyons, and died in 
Oreenwood. James Deimer was the father of Stott E., and was born on the farm which 
is now owned by his son, November 30, 1803, and died Julj^ 19, 1883. His wife was 
Rachel, daughter of Alex. Culley. She was born May 19, 1811, and died May 9, 1885. 
Their children were Alexander.living in Benton, who married Elizabeth Buckalew, now de- 
ceased; Hiram married Martha McHenry and died suddenly; Mary Ann, wife of Daniel Mc- 
Henry (see above); Elizabeth.wife of Moses McHenry (also noticed above); Benjamin Frank- 
lin married Maria Hays of Indiana, and is a professor in Merom College; Rebecca Margaret 
married Smith Kimbal and died in Williamsport;Emma,wifeof John V. McHenry, of Still- 
water; Almira,wife of Silas McHenry; Sarah Ellen, wife of William E. Edgar, of this town- 
ship; Cecelia Alice, wife of T. Hardy Edgar, also of this township, and Stott E. Our sub- 
ject is the third child and was born January 23, 1831, and has always resided at the place 
of his birth. Until his marriage he lived with his father and, on the hitter's death, inher- 
ited the old homestead, where he now resides. November 26, 1868, he married Annie, 
daughter of Rev. E. B. and Lucinda Wilson, both of whom are now deceased. He was a 
■minister of the Reformed Church of the Orangeville charge. Mrs. McHenry was born 



PISHINGCREEK TOWNSHIP. 449 

August 13, 1848, in Washingtonville, Montour County. They have had six children, as fol- 
lows: Miriam Rosalie, born" June 18, 1871; Percy Marion, born November 23, 1875; Daisy 
Tessora, born September 26, 1881: Carroll Leon, born November 23. 1883, all living; Darcy 
Stuart, born January 16, 1877, died July 13, 1880; Arthur Wilson, born October 7, 
1886. Mr. McHeury is a good farmer and a man of independent and straightforward 
character, commanding the respect of his neighbors. With a fine famil}^ growing up 
around him he is happy in his circumstances and looks carefully after their interests. Mrs. 
McHenrv and children are members of the Reformed Church. 

JOSEPH F. McHENRY, merchant, Stillwater, is a son of Daniel and Mary (Cole- 
man) McHenry. His father was the second son of the founder of the family, and was 
born March 27, 1783, and died on the seventy-ninth anniversary of his birth. His wife 
was born in 1793 and died October 13, 1865. They had eleven children, as follows: Benja- 
min, in Benton Township; William, in Dushore; Moses, in Beaver Township; Uriah P., 
in Millville; Elizabeth was the wife of Geo. Laubach, and both are now deceased; Sarah 
married James Edgar, and both are now deceased; Mary, widow of Elisha Albatson, and 
resides in Greenwood Township; Adeline, wife of Thomas Pealer and resides in Renovo, 
Clinton County; Martha, wife of Jacob C. Carey, and lives in Cambria; Charlotte, wife 
of Geo. Laubach, of Orangeville, and Joseph F. Our subject is the youngest son and was 
born March 28, 1831, on the farm of his father, across the creek from Stillwater, on the 
place now owned by J. S. Woods. He worked on the farm until he was eighteen years of 
age, when he began learning the trade of a carpenter and served an apprenticeship of 
three years. May 4, 1869, he opened a store on the opposite side of the street to where 
he now keeps and there remained about six years. He then built the new store which he 
has since occupied. During that time he built several houses in the village of Stillwater. 
He also dealt largely in lumber in addition to his merchandising. He, for many years, 
when timber was plentiful, operated a mill, but now has his lumber sawed for him. 
November 7, 1853, he married Miss Almira Stucker, and three children blessed their union: 
Ella C. born April 2, 1856, now the wife of Oscar D. Hagenbuch, residing in one of her 
father's houses in Stillwater; Laura Delphine, who died when about eighteen months old, 
and Eva D., born December 12, 1868, resides with her parents. She has been attending 
the young ladies' seminary at Millville and also at Orangeville. Mr. McHenry has held 
several township offices and is now its treasurer. He owns several pieces of land and 
lots in Stillwater Village, but his time is mainly taken up with his store and lumber busi- 
ness. He built for himself a fine residence opposite his store and is very comfortably sit- 
uated. He and Mrs. McHenry and all his family are members of the Christian Church, 
and he is looked on by his fellow men as a good citizen. 

MOSES McHENRY, merchant, Stillwater, is a grandson of John, the "old hunter," 
and Helena Cutter, his wife, who had ten children, viz. : Jennie, who married Joseph 
Lemmons and after his death Amos Ellis; Elizabeth, wife of Lorenzo Mendenhall; Samuel, 
father of Moses; Stephen and Ephraim, all now deceased; the living are Matthew, iu 
Jackson Township; John, Rhohr and Maria (widow of Thomas Hess). All live in Ben- 
ton, and Sally (widow of Thomas Young) resides in Jackson Township. Samuel C, the 
father of Moses, was born in Benton in 1808, and on his marriage removed to Jackson; 
thence to Benton in 1842, to a farm which he received from his father, cutting down the 
woods to make room for his house. This farm he cleared and lived on until his death, 
January 19, 1880. He was an industrious man and also inherited his father's love for 
hunting. Notwithstanding that he paid a large sum of bail money for others, he accu- 
mulated a good property, leaving three farms paid for at his death. He was a plain man, 
a captain in the militia service and a member of the Christian Church. For a number of 
years after returning to Benton he kept a hotel, called the " Hunter's Home," which he 
gave up later in life. He married, in 1828, Miss Cynthia McHenry, who resides on the 
homestead in Benton. They had seven children: Eli, married Sarah Young, of Benton; 
John v.. married first to Martha Stocker, and after her death to Emily McHenry; James 
M., now married to Catherine Hess, in Benton; Benjamin Franklin, who died when a 
child; Martha, also died young; Sarah is the wife of Theo. Lewis and resides in Benton, 
and Moses (subject), who is the second son and was born October 7, 1832, in Jackson 
Township. In 1854 he went to Stillwater and clerked for his uncle, Daniel, who then kept 
a store and a hotel in that place. After working for him for five years he became his 
partner in both hotel and store, which relationship continued some three years. They 
then dissolved, and until February, 1865, our subject worked for his uncle, when a part- 
nership was again formed, which lasted until 1876, when he bought the real estate and 
divided the goods, gradually closing out. He remained out of business until 1878, when 
he built the store iu which he has carried on the business since in partnership with his 
brother. June 14, 1866, he married Elizabeth McHenry, a distant cousin. They have 
two children: James Gaylord, now in his nineteenth year, who assists his father in the 
store, and Bertha Leah, now in her tenth year. In February, 1886, Mr. McHenry was for 
the third consecutive time elected justice of the peace, and has been acting postmaster 
for his uncle Daniel almost ever since he came to Stillwater. He and his wife are members 
of the Christian Church, and he has the reputation of being a careful and upright busi- 
ness man. 



450 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

WILLIAM MEARS, retired. Fishingcreek, is a grandson of John Mears, who emi- 
grated from England early in the last century, and during the Revolutionary war was a 
captain in the patriot army. After the war he located in Catawissa, and being a physi- 
cian, engaged in the practice of his profession. He was among the first settlers of that 
part of the county, and died in 1818. His wife was a member of the Society of Friends. 
They had three sons and one daughter, all now deceased. The youngest son was Jesse, 
the father of our subject, and was born in Catawissa about the time of the Revolution and 
died about 1837. During the war of 1812 he was a soldier in the American Army. He 
was a cabinet-maker, but a few years before his death he gave up that trade and devoted 
himself to teaching school, being a well educated man. His wife, Leah Benn, was born 
in New Jersey and died in 1827, the mother of four children, all of whom attained 
maturity: Lydia, widow of Elijah Howe, died at Harrisburg; John, died at Milton; 
Maajerum, who was in the Mexican war and died in that country, and William, who is 
the sole survivor of the family. Our subject was born October 16, 1812, and when he 
was fifteen years old his mother died. He worked by the month until he was seventeen, 
when he learned the trade of a wagon-maker at Catawissa with Joseph Hayhurst, remaining 
there until he was twenty-one. He then started afoot to Ohio, working on the way, 
stopping at Little Sandusky; thence to Lower Sandusky, and thence to Perrysburg, on the 
Maumee River. He returned as far as Cleveland, and thence to Euclid, where he obtained 
work; thence to Franklin, Penn., where he remained a week, and thence back to Cata- 
wissa. He was then employed on the Shamokin Railroad as overseer, but was taken sick 
and obliged to return home. Later he worked six months at Foundryville, and then with 
the engineer corps on the Catawissa Railroad for nearly three years, saving from his- 
meager salary $450, whicli he put out at interest, and which gave him a start in the 
world. Coming to Orangeville, he went into partnership with his brother in the harness- 
making business for three years, and then carried on that business alone for nineteen years, 
saving $6,500. While thus engaged he also operated a tannery for seven years, using his 
own leather in harness. He then bought a farm of 220 acres, which he now owns, near 
Jonestown, and on which he resided nineteen years, engaged in farming and lumbering, 
having a saw-mill on his property. Later he bought another farm, on Chillisquaque 
creek, which he owned twelve years, selling it for $6,558, and subsequently bought from 
John Merrill a half-interest in the grist-mill at Jonestown; later bought a quarter-interest 
and thus owned three-quarters until 1877, when he sold one-fourth. In 1882 he disposed 
of the rest and has since been retired. In the latter year he bought another farm, of eighty 
acres, which he still owns, together with the fine property in the village of Jonestown, 
where he resides. In 1838 he married Anna Matilda Kelchner, who died in 1857, leaving 
four children: Lydia, wife of Peter J. Weaver, of this township; Mary, wife of John Merrill, 
of Kansas; Leonora, wife of Jesse Runyan, of this township, and Camden, who reside* 
in Bloomsburg. In 1858 Mr. Mears married Mrs. Mary Abbott, widow of William Abbott, 
and who was a daughter of Jacob Noggle, of Centre Township. She was born October 4, 
1822, and by her first husband had six children, three of whom are now living: Margaret, 
wife of Wesley Eveland, of Jonestown; Jesse, married to Norah Mears, and Tilman Run- 
yan, married to Ida Kingsbury, in this township. By his second marriage Mr. Mears had 
six children, three of whom are living: Matilda, wife of Jonathan Dodson, in Mans- 
field, Ohio; William, at home, and Valerie, wife of Losson McHenry, living on her fath- 
er's farm. May 13, 1878, Mr. Mears started on a trip west, visiting points in Ohio, Indiana, 
Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska; also crossed over to Canada and visited 
Niagara Falls. Mr. Mears has never had a lawsuit or been on the stand as a witness, and 
has never held any office, except that'of overseer of the poor. He and his wife are members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Jonestown, of which he is one of the chief support- 
ers, and in which he has served as elder, trustee and steward. Politically he is a Repub- 
lican. 

CHARLES H. MOORE, merchant, Van Camp, is a son of N. Patterson Moore, of 
Buckhorn, Hemlock Township, under whose name appears a history of the ancestor of 
the family. Charles H. was born February 15, 1861, in Benton Township. He remained 
at home until he was twenty years of age, working at wagon-making in summer and 
teaching school in winter. He then moved to Shickshinny, where he was principal of 
the schools of the borough, which position he held for a year. He then sold books for 
one summer, and the following fall went to Catawissa, where he taught one year. He then 
gave up the profession on account of failing health, and moving to Van Camp engaged 
in mercantile business in the store of George M. Howell. August 16, 1883, he married 
Miss Deborah, daughter of Geo. M. Howell, and two children have blessed their union: 
George Howell, born November 5, 1884, and Paul Willet, born November 23, 1886. Mr. 
Moore and wife are members of St. James Reformed Church at Van Camp. Mr. 
Moore is assistant superintendent of the Sabbath-school and also teacher of the Bibles 
class; is treasurer of the school and leader of the chiirch choir. He is a young man of 
correct habits and good character, and has the respect and esteem of all who know him. 
He is a graduate of the Sixth District Normal School, a member of the class of 1879. 



FISHINGCREEK TOWNSHIP. 451 

SAMUEL J. PEALER, surveyor and engineer, P. O. Forks, is of German and 
English descent. His grandfather, Paul Pealer, lived in Berks County; was a soldier in 
the Revolutionary war, in the Continental army, and after the close of that struggle 
returned to Berks County, where he died. His son, Samuel, father of our subject, was 
born at Reading in 1787, and died in Iowa in 1854. He was a millwright, and in early life 
settled in this county, where he bought a large tract of land near Jonestown, on which 
he erected a mill. He also engaged in farming, but some j'ears before his death gave his 
farm to his eldest son. He then bought a small place in this township on which his wife 
died, and while visiting his daughter in Iowa, he himself died. In politics he was first 
a Democrat, then a follower of Henry Clay, and later a Republican. To him and his 
wife, nee Mary Sheidy, of Luzerne County, Penn., were born the following named chil- 
dren: Paul, deceased (four of his sons entered the army in the war of the Rebellion; 
Isaac K., who enlisted in 1861 in the First New York Dragoons, was shot in the forehead 
at the battle of Cold Harbor, and died instantly; S. L., who also enlisted in 1861 in the 
First New York Dragoons, was shot dead through the temple at the engagement at Win- 
chester; Frank A. enlisted in Company F, Two Hundred and Ninth Pennsylvania Volun- 
teer Infantry, ^d was shot through the thigh at Bermuda Hundred; S. F. was orderly 
sergeant of Company A, One Hundred .and Ninety-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer 
Infantry); Peter, in this township (his son Oscar enlisted in the war of the rebellion in 
Company F, Two Hundred and Ninth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, was taken pris- 
oner at Bermuda Hundred, and was starved to death in Salisbury prison, N. C); David, in .-^ 
Wyoming, Iowa (was mustered into the United States service July 22, 1861, by Maj. Wood, 
United States Army, at Lafayette, Ind., in Company E, Twentieth Indiana Volunteer Infan- 
try, and participated in the following engagements: Flood, Hatteras Inlet, November 2, 
1861; fight between Monitor and Merrimac March 8 and 9, 1862; seven days' battles before 
Richmond; battle near Fair Oaks June 19, 1862; battle of Orchards June 25, 1862; Glen- 
dale June 30, 1862; Malvern Hill July 1, 1862; second battle of Bull Run August 29 and 
30, 1862; Chantiliy September 1, 1862; Fredericksburar December 11, 12, 13, 1862; Cedars 
May 1, 2, 1863; Gettysburg July 2, 3 and 4, 1863; Manassas Gap July 23. 1863, from which 
date he continued with the Army of the Potomac, same regiment, sharing in its arduous 
duties to the close of the war, having received during the time three light wounds. He 
participated iu the battles of Petersburg, etc., up to the surrender of Lee's army, and 
was mustered out at Arlington Heights in June, 1865); Levi, in this township; George 
died young; Mary, widow of Jacob Bender, in Iowa; Catherine, wife of Robert McCal- 
mont, in Iowa; Barbara, died in that State; Elizabeth, widow of John Beishline, in this / 

township; Savilla, died unmarried; Margaret, deceased wife of Peter Evelar d of this_r^^^ A 
township, and Samuel J. The subject of this sketch was born "January 18, 1833, and 
remained with his parents until his father's death, when he moved to Asbury and lived 
with his sister Margaret. He was educated at the common schools and at New Columbus 
and Lancaster, and at the age of sixteen became a teacher. Two years later he took up 
field work under the late William Buckalew, and was three years on government work in 
Minnesota. In July, 1863, he was commissioned second lieutenant of Capt. R. F. Clark's 
company of emergency men when the State was invaded. In 1864 he also did con 
siderable special duty by and under orders of Maj. -Gens. Cadwallader and Couch, 
also by and under orders of Gen. Charles Albright. He enlisted in Company E, Two 
Hundred and Ninth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and shortly after was detailed as a 
recruiting officer, and served in the judge advocate's otfice with the rank of second lieu- 
tenant. He recruited three companies and was made captain of one. Company A, Seven- 
ty-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, which he joined at Spring Run, Va. He was 
later elected major, receiving twenty-four votes out of a possible twenty-seven. At the 
close of the war he returned to Asbury, taught school and engaged in surveying and civil 
engineering. He is now in the employ of the Pennsylvania Coal Company, and has done 
the chief work and mine engineering for the Salem Coal Company. January 18, 1862, he 
married Samantha C, daughter of Cornelius Coleman of Asbury, who was born March 
19, 1838. They have eight children: Alice M., wife of Ezra A. Chapman, in Huntington 
Township, Luzerne County; Lizzie C, wife of George Vanliew; Stuart died at the age of 
two years; Woodin W. ; Ella Eva; Robert Samuel; Charles Revere and Blanche Florence. 
Mr. Pealer takes a warm interest in politics and votes the Republican ticket. He is a 
member of the I. 0. O. F., Mountain Lodge, No. 164, Orangeville. He and Mrs. Pealer 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Asbury, and he is recording steward 
of the Orangeville charge. For eight years he was superintendent of the Sabbath-school, 
which position he resigned, but is now assistant superintendent and teacher. 

RUSSEL R. PEALER, circuit judge. Three Rivers, Mich., was born January 1, 1842, 
in Greenwood Township, Columbia County, a son of George and Rebecca (Hampton) 
Pealer (former now residing at Asbury. Columbia Co., Penn.; the latter deceased); was 
reared on a farm and educated in the common schools, the New Columbus Normal School 
and Orangeville Academy. He first left home to attend school in February, 1859, taking 
his provisions, bed and furniture on a sled to New Columbus, where he rented a room and 
boarded himself all through the school course, except when in good weather he would 



452 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

walk to and from home a distance of about five miles, which he many times did. 
studying as he wended his way. He taught school at intervals in order to obtain money 
whereby to defray his expenses: the Asbury school two winters, and the Light Street 
High School in the summer of 1861; then returned to school at Orangeville, which he left 
the following fall to enter the army. While at ^is stuiiies as a boy our subject was a 
close, hard-working scholar, conscientious and imceasing in his application to his books, 
and these characteristics he carried with him into early manhood, the traits of which he 
owes to a precious mother and a kind father. Judge Pealer enlisted during the war of 
the Rebellion on September 9, 1863, in Company E, Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and 
during a period of three years was promoted from time to time to rank of non-commis- 
sioned officer of his company, and on September 21, 1864, an order, of which the follow- 
ing is a copy, was made: 

Special Order No. 61. 

Headquarters Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, ) 

September 21, 1864. \ 
n. Second Sergt. Russel R. Pealer, Company E, for meritorious conduct as a soldier 
and as actmg sergeant-major, is promoted to sergeant-major Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cav- 
alry, and will be obeyed and respected as such. To date from September 1, 1864. 
By command of 

J. K. ROBISON, 

Lieut.- Col. Sixteenth Penn. Cavalry, 

Commanding regiment. 
Samuel E. Cormany, 

Lieutenant and Acting Adjutant. 

After this he served as adjutant, and did considerable staff duty. November 30, 1864, 
he was commissioned second lieutenant of his company, and April 1, 1865, was pro- 
moted to first lieutenant, afterward commanding a company most of the time. July 24, 
1865, he was assigned by a special order to the command of Companies E and I, which 
command he held until mustered out. The judge was in over thirty cavalry engagements, 
and was twice wounded in action while in command of a battalion at the battle of 
Hatcher's Run, Va., February 6, 1865. He was present at the battles of Chancellorsville, 
Gettysburg, Wilderness, Cold Harbor, and many of the engagements about Petersburg; 
was discharged with the regiment at Richmond, August 11, 1865; returned home and com- 
menced reading law, September 3, 1865, with Robert F. Clark, then the leading lawyer of 
the county, and was admitted to the bar September 3, 1867. Judge Pealer soon after 
moved to Three Rivers, Mich., and there located November 12, 1867, and has since been 
engaged in the practice of his profession. He has held various municipal and local 
offices; twice circuit court commissioner; twice prosecuting attorney. In April, 1881, he 
was elected circuit judge of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit of Michigan for a term of six 
years, and is now on the bench. He is president of the First National Bank of Three 
Rivers. His parents being members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Judge early 
in life became a member of the same denomination. In politics he is a stanch Republican. 
The boy, student, teacher, soldier, attorney and judge has accumulated handsome and 
valuable properties in the town where he resides, together with excellent farms adjoining. 
The judge enjoys good health, although he suffers severely at times from a wound re- 
ceived in the leg while in action. He also has a distinct and vivid recollection of the real 
existence of the noted Fishingcreek confederacy, and says that his generous and able law 
preceptor, Robert F. Clark, took a very active part in summoning and hastening the 
" boys in blue " to the banks of the beautiful and famous trout stream, to suppress it (the 
Confederacy). 

GEORGE H. PENNINGTON, blacksmith, Fishingcreek Township, P. O. Van 
Camp, was born June 30, 1854, and is great-grandson of Jesse Pennington, who was a 
native of New Jersey and later a resident of Sullivan County, Penn., where he died about 
twenty-six years ago". His wife, Rebecca, died ^bout ten years since. Their sons were 
Jonathan. Jesse, Edmund, John, all of whom are living except Edmund. Jonathan is 
the grandfather of our subject, and was born in Sullivan County on the banks of Fishing- 
creek, on the farm which his father had cleared. He married, when about twenty-one 
years of age, and bought a farm at Fairmount, Luzerne County, which he cleared and 
where his family were reared. There he has since resided and is now eighty-four years 
old. His wife, Phoebe Tubbs, died in 1881, aged seventy-eight. They had five sons and 
three daughters: Nathan T., Jesse, James, John, Alexander R., Sallie, Mary and Lola. 
Nathan T. was the father of our subject and followed blacksmithing until 1864. He then 
enlisted in the Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry and was wounded at Five Forks, Va., after 
the surrender of Gen. Lee, and died at Carna Hospital, Washington, three weeks later. 
He was a partner in the store at Van Camp until his death. His body was interred at St. 
James' Reformed Church Cemetery at Van Camp. In 1849 he married Mary, daughter of 
Samuel Yost, and seven children blessed their union; Wilber C. and Wdliam R. (twins), 
both residing in this township; Samuel Yost, in Catawissa; Ellen, Jesse, and one who 



PISHINGCREEK TOWNSHIP. 453 

died ia infancy. George H. is the third son and lived with his mother until he was 
seventeen years of age, when he began to learn the blacksmith's trade with Wilson Myers, 
in Benton Township, serving an apprenticeship of four years. He has since worked at 
the trade in different places, but is now located at Bendertown, this township. May 1, 
1877, he married Catherine M., daughter of J. D. McHenry, Jr. She was born October 
17, 1856, in Benton, and has borne her husband two children: Mary D., born June 14, 1878, 
and Marvin Alfred, born March 19, 1883. 

WILLIAM S. PENNYPACKER. miller, Fishingcreek. is a son of John B. Penny- 
packer, a farmer in East Coventry, Chester Co., Pena. The latter was reared in Mont- 
gomery County, and learned the trade of a blacksmith in Chester County, working at it un- 
til he was of middle age, when he gave it up and began farming a place he had bought in 
that county. A few years ago he sold his farm and retired to a small place which he 
owns, in East Coventry Township, Chester County. He was born March 31, 1821, and is 
an active and vigorous citizen. His wife, Mary A. Stetler, was born in Montgomery 
County, and is yet living. They have four children: Sylvester S., in Philadelphia, 
engaged in the milk business; John S., in a needle factory, in East Coventry; Sallie S., 
with her parents, and our subject. William S. Pennypacker was born August 6, 1850, 
and when twelve years old engaged as a clerk in a store at Earlville, remaining two years; 
thence moved to Pottstown, where he worked in a grocery a year. He then worked at the 
confectionery and bakery business for two years, going thence to learn the trade of milling, 
which he followed in various places for a couple of years. In 1875 he came to Jonestown, 
and worked in the grist-mill for five years, and then operated the mill on shares for a 
couple of years. He then went to Philadelphia to assist his brother in the milk business, 
but returned a year later, and again assumed control of the mill, and is now operating it 
for Messrs. Jones. November 33, 1876, he married Miss Mary A., daughter of Joseph 
Kline, of this township. She was born December 24, 1856, and has borne her husband 
five children: Sallie Blanche, born February 28, 1878; Laney Maud, February 26, 1880; 
John K., August 27, 1881; Charles Ray, April 5, 1882, and Mary Alvernon, December 29, 
1884. Mr. Pennypacker takes no active part in political matters, but is deeply interested 
in the Republican party. 

HERMAN A. SEVISON, practical horseshoer, coachsmith and wagon-smith, Still- 
water, is descended from a Holland ancestor, who came to America prior to the Revolu- 
tion. One of his sons was the grandfather of our subject, and first lived in New Jersey; 
later came to this State, settling in Snyder County, where his son Michael, father of Her- 
man A., was born. Michael learned the trade of a carpenter, at which he worked until a 
short time before his death. He was considerable of a traveler, having visited most parts 
of the United States both before and after his marriage. Seven years of his life were 
spent in the State of New York. He took contracts to erect buildings, and made consid- 
erable money, but his wife being accidentally drowned while he was yet a young man, 
he went away, and for a long time strove to forget his loss among new scenes. He finally 
settled in Appanoose County, Iowa, where he remained five years. He returned to Penn- 
sylvania in 1868, and located in Delaware Township, Northumberland County, with his 
son, Thomas, with whom he remained five years. He then lived with the subject of this 
sketch until his death in 1875. His wife, Sarah Catherine Ire, was born in Selin's Grove, 
Snyder County, March 8, 1799, and was accidentally drowned November 16, 1847, in a new 
and unfinished well that had just been dug on the premises in Delaware Township, North- 
umberland County. It was supposed she slipped and fell off the planks which had been 
temporarily laid across the top. Mr. and Mrs. Sevison had twelve children, only two now 
living: our subject and his sister Lavina, wife of James Hollopeter, a coachsmith, living 
in Clearfield County, Penn. Six of the family died when quite young, and four when 
arrived at maturity, as follows: Sarah, who died in Iowa; Sophia, died in Delaware Town- 
ship, Northumberland County; Thomas, in the same place, and Harrison, in Northumber- 
land County. Herman A. was born August 22, 1841, in Lewis Township, Northumber- 
land County, and his mother dying when he was not quite five years of age, he was taken 
by Cornelius Rynearson, who reared him. When he was sixteen years of age he went to 
live with John G. Oakes in Lycoming County for a year; then to Ohio and New York for 
a year, and in the spring of 1858 began to learn the blacksmith's trade with William Hood, 
at McEwensville, Northumberland County. There he remained three years. On the 
breaking out of the war he enlisted (the first volunteer from that place) in Company G, 
Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteers; served three months, and the following year again 
enlisted for nine months, this time in Company B, One Hundred and Thirty-first Reg- 
iment. In 1864 he enlisted, determined to see the close of the war, in the Seventh Vet- 
eran Volunteer Cavalry, and has three honorable discharges, of which he may be justly 
proud. He was a brave soldier, and took part in five of the great battles of the war, 
besides skirmishes, especially while in the cavalry. After his second return from the 
service he married, in September, 1863, Miss Lucretia Van Dine, who died in 1879, the 
mother of four children, all living at the present time, viz.: Sarah C, wife of Mr. Kahler, 
of Bloomsburg; William A., who has learned his father's trade and works in his shops in 
Stillwater; Margaret L., who lives in Bloomsburg, and Elizabeth C., living near Millville, 



454 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

<jreenwood Township. August 3, 1882, Mr. Sevison married, as his second wife, Miss 
Emma, daughter of John Mull, who has borne him one child, John F. On his return 
from the war, Mr. Sevison was sought out by his old employer, William Hood, and given 
charge of the shop in wiiich he had learned his trade, and there remained a year and a 
half; thence to Limestoneville, Montour County, where he was in business two years. 
After several changes he settled in Greenwood Township, and remained there eleven years; 
thence to Catawissa three years, and in December, 1885, came to Stillwater, where he 
Ijought a fine residence, and is doing a good business. Mr. Sevison has no time to give to 
politics, but his record as a soldier shows that he was not backward when his country 
needed his services. 

BARTLEY E. SHANNON, miller, P. O. Stillwater, is a son of Richard Shannon, 
whose grandfather came from Ireland and settled on the west branch of the Susquehanna, 
where some of his descendants still reside. Richard Shannon was born in July, 1812, at 
White Deer, Union County, and is now seventy-five years of age, and has almost all his 
life been engaged in farming. He is now employed in the car shops of Jackson & Woodin, 
at Berwick, and is an active and hearty man. He married, in 1884, Miss Mary, daughter 
of Abraham Lewis, of Union County. She was born in 1818, and is yet living. Eight 
children were born to her and her husband, two of whom died in infancy. The living are 
William, married to Emma Boone, and living on Black creek, Couyngham Township; 
Isaiah, unmarried, in Berwick; Samuel, married to Sarah Hoofnagle, and died in Ber- 
wick; Wesley, married first Annie Linden, and, after her death, Alice Stevens, in Berwick; 
John, who resides in Berwick, and our subject, Bartley E., is the fourth son, and was born 
October 20, 1850, in Bloomsburg, where his parents then resided. In infancy he was 
brought to Centre Township, where his youth was passed. When quite young he began to 
farm and attended school in winter until he was sixteen years of age. He then began to 
learn the trade of a miller at FuUner's mill, in that township, where he remained ten 
years. Thence he went to Milflin, where he had charge of the Yohe mill for two years; 
thence to Beach Haven, where he conducted a mill for D. G. Driesbach for four years; 
thence to Jonestown mill for a year, and in 1886 came to Stillwater to take charge of the 
mill at this place. June 12, 1873, he married Elvira, daughter of Samuel Zimmerman, of 
Orangeville, this county, who was born September 12, 1849, and had always lived with 
her parents until her marriage. They had six children, one of whom died in infancy. 
The living are Bruce E., Clark W., C. A., Howard L. and Mattie. Mr. Shannon is a 
young man of excellent reputation, and since he has lived in Stillwater has won the good 
will and respect of its people. He and wife are consistent members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church in Stillwater. 

JACOB F. SHOEMAKER, farmer, P. O. Orangeville, was born in Wurtemberg, 
Germany, February 17, 1821, and came to this country with his parents when he was 
thirteen years of age. They located first in New Brunswick, N. J., where his mother 
died eighteen days after arriving in this country. His father then moved to Easton, and 
six months later went to Hamilton, and later to Huntington Township, Luzerne County, 
at which time Jacob F. was fifteen years old. The latter worked on farms and also on 
the canal for nearly seven summers. In 1848 he bought a team and farmed on shares the 
farm of Bernard 'fubbs. Town Hill, Luzerne County, and the next year farmed James 
Tubbs' place. He then rented the farm of Eliphalet Edson, on the other side of Town 
Hill, where he remained five years; then came to the farm of Samuel Creveling, in this 
township, near Van Camp. After residing there two years, he bought, in the spring of 
1857, the farm in the southwest part of this township, which has since been his home. 
December 28, 1848, he married Miss Ellen, daughter of Henry Traxler, of Huntington 
Township, where Mrs. Shoemaker was born September 7, 1830. Mr. Shoemaker is a 
quiet man, who attends strictly to his own business. He and Mrs. Shoemaker are 
prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Rohrsburg, of which he is 
steward and trustee, and has been for many years. For a long time also he was class 
leader, but increasing years have caused him to relinquish active work in the church, 
though not to cease his labors in its behalf. He is widely known as one of its most 
liberal members. He and Mrs. Shoemaker now enjoy the fruits of a well spent life. 

ELLIS S. STOKER, farmer. P. O. Stillwater, was born May 17, 1842, in this town- 
ship. His father, John Stoker, occupied the farm now owned by John Zaner until 1844. 
when he moved to a farm of 300 acres, which he had purchased across the creek, and 
which is now occupied by Ellis S. There he died in August, 1853, sixty-three years old. 
He was a man of great integrity and benevolence, and took deep interest in the Christian 
Church, of which he was a leading member. His wife, Esther Bright, died February 14, 
1880, aged eighty-one years. Their children were as follows: Jacob, who died in this 
township; Sallie Ann, wife of Elias McHenry, of Benton; Russell, in Iowa; Phebe Ellen, 
wife of William Hulme, of Benton; Almira, wife of Jos. F. McHenry, of Stillwater; 
Louisa, wife of Daniel Edgar, of Luzerne County; James F.. of Philadelphia; Martha, 
wife of John V. McHenry (she died in 1863); William Mc, of this township, and Ellis S_., 
our subject, is the youngest of the family, and was but twelve years of age when his 
father died. He remained with his mother, working on the farm and in the saw-mill 



FISHINGCKEEK TOWNSHIP. 455 

until his marriage, when he moved to that part of the farm where he now resides, and 
which he received from the estate. Five or six years ago he erected a fine substantial 
house and out-buildings, to which he removed, and in August, 1886, bought back the old 
homestead and tlie part of the farm which had been sold to John Zaner, thus getting a 
farm of 170 acres and two sets of buildings. June 21, 1863, he married Miss Hannah A., 
daughter of Thomas Davis, of Benton Township. She was born May 22, 1838, and has 
borne her husband three children: Howard Dell, born in April, 1864, and died at the age 
of three weeks; Lewis A., born May 18, 1865, and Hilbert Stanley, born April 3, 1873, 
both of whom live with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Stoker are members of the Chris- 
tian Church. 

OLDEN STOKES, tanner, P. O. Forks, is a great-grandson of James Stokes who 
moved from Bucks County to the Bear Gap, Northumberland County (near the Montour 
County line), and where he owned all the property on what is now the grist-mill, and 
there died. His son, Joseph, came to Roaringcreek Township, this county, and was the 
first teacher and surveyor (making the original surveys) in that part of the count)'. He 
and wife, Mrs. Rebecca (Lee) Stokes, settled in that part of Roaringcreek which is now 
Locust Township. He died in Bucks County forty-five years ago, aged about seventy 
years. His wife died in Locust Township. He had a numerous family, and his descend- 
ants are still lo be found in the county. His son, James, the father of Olden, was born 
iu 1791 and died in 1860. He followed carpenter work and cabinet-making during the 
summer, and taught school in the winter seasons, but in his latter years devoted himself 
exclusively to teaching. He was a member of the Society of Friends and a leading mem- 
ber in meeting, of which he was for years clerk. His tastes were literary, and he con- 
tributed considerably to papers and periodicals, and was also a poet of no mean order. 
His wife, Deborah, daughter of Mahlon Hoar, was born about the same year as her hus- 
band and died in 1861. Their children were Hampton, who died when a young man; 
James, in Minnesota; John C, who died in Scranlon, Penn., in 1885, and Olden, our sub- 
ject, is the second child, and was born August 3, 1826. He received such an education as 
the times afforded, and in 1844 began to learn the tanner's trade, at which he worked 
many years in Catawissa; thence to Berwick, and later to Black Creek, Luzerne County, 
where he remained four years. He then spent three years in Hollenback Township, same 
county. He then bought a tannery at Foundryville, in Briarcreek, Avhich he operated 
fourteen years; then sold out and bought a property at Martzville, near Berwick, where 
he resided two years, when he exchanged it for the property he owns in this township, 
on Huntington Creek, w'here he resumed the tanning business. July 1, 1866, he married 
Eliza, daughter of Michael Fort, of Lehigh County, where* she was born in 1827. They 
had two children, one of whom died in infancy, and Hannah Janie, born January 7, 
1868, who lives with her parents. Mr. Stokes was born and reared among the Society of 
Friends, but his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

WESLEY W. SUTLIFF, dentist, Runyan, is a grandson of Miles Sutliflf, who, with 
his wife, came from Connecticut and settled in Huntington Township, Luzerne Co., Penn. 
There they had a farm and also a hotel, which was probably the first in the township, and 
there both died. They had eleven children: Bernard, Stiles, Daniel, Abel, Wells, Wash- 
ington, Wesley, Miles, Hannah, Amelia and Roxana; two now survive: Daniel, in Hunt- 
ington Township, and Hannah, widow of George Souder, in same township. Abel was 
the father of our subject and was born May 2, 1808, and died in the same township June 
28, 1868. His wife, Lydia Brader, was born October 27, 1809, and is now living on the old 
home in Luzerne County. Abel was a large landholder, owning three farms; he was .a 
member of the Baptist Church, and his wife is also a member. They had fourteen chil- 
dren: Miles M., in Shickshinny; Samuel B., a farmer; Rosanna E., unmarried, with her 
mother; Roxana, widow of Andrus Zimmerman; John W., a farmer; Amelia M., wife of 
John W. Kingsbury; Sterling D., a farmer; James M., a farmer, all in Huntington Town- 
ship; Ross C. died in that township, leaving a wife and son to survive him; Bernard, died 
in infancy; Cornelia A., wife of John A. Fulkison; Emma T., wife of Biugly Franklin; 
an infant, who died unnamed, and Wesley W. The last named was the sixth child, born 
on the home farm September 30, 1838, and lived on the farm until he was twenty-one 
years old; then worked and earned enough to attend school three years. He graduated 
in 1863 at Crittenden Commercial College, Philadelphia. While attending the Orange- 
ville Academy he was drafted, and after serving some months was discharged on account 
of disability. In July, 1863, he served in the emergency corps at Chambersburg. For a 
year after graduating he worked as clerk and agent, and August 27, 1864, enlisted for 
three years in Company B, One Hundred and Ninety-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteer In- 
fantry, serving until the regiment was discharged. He was then transferred and made 
corporal to Company B, One Hundred and Eighty-eighth Pennsylvania, and served until 
December 14, 1865, when he was finally discharged at City Point, Va. Coming home he 
accepted an agency, at which he worked until 1873, when he began the study of dentistry 
in the State of New York, and has since followed that profession. In 1874 he built the 
residence in Asbury, this township, which he has since made his home. His practice 
covers a large territory, which he visits at regular intervals. When Dr. Sutliff built his 

34 



456 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

home he determined on making it a model one. This he has succeeded in doing, taking 
water from a spring fifty rods from his house. He has it conducted in underground pipes 
to his house and barn, in both of which he has an unfailing supply. In the house, by an. 
ingeniously arranged system of pipes of his own invention, he runs a thirty-inch wheel 
from a huge tank, containing seventy-five barrels of water, in his cellar, which operates 
a churn in his buttery above, a gate, which is regulated in an instant, guaging the supply. 
This wheel also gives the power, by a connection below, to run aji ice-cream freezer. 
When not in use the water can be shut off in a moment. The overflow from the tank runs 
through a large trough in the cellar, in which is kept butter, cream, etc. From there the 
waste water is conveyed through pipes into a large fish pond, in which are German and 
French carp. The apparatus, entirely of his own invention, is simple, practical and a 
great labor saver. November 9, 1871, Dr. Sutliff married Catherine, daughter of Peter 
Eveland, of Asbury. She was born December 24, 1838, and has borne her husband two 
children: Bruce E., born in Huntington Township October 4, 1873, and Myrtie M., born 
in Asbury, March 16. 1875, died February 20, 1880. The Doctor is a member of the Moun- 
tain Lodge, 264, I. O. O. F., of Orangeville, also of the K. of P., of the Grange, and of 
the Columbia County Agricultural Society. He is a member of the Baptist Church, of 
which he has been deacon, but Mrs. Sutliff is a member of the Methodist Episcopal de- 
nomination. 

JOHN WENNER, farmer, P. O. Van Camp, was born in Butler Township, Luzerne 
County, October 2, 1816. His great-grandfather emigrated from Germany before the Revo- 
lution, and acquired quite a property which he sold, receiving payment in continental 
money, and, of course, lost all. His son, Christian, who was born in Snyder County, Penn., 
was a soldier in the Revolution, and after that struggle settled on his farm in his native 
county. Later he moved to Butler Township, Luzerne County, where he died. His fam- 
ily were Jacob, Andrew, Daniel, George, Christian, Leonard, Jonas, Catherine, Regina 
and Barbara, all of w'hom are deceased. Jacob was the father of John, and was born in 
Snyder County in April. 1786; died in September, 1865, aged seventy-nine years and five 
months. His wife was born in March, 1795, and died in March, 1865, within a few days 
of her seventieth year. Jacob Wenner was a soldier in the war of 1812, but the war closed 
before he saw active service. When he w^as sixteen years old he came to Butler Town- 
ship, Luzerne County, with his parents. He was always a farmer, working for his father 
and others until he was twenty-seven years of age. He then married Elizabeth, daughter 
of Michael Beishline, of Builer Township. Aftei his marriage he bought a farm in that 
county on which he resided five years. His father-in-law had bought attract of 300 acres 
of land in this county and Jacob came here in 1817 and bought 100 acres of that land; later 
bought 118 acres more. Here he put up a house on the place where his son John now 
lives, and here he passed the remainder of his life. He was an honest, upi'ight man, a 
member of the German Reformed Church in Van Camp, of which he had been for years 
a deacon and elder. His wife was also a member of the same church. They were the 
parents of the following named children: Jacob; Daniel, who lives in this townshi^D; 
Magdalena, deceased wife of Benjamin Hess; Susanna, deceased wife of Elias Pealer; 
Elizabeth and Sarah, both died j^oung, and John. Of these John, our subject, is the 
second son and has passed his entire life within a mile of where he now resides, and has 
always followed farming. On his marriage he removed to a farm adjoining his father's, 
which he had purchased and there resided eleven yeai's. He then purchased a farm on the 
other side of his fatlier's to which he moved and on which he lived nine years. He then 
bouglit the home farm, wiiich had been inherited by his brother Daniel, and there has 
since lived. August 10, 1838, he married Eve Cope, who died April 9, 1856, leaving eight 
children, one child, Matilda, had died prior. The survivors are Rachel, wife of Charles 
Kindig; Michael, married to Rosanna Hosier; Elias. married to Susanna Bender; Mar- 
garet, widow of Leonard Kline; Jacob, married to Elizabeth Bobbins; Susanna, wife of 
J. Ogden Wilson; Sarah, wife of Wesley Eveland and resides in Huntington Township, 
Luzerne County, and Melinda, wife of Joseph Deitrich, all residing in this township ex- 
cept Sarah. June 13, 1858, Mr. Wenner married, as his second wife, Sarah, widow of 
William Kauff and daughter of Jacob Huntsinger, of Sullivan County, and who was 
born June 22, 1814. No children were born to this union, but Mrs. Wenner has two 
children by her first husband — Amelia Ann, wife of Simon Mj'ers, residing in Williams- 
port, and David who married Charlotte Hartman and is a merchant at Bendertown. Mr. 
Wenner has always led a quiet and peaceable life. He has never identified himself with 
politics, but has been elected to many township offices. He is treasurer of the Fishing- 
creek Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of which he was one of the organizers. He and 
Mrs. Wenner are members of the German Reformed Church, of which for about forty 
years he was an elder and deacon. In the community in which his life has been passed 
Mr. Wenner bears the record of an upright and good citizen. 

MICHAEL WENNER, farmer, P. O. Van Camp, is the eldest son of John Wenner, and 
was born September 25, 1841, on the old Wenner homestead where his father still resides. 
At the age of twenty-three he married and removed to Briarcreek Township where he 
farmed a year. He then came to this township and settled on the farm of his father ad- 



FISHINGCREEK TOWNSHIP. 457 

joining the homestead, where he has since lived. This he rented and worked on share^ 
until four years ago when he purchased it. December 22, 1864, he married Rosanna M 
•daughter of D. R. Hosier, of Jonestown, this township, who was born November 2, 1846, 
and had always lived at home until her marriage. To this union nine children were born': 
William Wallace, born September 29, 1865, married Amanda, daughter of Levi Beishline, 
lives in this township and farms his grandfather's farm; Ellis Bruce, born April 21, 1867; 
Laura Roella, born December 9, 1869; Mary Alice, born June 13, 1871; Torrence Meldon, 
born October 9, 1873; Clement B., born September 20, 1875; Estella Eudora, born June 13, 
1877; Emma Bernetta, born October 25, 1880, and Anna May, born January 17, 1884. Mr! 
Wenner has always followed agricultural pursuits, except one summer that he engaged 
at carpentering. He has never taken a very active part in politics, but has held several 
township offices. _ He and Mrs. Wenner are members of the German Reformed Church at 
Van Camp, in which he was a deacon for ten years; and also taught in the Sunday-school 
several years. 

ELIAS WENNER, farmer, P. O. Van Camp, is a son of John Wenner and was born 
June 15, 1843, on his father's farm in this township. At the age of eighteen he went to Light 
Street, 'and later to Berwick, where he learned the trade of a blacksmith. On completing his 
apprenticeship he opened a shop in Bendertown, which he conducted eight years. He then 
abandoned the trade and removed to the farm about a mile west of Bendertown. This 
property he had previously purchased from Henry Schaeffer, and there has since resided, 
and where, in 1879, he built an elegant and commodious residence. January 1, 1867, he 
married Miss Susanna, daughter of Aaron Bender of this township. Mrs. Wenner was 
born April 80, 1844, within half a mile of where[she now lives. Mr. and Mrs. Wenner have 
had six children: Forrester C, born October 26, 1867, died January 17, 1869; Herbie B., 
born January 16, 1869; Martha A., born July 18, 1871; John W., born October 14, 1874- 
Frank E., born March 12, 1877, and William Clarence, born May 15, 1881; all at' home 
with their parents. Mr. Wenner is a reliable and upright gentleman and with his wife a 
member of the St. James Reformed Church at Van Camp. 

BENJAMIN B. YOUNG, farmer, P. O. Van Camp, is a son of Jacob and Christian 
(Pegg) Young, who resided in Jackson Township, this county, where his grandparents 
also resided. Jacob was a farmer and lived to an advanced age, dying in 1884 in his nine- 
tieth year. He was a blacksmith and was three times married, the mother of Benjamin 
B. being his second wife. She had ten children, Sarah Ann, Jane, Daniel, Benjamin B., 
Jesse. William, Ellis, Mary, Samantha and Uzilla. All are now living except Jesse, who 
died in Iowa. Sarah Ann is the wife of Abraham Trevelpeace of Greenwood Township; 
Jane is the wife of Washington Eikher living near Cambria, Luzerne County; Daniel 
lives in Jackson Township; William resides in Berwick; Ellis in Greenwood Township; 
Mary is the widow of Philip Kanouse of Benton; Samantha is married to Samuel McKin- 
ney and resides in Espy; Uzilla is the wife of John Hess of Jackson Township. Benja- 
min B. is the second son and was born in Jackson Township, March 20, 1828, and reared 
to farming. He lived with Dr. G. W. Lott of Orangeville from the time he was seven 
years old until he was nineteen; then worked for twelve years for Andrus Fellows in 
Huntington Township, Luzerne County, and in 1868 bought the farm where he now re- 
sides. He married in 1860, Mrs. Huldah McCreaner, and Albert E. was their only child, 
and was born April 3, 1861, and died April 8, 1875, aged fourteen years and five days. Mrs'. 
Young was the daughter of Andrus Fellows, one of the prominent men of Luzerne County 
and the first white child born in Huntington Township, of which his father was one of 
the early settlers. Mr. Fellows was a kind, charitable and thrifty farmer and left a name 
honored by his descendants. He accumulated a good property which he left to his chil- 
dren. Miss Fellows married first Thomas Bowman October 10, 1833, who died December 
7, 1836. They had two children: Alfred B., who died in November, 1883 (his widow 
lives in Nevada, Mo.); the other child was Rosa, who is the wife of Myron W. Britton of 
Cambria, Luzerne County. May 9, 1857, Mrs. Bowman married Henry McCreaner of 
Mauch Chunk, who died January 1, 1859. He was a soldier in the Mexican war and died 
from the effects of a disease contracted in the army. He left no heirs. In 1878 Mr, and 
Mrs. Young erected the commodious and comfortable residence in which they live. It 
stands near the site of the house in which Samuel C. Creveling lived. Their farm was a 
part of that original tract and is 110 acres in extent. Mr. and Mrs. Young are members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church and are highly respected by those who know them 
Mr. Young has never aspired to political notoriety and has never held office. 

DAVID YOST, farmer and justice of the peace, Van Camp, is of German extraction, 
his great-great-grandfather having emigrated from Germany and settled in Chester 
County, Penn., where his great-grandfather, John Yost, was born. The latter removed 
to Pottstown, Montgomery County, where he died. He was twice married: first to Mol- 
lie Krause, by whom he had the following named children : Henry, Philip, Samuel, Eliz- 
abeth and Mary. His second wife was a Miss Seivel, who bore him five children : John ; 
Jacobs., a congressman, and State marshal under President Buchanan; Catherine, Ra- 
chel and Sarah, all now deceased. The grandfather of our subject was Henrj'. He was 
born in Chester County ; went with his parents to Pottstown, and, after his marriage, re- 



458 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

moved with his wife and cliild to Roaringcreek, in this county, where he erected a tan 
nery. There he stayed seven years, when he sold his tannery and rented a farm at Cata- 
wissa, on which he lived four years, and in 1811 went to Sugar Loaf Township, Luzerne 
County, where he bought a tract of land, on which he lived until his death in 1862, at the 
age of eighty-seven years and nine months. His -wife died six weeks prior, at the age of 
eighty-five years. Her maiden name was Margaret Rickert, and she bore her husband 
seven children, as follows : Susanna, widow of Joseph Minnich, resides in Luzerne Coun- 
ty ; Elizabeth; John; Solomon, and Henry (deceased); Mary, wife of William Woodworth, 
of Wilkesbarre, and Samuel, the father of our subject, who lives in this township. He 
was born June 13, 1805, in Roaringcreek, and when nineteen years of age, served an ap- 
prenticeship to the trade of carpenter, at which he worked until 1842. He then bought a 
farm in this township, and a few years later bought the place where he now resides" and 
erected the house thereon. Since 1866 he has lived retired. He married, in December, 
1826, Esther Winters, who had four children : Margaret Ann, wife of George M. Howell, 
of Van Camp ; Sarah and May (twins), the former the wife of William Lauderbach, and 
the latter of Nathan Driesbach, both of this township, and David (subject). His first wife 
dying, Samuel Yost married, in 1871, Henrietta, widow of Solomon Hartman, and by this 
union there are no children. He has been a prominent man in the public affairs of the .town- 
ship, and has been deacon and elder in the Reformed Church for many years. Our sub- 
ject was born December 12, 1830, in Conyngham, Luzerne County, and after his marriage 
removed to a farm belonging to his father in this township, and eleven years later to his 
father's home farm, where he now resides. July 1, 1854, he married Sarah Catherine, 
daughter of John Creveling of this township. She was born December 18, 1836, and have 
had eight children : Alfred Nevin, born August 23, 1855, living in Bloomsburg ; Mary 
Alice, September 17, 1857, wife of Noah W. Hess, of this township ; Clarence Wilber, 
September 5, 1869, living on the farm of his grandfather Creveling ; John Creveling, born 
February 18, 1862, died May 4, 1885 ; George D., August 14, 1864 ; Bruce C, June 30, 1867; 
Dora Esther, February 2, 1870, and Samuel, September 23, 1878 ; the last four reside with 
their parents. In September, 1884, Mr. Yost was appointed justice of the peace to fill a 
vacancy, and the following year was elected for a term of five years. He was the first 
superintendent of the Sabbath-school connected with the Reformed Church at Van Camp, 
holding the position twenty-five years, when he resigned. He was deacon about the same^ 
time, and is now elder of the church, and in 1887 represents it at the general synod in 
Akron, Ohio. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but attends the 
Reformed, of which all her children are members. 



CHAPTER XXXI. 
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP. 

CHRISTIAN L. ARTLEY, farmer, P. O. Pensyl, was born in Catawissa, this county, 
February 8, 1828, a son of Henry and Peggy (Loreman) Artley, natives respectively of 
Columbia and Berks Counties, Penn., and of German descent. His great-grandfather 
came from Germany and settled in Windsor, Bucks Co., Penn., where he resided until his 
death. His grandfather. Christian Artley, was born in Bucks County and was a mill- 
wright, which trade he followed during his early life. He moved from Bucks County to 
Snyder County and thence to Columbia County, about 1780; settled in what is now 
Franklin Township, on the present site of Pensyl's mill; owned some 400 acres of land 
and operated a saw-mill. He died in 1847, and is buried in the Lutheran Cemetery at Cata- 
wissa, as is also his wife. Our subject's maternal grandfather, Loreman, was born 

in Germany, and immigrated to Berks County, Penn., but later moved to Northumber- 
land County, and resided in Shamokin Township, where he followed farming. Henry 
Artley was reared in Catawissa Township, and learned the carpenter's trade, which he 
followed most of his life. He died in 1873, his widow, February 12, 1880, and both are 
buried in Catawissa Cemetery. Both were members of the Presbyterian Church, and 
were born in 1796 and 1806, respectively. Our subject was reared to the carpenter's trade, 
which he learned under his father. At the age of twenty-two he started out for himself, 
worked in Schuylkill and Northumberland Counties, erected quite a number of houses 
and employed twelve men. In 1860 he bought the farm where Ranslow George now 
resides, consisting of ninety-seven acres (no buildings), for which he paid $1,200, and 
after erecting good buildings on the place sold it for $2,400. In 1862 he bought a lot of 
thirty-two acres, where he now resides, and erected all the improvements, which are first- 



FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP. 459 

class. He has owned several farms, but sold or traded them o^ again, and now owns 
sixty-four acres of good land. He followed his trade until 1874, when he turned his 
attention mostly to farming. In 1862, while erecting a house, he was drafted, but pro- 
cured a substitute for which he paid $600. He was married January 23, 1856, to Harriet, 
daughter of Samuel and Maria (Marsh) Raup. Mr. and Mrs. Artley are the parents of 
seven children, five of whom survive: Alfred, David, Ellis, Clara and Alice; the deceased 
are Sarah and Lizzie. Mr. and Mrs. Artley are members of the Presbyterian and Lutheran 
Churches, respectively; he is a member of the Fire Insurance Company. 

FRANCIS E. ELY, farmer, P. O. Pensyl, was born in Mayberry Township, 
Montour County, this State, March 2,1854, a son of James and Lydia E. (Hull) Ely, natives 
of Pennsylvania and of English descent, former of whom was born in 1821, died 
in 1855. His parental grandfather was a native of Pennsylvania, his maternal grand- 
father was a great hunter. James Ely was a farmer in Montour County; owned a tract 
of land where he resided until his death. His mother is yet living on the old homestead 
in Montour County. Subject was reared on a farm and remained at home until nineteen 
years of age, when he was married; he farmed the homestead until 1881, when he bought 
162 acres of land where he now resides. He married in December, 1874, Margaret A. 
Woodruff, a native of Northumberland County, daughter of Isaac and Mary (Reeder) 
Woodruff, who were the parents of nine children, seven of whom are living: Joseph, 
Jacob, Hiram, Elias, Sarah, Elizabeth and Margaret A., wife of F. E. Ely. Mr. andMrs. Ely 
are the parents of eight children (seven of whom are living): Lou M., Gilbert, Arthur, 
Elizabeth B., Harry, Mary (deceased), James and an infant son. Mr. and Mrs. Ely are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Ely is the present school director of 
his township, and served as tax collector one teriiu He is the Sunday-school superin- 
tendent of the Methodist Sunday-school; is one of the enterprising young men of his 
vicinity; takes a great interest in educational matters; is a Republican in politics. Two 
of the sons of James and Lydia E. Ely, William and Wesley, participated in the civil 
war; the former died of consumption, and was brought home from the service by his 
father. Wesley and Francis E. are the only survivors of the Ely family. 

W. G. FISHER, farmer, P. O. Catawissa, was born in Rush Township, Northumber- 
land Co., this State, May 6,1834, a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Scheffler) Fisher, 
natives of Pennsylvania and ot German-English descent. His father located near Bear 
Gap, Columbia County; worked on a farm most of his life and died in Rush Township, 
Northumberland County, in 1842. Our subject was only eight years of age at the time of 
his father's death. He remained with his mother about one year, and then lived with his 
brother Joseph six years on the same place. He then worked four j'ears for Jesse Mench 
on the same farm on which he was born; later for Jacob Shultz in Mayberry Township, 
Montour County, with whom he remained three j^ears. He then moved to Danville and 
remained one year, when he married and settled about two miles from Danville on the 
Boyd farm east of the mill, and remained three years. In 1859 he bought a farm belong- 
ing to his father-in-law near Franklin Township, Columbia County, and lived there six 
years, when he sold out and moved to Danville, where he dealt in coal. He then resided 
two years on Boyer's big farm, and in 1867 moved to where he now lives and bought 143 
acres of good land. He has made nearly all the improvements on the farm and has one of 
the best places in the township. He was married December 20, 1855, to Sarah A. Swayze, 
who has borne him two children: Charles J. and Lizzie C, the former of whom is a grad- 
uate of the Bloomsburg Normal School; has taught five years and is now the principal 
teacher of the Catawissa graded school, having been elected June 21, 1886. Mr. and Mrs. 
Fisher are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has been school director, 
supervisor and overseer of the poor. 

JONATHAN H. FORTNER, retired farmer, was born in Maine Township, Columbia 
Co., Penn., March 4; 1813, a son of John and Sarah (Brooke) Fortner, natives of this State 
and of English descent. ,His grandfather came to this county from Sussex County, N. J., 
and located near Mifllin, where he lived until his death. He was a raftsman on the Dela- 
ware River. Our subject's great grandmother was a daughter of Lord Archibald Douglas, 
of Scotland, who had one son and one daughter; the son was drowned and the daughter left 
Scotland at sixteen years of age. She went out on a pleasure trip and was captured by 
Algerine pirates and sold on board a vessel to a man named Clark, who took her to Phila- 
delphia. There she became acquainted with Mr. Fortner and they were married, and settled 
in New Jersey; lived there until their death. Our subject's father was reared to agricul- 
ture, which he always followed, and owned 133 acres at the time of his death, Januarj' 23, 
1848. Our subject was reared on a farm and remained at home until his father's death. 
The farm was willed to our subject by his mother, and he has been living on it for nearly 
three-quarters of a century, or seventy-three years. Mr. Fortner is now one of the oldest 
men living in this township. He owns two farms aggregating 267 acres. He was married 
May 4, 1848, to Mary A. Campbell, by whom he had two children, Dabney and Alfretta. 
Mrs. Fortner is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Fortner is a Methodist. 

JAMES HILE, farmer, P. O. Catawissa, was born in Rush Township, Northumber- 
land Co., Penn., November 30, 1810, a son of Henry and Mary A. (Johnson) Hile, natives 



460 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

of Sussex County, N. J. His grandfather, Henry, came from New Jersey and settled ia 
Rush Township, Northumberland County, where he bought a large tract of land, which 
he cleared and where he remained, engaged in farming. He and a man named Beaty 
bought 400 acres of land and had to carry the money to make payments all the way to 
Philadelphia, as there were no mails, railroads or canals. Henry Hile was a farmer and 
lived in Northumberland County until he became old, when he moved to Clearfield 
County, Penn.. where he bought 500 acres of land, and there lived until his death, which 
occurred April 8, 1853; his widow died in Missouri February 2, 1872. Our subject was 
reared on a farm, and when twenty-six years of age married and located near Sunbury, 
where he remained one year. He then moved to one of his father's farms, where he lived 
eleven years; thence to Clearfield County and bought 110 acres of land, where he re- 
mained until 1866, when he came to where he now resides and bought 222 acres. March 
30, 1834, he married Hannah Campbell, who bore him twelve children, eight of whom are 
living: Minner; Henry; Amos; John; Elizabeth, wife of James C. Bloom, residing in 
Clearfield County; Mary A., wife of William Teple, in Franklin Township, Columbia 
County; Joanna, wife of Obadiah Yocum, in Locust Township, Columbia County; and 
Eliza J., wife of James P. Louis, residing in Wilkesbarre. Mrs. Hile died in 1873. 
AVhile living in Clearfield County Mr. Hile held a number of township ofiices. In politics 
he is neutral. 

JOHN C. HILE, farmer, P. O. Pensyl, was born in Clifton County, Penn., October 
11, 1847, a sou of James and Hannah (Campbell) Hile, natives of Pennsylvania and of 
German descent. His father, who has alwaj^s followed farming, resides in this township. 
Our subject was nineteen years of age when his parents came to this county, and he re- 
mained with them until he was twenty-two years of age. He then married and moved to 
Mayberry Township, Montour Co., Penn., where he remained one year, and in 1867 came 
to where he now lives. He owns 138 acres of land, well improved. January 28, 1868, he 
married Mary C, daughter of Valentine and Maria Vought. They are the parents of 
eleven children: Charles W., Harriet E., Cora J., James V., Bertha M., Jeremiah M., 
Mary E., Ulam H., Katie V., Rebecca E. and Ambrose S. Mr. Hile is a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, his wife of the Lutheran, and the three eldest chil- 
dren of the Methodist Episcopal. He has been a member of the T. of H., but, it being 
too inconvenient for him to attend the lodge, has given it up. He has held the office of 
school director and several township offices. 

MOSES HOWER, retired farmer, P. 0. Catawissa, was born in MifHin Township, 
Columbia Co., Penn., March 8, 1820, a son of Daniel and Catherine (Kostenbander) 
Hower, natives of Pennsylvania and of German descent. His ancestors on both sides 
came from Germany. His grandfather settled in what is now Franklin Township, on 
the farm adjoining that of Moses Hower, where he lived until his death. Our subject's 
father was reared a blacksmith, and settled in Mifilin Township, where he traded for 
some time, and finally traded for 212 acres of land in this township, moved on it and 
lived there until his death in 187,1. He was the father of five children, three living: 
Moses, Daniel and Hiram Y. His father served in the Revolutionary war, holding a com- 
mission in the service. Our subject was reared on a farm, and remained with his parents 
until twenty-six years of age, when he married and remained with his parents about two 
years. In 1850 he moved to where he now lives and bought forty-seven acres of land, 
but has since added to it until he now has .100 acres. In 1846 he married Elizabeth 
Stocker. They are the parents of six children (five of whom are living): William E., Mary 
J., Sarah C, Hannah E., Maria E. (deceased) and Moses S. His wife died about 1858, 
and he next married Hannah Yetter, who died a few years after marriage. His present 
wife is Elizabeth Bittner, by whom he has three children: Laura A., Clark B. and Nimon 
W. Mr. and Mrs. Hower are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Hower has held the 
offices of school director, overseer of the poor, collector of county taxes, and has resided 
here nearly half a century. He owns 100 acres in the home tract and a stone quarry, 
which affords good building stone. He owns altogether over 300 acres and some lots Id 
Riverside, also two lots in Catawissa. Some years ago, he, with three others, bought 3,000 
acres of land in Lycoming County, but has since sold it. Mr. Hower has been one of the 
largest landholders in the county. During the war he followed the butchering business. 
SYLVESTER HOWER, carpenter, P. O. Pensyl, was born in Columbia County, 
Penn., February 6, 1841, a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Hendershot) Hower, former of 
whom was born in Columbia County, Penn., of German descent. Our subject's grand 
father settled near Mifflin, Penn., where he followed his trade, that of a blacksmith, carry 
ing on farming also. He moved to this township, where he died in 1866. Our subject's 
father is a shoemaker, but carries on farming in this township. He was the father of nine 
children, eight of whom are living: Sylvester; Catherine, wife of Elijah Fields, residing in 
Danville, Penn.; Lloyd W.; Isaiah J.; Hannah M.; Joshua M.; Sarah E. and Kersey C; 
Elmira A, was killed at the battle of Petersburg on the first charge in front of Richmond. 
Our subject was reared on a farm and remained at home until eighteen years of age, when 
he began the carpenter's trade and served an apprenticeship of three years. In the spring 
of 1861 he enli!!:ted in Company A, Sixth Regiment Pennsylvania Reserves. The company 



FRANKLIN TOWNSHir. 401 

was raised and taken to Harrisburg for the purpose of being placed in the three months' 
service, but on arrival at that place it was discovered that the tield was full of men enlisted 
for that period, so the whole regiment enlisted for three years, July 27, 1861. From Har- 
risburg they were taken to C4reencastle, where they were kept about two weeks. They 
were taken to Washington; thence to Maryland, and December 20, 1861, fought their first 
battle at Dranesville. Mr. Hower also participated in the engagements of the regiment at 
Bull Run, South Mountain, Autietam, Fredericksburg and Gettysburg. He was wounded 
at the battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862, by a gunshot in the right hip, ana was 
disabled for about three months. After the battle of Gettysburg he participated in the 
battles of Mine Run, Va., through the Wilderness to Cold Harbor, marching day and 
night and engaging in several battles. During the battle of Bull Run he had nothing to 
eat for three days and three nights. He was discharged June 11, 1864, and shortly after- 
ward was employed by the Government building bridges for Sherman's army. In 1865 
he bought the farm where he now lives, which was a dense forest, but having a willing 
mind and strong arms, set about clearing it off, and now has a good farm, having made all 
the improvements himself. In the spring of 1878 he moved to Seward City, Neb., 
where he remained two years, working at his trade. He married, July 4, 1865, Harriet 
Yeager, and they are the parents of five children: Henry C, Anna C, Mazey E., Daniel 
T. and James Gartield. Mrs. Hower is a member of the Lutheran Church. 

JOHN H. HOWER, farmer, P. O. Catawissa, was born in Girardville, Schuylkill Co., 
Penn., November 1, 1853, a son of John and Lucetta (Gable) Hower, natives of Pennsyl- 
vania, and of German descent. His grandfather was born in Columbia County, Penn.; 
was a carpenter by trade, and lived where Jeremiah Kostenbander now resides. Our sub- 
ject's father was born in this county, and was brought up a farmer, but kept a hotel in 
Girardville for about twenty years, and was also engaged in the lumber business. He 
carried on both occupations up to the time of his death in December, 1883. He was the 
father of twelve children, eleven of whom are living: Harriet, wife of T. P. Churnington; 
Sarah, wife of Theodore Myers, residing in Michigan; Mary, wife of J. M. Glick, residing 
in Girardville; Emma, wife of G. W. Earnhardt, residing in Girardsville; Elizabeth, wife 
of S. K. Cleaver, residing in Berks County; Clinton G.. John H., William E., Albert L., 
Clara A. and Thomas C. His father owned 180 acres of land at the time of his death. 
Our subject was brought up in Girardville, where he received his education, and where he 
was employed as clerk until coining to this township. He came to Columbia County in 
1879, and here has since resided. He married, June 2, 1875, Helen S. Achenbach, by 
whom he has four children: Curwin E., Clara E., Elsa E. and William J. Mrs. Hower is 
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church; Mr. Hower a member of the P. O. S. of A. 

CHARLES HUGHES, farmer, P. O. Catawissa. was born in Kingston Township, Lu- 
zerne Count}', this State, October 28, 1821, a sou of James and Hannah (Smetland) 
Hughes, former of Welsh descent, the latter a native of Connecticut. His great-grand- 
father came from Wales and located in Berks County, Penn. His grandfather, Hugh, 
married a lady named Hutton, a relative of the Buttons of the present day. His maternal 
grandfather was Joseph Smetland, who with his family fled from Wyoming Valley during 
the massacre of 1812. After the war closed he came back and remained until his death. 
His grandfather, Hughes, moved up to Rush Township, Northumberland County, in 
1786, and there built one of the best stone houses in that county, the mechanical part of 
which was pronounced to be the best ever seen. The inside was as smooth as glass, with 
not a scratch on the wall. He also built the grist-mill near Danville, Penn., and lived 
there until his death. Our subject's father was only eight years of age when his parents 
moved to Northumberland County, and there he lived with them until 1812, when he 
moved into Wyoming Valley, where he purchased a farm and resided until his death. The 
farm he bought is a very valuable one on account of the vast amount of coal that it pos- 
sesses, and is leased for twenty years, the six living children getting a royalty of $1,000 a 
piece annually. His father was born in 1778, and was in his ninetj'-third year at the time 
of his death. He was the father of twelve children, three sons and three daughters of 
whom are surviving: James, Jr., Charles, Edward, Mary A., Ann M. and Margaret. He 
was a life-long Republican, and served as justice of the peace; was one of the early sur- 
veyors of the Wyoming Valley, and was often called on for explanations of surveys and 
drafts, and was also an excellent millwright. Our subject was reared on a farm and re- 
mained with his parents until he was twenty-nine j^ears of age, when he married and 
remained one year at home. He then resided on one of his father's farms in the same 
township for five j'ears; then moved on Rev. George Peck's farm, and resided four years; 
thence to Plymouth Township on a rented farm, where he remained eighteen years. In 
1874 he bought the farm where he now lives, but did not move on it until 1881. His sons, 
George P. and Hugh, had charge of this farm for about six years before he moved here. 
He owns 139 acres of good land. He has been twice married: first, to Ester Pettiborn, 
who bore him eleven children, six living: George, Husrh, Mary, Gordon S., Charles and 
Isabel. His wife died February 20, 1874, and January 1, 1878, "he married Mrs. Elizabeth 
(Suttliff) Mellick. by whom he had five children, four living: Margaret D., Jennie D., Ste- 
phen and Stanley. Mrs. Hughes has also a child by her former marriage, Olena V. Mel- 



462 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:, 

lick. i\Ir. and Mrs. Hughes are members of the Church. His first wife experienced 
religion when iliirieeu years of age, and was taken into full membership of the Methodist 
Episcopal Churcli, to which she was a faithful member during life. Mr. Hughes was 
twice elected a justice of the peace, but did not serve. 

R. S. McHENRY, miller, P. O. Catawissa, was b<irn in Hemlock Township, Colum- 
bia Co., Penu., April 1, 1851, a son of Moses W. and Sarah (Montgomery) McHenry 
of Scotch-Irish descent. His grandfather, Daniel., settled at Stillwater, where he operated 
a saw-mill. His grandfather, Samuel T. Montgomery, was a shoemaker; later entered the 
ministry and was the founder of the Pljnnouth Christian Church in Luzerne County. He 
died in West Rittsiown in 1885, in his eightieth year. Our subject's father was born at 
Stillwater, is a miller by trade, and has been conducting mills since he was eighteen 
years of age. He now lives in Beaver Township where he operates a mill. He was 
drafted in the civil war, but paid $700 for a substitute. He reared three sons and seven 
daughters (seven of whom are living); Ruggles S. ; Alice, wife of George Williams; Addie, 
wife of Cliarles Hazletine; Elizabeth, wife of George Munsou; Gaylard, a miller at lola; 
Minnie (deceased); Blanche, wife of Sherman Heller; Charles, a miller in Luzerne County; 
Anna (deceased), and Nettie (deceased). Our subject commenced to learn his trade when 
fifteen years of age and worked eight years with his father. He then went to Paxinos, 
where lie had charge of the mill for six years; then went to Eyer's Grove, and worked six 
months; thence to Mendenliall's mill, and worked two and one-half years; thence]to Eyer's 
Grove for another year. In the spring of 1883 he rented what is known as Parr's mill on 
Big Roaring creek, since wliichtime he has operated the same. He was married in Sep- 
tember, 1873, to Annie S. Yetter, and thej' are the parents of six children: Lillian, Nettie, 
Robert, Pearl, Freddie and Celia. Mr. and Mrs. McHemy are members of the Christian 
Church. In politics he is a Democrat. 

DAVID A. MUNSON, farmer, P. O. Pensyl, was born in Kingston Township, 
Luzerne Co., Penn., August 17, 1835, a son of Abel and Elizabeth (Atherholt) Munson, 
former a native of Connecticut, latter of Berks County, this State, but of German descent. 
His grandfather, Christian, was one of the first settlers in Kingston Township, Luzerne 
County, where he took up a large tract of land, lived and died. Our subject's father fol- 
lowed farming all his life in Luzerne County. He was the father of eight children, four 
of whom are living: Philip, A.sa, George (a resident of Iowa) and David A. The father's 
death was caused by an accident. He was one night coming from market along the nar- 
rows of Tobey Creek, where there was room for only one vehicle. He was driving two 
horses, one of which was blind and got over the bank. The wagon was upset and Mr. 
Munson was found next morning with the wagon bed over him, his head out of the water 
and frozen to death. Both horses were drowned. He was buried in Dallas Township, 
Luzerne County. Our subject was only eighteen montiisold when this accident occurred, 
and he remained with his mother until he was of age when the estate was divided. He 
bought a farm adjoining the old homestead, and remained there until tlie spring of 1872, 
when he bought 136 acres in this township, where he lias since resided. He has one of 
the best farms in tiie township, and also a fine residence and has made some of the im- 
provements since coming here. He was married in Dc-ceml)er, 1859, to Elousi L. John- 
son, a native of Luzerne Count}'. They are the parents of five children: George J., a 
merchant in Beaver Valley; Miner S. ; Mary E.; Nelson J. and Walter S. Mr. and Mrs. 
Munson are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Bethel. In 1876 Mr. Munson 
was elected justice of the peace, and is still holding that office. He is one of the promi- 
nent men of this county. Has been school director and has done more for the county in 
the way of building schoolhouses than any one who has held the office. His mother lives 
with him at the age of ninety years, and has never betni confined to her bed by sickness 
for tweuty-four hours, within the memory of our subject. 

WASHINGTON PARR, farmer. P. O. Catawissa, was born in Columbia County, 
Penn., October 4, 1824, a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Shuman) Parr, natives of Pennsyl- 
Tania and of German descent. His grandfather came from Germany at an early day and 
settled in Catawissa, where he bought a tract of land and resided until his death. Jacob 
Parr was born in this count3^ and was a blacksmith by trade, which he followed a number 
of years at Lime Ridge, this count}'. In 1834 he bought a farm in Catawissa Township, 
where he followed agricultural pursuits until his death in 1847; that of his widow occurred 
in 1870. Our subject was reared on a farm and remained with his parents until the death 
of his father, when he rented the homestead and farmed it nine years, when it was sold. 
He then moved on his father-in law's farm in this township and farmed eight 3'ears. He 
was engaged in mercantile business from 1858 to 1867. In 1864 he bought fourteen 
acres of land, where he now lives, on which he erected nearlj' all the buildings, made im- 
provements and has since resided. He now ovvns ninety acres of good land, also the Wil- 
low Grove grist-mill, better known as " Parr's mill." He also bought a saw-mill, which, 
however, he has since abandoned. The grist mill is almost in constant use with It. S. Mc- 
Henry, miller. Mr. Parr married, in April, 18-19, Maria, daughter of John and Christiana 
Mench. Mr. and Mrs. Parr are the parents of three children, two living : Alice, wife of 
Samuel Loreman, residing in York, Neb., and Sarah. Mr. and Mrs. Parr are members of 



FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP. 463 

the Lutheran Church. Mr. Parr was elected county commissioner in 1884, and has since 
served the public with satisfaction; has also been overseer of the poor, school director and 
stands high in political affairs. In politics he is a Democrat. 

JOHN W. RIDER, farmer, P. O. Catawissa, was born in Locust Township, this 
county, April 1, 1853, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Yetter) Rider. His father was 
a native of Berks County, Penn., and his mother of this township, both of German de- 
scent. His paternal grandfather came from Berks County to Columbia County in 1812, and 
settled in Mayberry Township, in what is now Montour County, where he lived several 
years. He then moved to Lycoming County and bought a farm where he lived until his 
death in 1868. Our subject's father was only four years of age when his parents came here, 
and when about the age of twenty-five he returned to this county and worked in this and 
Locust Townships. He bought the place where he now resides in 1862, built ou it and made 
all the improvements. He was the father of seven children, of whom three sons and three 
daughters are now living: Lloyd. William. John W., Sarah (wife of Christian Artlej'), 
Mary (wife of Abram Stine) and Harriet (wife of Jerry John). Our subject has always 
lived on the homestead. In 1879 he went west and was absent about eight months stop- 
ping the most of his time in Lucas County, Iowa. He then returned and resumed farm- 
ing, which he has since continued. He married, December 25, 1881, Emma, daughter of 
Henry and Betsey Yost. They are the parents of two children, Ira P. and Howard E. 
Mr. and Mrs. Rider are members of the United Brethren Church. 

WILLIAM ROHRBACH, farmer, P. O. Pensyl, was born in Bethlehem, Lehigh 
County, this State, November 29, 1816, a son of Jacob and Mary (Fenstamecher) Rohr- 
bach, natives of Berks County, Penn., and of German descent. His grandfather, 
Lorenzo, came from Germany when quite young with his parents and settled in Berks 
•County. He was seventeen years of age when the Revolutionary war broke out; enlisted 
in the service. He lived iu Berks County until his death, which occurred in his one- 
hundredth year. He worked in one of the many forges that were then in the county. 
His wife was in her ninety-eighth year when she died. Oursubject's father was born in 
Berks County in 1781, and died iu his seventy-fourth year. He came to this county in 
1817, settled 'in Catawissa Township, near the old Catawissa furnace, in which he was 
founder several years. He moved thence to a farm on Roaring creek, where he lived 
about ten years; then moved to where James Hile now lives and resided there until his 
death. Our subject was reared on a farm and remained at home until he was married. 
He followed his trade, that of a tailor, for seventeen years, having learned it at the age of 
fourteen. In 1853 he moved up the south branch of Roaring creek, built a saw-mill and 
followed lumbering until 1865. He cleared some land and farmed while living here. He 
bought some 400 acres off which he took the timber and sold it. In 1865 he moved to 
where he now resides and purchased 300 acres, but has sold off until he now owns 130 acres 
of good land on w^hich he has all the improvements. He has cleared a good portion of the 
land himself. He married, in 1852, Levina Startzler, a native of this county, and they are 
the parents of eight children, five of whom are living: Margaret, wife of John Ashworth; 
Lorenzo D., married to Josephine Reigel; Lydia, wife of Erviu Vought; Harriet A., wife 
of Charles Reigel and Zenith S. Mrs. Rohrbachis a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. Mr. Rohrbach is one of the pioneers of this county. In politics he is a Demo- 
crat. In 1841 he moved to Sunbury and purchased an interest in a foundry, but, becom- 
ing dissatisfied, in 1842 moved back to this county and worked at his trade, doing a great 
deal of work for the furnace hands. 

WILLIAM STOCKER, farmer. P. O. Catawissa, was born in Northumberland County, 
Penn., March 9, 1822, a son of Alexander and Jane (Shannon) Stocker, who were born 
near Belfast, Ireland. His grandfather, Samuel, came from Ireland at an early day, and 
settled in Northumberland County, this State. He first contracted on the canal, but soon 
adopted farming, which pursuit he followed during life. His parents were married on 
coming to America, and settled in Northumberland County. There his father contracted a 
few years on the canal, but in 1831 moved to Rush Township, where he followed farming. 
In 1833 he moved to Danville, where he farmed and did teaming. He lived here until 1840, 
when he moved to Columbia County and settled in Franklin Township, where he farmed 
until his death, which occurred April 8, 1868. Our subject was reared on a farm until 
twenty-five years of age, when he learned the carpenter's trade in 1847 in Schuylkill County, 
and followed it twenty-one years. In 1855 he bought the farm where he now lives, but 
remained on it only one year. In 1869 he moved on the farm now owned by Charles 
Hughes. Mr. Stocker now owns 247 acres of land, two first-class houses and three fine 
farms. He was married in May. 1850, to Christiana Yetter, and they have one daughter, 
Sarah J., wife of Washington F. Manhardt. 



464 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



1 



CHAPTER XXXII. 
GREENWOOD TOWNSHIP. 

SYLVESTER ALBERTSON, farmer, P. O. Rohrsburg, was born on the farm where 
he now resides November 16, 1833. John R. Albertson, father of our subject, was born 
in Tuscarora Valley, September 16, 1795, and was six years of age when he came to this 
township. His father, David, was born November 30, 1766, and was married February 
26, 1788, to Charity Bellis, who bore him four sons and three daughters: Cornelius, "Will- 
iam, John R., David C, Abigail, Sarah and Mary. John R. married, February 11, 1817, 
Jane Kitchen, a daughter of Samuel Kitchen, and after marriage he located on a part of 
the homestead and engaged in farming. He died in February, 1859; his widow survived 
him until October, 1876. They were the parents of seven children: Elijah, Samuel, David, 
Sylvester, Joel, Beulah and Elizabeth, all of whom married and reared families, except 
Elizabeth. Sylvester married, November 29, 1860, Mary, daughter of John and Elsie 
(Albertson) Richart, former a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Robbing) Richart. Mr. Albert- 
son located on the farm after his marriage, and there has since resided. He has eighty- 
seven acres of land, having sold off fifty-two acres twenty years ago. To him and his wife 
were born four children: Narcissa B., Lorenzo D., Marshall B. and Floranius H. Mr. 
Albertson has followed farming and lumbering for several j'ears. Politically he is a 
Republican. " On Saturday, August 29, 1885, a reunion of relatives was held at Sylvester 
Albertson's, in Greenwood Township, Columbia County, in memory of the old homestead 
of John R. Albertson, who had long since gone to a homestead not built with hands. 
Nearly 200 persons were present and mostly relatives, being from Columbia, Cameron, 
Montour, Lycoming and Sullivan Counties, Penn., also from Wilkesbarre, Bloomsburg 
and Danville, Penn.; Cincinnati, Ohio; Newark, N. J.; Bangor and Braganza, Ga. 
Speeches were made in the forenoon by Rev. Wm. R. Mather, and in the afternoon by 
Rev. J. W. Messenger, which were appropriate to the occasion and brought forth old 
memories anew that were long forgotten by the old and which will form a new history 
never to be forgotten by the young. Refreshments were given about 2 o'clock on tables 
suitable for the occasion, erected in the beautiful grove in front of Mr. Albertson's home, 
where all seemed to be happy and protected from the scorching rays of the sun. The 
music was well chosen, and brought tears to many eyes in thinking of the past. Instru- 
mental was furnished by Miss Narcissa B., daughter of Sylvester Albertson, and vocal 
by four sisters. Misses Richart, of Rohrsburg. Stereoscopic and cabinet views were taken 
of the homestead and of thejwhole party in a consolidated group, by J. W. Knouse, of 
which nearly all families procured one or more copies as an emblem for the future. Those 
who had not seen the old homestead for many years past were more than pleased with 
the grand improvements made, and the pride Mr. Albertson has taken in making his 
home pleasant for all, and his taste in beautifying a home should be imitated by others. All 
parted for their homes in the eve, feeling that they had been welcome— some perhaps 
never to meet again until the grand reunion is permitted above, where all the faith- 
ful reunite never more to part." 

MATTHIAS MILLER APPLEMAN, wagon-maker and proprietor of theplaning-mill, 
Rohrsburg, was born October 21, 1831, in Sugarloaf Township, a grandson of Matthias 
Appleman, who was the first of the name to come to this county. His father, Philip 
Appleman, born February 17, 1808, in Hemlock Township, remained here some years, and 
with his father carried on a distillery for several years in Hemlock Township. On leav- 
ing there he located in Sugarloaf Township, where he married Mary, daughter of 
Reuben Davis. When very young our subject removed with his parents to Fishiugcreek, 
where he was reared to maturity, remaining with them until he was twenty-three years 
of age; then came to Rohrsburg and not finding farming congenial to his tastes began 
wagon-making. He soon picked up the trade, and in addition to his wagon business 
added a planing-mill and saw-mill, also a blacksmithing shop and foundry, which give 
employment to several hands. May 4, 1854, he married Margaret Jane Barber, of Madi- 
son Township, a daughter of Wm. Barber, and seven children were born to them: Mary 
E., William H.. Philip D., James C, George B., Phineas M. and Boyd W. Mary E. is the 
wife of Clark W. Albertson, and resides in Mississispi; William H. resides in Huntsville. 
Ala.; Philip D. is in the blacksmith business here; James Clyde is in Mississippi; the 
others are home. Mr. Appleman is a member of the Christian Church and has been offi- 
cially connected with the same. 



GREENWOOD TOWNSHIP. 



465 ' 



HENDRICK W. BANGS, farmer. P. O. Greenwood, was born October 7. 1823, in 
Plymouth Township, Luzerne Count}-, son of Alba Bangs, a native of Massachusetts, who 
removed to Luzerne County when a young man, and there married Hannah, a daughter 
of Samuel Pringle, who bore her husband eight children, Hendrick W. being the youngest 
son and fifth in'the family. Only four of the number are now living. When twenty- two 
years of age our subject came to this county, having learned blacksmithing in Ply- 
mouth before coming here, and for fourteen years he carried on his trade at Benton. In 
the spring of 1864 he came to this township, and purchased the Morris farm, consisting of 
ninety acres, which farm is of a century's settlement. November 29, 1849, he married 
Sarah Ann, daughter of Enos and Mary (Ogden) Heacock. Mr. and Mrs. Bangs have five 
children: Jacob E., Enos E., Samuel A., Jennie and William A. In 1863 Mr. Bangs went 
out with the militia to repel the rebel invasion, and subsequently enlisted in Company A, 
One Hundred and Seventy-eighth Regiment, serving until August, 1863. He has three 
brothers living: Benjamin, Alva and Samuel. Mr. and Mrs. Bangs are members of the 
Christian Church. 

BENJAMIN F. BATTIN, farmer, P. O. Greenwood, is descended from one of the 
prominent families of the county. John Battin, who was of English descent, married 
Susan McDermin, a native of Ireland, and at the time of the Revolutionary war they 
hved in Chester County, Penn., near where the battle of Brandywine was fought. They 
reared eight children: William, John, Henry, Marshall, Susan, Hannah, Mary and Martha. 
John Battin, Sr., moved with his family from Chester County to near Millville, this 
county, in about 1787. Of his children, William was a tailor by trade, and died near 
Reading; John married, and had one daughter, who married a Cornelison; Marshall was 
a blacksmith, and settled in Sullivan County; Henry, the father and grandfather of those 
living in Greenwood Township, married, February 24, 1791, Sarah, daughter of John and 
Edith Eves. They were Friends or Quakers, and had thirteen children, all deceased 
except Joseph (in Brooklyn), Mary (in New Haven, Conn.) and Rachel (in this township). 
The subject of this sketch was reared in this township, and located on the farm which he 
now owns, it being the place his grandfather bought. January 6, 1859, he married Elmira, 
daughter of Elijah and E'leanor (Parker) Lemon. They have four children: Ethelind F. 
(wife of William P. Robbins, of this township), Mary E., Sarah E. and Rachel B. (at 
home). Mr. Battin has an elder brother, Isaac, who has resided in Albany, N. Y., and 
since 1861 he has been superintendent of the gas works in that city. 

JACOB K. BERLIN, shoemaker, Rohrsburg, was born May 9, 1826, near Berwick, a 
son of David and Susan (Kisner) Berlin; former, a native of Northampton County, fol- 
lowed blacksmithing near Berwick for several years; latter a daughter of Jacob and Mar- 
garet Kisner. Our subject.left home at the age of eighteen and wentto Berwick, where he 
learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed as journeyman for some years. In 1850 
he came to Rohrsburg, opened a shop and in the spring of 1853 purchased the property 
where he now resides, and by his industry has acquired a good home. He married in 
March, 1850, Minerva, daughter of John Chamberlain. She died of typhoid fever, De- 
cember 24, 1868, the mother of three children, all now deceased: William W., died at the 
age of three years; Margaret J., at the age of nine years and Willson Boyd July 18, 1873, 
aged seventeen years. Mr. Berlin on January 11, 1872, married his second wife. Ruth Ann, 
daughter of Isaiah Kline, and she bore him one child, Hannah E., who died July 11, 1878, 
aged ten months and four days. Mr. Berlin is a member of the Presbyterian Church, ef 
which he is an elder and clerk. Mr. Berlin was appointed postmaster at Rohrsburg in 
March, 1862, and held the office until January, 1874, then lesigned. 

JOHN BLACK, retired, Rohrsburg, one of the old timemillersof the county, was born 
October 26, 1809, in Northumberland County. His father, Jeremiah Black, a native of Ire- 
land, a Protestant, a miller and millwright by trade, immigrated to America in the early part 
of 1800. On coming to this country he located in Northumberland County, Penn., and shortly 
after moved to this county, where he followed his vocation to the time of his death. He was 
accidentally drowned December 7, 1827, below Bowman's mill, while crossing the creek, 
which was swollen. At this time our subject was a lad of sixteen, assisting his father in 
the mill, and had become pretty well versed in the business. For several years after his- 
father's death he contributed largely to the support of the family. His mother died Janu- 
ary 27, 1865. Mr. Black's first milling was done in the Huffman mill above Light Stieet, 
later at the Bowman mill, and subsequently had charge of different mills in this locality. 
On account of failing health he was obliged to abandon practical milling and then gave 
his attention to buhr dressing and the care of the mill-stones. Later he came to this- 
township, and for several years engaged in mercantile business, also in the lumber and 
furniture trade. He also kept hotel some years and carried on farming, but during later 
years has retired from active life, only assisting his son Perry in the store. He married 
January 31, 1833, Ann, daughter of Jonathan Lemon. Seven children were borntothemi 
Lemon J., Isaac F., Perry D., Mary C, Alfred B., William W. and Elizabeth. Alfred 
Bruce died February 22, 1866, of disease contracted while in the army. He volunteered 
in 1864 in Company D, Second Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served until the close of the 
war; William also served in the army and returned home unscathed. Mr. Black for 



466 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

many years has been a prominent member of the Presbyterian Church. He takes little 
interest in political affairs. 

JOHN BRUNER, farmer, P. O. Millville, was born July 5, 1830, in Franklin Township, 
Lycoming County, the eldest child of Peter Bruner, who was a son of John Bruner, 
whose ancestors came from Germany. Peter Bruner married Hannah, daughter of John 
A. Hartman, and they had seven children: John, Margaret, William, Andrew J., Samuel, 
Lydia and Mary. Jolin remained at home until of age, and soon after began for him- 
self. He was married May 20, 1853, to Martha C, daughter of Robert and Edith (Battin) 
Fairman, and granddaughter of Henry Battin and Sarah, and William Fairman and his 
wife Mary. After his marriage our subject worked out for 50 cents per day, and 
about 1855 had saved some money and bought thirty acres of timber land near where he 
was born, and began clearing this up; he kept this land until 1857, when he sold it and 
came to this county and rented land in this township for seven years, then moved to 
Pine Township and bought 100 acres, 30 of which was partially cleared, and cleared 
about 90 acres; having bought other land he had in all 275 acres. He lived here until the 
spring of 1882, when he removed with his family to Millville, where, he lived until the 
spring of 1886, when he moved on the farm he now owns, known as the Henry Battin 
farm. Mr. and Mrs. Bruner have six living children: Mary I., Hannah E., Anna M., 
Sarah E., John W., Susan E.; William P. died in 1863. aged nearly four years; Henry J. 
Bruner died in 1881, aged twenty-three years and ten months. Mr. Bruner has been an 
active member in the church, and was the principal founder of the Pine Centre organiza- 
tion, in Pine Township. He has given his elder children good school advantages, some 
■ of them liaving taught school. As a business man he has made a success in life, and 
acquired a goodly competence. In politics he is a Prohibitionist. 

ALINAS COLE, farmer and miller, P. O. Derrs, was born July 4, 1820, in Sug- 
arloaf Township, on the farm that his grandfather, Ezekiel Cole, settled when he came 
from New Jersey. Ezekiel's last wife was Elizabeth Hess, by whom he had three sons 
and three daughters: Ezekiel, William, Isaiah, Rebecca, Lana and Adaline. Ezekiel, the 
father of Alinas, married Sarah, daughter of Silas Jackson. After marriage he settled on 
the homestead farm, and died here June, 1848, aged about forty, his widow surviving 
him until the fall of 1885. They reared four sons and one daughter: Alinas, Lana, John, 
Benjamin and Dennison. Alinas was born and reared on the homestead, and raised to 
farming and milling, and at twenty-three he began life for himself. He married Rhoda, 
daughter of John and Elizabeth (Fritz) Kile. Since 1848 he has been principally engaged 
in milling, yet has carried on farming and lumbering in the meantime. In April, 1876, 
he came to the place he now owns, formerly owned by Robbins, the mill seat being first 
built by Henry Fullmer about 1836. Mr. and Mrs. Cwle have seven children: Albert and 
Norman, residing on the old homestead; Byron, in Tuscola County, Mich.; Arthur, at 
home; Howard, in Mifflin Township; Sarah E., wife of J. B. Ikeler, and Rose. Mr. Cole 
owns 400 acres in Greenwood Township, 160 acres in another tract, and 156 in Sugarloaf. 

GEORGE W. DERR, farmer, P. O. Derrs, was born July 4, 1834, in Orangeville, 
this county, and lived under the parental roof until his first marriage, October 30, 1856, with 
Miss Lucinda, daughter of William Robbins, of Greenwood, this county. After marriage 
they lived at the saw-mill of Iram Derr till 1860, and in 1861 moved to present place 
of forty acres in Greenwood Township. They were the parents of three children: Emma 
J. and an infant son (deceased), and Leah C. Mr. Derr's second marriage was October 
18, 1866, to Miss Elizabeth F., daughter of William G. Lawtou, of Greenwood, this county, 
and to this union have been born two children: Sarah A. and Charlie F. The family at- 
tend the services of the Christian Church. In politics our subject is a Democrat, and was 
elected jury commissioner in 1882, which position he still holds. 

ANDREW JACKSON DERR, merchant. P. O. Derrs, was born March 18, 1838, at 
Orangeville, this county, and remained at home until he was married, January 26, 1865, 
to Mary Jane Davis, daughter of Thomas Davis, of Greenwood Township, this county. 
His first occupation was in his father's mill in Jackson Township. This mill he operated 
from 1861 to 1874, in which latter year he came to Greenwood Township and opened a 
store, putting up the buildings. His stock consists of general merchandise, and he does a 
good business. Mr. and Mrs. Derr are members of the Christian Church. He is postmas- 
ter at Derrs, and in politics is a Democrat. 

ISAAC A. DeWITT. The DeWitt family came originally from Holland, and was 
first represented in this country by two brothers, Isaac and Jacob, who immigrated prior 
to the Revolution. Isaac settled in New Jersey and Jacob in New York, on the Hudson 
River. Isaac, who served in the Revolution, had several sons: John, Jacob, Isaac and 
James. Isaac and John settled in Northumberland County. Jacob removed to Ohio, and 
James, it is supposed, remained in New Jersey. Isaac married Margaret Gardner, by 
whom he had two sons and four daughters: James, Isaac, Catherine, Nellie, Elizabeth 
and Sarah. Catherine married Isaac Demott and settled near Jerseytown; Nellie settled 
in Northumberland County, the wife of John Case; Elizabeth settled in the same county, 
the wife of Isaac Kline; Sarah married Joseph Patton and first settled in Northumberland 
•County, and later removed to this township; James married Mary Aikman and had two 



GREENWOOD TOWNSHIP. 467 

sons and one daughter: Isaac A., John W. and Margaret. John W. is a physician in 
Delaware; Margaret is the wife of Wesley B. Kline, of Bradford County, Penn. James, the- 
father of our subject, was born in Northumberland County in 1801, and died in 1841. His 
wife was born in Briarcreek Township July 18, 1807, and died December 21, 1840. James 
was a tanner by trade, which he followed as long as he lived. He came to this township 
after his marriage. His successor is our subject, Isaac A., who is the only child now 
remaining in the county. He has been for many years engaged in teaching, and also 
learned surveying; he is a bachelor. John W. DeWitt served in the civil war as sur- 
geon in the Army of the Potomac. 

JOHN EVES, the ancestor of the Columbia County family of that name, was one of 
the earliest settlers in the valley of Fishing creek. He immigrated thither from Mill 
Creek Hundred, New Castle Co., Del., and located on a tract of 1,200 acres in the town- 
ships of Greenwood and Madison, including -the site of Millville. This land was secured 
by deed dated November 29, 1774, the former owner having been Reuben Haines, a 
brewer, of Philadelphia. It would appear, however, that he had concluded the purchase 
and settled in this region some years previous to the time this title was acquired. As his- 
settlement in this section marks an important period in its history, it is described at length 
in another part of this work. , 

But little is known regarding the personal history of John Eves. He was an Irish. 
Friend, born in 1720, and removed to America about the year 1738. He was in good cir- 
cumstances at Mill Creek Hundred, and held various offices involving a degree of respon- 
sibility. One of his experiences as constable reveals the resolute and determined character 
of the man. He was given a warrant for the arrest of a miscreant who defied the power 
of the law, and threatened to take the life of the officer as he approached. But the latter 
walked boldly forward and disarmed him without a struggle. The victory was not yet 
complete, however, as the obstinacy of the culprit was equal to his cowardice, and he 
refused to walk, whereupon the constable tied his prisoner to his horse, and they pro- 
ceeded without further difficulty. Another trait of his character is illustrated by an 
occurrence during his residence here. While in Philadelphia on one occasion he advanced^ 
the passage money of Larry Fhnn and his wife, two destitute Friends who had recently 
arrived from England. They would then have been obliged to remain in his service for 
several years, but he received them into his family and they never left it. In 1751 John 
Eves married Edith Yeatman, an English lady, said to have possessed great strength of 
character as well as personal beauty. They were the parents of seventeen children, four- 
teen of whom" reared families. Their names with dates of birth are as follows: Sarah, 
4th mo., 24th,°1753 (died in 1762); Thomas, 2d mo.. 5th, 1755; John, 2d mo., 22d, 1757; 
Joseph, 10th mo., 30th, 1758; Mark, 7th mo., 16th, 1760 (died in 1762); William, 2d mo., 2d, 
1762; Chandlee, 12th mo., 14th, 1763; Elizabeth, 12th mo., 30th, 1765; Sarah, 5th mo., 
14th, 1767; Edith, 5th mo., 14th, 1767; Andrew, 6th mo., 4th, 1769; Mary, 11th mo., 24th, 
1770; Priscilla, 11th mo., 3d, 1772; Mark, 4th mo., 8th, 1774; Ann, 4th mo., 21st, 1775; 
Samuel, 1st mo., 28th, 1778; Ezra, 6th mo., 28th, 1782. John Eves, Sr., died 7th mo., 1st, 
1802; and Edith (Yeatman) Eves, 4th mo., 14th, 1818. The children of Thomas Eves and 
Rachel (Wilson) Eves were Edith, John W., Phebe (Mather) and Thomas; of John Eves 
and Lydia (Judge) Eves: Peter, Jesse, Nehemiah, John, James and Lydia; of Joseph 
Eves and Sarah (Parvin) Eves: Parvin, Ezra, Milton, Sarah (Shively), Asenath (Ashton), 
Francis, Elizabeth (Swisher) and Mary (Marten); of William Eves and Sarah (Philips) 
Eves: Mary (Brunn), Edith (Kitchen), Prudence (Staton), Ann (Clayton), John, William, 
and Elijah; of Chandlee Eves and Rachel (Kertes) Eves: Annie (Eves), Elizabeth, Yeat- 
man, John K, George F., Benjamin, Chandlee, Sarah (Wilson) and Rachel |(Shively);. 
Elizabeth Eves married Thomas Mather, and died without issue; Sarah Eves married' 
Henry Battin and was the mother of thirteen children, viz.: Edith (Fairman), John, 
William, Chandlee, Isaac. Henry, Samuel, Susan (Kisner), Sarah, Joseph, Mary (Cox), 
Rachel and Enoch; the children of Isaac Philips and Edith (Eves) Philips were William, 
Samuel, Mary (Armitage). Ann (Armitage), and Sarah (Hughes); of Andrew Eves and 
Martha (Marten) Eves: David, James, Edith, Margaret (Fairman), Andrew, Joseph, 
Martha, Sarah and Yeatman; of Nehemiah Reece and Mary (Eves) Reece: William, 
Sarah, Edith (Kertz). Mary. Philip, John. Joseph, Nehemiah, Louisa (Eves). Sarah 
(Whitacre). Aaron, Mary and Hannah (McHenry); of William Mather and Priscilla 
(Eves) Mather: Mary and Elizabeth (Lemon); of John Watson and Ann (Eves) Watson: 
John, Sarah, Edith. Thomas. Mark and Dorcas: of Samuel Eves and Tamar (Kitchen) 
Eves: Priscilla (Watson), James, Thomas, Edith, Elizabeth, Reuben and John. In the 
above the line of descent has been traced to the second generation from the original 
progenitors of the family in this countv. It is estimated that the descendants of this 
pioneer settler of the Little Fishing creek number at this time 1,000 souls; and many 
of those who bore his name have occupied positions of honor and respectability in the 
various walks of life. 

GEORGE F. EVES (deceased) was born November 23, 1804, the third son of Chand- 
lee Eves, who was a son of the pioneer. He married November 5, 1829, Louisa, daughter 
of Nehemiah and Mary Reece. Mrs. Eves was born December 10, 1808. After marriage- 



468 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

they moved to the homestead which was a part of the tract taken up by John Eves, the 
grandfather of our subject. There he remained until May, 1875, when he removed to 
Millville, and retired from active business. He died February 27, 1877. His wife died 
December 16, 1869. They had a family of ten children, eight of whom attained maturity: 
Elizabeth, Mary Ann, Philip, Emory S., Hannah, Sarah L., Priscilla M., Reuben, Milton 
and Chandlee R. Emily married David Rote; Hannah married J. H. Kitchen; Milton 
married Priscilla E. Lemon; Philip married Sarah A. Runyan; Chandlee married Sarah 
E. John, and resides on the old homestead in Madison Township; Elizabeth died in Octo- 
ber, 1878; Milton's second marriage was to Emily Shultz; Sarah L. and Priscilla M. reside 
together in Millville; Reuben died March 16, 1855. 

FRANCIS P. EVES, retired, Millville, is a great-grandson of John Eves, the pioneer, 
and was born January 29, 1820, in this township, the eldest son of Ezra and Susanna (Kes- 
ter) Eves. They were the parents of the following named children: Francis P., Benjamin 
K., John R., Elizabeth, Lucretia M. and Joseph E. Francis P. was reared to farming and 
about the time he reached his twenty-sixth year,married Elizabeth, daughter of Francis and 
Mary (Welliver) Rote. Mrs. Eves was born in 1820, in this township and has borne her hus- 
band five children: Addra Anna, wife of J. Barton Eves; Warren Wilbur, engaged in 
farming in Lycoming County; E. Truman, residing on the homestead; M. Eva and Mary 
Bertha at home. After marriage Mr. Eves located on the homestead, where he remained 
until 1878, when he came to Millville and has here since resided. 

WILSON M. EVES, merchant, lola, was born near Millville Penn., December 2, 1829, 
the eldest son of John W. and Rebecca (Brown) Eves, the latter a daughter of Richard 
Brown. He was reared near the town of Millville, and learned the carpenter's trade with 
his father and made it his business for several years. In 1854 he came to lola, purchased 
a saw-mill and engaged in the cabinet-making trade, which he conducted in connection 
with his carpenter business. In 1879 he engaged in merchandising, to which he has since 
given his attention. Hejmarried, April 15, 1851, Amelia, daughter of John and Mary (Wood- 
ard) Robins. They hare five children: Clara S., John E., Rebecca A., Orpha L. and 
Aquilla W. Rebecca is the wife of John C. Christian and resides in this county; Orpha is 
the wife of F. P. Masters. Mr. Eves, in 1865, under the administration of Lincoln, was 
elected justice of the peace and served continuously for twenty years. He served as post- 
master prior to his election as justice. Mr. Eves' business is conducted under the firm 
name of Wilson M. Eves & Sons. They do a general merchandise trade and deal also in 
lumber, furniture, organs, etc. Mr. Eves is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
and of the Masonic fraternity. 

JAMES WATSON EVES, retired, Millville, was born December 17, 1829, the second 
son of Milton and Mary (Mather) Eves. Milton was born in Madison Township, Colum- 
bia Co., Penn., August 12, 1797, and died October 1, 1831. His wife was born in Cata- 
wissa June 7, 1797, and died October 28, 1868. To them were born six children: Lydia B., 
Sarah P., Thomas E., Asenath E., James W. and Mary M. Lj^dia B. married Chas. Kister, 
and after his death Joseph Van Horn, who is also deceased; Sarah P. became the wife of A. 
H. Phillips and died leaving three children (one of whom, Milton E., is now a professor in 
Simpson College at Indianola; the other two children are dead); Thomas E., died leav- 
ing three children: Francis resides in Michigan; Willis B. (Willis B. Eves is a son of a 
former wife of Thos. E. Eves the daughter of John H. Eves, her name was Rachel; and 
Henry W. in Millville); Asenath is the wife of F. E. Rote of Greenwood Township; Mary 
M., resides in Madison Township, Columbia County, wife of John P. Runyan. James 
Watson Eves was born in Madison Township on a part of the old Eves property, 
where he grew to manhood. He remained on the homestead until he was forty-eight 
years of age, when he came to this township and engaged in farming pursuits and the 
harness business until April, 1886, when he retired from active labor. He married, De- 
cember 29, 1831, Elizabeth A., daughter of Isaac and Edith (Eves) Kitchen. She was 
born May 30, 1832, and died May 7, 1875, the mother of eleven children, five of whom 
survived her; Dilwin P., died in 1886, leaving one child; Clark H., died April 28, 1884; 
Wilmer W., Sherman and Loraine. After the death of his wife Mr. Eves resided with his 
son, Dilwin, and since his death with his sister, Mrs. Lydia B. Van Horn. He enlisted 
April 1, 1865, in Company I, Ninety-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served until 
the close of the war. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., 809 Millville Lodge. 

SHADRACH EVES, miller, P. O. Millville, was born August 16, 1829, in Madison 
Township, the fifth son of a family of thirteen children born to Parvin and Anna Eves. 
Parvin was born December 9, 1790, on the original plat of ground that his grandfather 
John located on. Anna Eves, mother of Shadrach, died in the fall of 1872, being about 
seventy-five at the time of her death. The children born to Parvin and Anna were Chand- 
lee, Joseph, Francis, George, Sarah, Rachel, Shadrach, Elizabeth, Parvin, Ezra, Chalk- 
ley, Susan, and Elijah. All lived to be grown except Elijah. Shadrach was reared in 
Madison Township, and when seventeen years of age he was hired out on a farm, his 
father having the benefit of his earnings until he became of age. After that he worked 
for his uncle Benjamin; at the age of twenty-four he married Sarah, daughter of Nehe- 
miah Reece; she died in the spring of 1858, and by her he had one child that died when 



GREENWOOD TOWNSHIP. 469 

three years old. His present wife was Rachel, daughter of Robert Mather, and they 
have five children: Preston, Adella, Robert, Phoebe and Eleanora, all living except Rob- 
•ert, who was drowned in the creek below the dam aged eight years. Subsequent to his mar- 
riage Mr. Eves bought a farm in Pine Township opposite lola, and farmed here until 
1873, when he came to Millville, -where he has since resided. His father lives with him; 
he was aged ninety-six years, December 9, 1886. Shadrach is engaged in manufacturing; 
(has a woolen-mill and does custom work for the farmers. 

CHARLES W. EVES, farmer and merchant, Millville. was born June 30, 1831, in 
North Millville, Columbia County, the eldest son of Benjamin andPriscilla (Wilson) Eves. 
His father was born February 3, 1807, a son of Chandlee Eves. His mother was born 
February 23, 1810, the daughter of Thomas and Susanna Wilson. To Benjamin and his 
wife were born Charles W., Susan W., wife of Dr. Heller; Rachel S. ; William C, in Mar- 
shall County, Kas.; John M., in Chicago, and Martha. In early life Benjamin 
Eves was engaged with his father, Chandlee, in conducting a factory here, which the 
latter had purchased from John Watson about 1828. They carried on carding, spinning, 
fulling, etc., until about 1852, when Benjamin, with our subject, carried on the business 
for about six years. Benjamin then retired and died December 23, 1876. His wife died 
February 27, 1869. After his death Charles W. continued the business and is also en- 
gaged in farming, merchandising, milling, lumbering, and has several farms. He married 
June 30, 1852, Sarah B., daughter of George and Margaret (Mathers) Masters. She was 
born in October, 1832, and bore her husband children as follows: Narcissa M., wife of 
Olemuel Henrie; Morris E., in business with his father; Myra M. and Maggie, at home; 
Laura E., deceased wife of James O. Warner; Alfred H., Geo. M., Ben A., Cora P. and 
Marv A. all died young. 

JOSEPH W. EVES, surveyor, Millville, was born December 7, 1838, on the home- 
stead in this county. His father, John K. Eves, was born in 1802 and died December 27, 
1868. He married Sarah, daughter of Joseph Whitacre, of Muncy Valley, a surveyor and 
farmer. John K. was a farmer and also followed surveying. He reared following named 
children: Rachel, Mary, Annie, Emily, Joseph W., Hannah M. and Eleanor, all of whom 
are married and have reared families except Emily. Rachel married Elwood Eves and 
died leaving one child; Mary married Thomas Wilson, of Montour County, and had four 
children; Annie married William M. Reece; Hannah M. married Morris Masters, and 
Eleanor married Joseph Eves. Joseph W., the fifth in order of birth, was reared on 
the homestead and engaged in farming and surveying until 1878, since which he has re- 
sided in Millville, but carries on his farm by renters. He married Sarah T., daughter ot 
James and Julia A. (Jones) Warner, and one child has blessed their union. Mr. Eves is a 
member of the Society of Friends; is politically a Republican and very much in favor 
of Prohibition, and will leave the party unless it goes against the saloon and in favor of 
the home. 

ELLIS EVES, merchant, Millville, was born January 16, 1834, the eldest son of 
Charles and Sarah (Kester) Eves. On arriving at manhood he succeeded his father in 
t)usiness in 1855, and subsequently associated with him his brothers, John, W. W. and J. 
B., in the manufacturing business. In 1870 he engaged in mercantile business with 
his brothers as partners, which association continued until 1875, when James B. took 
-charge of the mill and hub factory, the others continuing as before until 1883, when John 
retired. Since then our subject has been associated with W. W. under the firm name of 
Ellis, Eves & Bro., dealing in dry goods, groceries, boots, shoes, hardware, notions, china, 
lumber, etc., doing a large trade. Mr. Eves has been twice married: first, to Mary Mar- 
garet, daughter of George Masters. They were married July 21, 1857, and November 12, 
1870, Mrs. Eves died, leaving four children: Lois M., wife of Hiram J. Demotte, of this 
township; Charles M., in Nanticoke, in the grocery business; Paschall L. and Georgeanna. 
December 8, 1880, Mr. Eves married Elizabeth, daughter of David and Sarah Eves. In 
matters relating to the general interest of the community, Mr. Eves takes a prominent 
part. He is one of the principal officers in the local insurance company here, and is 
deeply interested in the railroad which is being built to this place. 

JOHN EVES, manufacturer, Millville, was born in this town May 4, 1843, a son of 
Charles and Sarah (Kester) Eves. During his youth he worked for his brother Ellis, and 
on becoming of age associated with him in the business, and after several changes in the 
partnership he took the entire interest in the wagon manufactory, which includes the 
saw, bending and planing-mill, turning-lathe and hub factory, blacksmith and paint 
shops, and, in fact, all the necessary appliances for the successful manufacture of the ex- 
cellent wagons turned out of the place. He employs regularly about fifteen workmen, 
and his business is constantly increasing. He has attained success by his strict attention 
to business and in the manufacture of a first-class article, which meets the requirements 
of his patrons. His wife is Susan, daughter of James Masters, and their children are 
Charles, Louisa, Rebecca, Mildred and Helen. 

W. WEBSTER EVES, of the firm of Ellis Eves & Bro., Millville, was born 
July 12, 1848, in South Millville, the fifth son of Charles Eves and was raised to 
farming pursuits. In 1870 he associated with his brothers in the mercantile and manu- 



470 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

facturing business, and so continued several years, when his brother John withdrew, 
and the firm is now Ellis Eves & Bro. They are engaged in mercantile, lumber 
and planing-mill business. Mr. Eves married Anna M., daughter of Joseph E. Sands. 
They have five children: Pliny, Edward R., Esther I., Winfred and Frank C. Mr. Eves is a 
member of the Society of Friends. 

JOSEPH C. EVES, wheelwright, P. O. Millville, was born in Sereno, January 24, 
1844, the second son and third child of Chandlee, who was a son of J. Parvin Eves. The 
mother of J. C was Mary Reece, a descendant of one of the pioneer families of Columbia 
County. The father of our subject was a tanner by trade, and for some time was inter- 
ested in the tannery at Sereno, and here died in the spring of 1846; his widow yet sur- 
vives him. Three children lived to be grown, viz.: John P., Anna R. and Joseph C 
John P. was a member of Company I, One Hundred and Thirty-si.xth Regiment of Penn- 
sylvania Volunteer Infantry. He was severely wounded at the close of the battle of 
Fredericksburg, by a piece of shell in the arm, and died three days afterward. Joseph C. 
enlisted in Company H, in the 100-day's service, and upon his return drove team one 
year, and then learned the trade of wheelwright, which he has since followed. He was 
married, October 28, 1871, to Charlotte, daughter of Charles S. and Hannah W. (Watson) 
Heacock. They have three children: May B., Curtis C. and Charles S. Mr. Eves is a 
member of J. P. Eves Post, No. 536. 

E. TRUMAN EVES, farmer, P. O. Millville, was born on the farm he now owns, 
August 24, 1848, first son of Francis P. and Elizabeth (Rote) Eves — this farm being the 
one his father had located on after his marriage, which tract is embraced in the original 
tract located by John Eves, the pioneer, previous to the Revolution. Truman was reared 
on this farm, and brought up to farming pursuits; he married, January 11, 1872, Alice, 
daughter of Jesse and Julia (Merrill) Mather. After his marriage he lived one year on the 
farm now owned by James O. Warner, which was formerly a portion of the original farm. 
The next year he located on the place where he now lives, and has since resided here, 
engaged in agricultural pursuits. He has three children: J. Stanlej^ A. Mabel and Francis 
Henry. Marion E. died in July, 1876, aged three years. 

VERNON P. EVES, furniture dealer, Millville, was born in this township April 21, 
1852, the only son of Benjamin K. Eves. The latter was born in East Millville and also 
dealt in furniture. His wife was Mary, daughter of John and Jemima Eves, Vernon P. 
was reared in this township and learned the furniture business with his father, whom he 
succeeded. From 1878 to 1884 he conducted it alone, since then he has been associated 
with George W. Henrie, under the firm name of V. P. Eves & Henrie. They operate a 
furniture and undertaking establishment and also manufacture spring mattresses. Mr. 
Eves married Maggie E., daughter of George W. and!Hannah (Heacock) Henrie and have 
two children: Clemuel La Ru3 and Bernice C. Mr. Eves was elected justice of the peace 
in 1885, and has since held the office. 

WILLIAM EYER. The Eyers are of German stock. The name of the father of our 
subject was Ludwig Eyer, son of Martin Eyer, born about the year 1746, place not known, 
and located first at'Upper Mount Bethel where several of his family were born; he married 
Catharine, daughter of Joseph Long. From Upper Mount Bethel he came to what is now 
Bloomsburg and laid out the town; he was a dyer by trade which business he followed 
here at Bloomsburg, andfinallj^ moved out on BhickRun, in Madison Township, where he 
settled and built a saw-mill, farmed to some extent, and died here about the year 1816. 
He reared a family of ten children: Philip, Jacob, John, Adam, Sarah, Henry, Margaret, 
Anna, William and Mary. But two are now living, John and Margaret (now Mrs. Samuel 
Johnson). William Eyer, the subject of this sketch, was born April 25, 1811, in Blooms- 
burg, and removed with his parents to this township when a mere child; was reared 
to manhood in this locality. When in his teens he learned the shoemaker trade which he 
followed for fifteen years when he engaged in farming in Madison Township; finally he 
came to Greenwood and carried on his brother's farm for several years, then located per- 
manently in what is now Eyer's Grove, laid out by and named for his brother, Jacob 
Eyer. He was married October 4, 1832, to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Sarah (De- 
mott) Mannon. To them have been born eight children: Catharine (Mrs. John Dollman), 
Mary (Mrs. Jacob Hileman), Margaret (Mrs. Robert Beagle), Minerva (Mrs. William 
Hileman), John, Turner, William B. and Robert. Mr. Eyer is Democratic in politics, 
and cast his first vote for Gen. Jackson. 

HUGH S. FAIRMAN, farmer. P. O. Rohrsburg, was born September 11, 1835, being 
the youngest son of Robert and Edith (Battin) Fairman. The paternal grandfather of 
Hugh was William Fairman, whose advent to this country was shortly after the Revolu- 
tion. He married Mary Ewing, and by her had the following children: Robert, William, 
Thomas, Ehzabeth and Margaret. Robert, the father of H. S., reared several children, 
viz.: Thomas, Reece, Henry, William, Sarah, Edith, Joseph, Martha, Hugh and Mary. 
Hugh left home at the age of twenty, when his father died, and for several years worked 
out by the month, and for six years was engaged in the lumber woods. In 1862 he mar- 
ried Christeen, daughter of Elijah and Margaret (Ikeler) Albertson, and for seven years 
lived on rented farms. In 1870 he located on the farm he now owns, which he cultivates sue- 



I 



GREENWOOD TOWNSHIP. 471 

cessfull}'. Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Fairman, Cora B., Elmerta J. and 
Clarence C. are living. In politics he is a Democrat. 

JACOB GERARD, farmer, P. O. Rohrsburg, was born July 15, 1823, in Huntington 
County, N. J., a son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Smith) Gerard, of French descent. Isaac 
was a son of Joseph and Mary (Robbins) Gerard, to whom were born six children: Amos, 
Isaac, Jonas, Hannah, Mary and Elizabeth, all of whom reared families. Isaac and wife 
reared a family of five children: Jacob, Catherine, Joseph, Isaac and Mary. Isaac was 
drowned, when a young man, in the Delaware River. Jacob left New Jersey in December 
1841. He came to Columbia County, Penn., in 1843, and worked at the blacksmith's 
trade as a journeyman until 1843. He then set up in business for himself in Rohrsburg, at 
which he continued until 1860. He then moved to where he now resides and which place he 
had previously purchased, and which was known as the Pealer property. There were nc 
buildings on the place and the land was overgrown with briars. Mr. Gerard has, by 
proper cultivation and care, made it into a good farm of 112 acres. He also owns a farm' 
of 400 acres in York County, Va., and has acquired a competence for his declining years. 
He married, March 26, 1846, Rosieta, daughter of William and Catherine (Shoemaker) 
Girton. Eight children were born to their union: William, John, Stephen, Ulysses G., 
Catherine, Jane, Anna and Sarah. William died in 1876; John and Ulysses G. reside in 
Minneapolis, employed in the Washburn mills; Stephen is on the home farm; Catherine 
is the wife of Nelson Freece; Jane is the wife of James Patterson; Anna is the wife of 
Ellis Yokum, and Sarah is at home. Mr. and Mrs. Gerard are members of the Presby- 
terian Church. Politically he is a Republican; had been Master of the Grange for years,, 
and is now Past Master. 

WILLIAM B. GERMAN, blacksmith, P. O. Millville, was born September 9, 1855, 
and was reared in this county ; son of John German and Elmira (Welliver) German,' 
daughter of Samuel Welliver. William B. was left fatherless at an early age ; his father 
was a volunteer in the late war, a member of the One Hundred and Fourteenth 
Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and lost his life in defense of his country ■; 
his widow still survives him and is now married again. When eighteen years of age 
our subject commenced learning the blacksmith trade with his uncle, Hiram R. Albertson, 
and after serving the usual apprenticeship, worked for five years in John Eves' wagon 
manufactory. In the fall of 1884 he came to Millville and purchased the property he now 
owns. He has a good business, which is largely on the increase, his mechanical skill 
being second to none in his line. He gives considerable attention to breeding fancy 
fowls, making a specialty of Plymouth Rocks, Brown Leghorns and Wyandotts. He 
was married September 1, 1881, to Delia, daughter of William and Eleanor (Starr) Rich. 
They have no children. He is a member of the Christian Church. 

GEORGE GREENLY, retired farmer, P. O. Sereno, was born November 22, 1824, 
in Hereford County, England, and emigrated in 1832 from England to this State, 
with his parents, Richard and Hannah (Bradford) Greenly. They made their first loca- 
tion at Pottsville, and then located in Pine Township, October, 1832, ; bought timber land, 
engaged in building and clearing land, and built a saw-mill on Wolfhouse Run, getting 
on pretty well till June 29, 18,36, when a great storm came ; thunder and hail and hurri- 
cane—wind blew nearly all the timber down ; fields of grain were destroyed and covered 
with rails and trees and brush, and blew the barns down and spread them about the ground, 
and the flood washed the mill-dam partly down ; house and family were in great danger '; 
they fixed up as best they could and wintered over till spring ; much discouraged, they 
moved. May 10, 1837, to Port Carbon, near Pottsville ; George stayed to take care of some 
loose property ; five weeks later his father came back and sold the land; got along well, 
but the man could not pay for the land and returned or threw the land on the parents in 
the winter of 1839. Through'some panic, the parents moved back onto the same place in Pine 
Township in the last week of March, 1841 ; engaged again in building, clearing land, farm- 
ing and lumbering, and prospered and lived there till they passed away from old age ; the 
mother was eighty-one and the father eighty-eight years old ; the mother died March 16, 
1873, and the father died in November, 1875. George Greenly moved to his present loca- 
tion in Greenwood Township, March 20, 1855. In connection with his farming he has been 
engaged in lumbering to some extent, having a saw and shingle mill on his premises, 
where he manufactures shingles and does custom sawing. In 1858, in Pine Township, he 
married Melinda, a daughter of George Welliver, a descendant of one of^the pioneer families 
of the county. Mr. Greenly has seven children living : Frank L., William, Emma, Howard, 
Charles, Anna M. and David. Frank L. is a resident of Sereno ; William, one of the pro- 
prietors of a planing-mill in Millville ; Emma, wife of Wilson Kinney. The remaining 
children are at home. Mr. Greenly has been for several years retired from active life, 
and is a man of conservative principles both politically and religiously. 

ELISHA HAYMAN, retired, lola, was born in Berks County, October 7. 1814, and 
removed to this county with his parents when he was but two years old. He was reared 
in Scott Township, and in youth learned the miller's trade and for a time worked as a 
journeyman. In 1851 he came to lola (which place he named), situated about one and a 
quarter miles from Millville. Here he purchased a grist-mill, which he operated about 

3£ 



472 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

thirty years He then sold out to U. P. McHonry and retired, but still conducts his farm. 
He lias been twice married; first, in 1840, to Susan Eyans, by whom he had four sons, 
Willi-uu H Theodore F., John N. and Robert B. (the last named died at the age of nme- 
teen years) ' His second wife, Mary, daughter of Peter Applegate, bore him one daughter, 
Glara William H farms in Pine Towmship ; Theodore is engaged in milling at Shamokin, 
and John N is a bachelor at home. Mr. Hayman is an official member of the Methodist 
Eniscopal Church and a Republican. The Hayman family first came to this county about 
181'> Peter Hayman remoyed here from Berks County; made a settlement m what 
is now Orano-e Township and there resided until his death in 1832, at the age of seventy- 
two years ^His wife was Sayilla Hall, and their children, John, Jonas, Joseph, Benja- 
min Abigail Mary Maria, all of whom are married and settled in this county and reared 
families except Joseph, who was accidentally killed when young. John married Mar- 
garet Overderf and seven children were born to him: Elisha, Maria. Peter, Phebe, barah, 
John and Amanda. John resides in Michigan; the others settled in this county, and 
Elisha John and Amanda are the only surviyors. Amanda is the wife of C. Boone; Maria 
married Jeremiah Pursel; Phebe married Joseph Fry, and Sarah became the wife of J, 

D Miller 

PETER HAYMAN, farmer, P. O. Rohrsburg, was born in Orange Township, 
December 20 1836 the younoest of the sons bora to Jonas and Mary (Miller) Hayman. 
Jonas was born in Berks County, Penn., about the year 1799, son of Peter Hayman To 
Jonas and Mary were born eight children: Joseph, Benjamin, Jacob, Jesse, Albert, Peter 
Esther and Mary, all now living. Jonas removed from Orange Township to Greenwood 
near Rohrsburo" 'and built the mill now owned by Johnson H. Ikeler, also made the im- 
provements on the Ikeler farm; he owned the farm owned by John Black and built the 
improvements on the same. He operated a distillery for several years; after the distillery 
and mill burned down he rebuilt the mill, which he ran for several years, carried on 
farming and died in 1867; his wife died several years previous. Peter remained at home 
until twenty-five years of age, when he embarked for himself. He was married, in 1862, 
to Ann daughter of James^Mather; Mrs. Hayman died in 1872, leaving one child Anna, 
wife of William Kester, of Iowa. Mr. Hayman's second marriage was with Savilla, 
daughter of Daniel Kitchen, and by her he had six children: Minnie L., Norah M., Bruce, 
A John W Willie F. and Ha M. ; Willie is deceased. After marriage he spent one 
year in Fishiiigcreek Township engaged in farming, then bought the farm he now- owns, 
owned by Phiiip Reece, consisting of fifty acres. Mr. Hayman is a member of the P. of H., 
also of the Presbyterian Church^ He was in the army one year, and served in the Two 
Hundred and Tenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. _ 

ISA'^.C HEACOCK, farmer, P. O. Rohrsburg, was born in this township, on the 
Heacock homestead, June 20, 1824, eldest son of Enos and Mary (Ogden) Heacock; has 
always been a resident of the township, and been engaged in agricultural pursuits; also 
for many years been engaged in selling farm machinery and introducing fertilizers 
amono- the farmers For several years he farmed the homestead, but, since 1858, has 
been a resident of his present farm consisting of eighty-three acres. He was married Octo- 
ber 5 1853 to Mary Jane, eldest daughter of Benjamin C. and Lydia (Lundy) Harvey, 
the latter a daughter of Stacy Lundy. one of the pioneers of the township. Of their 
four children reared to maturity (three are living): Harvey E. (married Alverna 
Kelchner, and has one son); Stacy L.; Charles C. and AnnaS. Harvey E. and Charles C. are 
both commercial men and represent a woolen manufactory at Wilhamsport. Dr. Stacy 
L died June 6. 1881; he had just graduated with honors, and received his diploma while 
on his death bed. He was a young man of rare promise, a thorough scholar, a Christian 
gentleman, esteemed by all who knew him. , on -.00-7 *i „ 

ALFRED HEACOCK, farmer, P. O. Greenwood, was born December 20, 1837, on the 
farm he now owns, the second son of Enos and Mary (Ogden) Heacock. He grew to man- 
hood on his present farm, which he took charge of in 1865 and came into possession of in 
1876 and which consists of ninety-four acres. He has been twice married; first, February 
22 1865 to Martha J. Mather, who was born in Schuylkill County, Penn., the daughter 
of' Jesse Mather. She died eight months after marriage. Mr. Heacock married, as his 
second wife Mary E , daughter of John Ruckle. She was born in Mount Pleasant Town- 
ship this county,' and to her and her husband have been born four children: Lizzie, Harry 
Grant Enos Raymond and Lattimer. Politically Mr. Heacock is a Republican. 

JOSIAH HEACOCK, miller, Millville,was born September 20, 1841, on the homestead 
in this township The first of the name to settle here w^as Josiah, who came from North- 
ampton County, Penn., but the family came originally from New Jersey. His wife Abi- 
gail J Green, bore him the following children: Joseph, Jeremiah, Amos, Jesse, Enos, 
Richard Hannah. Rosanna, Lavina, Mary and Sallie. Josiah settled in the south part of 
the township on the farm now occupied by his grandson, Alfred Heacock. Enos married 
Mary Ogden who bore him six children: Isaac, Sarah A., Rachel, Elizabeth, Alfred and 
Josiah all of whom were born on the homestead, and still living in the township. Josiah 
remained on the homestead until his eighteenth year. He learned the milling business, 
and worked at it for some time in Luzerne County near Kingston. In 1864 he began on 



GEEENWOOD TOWNSHIP. 473 

ihis own account. In 1870 he associated with George Masters in operating the Millville 
imills, which partnership continued until in September, 1871, when Masters died. In 1882 
Mr. Heacock bought out the entire interest, and tooli charge April 1, 1883, and has since 
been owner and proprietor of the same, and is doing an excellent business. He has been 
twice married; first to Mary E. Ikeler, a native of Fishingcreek, and a daughter of Will- 
iim Ikeler. She died in 1868, leaving one child — Minnie. His second wife was Hannah 
G. Lawton, daughter of William G. Lawton, and by her he had two children: Myra (liv- 
ing) and Sara (deceased). Mr. Heacock volunteered twice in the service of his countrj. 
Politically he is a Kepublican. 

W. W. HEACOCK, merchant, P. O. Millville, was born in this township, April 16, 
1853, the second son of C. S. and Hannah (Watson) Heacock. He was reared in this 
^township. At an early age he entered the store of William Masters as clerk, and clerked for 
him about fourteen years, learned the business thoroughly, and in recognition of his 
services and ability he was taken as partner March 27, 1884, under the firm name of Mas- 
ters & Co., which still exists. They are doing an excellent business, and are among the 
leading merchants in the county. He was married, May 4, 1876, to Sarah, eldest daughter of 
S. B. Kisner. To them have been born four children, three living: Lulu, Mellie and Lill- 
ian; deceased: Zella, aged four years. 

ABIAH P. HELLER, M. D., Millville, was born in Hemlock Township. April 9, 
1829, the only son of James and Hannah (Phillips) Heller. James was born February 20, 
1801, in Lycoming County and died in this county at the age of seventy-four years. His 
father, Jacob, was from Lancaster, Penn., of Scotch ancestry. Dr. Heller's maternal 
grandparents were Abiah and Sarah (Guess) Phillips, to whom were born six children: 
George W., Hannah, Martha, David, Marian and Henry G. To James Heller and wife 
were born two children, Abiah and Margaret Ann; the latter married Samuel Harriman 
and located in Lycoming County; she is now deceased. Our subject was left motherless 
at the age of four years and was brought by his father to this township in 1839. When 
sixteen years of age he left home and obtained employment among the farmers in the 
summer season and attended school in the winter. At the age of nineteen he began 
teaching and his earnings he gave to his father to assist him in paying for his farm. 
When Abiah P. attained his majority and began for himself he had nothing, and was in 
debt for his suit of clothes. Shortly after he began the study of medicine with Dr. P. 
John of Millville, and pursued his studies until his graduation at the Pennsylvania Eclec- 
tic College, February 22, 1854. He located in Centre County, Penn., and began the prac- 
tice of his profession. There he continued three years, when he returned to this county 
and succeeded his preceptor, Dr. P. John, who had removed to Bloomsburg. Here Dr. 
Heller has since remained, and has also, in addition to his practice, attended to his farm. 
November 28, 1854, he married Susan W., daughter of Benjamin and Priscilla Eves, by 
whom he has had three children. Benjamin, the eldest, died when five years old. The 
living are James Sherman and Frank Wellington. 

JOHNSON H. IKELER, retired, P. O. Rohrsburg, was born February 5, 1813, in 
this township and is descended from one of the early settlers of this part of the county. 
William Ikeler, the first of the family to settle here, came from New Jersey and located 
on the farm now occupied by George Ikeler, about one century ago. He married a Miss 
Barnhart and by her had four children: Andrew, William, Elizabeth and Barnabas, all of 
whom settled in this township, except Barnabas. Andrew married Christian Ann, daugh- 
ter of Isaac Johnson, who came from New Jersey. To Andrew and wife were born six 
children: Elizabeth, William J., Margaret, Isaac, Andrew J. and Johnson H., all of whom 
settled in this county. Andrew, the father of our subject, was born April 18, 1773, and 
died November 24, 1850; his wife was born in 1774 and died December 29, 1865. Mr. 
Ikeler was not a member of any church, but gave liberally to all Christian denominations. 
He was a Democrat and served as commissioner and supervisor, and also held other town- 
ship offices. He was a colonel in the militia and was called out in the civil war, but after 
twelve days' service returned, as he was not required. Johnson H. began farming at the 
age of twenty-two years, when he took charge of the farm on which he lived until the 
spring of 1881. He then moved to Rohrsburg and has since led a retired life. He yet 
owns the homestead farm and another south of the town, and also a mill property, which 
he operates. He married, October 31, 1834, Maria, daughter of Jonathan Lemon, and 
they have reared six children: Christian Ann, Emeline, William P., Elmira, Iram B. and 
Elizabeth. Emeline married Reuben Appleman, and resides in Illinois; Christian Ann 
married Joseph Reece, and died in 1866; William resides in Greenwood; Elmira married 
Henry E. Mather; Iram B. resides on the homestead; Elizabeth is the wife of Dr. T. C. 
McHenry._ Mr. Ikeler since Buchanan's time has been a Republican; has served twenty 
years as justice of the peace and deputy revenue assessor for six years; has also held 
other offices and been prominently identified with the interests of the township for many 
years. He was never defeated for any office. He is not a member of any church society 
but gives liberally to all charitable causes. 

WILLIAM P. IKELER, farmer, P. O. Rohrsburg, is descended from one of the 
prominent families of Greenwood Township, where he was born December 22, 1838, on 



474 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

the Ikeler homestead. He is the eldest son of Squire J. H. Ikeler and remained at home 
until he was twenty-four years of age. He then married Savella Goho, a native of Mif- 
flin Township and a daughter of Jacob and Anna (Hess) Goho. Three months after his 
marriao-e Mr Ikeler located where he now resides, and where he has since been engaged 
in farrning He owns 113 acres, which he has brought under a high state of cultivation. 
To him and Mrs. Ikeler six children were born: Milroy B., clerking at Millville; Raymond 
G Vinnie W Otto P., William H. and Clarence H. Politically Mr. Ikeler is a Repub- 
lican, but gives little attention to politics, being engaged with his farming and stock 

IRAM BENTON IKELER, farmer, Millville, is descended from a prominent family 
of this township, and was born on the homestead, February 11. 1844. He is the youngest 
son of Johnson H. Ikeler, was reared to farming and has always resided on the home- 
stead engaged in agricultural pursuits. He married January 10, 1877, Sallie, daughter of 
AUnas Cole of this township. Mrs. Ikeler was born in Sugarloaf Township, and spent 
the early part of her life in school-teaching— the first term at the age of sixteen; she has 
borne her husband four children: IrmaB., Jessie C, Jay Harold and Mattie Ellsworth. 
Mr. Ikeler is a member of the I. O. O. F., Mountain Lodge, No. 264, and of the P. ot H., 

No. 52, Millville ,^ ^~, ^n-^ ■ i^r ^ t.i * 

JAMES L JOHN, merchant, Millville, was born May 17, 18o2, m Mount Pleasant 
Township son of James M. and Hannah (Kester) John. He was left fatherless while an 
infant and was reared under his mother's care until he arrived at manhood. At the age 
of eighteen he commenced to learn the carpenter's trade, but later taught school and 
clerked for Ellis Eves & Bro. one year. He then taught and attended school, and in the 
sprin"- of 1876 engaged in business with Isaac Underwood & Co. and remained about one 
year^ In 1877 he went to Half Moon, Centre Co., Penn., and then embarked in business 
on his own account, in which he continued one year and nine months. He then went to 
Sereno Columbia County, where for six months he conducted a store. In April, 187J, he 
went to Lairdsville, where he remained five and a half years. October 31, 1884, he came 
to Millville erected a store and other improvements, and has since remained engaged in 
mercantilei business. August 31, 1876, he married Edith, daughter of Jesse and Lydia 
(Parker) Heacock. They have four children: Watson I., Jesse M., Mary H. and Brand L. 
Mr. John has a livery in connection with his store and furnishes horses and conveyances 
at reasonable rates on short notice. , t i i, 

IRA JOHNSON farmer, P. O. Millville, is descended from the Johnsons who were 
among the early settlers of Columbia County. John Jacob Johnson, his grandfather, w;as 
a native of Germany; was enrolled in the service of the British and brought to America 
to fight the colonists. Deeming their cause a just one, he watched his opportunity, 
ioined the American forces and served as a cavalryman until the close of the war. He 
was wounded during his service in the cheek and leg and subsequently received a pension. 
Soon after the close of the Revolution he came to what is now Columbia County, and 
lived for several years at Orangeville. He was by trade a tailor, and married Mary Barn- 
hart who bore him six children: Barney, Jacob, William, Catherine (who married 
George Kline), Elizabeth (married Harmon Kline), and Sarah (who became the wife of 
Georle Snyder). William, the father of Ira, was born February 7 1788, in Nevp Jersey, 
and died January 24, 1877. He married Jerusha, a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth 
(Robbins) Richart. William was a tailor, and to him and wife were bora six children: 
Wesley R., Sarah (wife of Demar Johnson), Minerva (wife of William McMichael); Phi- 
lena L. (wife of Jackson Robbins), Arsintha (wife of James Manning) and Ira. Ihe last- 
named was born May 21, 1822, one mile east of Millville, and when young worked with 
his father at the tailoring business, but later gave his attention to farming. He niamed 
Sarah, daughter of Michael and Catherine (Snj-der) Thomas, and two sons blessed their 
union': Charles Britton and Arthur Wilson. ^ ^ ^ , , t i io iqqo ^, Ar.^T. 

WILLIAM KARSCHNER, retired farmer, P. O. lola, was born July 19, 1830, m Mon- 
tour Township, near Danville, and moved to Pine Township (then Madison) with bis par- 
ents when nine years of age. His father, Michael, located on the farm now owned by 
William There were only eight acres of improved land on the place when Mr. Karschner 
purchased, paying $2 per acre; he died here August 25, 185:3^ aged fifty-four years 
Subiect's mother's maiden name was Dorothy Ann, daughter of George and Anna (Lox) 
Sechler. To Michael and Dorothy were born eight children who lived to be grown: John, 
Mary William, Anna, Michael, Levi, Elizabeth and Elihu. William was reared on the 
farm,' and took charge of it at his father's death; and has since owned and earned it on 
He was married October 6, 1856, to Margaret, daughter of Philip and Charity (Dildine) 
Kline Mr. Karschner located in lola in the summer of 1885, and has since rexited his 
farm He has four children living: Loyd (a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church), 
Elmer, Alvaretta, and Riley H. Boyd, the second son, was accidentally killed at the saw- 
mill at lola June 17, 1885. aged twenty-five years. He was a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and esteemed for his many qualities. Mr. Karschner, wife and daugh- 
ter are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. . ^ 1 ,.• n„ 

AARON KESTER, butcher, Millville, was born in Mount Pleasant, Columbia U>., 
Penn February 24, 1828, and, being the youngest of the family, he succeeded his father 



GKEENWOOD TOWNSHIP. 475 

on the homestead, where he remained until 1851. He then came to Millville, and for five 
years worked in Eves' wagon manufactor}% after which he returned to Mount Pleasant and 
resumed farming, continuing until 1883. He then returned t© MiUville and again worked 
in the manufactory. He next began the butchering business with his son, S. W. Kester, 
which he still continues, meeting with great success. January 10, 1853, he married Esther, 
daughter of Richard and Esther (Caldwell) Pollock. Mr. and Mrs. Kester have three 
children : Alvina J., Richard C. (who resides on the homestead in Mount Pleasant, and 
married Clara E., daughter of Matthew Kindt), and Samuel W. (who married Pet Ikeler, 
dau"-hter of A J. Ikeler). The Kester family came to what is now Mount Pleasant Township 
about the year 1T90. John Kester, the grandfather of Aaron, was born in New Jersey, 
July 31 1744, and died in July, 1835. His wife, Hannah Webster, was born March 19, 
1747 and was the daughter of Benjamin and Rachel Webster. Their children were Rachel, 
Ann Samuel, Hannah, Mary, William, John, Benjamin, Ruth, Joseph and Aaron. The 
last named became the father of our subject, and was born August 2o, 1787, m New 
Jersey At the ageof three years he came with his father to Mount Pleasant Township, Col- 
umbia County, Penn. He married Tamar, daughter of Amos and Mary Parker^^and to 
them were born the following children, who arrived at maturity : Sarah, John, Hannah, 
Amos P., Anna, Jacob, Mary E., Aaron and Tamar J. , 

NICHOLAS KINDT, farmer, P. O. Greenwood, was born August 30. 1812, in Rhen- 
ish Prussia When a young man he learned the blacksmith trade and left the land of his 
birth in 1831, arriving in New York in September of that year. Going to Erie, Penn., he 
worked three years at his trade for James Little, who was engaged on some public works 
at that place. In the spring of 1835 he left Erie, and after working a short time at differ- 
ent places between Erie a^ New York, he came to this county to visit his uncle, Freder- 
ick Rohr, of Rohrsburg. Liking the country, he concluded to remain, and worked that 
winter for John Richart. He next opened a shop for himself at Rohrsburg, and plied his 
trade continuously until 1863, when he located on the place which he now owns, and 
engaged in farming. November 23, 1837, he married Marion, daughter of George Mc- 
Michael Mrs. Kindt was born in this county, December 29, 1810, and has borne her hus- 
band the following children : George P.; Euphemia, deceased wife of John Kitchen ; Eliz- 
abeth, died at the age of seventeen ; Maria L. is the wife of Richard Kitchen. Mr. Kindt 
is still as vigorous of mind and body as a man of thirty : attends to the farm himself, and, 
though beginning poof, has secured for himself a competency. He and Mrs. Kindt are 
both members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he has been an elder for many years. 
He is a Democrat in sentiment, but the principles embodied in the platform of the Prohi- 
bition party meet his approval. Mr. Kindt's parents were John and Henrietta (Rohr) 
Kindt, who had a family of eight children : Adam, John, Peter, Nicholas, Anna, Beebe, 
Mary and Matthias, all of whom reared families except Anna. Four of the above came to 
this country : Adam settled in New Orleans ; Mary married a Mr. Major who was mur- 
dered in California for his money (his widow now resides in Allegheny County, Penn.); 
Matthias located in Mount Pleasant Township. . 

SAMUEL B. KISNER, blacksmith, P. O. Millville, was born March 16, 1828, m Mad- 
ison Township ; eldest son of John and Susan (Battin) Kisner. John Kisner was born 
December 9, 1800, at Maidencreek, Berks County, at the foot of Blue Mountain. John 
was a son of Leonard Kisner, born at Maidencreek, Berks Co., Penn., and came to 
Spruce Run at an early day, and settled there in 1806 ; he married Elizabeth, daughter of 
John Buck. To Leonard and Elizabeth Kisner were born Jonas, Elizabeth, John, Jacob, 
Anna and David. All reared families except Anna, who died of small-pox. John was 
reared in Madison Township. He married Susan Battin December 30, 1824, and they had 
five children : Sarah, wife of J. P. Smith, in Rohrsburg ; Elizabeth, married Phineas 
Welliver, in Madison Township; Samuel; Anna C, wife of James Welliver, in Greenwood ; 
Henry, died aged twenty-four years. Samuel Kisner moved to this township in 1846, and 
learned the blacksmith trade. In 1849 he began business for himself, and in 1851 he came 
to Millville, and has since carried on his trade. In 1878 he took in his son Henry, and the 
firm is now S. B. & H. W. Kisner. Samuel Kisner was married, December 9, 1847, to 
Martha, daughter of Amos and Mary Parker. They have nine children : John, residing 
in this place"; Elijah ; Henry ; Roy, a miller, residing at lola ; Sarah, wife of W. W. Hea- 
cock ; Susan, at home ; Mary, married G. McHenry, at lola ; Kate, died aged seventeen ; 
Amos, died at the age of one year. In politics Mr. Kisner is a Republican. 

RICHARD KITCHEN, Millville, was born in this town March 7, 1837, the eldest son 
of Henry Kitchen, who was born in this township February 26, 1801, on the farm now 
owned by G. W. Utt. September 17, 1829, Henry married Elizabeth Demott, who was 
born September 9, 1807, and died August 16, 1853. Henry died November 23, 1863. They 
had a family of seven children, all living: Mary J., who married Uriah R. Harrar and 
settled in Muncy; Richard; Harriet, wife of W. A. Thomas, of this township; Sarah, re- 
sides at Welliverville, the wife of Isaac Kline: John Amos, in Mount Pleasant Town- 
•ship, and McKelvy, in Washington County, Kas., engaged in farming. Richard was 
reared on the farm, and in 1862 enlisted in Company H. One Hundred and Seventy- 
eighth Regiment, and served nine months. He returned home and the next year, Sep- 



476 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

tember 20, 1864, married Maria, daughter of Nicholas and Marou (McMichael) Kiudt 
Mrs. Kitchen was born in this township February 31, 1847, and has borne her husband 
one child, Clinton A. The latter resides on the home place, and in 1886 married Agnes 
daughter of Jonas Miller. Mr. and Mrs. Kitchen are members of the Baptist Church. 

NEHEMIAH KITCHEN, farmer. P. O. Rohrsburg. was born July 16, 1844, in Fish- 
ingcreek Township, to Daniel and Hannah (Shively) Kitchen. He was reared on the 
farm, and there r'^maincd until December, 1872, when he moved to this township and 
erected the buildings on the place now occupied by him, which is a part of the old home- 
stead. He married, March 1, 1866, Margaret C. Lemmon, who was born in Greenwood, a 
daughter of Jonathan and Margaret (Lockard) Lemmon. They have two children liv- 
ing: Dora Jane and Elmer L. Harry D. died at the age of three months. Mr. Kitchen 
has eighty-six acres of valuable land under a fine state of cultivation. He is a Repub- 
lican, and was elected justice of the peace in the spring of 1885. He is a member of the 
Grange. 

ALEXANDER KRAMER, farmer, P. O. Rohrsburg, was born March 29, 1814. near 
Stillwater, Penn., and when two years of age was brought by his parents to Orange 
Township. Seven j^ears later he was brought to Fishingcreek, where he remained until 
1866. He then purchased property in Rohrsburg, and carried on mercantile busi- 
ness for about eight years. In 1873 he retired from that business, and the next year 
moved to one of his farms, where he has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits. 
Although he began poor he now owns three fine farms. He married. December 27, 1838, 
Sarah, daughter of Reuben and Catherine (Miller) Davis. Mr. and Mrs. Kramer had ten 
children, as follows: Matthias; infant (deceased); Mary Ellen (deceased); Elmira (de- 
ceased); Philip D. (deceased); an infant (deceased); Minerva Alice (deceased); an infant, 
deceased when born; Sarah E. and Alexander S. Sarah E. was the wife of Thomas J. 
Bender, and left two children, Bessie M. and EflBe M. Matthias, the eldest son, has one 
child. Atta M. ; Alexander 8. married Anna Everett, of Benton. Mr. Kramer politically 
is a Greenbacker. The Kramer family came from New Jersey to this county, locating 
in Fishingcreek Township about 1798, when George Kramer came with the Kline family. 
George married Sophia Kline in New Jersey, and Abram Kline, a brother of Sophia, 
married a sister of George Kramer. George and Sophia Kramer had ten children: 
Matthias, Morris, Charles, William, Harmon, Samuel, Abram, George, Anna and Betsey. 
All reared families and settled first in the county, but later some of them moved west. 
Matthias was born in 1774, and married Mary Ann McCray, a daughter of Alexander Mc- 
Cray, a seaman who sailed the ocean for years. To Mr. and Mrs. Kramer the following 
named children were born: Sophia, William, Sarah, George. Mary, Alexander (whose 
name heads this sketch), Abram and Rebecca, all of whom settled in this locality except 

MATTHIAS KRAMER, farmer, P. O. Rohrsburg. is one of the descendants of the 
early pioneers, and was born September 21, 1839, in Fishingcreek Township, eldest son; 
of Alexander Kramer. He was reared in the township in which he was born, and re- 
mained here until his marriage, which event occurred in the fall of 1865, to Louisa, only 
daughter of Edward Albertson. Mr. Kramer lias a snug farm one-half mile below Rohrs- 
burg, and is a successful farmer. They have but one child, AttaM. Mr. Kramer, wife>ud 
daughter are members of the Christian Church. 

WILLIAM G. LAWTON, retired farmer, P. O. Derr, was born February 22, 1814, \n 
Yorkshire, England, a son of Benjamin and Anna (Goldthorpe) Lawton. The family 
embarked at Liverpool May 21, 1828, and landed at Philadelphia July 6, 1828, having 
been six weeks and four days on the voyage. They remained for a lime in Schuylkill 
County, Penn., and in the fall of 1832 came to this county. William G. learned the 
builder's trade, which he followed several years, but subsequentl}" gave his attention to 
farming. In 1839 he married Sarah A., daughter of Robert Fainman, and thirteen chil- 
dren blessed their union. Mr. Lawton came to the farm he now occupies in 1851, but is 
now living retired from active labor, spending the evening of his life in the quiet of his 
home. Politically he is a Democrat and has filled several oflnces of trust in the township, 
and in the fall of 1871 was elected commissioner of the county. He is a member of the 
Christian Church. 

ELIJAH LEMON, retired. Greenwood, was born December 10, 1818, on the Lemon 
homestead, where he grew to manhood. John Lemon, a native of New Jersey, was a 
wagon-maker by trade and was employed during the Revolution repairing army wagons. 
After the close of that struggle he turned his attention toward seeking a location, and 
about 1790 came to Greenwood Township, Columbia County. Here he purchased 300 acres, 
out of which fine farms have since been made. That year he planted about two acres in 
wheat and erected a small cabin. In the fall he returned to New Jersey, and in the 
spring, coming again to this township, found that the deer had eaten his wheat. The In- 
dians were hostile and he again returned to Jersey, but came again to his farm in the 
spring, bringing with him his sons, George and Joseph, and this time made a permanent 
location. By his wife, Elizabeth Titmon, he had a large family as follows: George, 
Joseph, Jacob, Balse, Jonathan. Jacob, Isaac. James, William, Michael, Betsey, Catherine- 



GEEENWOOD TOWNSHIP. i77 

and Sally, all of whom settled here, except George, Jacob and Balse. William, the father of 
our subject, was born in New Jersey and came here with his father. John Lemon carved 
his name and the date of his coming upon the back of a turtle, which was seen about 
one score of years ago by his grandson. Elijah, and many times since and never over a hun- 
dred yards from the same place. William married Elizabeth Parker, daughter of John 
Parker, and by her had ten children: Sarah, George, Elijah, Elisha, Malinda, Samuel, 
Lucinda, Elizabeth, William and Frank, all of whom, except Elijah, moved west and 
settled in Illinois and Wisconsin. When he was sixteen years of age Elijah left home 
and bought his time from his father for $8 per month until he attained his majorit}'. He 
then began to learn the millwright's trade with Marshall Kinney, and after completing 
it, began on his own account, contracting, which he followed for over tifty years, retiring 
about 1884. He married in the fall of 1839, Eleanor, daughter of Amos Parker and a 
native of this township. To them were born the following children: Mary, Elmira. Har- 
vey. William, Anna, Frances R. Mary is the wife of Wesley Morris; Elmira is the wife 
of B. F. Battin; Harvey resides in Muncey Valley, a millwright by trade; Anna is the 
wife of Bartley Heacock; Frances R. is the wife of Calvin Demott. and William died 
when a young man. Mrs. Lemon died in 1871. Mr. Lemon next married Elizabeth, 
daughter of Fred Derr. Mr. Lemon is a member of the Christian Church. 

"JONATHAN LEMON (deceased) was born in New Jersey about the year 1790, son of 
John Lemon. Jonathan married Margaret Lockard, and by her he had the following 
children: Eliza, deceased; Harriet, married Thomas Reece and resides in Cass County, 
Neb.; Sarah J., wife of Lorenzo Mendenhall, of Allen County, Kas. ; Margaret, married 
M. Kitchen; John; Jacob, farming in Cass County, Neb., and Jonathan. Jonathan, Senr., 
settled in the township where the Lemon brothers resided one-half mile west of Rohrs- 
burg, was engaged in the lumber business for many years and carried on the saw-mill, 
which he rebuilt, being first built by his father in 1802. He was a soldier in the war of 
1813, and his widow survives him. drawing a pension. He died in 1852. John Lemon 
was born March 19, 1833, on the farm, and has always lived here. He was married to 
Mary, daughter of David Kitchen. Thej^ have no children. John Lemon has been engaged 
in operating a saw-mill and farming, and has recentlv sold out to his brother Jonathan. 

URIAH P. McHENRY. retired. Millville, was born September 34, 1838, in Fishing- 
creek Township, the ninth in a family of eleven children. He remained at home on the 
farm until he was sixteen years of age, when he went to Stillwater and worked in Col. 
Kline's grist-mill. There he learned the miller's trade, and afterward worked at farming 
in different places. In 1847 he began for himself, worked in Cole's mill for a time, and in 
1849 went to Danville, where he remained one year; then went to Huntingdon Creek and 
worked in Jones' mill for four years; thence to West Creek, where he remained about 
five years in the Heacock mill. This mill was then purchased by Mr. Kimball, and Mr. 
McHenry remained with him three 3'ears and operated the mill. He then conducted tlie 
Robbins mill in this township, but, his health failing, he engaged at buhr dressing. He 
then returned to the mill at Stillwater, where he had learned his trade, and remained 
about two years. He then purchased a farm and carried on agricultural pursuits, also 
attending to the mill. While here he purchased a half interest in the mill, and continued 
there until the spring of 1874, when he came to Millville and purchased an interest in the 
Masters & Heacock mill. He then formed a partnership with Mr. Heacock, under the 
firm name of McHenry & Heacock, which lasted until the spring of 1883. Mr. McHenry 
then sold out his interest and purchased the Hayman mill at lola, which he has since con- 
ducted, and hires a miller to attend to it, having retired from active labor. He married, 
July 4, 1855, Elizabeth, daughter of Enos Heacock. They have no cliildren of their own, 
but a niece of Mrs. McHenry, daughter of Josiah Heacock, known as Minnie McHenry, 
given to them by her mother at her death, has since lived with them. 

H. GAIL McHENRY, miller, P. O. lola, comes of a family of millers; his father, 
Moses, is a miller, and his two brothers, Ruggles and Charles, are also millers. Gail was 
born December 7, 1856, in Huntsville, Luzerne County, and when one year old removed 
with his parents to Fishingcreek, where he lived seven years, then moved to Roaring- 
creek, where he commenced learning his trade at the Mendenhall mills, and when com- 
petent took charge of the mills. In December, 1880, he came to E3'er's Grove and had 
charge of the mill three years, and in the spring of 1883 he associated with U. P. McHenry 
in the lola mills, and has since been in charge of the same. He was married in October, 
1883, to Mary Kisner, daughter of Samuel Kisner. They have two children: Myrtle and 
Uriah. They are members of the Christian Church. 

JOHN McMICHAEL, farmer. P. O. Millville, was born June 14, 1818. on the farm 
now owned by J. M. Denmott. which was formerly a part of the old McMichael home- 
stead. His father, George McMichael, was born in Scotland in 1773, and died May 29, 
1860. He came to America and settled in Greenwood Township, Columbia" Co., 
Penn., about 1801. He married Agnes, daughter of William and Elizabeth McMichael, 
a distant relative of the family. Mrs. McMichael was born in 1779 and died April 1, 1866. 
To her and her husband were born ten children, as follows: Jane, Verronica, Euphemia, 
James, Marian, Elizabeth, George, Agnes, John and William. Seven of these reared 



478 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

families. Verronica married Ed. Henrie; Marian married Nicholas .Kindt; Elizabeth 
became the wife of Robert Nixon, and Agnes married Samuel Stetler, all of whom settled 
in this section of country. Our subject married at Jerseytown, January 9, 1844, Sarah Ann, 
daughter of Henry Bombay. For several years after his marriage, Mr. McMichael worked 
at different places and at various vocations, hut flaally purchased the old homestead and 
located thereon, and has since engaged in farming. Mrs. McMichael was born 
December 80, lS2i, in Roaringcreek Township, and has borne her husband three 
children: Mary E. (who resides in Delaware County, Penn., the wife of Joseph R. Kester, 
and has four children: Raymond, Stewart, Bertha and Clara); Rosetta, married Harmon 
Mordan, of Mount Pleasant (has two children— Myron and Erma,) and Beujamau F., 
who farms the homestead and married Mrs. Clara Kramer, the daughter of F. E. Rote. Mr. 
McMichael has for many years been a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church; 
has always been a Republican, but believes in the final triumph of the Prohibition parly. 
WILLIAM MASTERS, storekeeper, Millville, is descended from one of the prominent 
families of the township, and was born November 8, 1841, in Millville. His father, George, 
a son of David Masters, was born November 3, 1810. in Madison Township. David 
married Mary Eves, who bore hini eight children, of whom George was the eldest. When 
the latier was fourteen years of age he came to this town and learned the miller's trade 
in his father's mill, with George Hepler, and was given entire charge when he was six- 
teen years of age. He tiien continued for nine years in charge of the mill until 1835 or 
1836. In 1849 the mill was destroyed by fire, when George Masters and John Betz bought 
the site and built the mill that now stands in the town, and which they continued for 
several years. In 1835 George Masters engaged in merchandising with Samuel B. Mather, 
which partnership lasted about nine years, when Mr. Mather retired and Mr. Masters 
continued the business alone until 18o7, when he disposed of a half interest to his son 
David, and in 1863 disposed of the remainder to William Masters, who continues the 
business. George remained half owner of the mill, however, up to the time of his death, 
September 14, 1871. His widow died September 16, 1886; she was born March 31, 1808. 
Mr. Masters was a prominent member of the Society of Friends. He left several pieces of 
real estate. David Masters, brother of William, went to Philadelphia in 1870, is success- 
fully engaged in business on Market Street, and has a tasty home on Baring Street. West 
Philadelphia. 

HENRY E. MATHER, farmer, P. O. Greenwood, was born August 37, 1842, in 
Pottsville, Penn., only son of Jesse and Julia A. (Merrill) Mather. His grandfather was 
Jesse Mather, who married Margaret Shively, by whom were born Henry, Sallie, Hannah, 
Betsey, Samuel, John, James and Jesse. Henry E. came to Greenwood when sixteen years 
of age and h is since lived on the farm his grandfather Jesse settled on. Henry's father 
died iu 1859. his widow surviving hiri one year. September 22, 1834, Heur}^ E. married 
Almira M., daughter of JohnsoiTH. Ikeler, of this township, and to thom have been born 
three children; Bertha Z., Jesse and Truman. Mr. Mather is a Republican and a member 
of the P. of H.. also of the I. O. O. F. 

WESLEY MORRIS, farmer, P. O. Greenwood, was born in ]\Iount Pleasant Township, 
Columbia County, in 1837. son of John Morris. June 4, 1863, he married Mary E. Lemon, 
daughter of Elijah and Eleanor (Parker) Lemon. Mrs. Morris was born in this township 
August 14, 1840. and she and her husband have four children living: Ella, John, Wilhel- 
mina and Eckley E. William E. died at the age of eighteen months; Harry D. at the age 
of three weeks, and Francis J. at the age of five months. In the spring of 1876 Mr. Morris 
located on his present farm, which was a part of the original Lemon tract. It consists of 
sixty-seven acres, and here Mr. Morris is engaged in agricultural pursuits, but is a black- 
smith by trade. Mr. Morris has been elected and has served as poor director of the district 
composed of Scott, Sugarloaf, Greenwood and Bloom; as assessor, assupervisor, as school 
director, and overseer of the poor, and has served as tax collector by appointment. 

AARON MUSGRAVE, deceased, was born February 7, 1803, in this township, a son 
of Aaron and Sarah (Woodrow) Musgrave. Aaron, Sr., was born February 17, 1760, and 
became the father of the following children: Isaac; Ann, who became the wife of Daniel 
Smith and removed to Fishingcreek Township; Rachel, wife of Joseph Kester, of Mount 
Pleasant Township; iNIarv, married William Kester. and moved west; Isaac and James, 
settled in Mouni Pleasant, and Aaron, settled in this townsliip. September 18, 1833, our 
subject married Sarah, dausrhter of D iniel and Mary Force. She was born August 8, 1799, 
and bore her husl)and four children: Daniel. :Mary Ann, Sarah W. and William McKelvy. 
Mr. Musgrave was an honored and respected msmber of the community among whom he 
had resided since his marriage. He was a consistent member of the Christian Church, and 
politically a Republican, thougli not a partisan. He died in November, 1871, his widow 
surviving him until August 14, 1877. Of their children. Mary A. died iu 1863, the wife of 
Hiram Kester (left three children: Aaron M., Thomas C. and William Alpheus. all of whom 
removed west); Daniel resides in Mount Pleasant Townshij^ and William McK., who took 
charge of the homestead farm in 1873 and conducted it until 1878. At that time the place 
was sold and he purchased the property where he now resides. He has acquired a compe- 
tence and lives in comfortable circumstances with his sister, Sarah W., who keeps house 
for him. 



GREENWOOD TOWNSHIP. 479 

DR. JOHN B. PATTON, Millville, was born April 9, 1833, in Rush Township, North- 
umberland Co., Penn., a son of Joseph R. Patton, who was born April 10, 1797, in 
Briarcreek Township, this county. Joseph R. was a son of John Patton, who came 
from New Jersey when a young man, married Mary Richart and located in Briarcreek 
Township, on the Susquehanna. He was a house carpenter and to him and his wife were 
born three sons and two daughters: Joseph R. ; Catharine, who married Jacob DeMott and 
settled in Madison Township; Margaret also settled there, the wife of Jeremy Welliver; 
John settled in Danville and died there leaving four children; Samuel removed to Mason 
County, 111., and is now deceased. Joseph R., the first named, married Sarah De Witt, daugh- 
ter of Isaac De Witt. To them were born nine children: Oliver P., Margaret, William G., 
Louisa J., Isaac D. and Mary L. (twins), John B., Joseph M. and Sarah C. (twins), all of 
whom except Louisa J. reared families. Louisa married Squire Jacob Terwilliger and 
resides in Light Street. John B. was reared on the homestead and left home at the age of 
nineteen and attended school, first at Millville and later the Wyoming Acadenay. He then 
taught school some years to enable him to attend college, which he entered in 1854, and 
graduated in 1860 at Lafayette College. After srraduating he taught for a time in Columbia 
Academy, and while there, in December, 1860, married Mary M., daughter of James Masters. 
In the spring of 1861 he went to Parkesburg and took charge of the Parkesburg Academy 
for one year, but the outbreak of the civil war took away many of the students and the 
school was temporarily closed. Dr. Patton then came to Millville and for eighteen months 
was associate principal of the Greenwood Seminary. In the spring of 1864 he took charge 
of a select school at Orangeville for one year. This school was broken up by an arbitrary 
act of the soldiers sent to put down the [so-called Fishing Creek confederacy at the insti- 
gation of partisans of a rival school. In the spring of 1865 he went to Montana Territory, 
opened a school in Virginia City, and also engaged in mining for one year; then conduct- 
ed a drug store at Bannock City for a time. In 1868 he returned to this county and com- 
pleted his medical course. He began to practice at Sereno, but after six months, finding 
an opening in Sullivan County, Penn., went there andremained until 1872. He then came 
to Millville and has since remained practicing his profession. Dr. and Mrs. Patton have 
two children: James M., Francis J. 

ALLEN H. PHILLIPS. Among the old time millers of Columbia County is Mr. Phil- 
lips, P. O. Eyer's Grove, who was born January 6, 1825, in Bucks County, Penn., the 
second son of Thomas Phillips, to whom were born Moses, Aaron, Robert, David, 
Thomas, Rachel, Mercy and Elizabeth. Thomas married Sarah Phillips, and by her had 
eight children that lived to be grown: Joseph, Allen H., Andrew J.. Harrison, Alraira. 
Rebecca, Eliza, and Jane. Allen H., when fifteen years of age, went with his uncle 
David to learn the miller's vocation at Perryville, in Northampton Countj', and since that 
time has been constantly ena-aged in that business, not having lost a year's time, principally 
in Columbia and Montour Counties. He was married in 1845, to Sarah E. Eves, daughter 
of Milton Eves; she died leaving three children: Milton, Thomas and Charles, none living 
but Milton, a teacher in Simpson College, Iowa. He married for his second wife Marga- 
ret Schuyler; she died leaving five children: Alfred C, now a physician in Booneville, Iowa; 
Thomas L., a farmer in Madison Township; Louis S., milling with his father at Eyer's 
Grove; Samuel, telegraph operator in Danville; Ada M., at home. His third wife was 
Rebecca, daughter of Isaac Welsh; by her he has one child, Isaac, on the farm. His present 
wife was Mrs. Runyon, daughter of Daniel Welliver. He came to Eyer's Grove the last 
time in 1883; and has since been a resident. He carries on a farm in Madison Township. 
In politics he is a Republican. 

JOSEPH W. REECE, farmer, P. O. Rohrsburg, was born February 15, 1829, in this 
township. Nehemiah Reece was the pioneer of the family to settle in Greenwood Town- 
ship, and from him are descended all of the name now here. He came from one of the 
lower counties and took up the land now owned by our subject, about the year 1800. He 
married Marv Eves who bore him a large family, nine of whom reared families: Edith, 
Philip, John, Hannah, Nehemiah, Sarah, Louisa, Aaron and Mary. John was born 
January 1, 1801, was reared to manhood in this township and became the father of 
Joseph W. He married Mary, daughter of Joseph and Catherine (Adams) Whitaker, and 
after his marriage located on this farm where he spent the remainder of his life. He died 
March 25, 1858, his widow surviving him until October 10, 1879. They reared to maturity 
five children: Joseph W., Nehemiah, Philip, Margaret C. and Benjamin. Philip was 
killed by a horse when sixteen years old; Nehemiah resides in Iowa; Margaret married 
Thomas Mather and reared four children. Joseph W. remained at home until attaining 
his majority, after which he worked for some years on a farm and clerked in store at 
Millville. January 28, 1858, he married Christiana, daughter of Squire J. H. Ikeler. and 
«ettled on the farni now owned by W. P. Ikeler, where he remained four years. He then 
located on the old Reece farm, where be has since resided. Mrs. Reece died October 12, 
1866, the mother of three children: Gula E., Johnson H. aud Benjamin. Mr. Reece next 
married Mrs. Elizabeth Parker, daughter of Jolin and Mary Rautz. She died March 9, 
1871, and by her liad one cliild, John L. Mr. Reece then married his present wife, Deborah 
Warner, a naiive of Muncy and a daugliter of James and Julia Ann ('Jones) Warner. Mr. 



480 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Reece has made all the improvcmeuts on his ])laee, wlii<:h he owus abd which consists of 
120 acres. His house is the fourth one erected on llie farm since Nehemiah Reece lived 
there. 

Dr. REUBEN L. RICH. Millville, was born September 19. 1833, on the farm which 
he now owns, a son of John G. and Lydia (Lundy) Rich, the latter a dautrhter of Reuben 
and Esther (Bunting) Lundy, who were the parents of eight children. John G. and Lydia 
Rich were the parents of ten children: Mary A., Sarah, Benjamin, William, Reuben L., 
Esther, I Lundy, Henry, Jane, and J. Gillingham. Reuben L. now resides on the Lundy 
farm, upon which his grandfather, Reuben Lundy, settled in 1792; the house now occu- 
pied by Dr. Rich was built in 1798, and a pear tree which still bears fruit was planted in 
the same year. Benjamin Rich, the paternal grandfather of the Doctor, married Sarah 
Gillingham, and to them were born four children: John G., Sarah, Ann and Benjamin. 
John G.«was born about 1801 and came to this township when a young man. He was a 
tanner and later carried on tanning in the valley for years, and died in 1873. His wife 
died ten years prior. Reuben L. was reared in this township and began the practice of 
dentistry in 1855, but since 1869 has been also engaged in farming. He married, Decem- 
ber 27, 1864, Elizabeth, second daughter of James Masters. They have three childrtn 
living:^nna Watson, Mary L. and Bessie A. Willie died in 1881, aged nine years and 
six rnonths; John and Harry died in infancy. Dr. Rich is a member of the A. Y. M. He 
and his wife belong to Valley Grange, P. of H., and the Society of Friends. 

JACKSON ROBBINS. The Bobbins family take rank among the early settled fami- 
lies in Greenwood Township. Joseph Robbins, grandfather of our subject, married 
Catharine Harris, by whom he had nine children — six sons and three daughters: William, 
Jerusha (married to William Snyder), Vincent, Hannah (married to William Eves), Jo- 
seph, John, Catharine (married to John Sibert), Robert and Jesse. John Robbins, father 
of our subject, was born on the homestead now owned by the latter, and married Mary, 
daughter of John Mannon, whose wife was a Demott. The children born to John and 
Mary Robbins were Jackson, Sarah (married to James Demott), Catharine (married to 
George B. Thomas), Charlotte (single) and Ira. Our subject was born on his farm in 
1832, and with the exception of three years' residence in Fishingcreek Township, this 
county, has lived continuously on the farm where he was born. He has been twice mar- 
ried: first to Paulena L., daughter of William Johnson; at her decease she left four chil- 
dren: Robert, Elizabeth (married to B. Mannon, of Eyers Grove), Harriet (married to 
John Barber, of Stillwater), and John. Robert and John reside in Greenwood. Mr. Rob- 
bins' second wife was Anna Beckford, by whom he has the following named children: 
Mary. Louis, Samantha, Efiie, Orra and George. 

VIRGIL D. ROBBINS, farmer, P. O. Greenwood, was born January 9, 1832, in Madi- 
son Township, on the old Barber farm. He is the eldest and only surviving son of Will- 
iam Robbins, who was born about 1784, being a son of Joseph Robbins, a native of New 
Jersey. Joseph reared a large family, as follows: Vincent, William, Hannah, Jerusha, 
Robert, John, Joseph, Jesse and Catherine, all of whom lived to rear families except 
Joseph and Robert. Vincent moved to Canada, Jerusha married William Snyder and 
moved to Indiana; Catherine married Samuel Seibert and settled in this township, as did 
the others. William, the father of Virgil D., was born in Greenwood Township about 
1784, and married Sabrina Teeple; she was born September 30, 1805, in New Jersey. 
After his marriage William removed to Madison Township and engaged in farming until 
April, 1842, when he came to this township, and here died in 1871. His wife died in 1841. 
Of their seven children, but four lived to be grown: Sarah J., who married John Chris- 
tian and located in this township, as did the others; Lucinda, who became the wife of 
George W. Derr, and William O. The only ones now living are Virgil D. and Sarah J. 
Our subject remained on the homestead until the spring of 1883, when he located on the 
farm which he now owns. He married, November 29, 1855, Mary Ann, daughter of John 
and Jane (Edgar) Staley. Mrs. Robbins was born September 19, 1833, in Pottsville, Penn., 
and has borne her husband five children: William P., married to Efiie Battin, daughter 
of B. F. Battin; Emma Jane, wife of Thomas Smith, resides in Jackson Township; John 
C. married Emma Manning, daughter 'of William Manning; Diebald and Charles O. at 
home. Mr. and Mrs. Robiiins are members of the Christian Church. 

FRANCIS E. ROTE, farmer, P. O. Millville, was born on the border of Mad- 
ison Township, near Millville, January 16, 1827. The Rote family came to this town- 
ship prior to 1800. Francis, who was born October 5, 1775, was the pioneer of the 
name in this county, and was of German descent. He married Mary Welliver and 
had six children who grew to maturity: Charity, William, Margaret, Daniel, Abi- 
gail and Elizabeth, all of whom were born near Millville. His wife was born 
November 20, 1782, and died June 20, 1855. William, who married Elizabeth Eves, 
daughter of William Eves, became the father of Francis E. They reared but two 
children, our subject and Sarah, wife of E. B. Brower, of Bloomsburg. Francis E. 
was reared in this neighborhood and began to hold the plow when ten years of age. He 
married, March 11, 18.52, Asenath, daughter of Milton and Mary Eves. After his marriage 
he located on the farm which he now owns, and where he has since resided. He has four 



GREENWOOD TOWNSHIP; 4811 * 

children living: Clara B., first married Philip Ki-amer, and after his death Ben McMiehael, 
and resides in this township; Marv resides in Madison Township, the wife of R. L. De- 
Mott; Henry is a farmer, at home, a'nd William, unmarried. Izora. the daughter of Clara 
B. and her first husband, resides with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Rote. 

JOHN B. SHULTZ, farmer and miller, Rohrsburg, is descended from one of the 
early families of this township. His grandfather, Daniel ShuJtz, settled here prior to 1800' 
and located three-quarters of a mile from Rohrsburg, when the place was a wilderness. 
He married Elizabeth White, who bore him Philip. James, Isaac, Samuel, John and 
Sarah. Daniel died April 80, 18o2, aged eighty-three years, one month and twenty-eight 
days; his wife, Elizabeth, died March 2-i, 1853, aged eighty-eight years and three months. 
Subject's great-grandfather was Philip, whose ancestors came from Germany and settled 
in New Jersey and later removed to this locality, as mentioned before. Philip died April 
5, 1816, aged seventy-five years; his wife, Barbara, died September 20, 1828, aged eighty- 
four years. James, the father of John B., married Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob Stucker 
and Catherine (Peeler) Stucker. Four children were born to them: Ellen, John B., Cath- 
erine and Esther. Ellen resides in Orange Township, the wife of Daniel Kline; Cather- 
ine married John Moore and resides in this township; Esther married John H. Parker and 
settled in Greenwood Township. The father of this family was a farmer, which pursuit 
he followed until his death; he died May 23. 1826, aged twenty-six years, eight months, 
sixteen days; his widow, Elizabeth, died July 17, 1873, aged seventy-seven years, seven 
months, four days. John B, was born Aug. 17, 1821, on the homestead near Rohrsburg. He 
was reared a farmer and when of age turned his attention to the management of the mill, 
which he now owns and which he conducted up to 1884, when his son assumed charge of 
it. He married Hettie, a daughter of Jonas and Mary E. (Miller) Hayman. They have 
two children livina, Jonas and Lestie. Jonas resides with his parents, married to Dora-. 
Henry. They have one child, Lelie Maude. Lestie is in Iowa, the wife of Clark Khne. 
Mr. Shultz is a Democrat and a member of the Grange. 

TILLMAN STADLER. painter and trimmer, P. O. Millville, was born August 24, 
1841, in Turbotville, Northumberland Co., Penn., eldest son of Isaac and Caroline 
(Keener) Stadler. August 23, 1850, his father dying, he was placed in the care of strangers, 
and was brought up by a strict Presbyterian, who gave him good school advantages and. 
who had designed to tit his protege for the ministry, while Tillman had aspired to become 
a physician. This conflicting of previously formed plans resulted in an estrangement 
between the two, and Tillman, having received the elements of a classical education, and 
being ready for the second year in college, now gave his attention to teaching, and contin- 
ued until the breaking-out of the Rebellion, when he enlisted April 24, 1861, in Company 
G, Eleventh Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, for three months. After serv- 
ing his time he returned home and was prostrated with camp fever for several weeks, but, 
after teaching one term of school, gained his health, and August 1, 1862, enlisted in Com- 
pany B, One Hundred and Thirty-first Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, for 
nine months, and was promoted to first sergeant. After serving out his time he went out 
with Company C, Two Hundred and First Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry 
(time of enlistment one year), as color corporal, and served until the close of the war, 
being for six months of the last enlistment on detached duty as chief clerk of court mar- 
tial in Alexandria, Va. After returning from the service he went to Lewisburg, Penn., 
and worked under instructions as carriage painter and trimmer. After his graduation he 
worked in various localities in the State, and since the fall of 1868 he has been perma- 
nently located in Millville in charge of the painting and trimming department in the 
noted Millville Wagon Manufactory. He was married in 1867 to Elmira, daughter of 
Peter Fogleman. They have two children: Frank and Ada M. Mr. Stadler is a member 
of the Christian Church; of the A. Y. M., Bloom Lodge No. 264; of the L O. O. F.; and. 
the G. A. R., Bryson Post No. 225.. 

AUGUST STAUDER, tanner, Rohrsburg, was born September 17, 1837, in Reisten- 
hausen, Prussia, a son of Frederick and Elizabeth (Hoenig) Stauder. His parents had a. 
family of five children, August. Caroline, Frederick, Rosa and Delia, none of whom 
came to America except August. At the age of thirteen August began to learn the tan- 
ner's trade, serving five years' apprenticeship, after which he traveled for five years and 
worked in many places. In 1864 he landed in New York and worked in the Steinway Piano 
Manufactory for some months; then went to Elirabethtown, N. J., where he worked in a 
tannery, returning after a year to New York, where he worked at his trade. A year 
later he went to Scranton and worked for some months in Huntsdale and Wilkesbarre, 
Penn., and in the latter place was foreman in a large tannery. He then moved to Light 
Street, where he worked as foreman for a time; then moved to Briarcreek and for four years 
worked for Joseph Conner, and during the four years saved $1,999, and with the money 
came to Rohrsburg and purchased the tannery of Perry Smith, and eighteen- acres. Here 
he has since resided and has added to his land from, time to time until now he has ninety- 
two acres. He has erected the principal buildings and operates the tannery. He married, 
September 22, 1874, Sarah K Fry, who was born in this county, a daughter of Frederick. 
Fry. Mr. and Mrs. Stauder have four children: Maggie, Rosa, Joseph and Bertha. Mr. 
Stauder is a member of Albright Church, and politically is a Democrat. 



482 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

GEORGE W. UTT, farmer, P. O. Rohrsburg, was bora in Northampton County, 
Penn., May 26, 1837, the fourth son of David and Mary (Evans) Utt. The former was 
boru August 15, 1805, in Northampton County; the latter born June 27, 1801. When 
•George W. was two and a half years old he came to this county with his parents and 
located in Greenwood Township one mile north of Rohrsburg, where he remained until 
.he was of age. At the age of twelve years he began to work out and assist in the main- 
tenance of the family. He received a good education, taught school several years, and in 
1861 enlisted in Company F, Second Pennsylvania Artillery (112ih inline). "Shortly after 
he was made sergeant and promoted, Maj^ 4, 1863, to second lieutenant. Later he was com- 
missioned first lieutenant and finally captain in Battery I, One Hundred and Eighty-ninth 
Pennsylvania Volunteers. He was wounded in front of Petersburg and discharged on 
the expiration of his term of enlistment, receiving the following commendatory letter from 
his commander: 

Headquarters Provisional Brigade, ) 

Defences of Bermuda Head, Va. v 

December 29, 1864. ) 

The bearer, George W. Utt, lieutenant Battery F, Second Pennsylvania Artillery, has 
this day been honorably discharged from the service of the United States by reason of ex- 
piration of his term. It affords me pleasure to state that during his connection with the 
regiment he has always performed his duties faithfully and efficiently. While in com- 
mand of his company in the trenches on the Petersburg front, m July last, he was severely 
wounded by a fragment of one of the enemy's shells. W. M. McClure, 

Colonel 2d Penn. Art. Comd'g. 

Upon his return home he farmed one year, and in 1866 purchased a farm. He has 
been twice married. His first wife, Mary E. Appleman, was born in Fishingcreek Town- 
ship, a daughter of Philip Appleman. She bore him three children— Philip C, William 
Ernest and Mary A.— and died April 28, 1872. His second marriage was with Sarah A. 
Keller, also born in Fishingcreek Township, a daughter of John Keller. She died July 
18, 1886, the mother of eight children: Laura M., Ella M., Susan J., Anna B., Grace E., 
Etta, James G. and George F. Politically Mr. Utt is a Democrat, and has served as school 
director two terms. He is a member of the Christian Church, in which he has been an 
elder since 1875. 

J. CLYDE VAN HORN, farmer, P. 0. Rohrsburg, was born February 15, 1853, in this 
township, eldest son of James Van Horn, who was a son of James and Polly (Wilson) 
Van Horn, whose offspring were Betsey, Sallie, Ella, Nancy, Charity, James, Joseph and 
William. James Van Horn, father of J. C., was born May 8, 1819, in Orange Township, 
and died April 15, 1886; his wife was Margaret C, daughter of John and Letty (Miller) 
Wilson. Letty being a daughter of Joseph and Margaret Miller. Mrs. Van Horn survives 
her husband. Our subject resides on the homestead, engaged in farming. In 1878 he 
married Maria, daughter of William and Mary Ann (Hurtman) Blish. They have one 
child, Elmer Dovle, born April 3, 1881. In politics Mr. Van Horn is a Democrat. 

JAMES O. WARNER, farmer, P. O. Millville, was boru February 23. 1857, the only 
son of James and Julia (Jones) Warner. James Warner was born in "Lycoming County, 
Penn., in 1805, a son of Benjamin and Deborah (Kitely) Warner; Julia (Jones) Warner was 
born in 1814, in Lycoming County, Penn. James Warner was a farmer and also carried 
on mercantile business. He died in 1867, a member of the Society of Friends. To him 
and his wife were born six children: Mary, Deborah, Sarah. Susan, Elizabeth and James 
O. Mary is the wife of James Whipple, of De Kalb County, 111. ; Susan, wife of Edwin 
A. Whitacre, also of De Kalb County, 111. ; Deborah, wife of Joseph W. Reece, near Rohrs- 
burg; Sarah, wife of Joseph W. Eves, of Millville; Elizabeth is the wife of Daniel Kitch- 
en, of Bloomsburg. James O. is the only male representative of the name. When he 
was but ten years of age his father died and he remained with his mother. He came here 
in 1875, attended and taught school two terms and worked on the farm, and in 1879 pur- 
chased the farm he now owns, consisting of eighty acres on the edge of Millville. He 
was married August 26, 1884, to Laura E., daughter of Charles W. Eves. She died May 
17, 1885, leaving no issue. 

JACOB E. WELLIVER, merchant, Ej^er's Grove, was born in Madison Township, 
August 1, 1836, son of John and Anna (Eyer) Welliver. John Welliver was born about 
the year 1801, son of William Welliver, who came from New Jersey and settled in 
Madison Township at an early day. Severaljchildren were born to William Welliver, 
among whom was John, the father of our subject, and who was reared in Madison Town- 
ship; he married Anna, daughter of Ludwig Eyer, by whom he had seven children: 
James, Uriah, Catharine, Jacob E., Jeremiah, Elizabeth and John. Jacob E. was reared in 
Jerseytown, and when a young man clerked for several years in different localities, came 
to this place in 1874, and succeeded William Eyer in the merchandise business, and has 
since carried on a general store. He has had charge of the postoffice several .years, and 
has been postmaster since 1881. He was married to Almira, daughter of "Philip and 
Rachel (Dye) Cottner. They have five children: William, Loyd, Clyde, Irene and Jay. 
In politics he is a Democrat. 

REUBEN WILSON, retired, Millville, was born February 12, 1806, in the old house 



GREENWOOD TOWNSHIP. 483^- 

built by bis grandfather, in Montour County, where the Wilsons were among the early 
settlers. John Wilson came from England prior to the Revolution, in which struggle he 
sided with the colonists. After the Revolution he taught school, and resided for a short 
time in Schuylkill County, Penn. He then came to what is now Montour County, Penn., 
settled about four miles north of Danville, where be opened a farm in the wilderness. He 
owned nearly 300 acres and resided there the remainder of his life. His wife Phoebe bore 
him the following children: Hannah, Thomas, Rachel, Sarah, Phoebe, John and Ann, aJl 
of whom reared families except Ann. Thomas married Susanna Russell, of Irish descent, 
and by her had nine children: William, John, Reuben, Elizabeth, Priscilla, Thomas, 
Mary, Rachel and Martha, all of whom except Thomas reared families. Elizabeth mar- 
ried John Willetts; Priscilla was the wife of Benjamin Eves; Mary married Isaac Pursell;. 
Rachel became the wife of Francis Eves and Martha married Reuben Crossley, and all 
settled in what are now Montour and Columbia Counties. Reuben and Martha are the 
only ones now living. The former was born in Montour County and there grew to man- 
hood. His health being poor, his parents feared that he was not strong enough to farm 
and they sent him to learn the tanner's trade, which he worked at in intervals with farm- 
ing. He married January 27, 1831, Sarah, daughter of Chandlee Eves, and after naarriage 
settled on a farm in Madison Township and engaged in farming forty-three years. In 1875 
he came to Millville, and here has since resided. The following are the names of his 
children who grew to maturity: Harriet,rwife of Reece M. Esk; Rachel, wife of A. P. 
Young; Elizabeth, wife of James Rote; Mary, wife of Levi Pilkington, in Iowa; Anna, 
wife of William Potts, in Chester County; Sarah is unmarried and resides with her sister 
Mary in Iowa; Thomas C. resides on the home farm in Madison Township. Reuben is 
the only one of the family who attained the age of seventy. He is now in his eighty-first 
year and is hale and well after an active business life, in which he has been successful. He 
is a prominent member of the Society of Friends, and Speaker in the same. Politically 
is a Republican, but was former]}^ a Whig; he has been devoted to Prohibition princi- 
ples for over forty years, and looks for the final triumph of the Prohibition party. Mrs. 
Sarah E. Wilson died September 23, 1878. 

THOMAS WILSON, farmer, P. O. Millville, was born September 19. 1830, in Val 
ley Township, Montour County. His father, John Wilson, was also born there and mar- 
ried Frances H., daughter of Jacob W. Moss, whose wife was Sarah W. Simpson. To 
John Wilson and wife were born eleven children, nine of whom lived to be grown: Sarah 
(deceased), Thomas, John M., Susan W., Francis M., Elizabeth (deceased), Nancy, Rob- 
ert M., Margaret, Mary L., Charles. The parents of Thomas died in Montour County, 
where they were born. Thomas remained on the home farm until he was twenty-seven 
years of age, at which time he married Mary Eves, daughter of John K. Eves. In 1857. 
the same spring of his marriage, he moved to the farm he now owns, which was a part of 
the JohnK. Eves farm. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have four children; John F., married Ara- 
bella Statton, has two daughters and resides in this township; Joseph M., residing in 
Iowa; Norris and Frances H., at home. Mr. Wilson owns two good farms. In politics 
he is a Republican. 

A. PHILIP YOUNG, farmer, P. O. Millville, was born near Benton, Penn., Novem- 
ber 17, 1835, the youngest of four children— that reached maturity — born to Abram and 
Ann (Peterman) Young. Abram was a native of New Jersey, and, removing to Columbia 
County, Penn., located near Benton, where he engaged in farming' until his death in 1872, 
at the age of eighty-seven. He was for more than thirty years a justice of the peace and 
took an active part pertaining to the improvement of the section in which he lived. He 
was not sectarian but inclined to the Baptist faith. Politically he was a Democrat. 
Mrs. Young was born in Montgomery County, this State, of Revolutionary stock, and at 
this date, February, 1887, still lives with remarkable physical and mental powers, at the 
age of nearly ninety-six years. Of the four children that grew up, Mercey Ann, the 
eldest, became the wife of Mathias Roberts and died without issue; Aaron went to Illi- 
nois, Whiteside County, in 1851, married, engaged in farming and has several children; 
Sarah, married Eli McHenry and resides near Benton. A. P. was reared to farming and 
on attaining his majority ca'me to Millville to attend school at the Greenwood Seminary; 
engaged in teaching in the public schools, and finally in the seminary, taking an active 
part in teachers' institute, educational meetings and all measures to advance the standard 
of intelligence. He then made a trip'south and west, returning in the fall of 1860, and a j'ear 
later purchased the farm which he now owns, on which he has made many valuable im- 
provements, raising the land from a run down barrenness to one of fertility. The title 
" Old Briar farm " does not now apply to it. He married in 1861, Rachel, daughter of Reu- 
ben Wilson, one of the prominent representatives of the Society of Friends in this place. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Young were born four daughters: Alice, after graduating from the 
Bloomsburg Normal School and teaching two years, became the wife of Alfred H. Potts 
of Parkesburg, Chester County, where she now resides; Ella, also a graduate of the 
same school; Emma and Marj'. Mr. Young takes great interest in improving the blooded 
stock of his neighborhood, and has a select herd of registered Jersey cattle. He is among 
the foremost men in the Grange organization, and hns occupied the position of Deputy 
Master in his county for six years; has also been identified with the I. O. O. F. 



484: (33IO&EAJHICAL SKETCHES: 

CHAPTER XXXIII. 
HEMLOCK TOWNSHIP. 

STINSON L. BUOBST, farmer, P. O. Buckhorn, is a grandson of Jacob Brobst,who was 
a resident of Northampton Count}', and later removed to wliat is now West Hemlock Town- 
ship, in Montour County, where he died August 29, 1873, aged seventy-seven years and 
•six months. His widow, Ellen Brobst, is still living in Bloomsburg. Their son, Daniel, 
who is the father of our subject, is the eldest child, and in early life learned the trade of 
shoemaking in Danville, at which he still works in winter. His home is in Valley Town- 
ship, Montour County. His wife, Rebecca (Johnson) Brobst, was born in Northampton 
•County, and became the mother of eight children, three of whom died young. The living 
are Edward D., Benjamin F., Martin" L. (all living in this township). Marietta (single and 
living with her parents) and Stinson L. Mr. and Mrs. Brobst have for many years been 
members of the Lutheran Church in Valley Township, in which he has been elder for 
over ten years, and has the confidence and respect of all who know him. Stinson L. is 
-the eldest of the family, and was born October 32, 1850. In early life he worked at farm- 
ing, and when he was thirteen years old he moved with his parents to West Hemlock, 
where they remained. Their house was destroyed by fire three years later. The family 
then moved to Frosty Valley, where, until he was twenty j'ears old, our subject worked 
in the mines in summer and on farms and attending school in winter. He completed his 
education in his twenty-first year, at Millville Seminary, Greenwood Township, this 
county, and then taught school in Jackson Township four mouths, and for three years, 
subsequently, worked in the mines. He then resumed teaching, w^hich he followed four 
winter terms, returning to the mines for three or four years. At the end of that time, in 
■company with his three brothers, he bought the farm on which he now resides, to 
which he moved a year later, and which has since been his home. November 15, 1879, 
he married Miss Emma J., daughter of John and Susan Hartzel, of Mahoning Township, 
Montour County. She had always lived with her parents until her marriage. To this 
union three children have been born: Mabel G., Charles E. and Lloyd H., who live with 
their parents. Mr. Brobst has been clerk of the school board for five years, and is an 
industrious young man who stands deservedly high in the community. 

HENRY DEIGHMILLER, farmer, P. O. Buckhorn ; a sonof Henry Deighmiller.Sr., 
who came from Germany and settled in Bucks County, where he owned a farm, on which 
our subject was born. In 1848 he sold the farm there and removed to this county where 
he bought the farm on which his son now resides, and died in 1861. His widow, Anna 
Barbara, died in 1883. They had seven children, four of whom died young. Two daugh 
ters died after being married ; Anna was the wife of Christopher Kuster, and Eliza was 
the wife of Augustus Rabb. Henry is the only survivor, was born August 10, 1843, in 
Bucks County, and was six years old when his parents came to this county. In 1865 he 
left home and worked on farms in this township for the following eight years, when he 
teamed and threshed for two years, and kept hotel at Light Street for one year. He then 
returned to Hemlock and remained a year, after which he farmed in Carbon County for 
two years ; he then returned to the old homestead, on which he has since resided, farming 
it and threshing in fall and winters. May 5, 1864, he married Miss Margaret Carrol, 
daughter of Charles Carrol. She was born in this township, but lived until grown with 
her parents in Carbon County. Mr. and Mrs. Deighmiller have eleven children, all of 
whom are now living : Hannah. William, Ada, Charles, Minnie, Bertha, John, Sally, 
Maggie, and Ellie and Nellie (twins). They are all living with their parents. 

THEODORE DENT, farmer, P. O Buckhorn, was born in Pine Grove, Schuylkill 
County, Penn., July 13, 1845. His father, William, was a native of England and owned 
a farm in Montour County, but spent most of his life in the ore mines. His wife was Su- 
san Weldie, of New Jersey. He died in 1865, but his widow is still living, aged seventy- 
one years, and makes her home chiefly with her son, Theodore. They had twelve chil- 
dren, three of whom died young ; one, Albert, was killed by an explosion in the ore mine 
where he was working, at White Oak Hollow, this township. The living are William, 
who is superintendent of the mines at Milnes, Page Co., Va. ; Charles, who resides in 
Chulask3^ Montour County, and is boss of the ore mines at that place; Weldie, who is a 
miner in this township ; George Henry, a farmer in Hemlock Township ; Franklin P., 
who resides in Buckhorn; Elizabeth, is wife of Job Coslett and resides in Kingston, Penn., 
and Jane, wife of Franklin P. Baum, who resides in Bloomsburg. Theodore is the third 
■son, and remained at home until he was tweuty-four years old. He married, November 






HEMLOCK TOWNSHIP. 485 

28, 1868, Miss Cornelia, daughter of William Clinton, who was formerly a resident of 
Michigan, and is now living with Mr. Dent, and is eighty-eight years old. Mrs. Dent is 
thirty-five years of age and the mother of the following named children : Charles Albert, 
Robert Russell, Jennie, May, Bella and Mary, all living with their parents. Mr. and Mrs! 
Dent are members of the Lutheran Church at Buckhorn, and he has been for three 3'ear3 
superintendent of the Sunday-school connected with the church. 

EDWIN JONES, farmer, P. O. Buckhorn, is a native of the city of Bristol, England, 
and his recollections extend back to what is considered by Americans quite ancient his- 
tory. He remembers the death of King George III, the accession and reign of George 
IV and William IV, and the coronation of Queen Victoria. In 1851 he left England 
Tvith his family, landing in the city of New York in September of that year. While in 
England he followed the occupation of a miner, chiefly of iron ore, and also followed 
the same here until four years ago, when he abandoned it. The first place he worked in 
this country was in Danville, Montour County, where he was in the employ of the Mon- 
tour Iron Company until 1859, when he removed to the farm whei'e he now resides. 
This property he had purchased in December, 1857, and is a portion of the so-called " Old 
Judge Montgomery Tract," on which he subsequently erected a dwelling and suitable 
outbuildings. Shortly after coming to this county he began cleaning up his land, and 
two or three years later cultivating it. He built a house in 1859, for which, in 1875, he 
substituted his present dwelling- June 3, 1838, he married, in South Wales, Miss Martha 
Davis, who was born in Wales of English descent, and died Maj^ 24, 1883, aged sixty- 
seven years. They had four children born in Wales, three of whom are yet living; one 
died in Wales; another was born in this country but is also deceased. The living are 
Dorcas, wife of James Gulliver, a farmer of this township; Delilah, wife of William 
Somers, lives with her father, and Edwin, married to Martha Everett, and lives in Valley 
Township, Montour County, engaged in mining. Mr. Jones is a member of Frosty 
Valley Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he has been trustee and steward, and for 
some years a class leader. He has brought up his children to follow in his footsteps, and 
now, in the evening of his life, is awaiting, with the tranquilit}'' of a true Christian, his 
translation to a higher and better life. 

N. PATTERSON MOORE, wagon-maker and justice of the peace, Buckhorn, is 
descended from an Englishman, who came to this country long before the Revolution, 
and settled in New Jersey near the Delaware River. On the outbreak of the Revolution 
he cast his lot with his adopted country, as did also his son, Samuel, the grandfather of 
our subject. Samuel was born in New Jersey in 1752; entered the army and served under 
Washington, with whom he wintered at Valley Forge and crossed the Delaware. After 
the war he moved to Northumberland County, where he remained until 1813, when he 
came to Madison Township, Columbia County, and lived until his death in 1840. He 
was a successful farmer, a man of fine business abilities and an elder in the Prsebyterian 
Church at New Columbia. His wife was Sarah Farley, also a native of New Jersey, and 
they had a family of nine children: Abraham F., Caleb, George, John, Catherine, Nancy, 
Ellen, Phebe and Hester. John, the father of our subject, was born in Northumberland 
County in 1797, and died in West Hemlock Township, Montour County, in 1868, aged 
seventy years. When he was sixteen years of age his parents moved to Madison Town- 
ship, this county, where he remained until he was twenty-six years old. He then moved 
to a farm in West Hemlock Township, Montour County, where he died. He was a farmer 
all his life and for about fourteen years conducted a distillery, also raised and dealt in fine 
'horses. A few years before his death he was elected a commissoner of Montour County, 
but resigned on account of ill health. He married in 1831, Joanna, daughter of Matthias 
Appleman, then living in Montour County. She was born in November, 1803, on the 
farm, where she died in 1878, aged seventy-five years. Their children are N. P. (subject), 
Matthias A., Samuel C. L., Abraham Grier, William Boyd, John M., Sarah, Mary Ellen 
and Margaret, who died in infancy. Our subject was born on the farm in Madison Town- 
ship, March 17, 1824, and was reared on the farm in West Hemlock Township until 
eighteen years of age. He then began to learn the wagon-maker's trade, which he has 
followed almost ever since. He established his shop in Benton in 1848 and there resided 
fourteen years; in 1862 removed to Buckhorn where he has since remained. In 1869 he 
was elected a justice of the peace, and is now serving his fourth consecutive term, and has 
also been mercantile appraiser for this county. June 6, 1848, he married Miss Araminta, 
daughter of Isaac Kline of Orange Township, who was born November 25, 1835, and 
six children have been born to their union: Mary Joanna, a teacher, residing with her 
parents; Elmira Ellen, died in infancy: John Willit. married to Miss Mary Penman, of 
Bloomsburg, and now lives in Topeka, Kas. ; Isora Lavina, taught school three years and 
lives with her parents; Charles Herbert, who is now in a store in Fishingcreek Township, 
;and Lizzie, who is teaching school in Buckhorn. As indicated by his repeated re-elections, 
Mr. Moore is held in considerable repute by his neighbors. 

SAMUEL OHL, farmer, P. O. Buckhorn, is a grandson of Henry Ohl, who came to 
this country from Germany many years ago and settled in Berks County, where his son, 
also named Henry, the father of Samuel, was born. Henry, with his brother, John, 



486 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

bought a tract of 300 acres, a part of which is the farm now occupied by our subject. 
This land was then mostly in timber but he cleared the greater part of it. and it is now a 
fine farm. Henry married Catherine, daughter of Daniel Mericle of Madison Township, 
and eleven children were born to them, viz.: Elizabeth, widow of George Smith, now liv- 
ing in Bloomsburg with her son; Eli, married to Joanna Stouffer, and living on a part of 
the homestead; Henry, living in Michigan; Catherine, widow of Daniel Smith, living near 
Buckhorn; Mary, wife of Seth Shoemaker, Uving in Buckhorn; Sallie Ann, who was mar- 
ried to Esau Shoemaker of Buckhorn and died leaving two children; Jesse, who had 
resided in the West, came home on a visit and died at his brother's house; Rebecca, who 
was married to Geo. Hittle, and died near Buckhorn, leaving one child; an unnamed 
infant, and a son who died when a child. Samuel is the second child and was born Jan- 
uary 29, 1820, in a house which stood near the site of his present residence. He has never 
lived off the farm on which he was born. He married, December 25, 1845, Maria B. 
Straub, daughter of Adam Straub of this township, who was born December 30, 1826. 
To this union eleven children have been born, three of whom died in infancy and Har- 
riet L. when fourteen years old. The living are: Thomas J., who married Sarah, daugh- 
ter of John Betz, of this township, and now residing in Pittsburgh; Eli J., who is married 
to Amanda Musgrave. of Greenwood Township, resides in this township; Margaret, wife 
of Hugh Appleman, living in Hemlock Township; Amos, single and living in JPittsburgh; 
Sarah S., single and living'with her parents; Anna E., also living at home, and S. Howard, 
who is married to Miss Mary Yocum of this township, and works for his father. Mr. Ohl 
has applied himself closely to his farming pursuits, refusing to accept any office. He and 
family are members of the Grange; he is a member of Van Camp Lodge, No. 140 of 
Bloomsburg, and, with his wife and family, a member of the Lutheran Church, in which 
he has been an elder for several years. 

ELI OHL, farmer, P. O. Buckhorn, a brother of Samuel Ohl, whose sketch appears 
above, was born April 15, 1826, on the home farm. In his youth he worked at home until 
the age of twenty-one, when he began working on his own account, partly at home and 
for five years for Adam Straub, in this township. In 1856 he went with Mr. Straub to 
Michigan, where he remained until the fall of 1857 engaged in farm.ing. Returning to 
this township he resumed work in this neighborhood, and bought a piece of land which 
belonged to his father's estate. On this he subsequently built the house in which he now 
lives, and which has since been his home. March 25, 1858, he married Miss Joanna, 
daughter of Samuel Stauffer, then of Madison Township. Mrs. Ohl's father died several 
years ago, but her mother is still living in that" toAvnship, aged seventy-seven. Mr. and 
Mrs. Ohl have five children: Austin S., unmarried and a farmer in Michigan; William 
Clark, who makes his home with his parents and works at farming in this township; 
Franklin Leroy, also at home; Mary Emma, wife of Hiram Bogard, in Mount Pleasant 
Township, and Ada Lenora, who is living at home. Mr. Ohl is not an ardent politician, 
but votes with the Democratic party. He and his wife and some of his children are mem- 
bers of the Lutheran Church at Buckhorn. 

SYLVESTER PURSEL, farmer, P. O. Bloomsburg, is a grandson of Jonathan 
Pursel, who emigrated from New Jersey in the latter part of the last century. He first 
located on the farm now owned by his grandson, James Depew Pursel. The farm on 
which Sylvester lives was owned by his maternal ancestor, whose name was Green, and 
who later sold it to his son-in-law, Daniel Pursel. Shortly after this he died, and the wife 
of Jonathan Pursel dying about this time also, the two old people married, and lived on 
the Depew Pursel farm. Jonathan's children were all by his first wife, Nancy, and none 
are now living, Daniel bought the place where Sjivester now lives, from his father, and 
in 1816 built the stone house in which he now resides. Sylvester was born in this house 
and has never had any other home. Daniel was a blacksmith by trade and also farmed. 
He started poor, but by industry and hard work, helped by an equally careful and in- 
dustrious wife, amassed a competence, owning this farm and the one owned by Isaac G. 
Pursel, now living at Buckhorn. He was a strong man in many respects; a consistent 
member of and attendant at the Episcopal Church in Bloomsburg. He died about 1852, 
aged eighty-three years. His wife was Mary Green, who was also from New Jersey. She 
died during the civil war, aged ninety-one j^ears and one month. (A year before, when 
ninety years of age, she knitted a large number of stockings and mittens for the soldiers.) 
They had twelve children, one dying in infancy. The others were John, who died at his 
son's, in Montour County, aged ninety-three years; Dennis, died three or four years ago, 
aged ninety-one years; Hester died in Lycoming County; Jonathan died in Canada; 
Robert lives in Michigan, aged eighty-eight; Daniel died several years ago; Annielives in 
Ohio; William resides in Montour County; Abigail Maria died iu Bloomsburg; Isaac G. 
resides in Buckhorn, and Sylvester. Our subject, whg is the youngest of the family, 
was born October 11, 1818, and has always been a farmer, working on the home farm un- 
til his father's death, when he inherited it. Since then he has stuck closely to it until 
about five years ago, when he gave up the active work on it to his son, D. C. Pursel. 
June 4, 1840, he married Miss Mary Jane, daughter of Alexander Emmitt of this township, 
who was born May 11, 1820. They had seven children, four of whom died in infancy; 



HEMLOCK TOWNSHIP. 487 

the others are Mary, born December 37, 1851, aud is wife of Franklin D. Dentter, a shoe 
anerchant, of Bloomsburg; Emily, the second daughter, was born April 27, 1854, and died 
August 6, 1856; the only surviving son is Daniel Clark Pursel, who was born June 19, 
1857. He is married to Miss Mary Alice, daughter of Charles Dietrick, of Buckhorn. He 
now works his father's farm. Mr. and Mrs. Pursel are Episcopalians. He was for many 
years a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity, and has the record of an honest man and 
upright citizen, 

GEORGE RUSSEL, farmer, P. O. Buckhorn, was born December 1, 1817, in North- 
ampton County, Penn. His father, Robert Russel, was formerly a resident of North- 
ampton County, but moved to this county, locating first in Bloomsburg; later at the 
forks, and subsequently bought the place now owned by Reuben Guild, which he after- 
ward sold to the Iron Companj-. He then bought the farm now occupied by his son 
George, in Hemlock Township, near Buckhorn. He died in February, 1882, aged eighty- 
eight years and nine months. His wife, Sarah Miller, died many years prior. He was a 
carpenter by trade, but after coming to this county gave most of his attention to farm- 
ing. He was an active, upright man, a strict member of the Episcopal Church in Blooms- 
burg, and universally respected. He was the father of seven children, of whom two are 
now living. The deceased were named as follows: Sarah and Caroline, who both died in 
^arly life; Harriet was the wife of William Gillespie of this township, who is also de- 
ceased; Mary was the wife of William Clinton, who is living with his son-in-law, Theo- 
dore Dent; and Aaron, who died unmarried. The surviving are Elizabeth, wife of Reuben 
Foulk of Northumberland County, and George, the subject of this sketch. The latter 
was an infant when his parents came to this county, and he has all his life been a farmer. 
He worked for his father until he was forty years old, when he rented his farm and 
worked it until his father's death. He then inherited the new brick house which his 
father had built, and fifty acres of land, which, with fifty acres he had bought adjoining, 
gives him a fine farm. In October, 1878, he married Miss Mary, daughter of John Nei- 
Jiart of this township. They have no children. Mr. Russel is a member of the Grange, 
and he and Mrs. Russel are members of the Lutheran Church in Buckhorn. He takes 
but little part in politics and would not hold any ofllce, preferring to give his time and 
attention to his farm. 

AARON SMITH, farmer, P. O. Buckhorn, was born in Frosty Valley, August 7, 
1821, a son of David and Catherine (Heiner) Smith, who came to this county from New 
Jersey, and were among the earliest settlers of this part of the county. After living here 
awhile David Smith, who was born Marcli 31, 1781, bought a farm near where his son now 
resides, and which is owned by Peter Werkheiser, the country at that time being a wilder- 
ness. After living on the place for some time he rented a farm in Frosty Valley, where 
he lived until 1840, when he moved to Briarcreek and resided two years; then moved to 
the farm where his son Aaron now lives, which he bought some years before, on which 
there had been a house. Here he resided the remainder of his life, dying October 23, 
1856. His wife died about 1832, and later he married Annie Liedy, of this township, 
whose family were old settlers in this part of the county, but have now all emigrated 
west. By his first wife Mr. Smith had a large family, of whom the following are living: 
John, in Illinois; Samuel, in Michigan; Isabella, wife of Samuel Holder, resides in Milton, 
Northumberland County, and Aaron. Our subject worked on the farm until he was 
■eighteen years old, when he learned the milling trade, which he followed eight years. 
He then resumed farming, which he has since followed. In the fall of 1858 he bought the 
home farm from the estate, and has since resided there. January 1, 1843, he married 
Rachel Fowler, daughter of William Fowler, of Nescopeck, Luzerne County, and the fol- 
lowing namedchildren were born to their union: Boann,born January 3, 1844; Sarah Alice, 
born April 26, 1845, wife of Charles Tittle, of Bloomsburg; Fanny Dianathy, born May 5, 
1846, died September 14, 1857; Ella Udora, born September 26, 1854, wife of George Erwin, 
and resides in West Hemlock Township, Montour County; Emma Jane, born April 26, 

1850, married William Gulliver, and died April 11, 1872, leaving one child; Hugh W., 
born February 9, 1857, married Mary Gillaspy, and died October 11, 1885, leaving one 
child; Clara Bell, born September 15, 1862, died March 23, 1863, and Norman Ellis, who 
was born June 11, 1847, and worked for his father until he was of age. March 3, 1870, he 
married Miss Mary, daughter of Levi Cox, of Bloomsburg, and who was born March 20, 

1851. They have had five children: Lucius C, born May 14, died August 14, 1871; Edith 
Lavina, born August 15, 1872; Nellie Irene, born May 15, 1874; Hugh Otis, born August 
19, 1877, and Lizzie Iri, born April 21, 1882. Mr. Smith has held several township offices, 
and was sheriff of the county one term. He is now warmly interested in the prohibition 
cause, and was a delegate to the State convention of the Prohibition party which was held 
at Harrisburg in August, 1886. He and Mrs. Smith are members of the Baptist Church in 
Madison Township, and he is spoken of by his neighbors as a straightforward, plain-spoken 
man, and one whose word can be relied upon. He has been superintendent of the Union 
Sunday-school at New Columbia for twenty years past. When David Smith first came 
here there was but one log cabin where Berwick now stands, and he often used to tell of 

36 



488 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

the difficulties and hardships he encountered in making a home, having no one to- 
assist him. 

EVAN THOMAS, farmer, P. O. Buckhorn, was born in Mount Pleasant Township, 
this county, where his father and grandfather both resided. The latter, Thomas Thomas, 
a Revolutionary soldier, was crippled by having his fingers shot off in a fight with the 
English and Indians. He died about twenty years ago in his one-hundredth year, and his 
descendants yet repeat the stories he told them of the hardships he endured while fight- 
ing for freedom. His son. John C, the father of Evan, was born in the State of New 
York, and came to this county, settling in Mount Pleasant Township, where he was mar- 
ried, and where his children were born. He died four years ago, aged seventy-three 
years. His wife was Miss Eliza, daughter of Frederick Miller, of Mount Pleasant Town- 
ship, and died in 1860, aged seventy-four years. Their children are Hiram, who resides 
in Mount Pleasant Township; Elizabeth, wife of George Keller, of Millersburg, Juniata 
County; Susanna, wife of William Beers, of Bloom Township; Catherine, married to 
Lawrence Hartman, of this township: Hester, wife of Lewis Girton, also of Hemlock; 
Sarah Margaret, who was the wife of Emanuel Wood (the latter was accidentally killed 
in a mine, and she is now married to William Weber, of Juniata County); William, who 
is unmarried, resides in Mount Pleasant Township; Frederick, who died young, and Evan 
(subject) who was born May 16, 1885. In early life our subject worked on a farm and 
also in the ore mines until 1870, when he rented a farm and cultivated it until 1880, when 
he bought the place on which he now resides. In 1860 he married Miss Mary, daughter 
of David B. Wagner, of this township. Eleven children were born to their union, one 
of whom died young. The living are John, William, Jacob, Lewis, Hiram Lester, Ed- 
ward, Charles, Sarah, Hannah and Rosanna. Mr. Thomas is not a politician; has never 
held office, but has attended strictly to his own business, and votes the Democratic ticket 
regularly. 

DAVID B. WAGNER, farmer, P. O. Buckhorn, was born on the farm where he now 
resides, October 22, 1814. His grandfather came from Germany over a hundred years 
ago, and was one of the first settlers of Columbia County, taking up a tract of over 600 
acres adjoining the present farm of David. This tract is now divided into nine farms. 
His son, Isaac, was the father of our subject, and was twenty -.seven years old when his 
parents came to this county, and shortly after, in 1801, he married Elizabeth Betz, of 
Madison Township. He then bought 100 acres of land adjoining his father's, on which 
he resided until his death, in 1861, at the age of eighty-eight years. His wife died when 
her youngest child was ten years old, and Isaac then married Mrs. Sarah Leidy, who sur- 
vived him three years. Mrs. Elizabeth Wagner had nine children who arrived at years of 
maturity, and several who died in infancy. The former were Abraham, now deceased; 
Isaac, a resident of Madison Township; Dinah Ann, deceased; Labright, also deceased; 
Margaret, residing in Indiana; Elias, deceased; Sallie Ano, widow of Benjamin Bomboy, 
and resides in Bloomsburg; Mary Elizabeth, widow of Jacob Latchaw, who was killed 
while in the Union Army, and David B. Our subject has been a farmer all his life, but 
the last year has retired, his son-in-law, Evan Thomas, carrying on the farm for him. In 
April, 1835, he married Mary, daughter of Michael Stecker, of this township. Four and 
a half years later she died, leaving one child, Henry William, now living in Schuylkill 
County, Penn. In 1840 Mr. Wagner married Sarah Ann. daughter of Jacob Girton, of 
Madison Township, and the following children w^ere born to their union: Mary Eliza- 
beth, wife of Evan Thomas; Catherine Matilda, wife of William Mericle, of Madison 
Township; Jacob L., married to Lucy, daughter of John Welsh, and resides in North- 
umberland County; Isaac, who died when eight years old, and Hannah, the youngest 
child, who lives with her father. Mr. Wagner has been supervisor of his township for 
six years, also school director; is a member of the Presbyterian Church at New Columbia, 
in which he has been elder thirty years. 

MATHIAS WHITENIGHT, Sr.. farmer, P. O. Mordansville, Penn., was born 
at Buckhorn, same State, August 16, 1811, and is one of a family of fourteen children, 
but two now living. His father was born near Easton, and came to this part of the State 
when a young man, settling at Buckhorn, where he married Rebecca Hoffman. Both 
have been dead many years. Their children now living are our subject and Catherine, 
wife of Aaron Miller, of Hemlock Township. Our subject was but five years of age 
when his father moved to the place where he now resides and which has since been his 
home, he inheriting it on the death of his father. He married, in 1838. Miss Mary Ann 
Kline, and for some time previous to that event, worked in the still house of William 
McKelvy in Bloom. To him and his wife fourteen children were born, ten of whom are 
living: Henry William, living in Michigan; George, in Madison Township, keeper of the 
poorhouse; Maria Catherine, wife of Amos Heller, of Madison Township; Rebecca Jane, 
who was married to George Beagle, and after his death to John Tanner, of West Hem- 
lock, Montour County; Mathias, who owns a farm adjoining his father; Mary Ann, wife 
of John Howell, of this township; Susanna, wife of Henrj^ G. Frane, of Mahanoy City; 
Mahala Elizabeth, wife of Charles Smith, of Catawissa: John Wesley, who is single and 
lives with his brother-in-law, John Howell, and Isaiah McClellan, who is married to Miss- 



JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 489" 

Jennie Purcel and resides with his father. Mrs. Whitenight died July 25, 1879. Mr. 
Whitenight is a member of the Ge-man Reformed Church at Jerseytown. 

DANIEL YOCUM, farmer, P. O. Bloomsburg, Penn., a son of John and Jane 
(Soper) Yocum, was born in 1830, in Shamoliin Township, Northumberland County, 
where he resided until he was thirteen years old. He was reared on tl e farm and at the 
age of sixteen began to learn the blacksmith's trade with Samuel Shick, and after com- 
pleting his apprenticeship worked as a journeyman until 1858. He then began for him- 
self, and followed his business in this township for tt irteen years. In 1871 he bought the 
Drinker farm, which he has greatly improved, and in farming and stock raising has been ■ 
very successful. In 1858 he married Elsie, a daughter of Jacob Shoemaker, an old resi- 
dent of the county. The children born to this marriage all died young. Mr. Yocum is 
a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Bloomsburg, of which he is a 
trustee. He is also a member of the Grange.' Politically he is a Democrat. 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 
JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 

IRAM DERR, farmer, P. O. Derrs. was born in Madison Township, Columbia Co., 
Penn., June 4, 1811, son of James and Nancy (Kitchen) Derr, former of whom, a native 
of Anthony Township, Montour County, died in Tennessee, latter a native of Madison 
Township, this county, and a daughter of William Kitchen, who was born in New Jersey. 
Judge Derr lived in Madison Township, this county, and there learned his trade (chair- 
maker), serving a five years' apprenticeship, and in 1831 went to Orangeville, where he 
bought a house and pursued hio business till 1836; then was elected constable of Bloom 
Township, serving two years; then moved to Rohrsburg in the spring of 1838, where, tilL 
1841, he kept hotel; thence came to Jackson Township, and located on Little Fishing: 
creek. Tht re he built a saw-mill, and in the fall of 1843 was elected sheriff of Columbia. 
County, his residence being in Danville till 1848. He then returned to the saw-mill, and 
in 185^ moved to his present home, which was under improvement except buildings. In 
the meantime he was elected commissioner in 1853, serving till 1856; was also justice of 
the peace, and in 1866 was elected associate judge, being re-elected in 1871, since which 
time he has not been in public life. His home farm consists of 116 acres; healsoowns558 
acres in Jackson Township, and 100 in Greenwood Township. Judge Derr's first wife was 
Leah, daughter of Joseph Welliver, whom he married October 26, 1831. She died Feb- 
ruary 16, 1874. The children born to this union were John F., George W., Nancy K., 
Andrew J., Frank, Mary W., Calvin, James D. and Effie. Our subject next married, 
August 29, 1876, Mrs. Elizabeth C. Watts nee Lunger. The family, excepting John F., 
are members of the Church of Christ, of which Mr. Derr has been a member since 1857. 
In politics he is a Democrat. 

JOHN F. DERR, farmer, P. O. Derrs, was born September 22, 1832, son of Iram 
Derr. He attended the common schools and the academj' at Bloomsburg, and in his nine- 
teenth year commenced teaching and lumbering, former in winter, latter in summer. He 
was married in 1853, and 'continued lumbering till 1862, when he went to farming on the 
place where he now resides (adjoining his father's property), where he owns fifty-eight 
acres. After moving here he served two terms as school director, and eight years as jus- 
tice of the peace, resigning July 15, 1885. He was then appointed storekeeper and gauger 
by the Government. During this time he has taught twenty-seven terms of school, teach- 
ing winters — sixteen terras in his own district. Mr. Derr was married to Rebecca, daugh- 
ter of John Christian, of Pine Township, this county, and by her he has two children: 
Mary A. (wife of James S. Woods, in Schuylkill County, Penn.) and Ida F. (unmarried). 
Mr. Derr has been a member of the Baptist Church for twenty-five years. In politics he 
is a Democrat. 

J. FRANK DERR was born January 2, 1840, at Rohrsburg, this county; was drafted 
in the service in 1862, and served in Company I, One Hundred and Seventy-eighth Regi- 
ment; was mustered in and out at Harrisburg; was married February 4, 1864, to Miss 
Julia A Shultz; resided at Rohrsburg and followed millwrightin^ and carpentering until 
1873; then moved to Jackson where he has been in the lumbering business. The chil- 
dren born to our subject and wife are Laura, Leah, May, Minnie, Earl and Fred. The 
family attend the services of the Christian Church. In politics Mr. Derr is a Democrat. 

DANIEL L. EVERHART, farmer, P, O. Waller, was born in Northampton County, 
Penn., December 23, 1823, and came to this county in 1836, first locating in Orange Town- 



400 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

ship. His parents were Jacob and Elizabeth ( Anawalt) Everhart, former of whom, a son 
of Isaiah Everhart, was born in Lehigh County, Penn., and died in Orange Township, one 
mile and a half north of Light Street. They were members of the Lutheran Church and 
had a family of six children: Daniel L., Wilhelmina A., Augustus, Sarah K. Luther J. 
and Anna S. Of these only Daniel L. and Augustus live in Columbia County. Our subject 
lived at home until he was twenty-two years old, then moved to Berwick, this county, where 
be learned milling and worked about eighteen months; then went to Nescopeck, Penn., 
and worked six months; thence to Wapwallopen for three months; then for a time in an 
iron mine at Bloomsburg; and thence to Light Street where he worked in the mill with 
William Brown, whose daughter, Mary E., he married in May, 185L Mr. and Mrs. Ever- 
hart resided nine years at Light Street before he opened a hotel at that place, which he 
kept nine years. Thence they came to his farm of 112 acres ( the home farm ) and 124 in 
woodland. Mr. and Mrs. Everhart have reared five children: Clara, wife of Z. A. Butt; 
Charlie, Alverda H., Abner C. and Alvaretta. The family attend the services of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Cnurch. In politics Mr. Everhart is a Democrat, and held the office of super- 
visor for one year. He was also postmaster from 1866 to 1872 at Polkville, which is now 
called Waller (Columbia County). He ;is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the Encamp- 
ment, and is an A. F. & A. M. He served nine months in the army during the war of the 
Rebellion. 

GEORGE HIRLEMAN, farmer, P. O. Waller, was born in France, near the German 
border, son of George and Dorothy (Wet tling) Hirleman, former of whom had been a 
soldier under Napoleon Bonaparte during the war with Russia; he died in January, 1885, 
aged one hundred years and one mouth. Mrs. Dorothy Hirleman died in February, 1882, 
at Pottsville, Penn. Their familj^ consisted of seven children: George. Henry, Philip, 
Magdalena, Sarah, Barbara, and Louisa, who died on the ocean. The family sailed for 
America from Havre de Grace, France, April 27, 1829, arriving at Philadelphia after a 
voyage of forty-two days, and a few days thereafter moved to Pottsville, Penn. Our sub 
■ject came from there to Columbia County, January 26, 1846, and settled at what is now 
Waller. He purchased seventy-five acres of timber land which he improved, and now 
bis farm of ninety-six acres is one of the best in Jackson Township. He married, at Sun- 
bury, Penn., Barbara Fry, who was born near Mr. Hirleman's birthplace, and came to 
America at the same time as the Hirlemans. To this union were born the following 
named children: Sarah, Louisa, Henry H., Emma, George, Jacob, Magdalena, Daniel, 
Samuel, Philip and Alice. Henry H. was born in Schuylkill County, Penn., and now 
lives in Waller. He was mai-ried January 13, 1870, to Elvira Hess, daughter of Joseph O. 
Hess of Sugarloaf Township, this county. He built his present dwelling in Waller in 
1883, and kept store in the village for a considerable time, but on account of failing 
health had to sell out and take up farming and huckstering. The subject of this sketch 
commenced business for himself running from 1839 to 1845, a canal-boat in the coal trade, 
from Pottsville to Philadelphia, New York, Wilmington, Governor's Island and Long 
Island. He owned a deck boat of about seventy tons burden, valued at |1,000. In 1845 
he was employed by the Pha?nix Company on the railroad driving a five-mule team, haul- 
ing coal from Broad Mountain to Schuylkill Haven. Removing to his farm in 1846 he 
commenced buying and driving stock to Schuylkill County; was also in the lumber, 
shingle and produce business. Mr. Hirleman has served his township eleven years as 
school director and treasurer; six years as supervisor, besides other minor offices. He is a 
member of the Lutheran Church. In politics is a Democrat. 

JAMES W. KITCHEN, farmer, P. O. Guava, was born in Greenwood Township, 
Columbia Co., Penn., December 24, 1826, son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Van Horn) 
Kitchen, who settled in the northwestern part of Sugarloaf Township in about 1849. 
Here Samuel bought 136 acres of land and died. His widow is living in Jackson Town- 
•ship with her son Calvin. They had seven children: Cyrus, in Crawford County, Penn.; 
James V/., Isaiah, in Nebraska; William, in Putnam County, Ohio; Calvin, in this town- 
ship; Mary J., wife of J. Lewis, in Crawford County, Penn.; Beulah, wife of G. H. Hess, 
an Crawford County. James W. was married April 12, 1849, to Catharine, daughter of 
William Stephens, and she died January 2, 1867, the mother of four children: Jasper, 
Elmira (deceased), Sevilla, wife of William Yorks, and Mary E., wife of William Haw- 
thorne, of Crawford County, Penn. Our subject married on second occasion October 17, 
1880, Mrs. Sarah C. Fritz, daughter of William Rhone. Mr. Kitchen came from Jackson 
Township in 1851, and settled where he now lives, about four miles northeast from Wal- 
ler, and here owns seventy-eight acres of improved farm land. He was elected justice of 
the peace and served ten years; was school director eleven years, and filled other minor 
offices. In politics he is a Democrat. 

JOHN RANTZ, retired farmer, P. O. Rohrsburg, one of the prominent men of Jack- 
son Township, was born near Orangeville, this county. May 3, 1811, son of John, Sr. (a 
farmer) and Elizabeth (Hit tie) Rantz, the latter of wliom survived her husband and be- 
came the wife of Joseph H. Robbins. Shortly after the birth of our subject the family 
removed to Rohrsburg, thence came to Jackson Township, eventually locating on the 
place where John F. Derr now resides, and here the father died in March, 1822, the owner of 



JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 491 

200 acres of land. Our subject lived till 1825 on the old place, but his mother, on marrying 
the second time, in 1823, moved to the place where John Rantznow lives. Joseph H. Rob- 
bins owned seventy-six acres, now the property of our subject, who has added thereto till 
he possesses 300 acres (at one time he owned about 400 acres). The Robbms family (m- 
cluding our subject) moved to Ohio in 1836, and there Mr. and Mrs. Robbms both died. 
In 1838 Mr. Rantz returned and built his house and barns. October 22, 1843, he married 
Mary, daughter of John Christian, and by her had four children: Elizabeth, married to 
John L. Parker, who was killed at Fort Gregg during the war of the Rebellion, leaving 
one child, Laura Mary, wife of Lee Belles (Mrs. Parker then married Joseph Reece, by 
whom she had one child, Lundy, and she died when the child was four days old); Jacob, 
a merchant in Rohrsburg, this county; Christian, in Lycoming County, Penn.; Rebecca, 
wife of Francis Albertson, of this township. Mr. Rantz has lived on his present place 
ever since his marriage. He learned his trade, that of stone-mason and plasterer, when 
nineteen years old, and followed this business until 1885, when he retired. He worked 
seven years on locks and bridges, and helped build a stone bridge across the Schuylkill at 
Black Rock Tunnel near Phcenixville. Penn. Both as a government contractor and an 
agriculturist Mr. Rantz has been very prosperous. He taught school five terms during 
his life. Our subject is a member of the Christian Church at Derrs. In politics he is a 
Republican. , _ , ^ rrr ,, 

GEORGE REMLEY, farmer, P. O. Waller, residing three miles, north of Waller, is 
a son of Michael and Mary (Hartman) Remley, former of whom was born in 1802, and 
came to Jackson Township in 1840; he died at Stony Brook, near Light Street, this county, 
Februarv 20, 1886 (his father, also named Michael, came from Northampton County to 
Centre Township, this countv, three miles east of Orangeville, in 1800, and died near 
the Knob Mountain while residing with his sister Elizabeth, wife of George Sidler). Mrs. 
Marv Remley was a daughter of George Hartman, who died on the old homestead in 
Jackson Township in 1875 or 1876. When Mr. Remley came to this township in 1840. he 
bouglit 120 acres of land in the woods, and there reared a family of ten children: George; 
Anna, wife of Henry Gettv; Sarah, wife of Henrv Golder; Mary, wife of George Getty; 
Matilda, wife of Gotleib VVagner; Susanna, wife of George Hess; Rebecca, Avife of 
William Swyu; Daniel, who died in the army; Emanuel and Catharine. George married 
Januarv 14. 1854, Catharine Schutz, who was born near Coblentz, Prussia, and they lived 
on their present place, part of the old homestead, where he has now 78 acres of well im- 
proved land. Mr. and Mrs. George Remley reared a family of ten children: Michael; John 
W.; Mary (deceased); Margaret;' Rebecca; G. B. McClellan; Samuel; Hannah; Emma, and 
Stella (deceased). The family attend the services of the Evangelical Church. Mr. Rem- 
ley is a member of Jackson Grange, No. 210; has filled several offices and is now serving, 
his third term as supervisor. He was in the army during the war of the Rebellion, serving 
twice, first time nine months, and second eighteen months. 

MICHAEL S. REMLEY, farmer, P. O. Waller, son of George Remley, was bora 
December 7, 1854, on the old homestead where he now lives. He remained and worked) 
at home until he was nearly twenty-one years old; then went to Bremer County. Iowa, 
where he remained five years. Returning in 1880 he married, April 9. 1881, Miss Mary M. 
Kline, who was born in Fishingcreek Township, this county, near Stillwater, only child of 
Charles and Lavina (Kline) Coleman, former now living at New Columbus, latter a daugh- 
ter of Matthias Kline. In 1882 they came to their present location, where Mr. Remley 
bought fifty-three acres of land, and erected a good house. Our subject and wife have 
three children: Jay, Coy and Amy Grace. Mr. Remley is a member of Jackson Grange, 
No. 210. 

JOHN YORKS, farmer, P. O. Waller, was born May 5, 1807, in New Jersey, son of 
William Yorks. He lived under tlie parental roof until he was twenty-one years of age, 
and then (1828) commenced working on the canal at Penn's Creek, below Selin's Grove, 
Penn., and in 1829 on the canal at Berwick, continuing to work on the railroad. He 
settled in 1831) on his present place, having bought fifty acres of land from Jake Keeler, 
all woodland, which he cleared up and improved. He now owns sixty acres. Mr. Yorks 
married Lucy, daughter of Daniel Ashelman, and by her has had twelve children, three 
of whom died in infancy. Those surviving are Martin. Wesley, Emanuel, Emeline, 
Eliza, Franklin, Sutton. Peter and Martha. Our subject's father, William Yorks, was of Low 
Dutch descent, and came from New Jersev. settling in Fishingcreek Township, this county. 
in 1791. His children Avere John, Samuel, Thomas, Joseph, Catharine, Mary. Hannah and 
Elizabeth. Benjamin was born in New Jersey, married a Miss Hall, and together they 
moved to Fishingcreek Township, where he rented a farm two years, then came to this 
township, and in 1820 settled where D. S. Everhart now lives. He bouglit 1U6 acres of 
land and died in Lycoming County, Penn.. at the residence of Mrs. Eliza Clemmens. His 
wife died at the residence of her son Henrv. 

JOSEPH YORKS, farmer. P. O. Waller, son of Joseph Yorks, Sr., was born Febru- 
ary 12, 1823, in Sugarloaf Township, this county. When only a month old he lost his 
father, and when about six years old he was put to live among strangers in Luzerne County, 
and came to Jackson Township when about eleven, and remained until lie was sixieea 



492 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

years old when he returned to Sugarloaf Township. In 1853 he married Hannah, daugh- 
ter of Ephraim Parker, and they lived at the mill of William Yorks, in Sugarloaf Town- 
ship, whic;h mill he operated himself until coming to this township in 1860, though he con- 
tinued carrying on the mill until 1867. Mr. Yorks bought the laud he now lives on in 
1851 or 1852, and improved the place with his own hands. He has here the nicest build- 
dngs in the township north of Waller. He also owned other lands in the township. Mr. 
and Mrs. Yorks are the parents of five children: William L. ; Martha F., wife of William 
A. Fritz, in Sugarloaf Township; John L. ; Henry E. and Joseph P. Our subject has 

.filled several township offices such as supervisor, school director, etc. In politics he is a 
Democrat. 

William L. Yorks, son of Joseph Yorks, was born in Sugarloaf Township, June 
4, 1853, and was educated in the schools of Jackson Township and at Millville Sem- 
inary. At the age of seventeen he commenced teaching school, and has taught every 

•-winter, excepting three, since 1870. He remained under the parental roof until his mar- 
riage, December 24, 1874. with Miss Savilla, daughter of James W. Kitchen, and by this 

unnion there is one child, Leslie W., born July 4, 1875. In 1875 Mr. Yorks and his young 
wife came to their present home where he owns sixty two acres of well improved land. 

Me has filled various offices and is at present auditor. "^ 



CHAPTER XXXV. 
LOCUST TOWNSHIP. 

JONATHAN BEAVER, farmer, P. O. Mill Grove, was born in what is now Locust 
Township, Columbia Co., Penn., October 24, 1838, to Daniel and Esther (Marts) Beaver, 
the former a native of Berks County, Penn., and the latter of this county. When Daniel 
Beaver was about six years of age he came to this county with his father, who was a 
tanner, which trade he followed while living in Berks County. On coming to this county 
the latter kept tavern in the same house where Jonathan now lives, which is a stone struc- 
ture, built in 1806. He afterward 'turned his attention to farming and in his last years 
lived retired. He died at the age of eighty-six years. Daniel, the father of Jonathan, 
•was a farmer; married and lived and died in this county. His death occurred June 22, 
1871, m his sixty-tifth year, in the house where our subject now lives, and was buried in 
Numidia Cemetery. His widow resides in Roaringcreek Township, this county. Our sub- 
ject was reared and spent his life on the old homestead where his grandfather settled. He 
worked with his father until 1867, wiien he bought the farm of ti'fty-two acres. He was 
married in Northumberland County, Penn., December 31, 1870, to Margaret Johnson, a 
native of Northumberland County," and a daughter of Samuel and Achsah Johnson; her 
parents are both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Beaver have no children of their own, but have 
an adopted son, Harvey, and a girl whom they have reared, Mary. Mr. Beaver and son, 
Harvey, are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and his wife of the Danville 
Baptist Ciiurch. Politically he is a Democrat. 

SAMUEL CAMP, farmer, P. O. Numidia, was born in Northumberland County, 
Penn., December 15, 1828, a son of Benjamin and Mary (Henkel) Camp, natives of Penn- 
sylvania and of German descent. His great-grandfather came from Germany and settled 
in Berks County, Penn., whence his grandfather emigrated to Northumberland 
County, and followed farming until his death. Our subject's father was born in North- 
umberland County and there remained engaged in farming and the carpenter trade. He 
moved to this countyabout 1830, settled in this township, and engaged in farming until 
his death in 1872. His wife died about four years prior; both were members of the Lu- 
theran Church. Our subject was brought up to the carpenter's trade which he followed until 
about thirty-two years of age. He followed contracting about twenty-two years, taking 
contracts for building coal breakers, and erected two very large ones in Schuylkill County, 
■containing over 600.000 feet of lumber, and also several smaller ones. He resided twenty- 
two years in Schuylkill County, a part of the time in Pottsville and a part in Ashland. In 
1863 he enlisted in the militia, and was out two weeks, at the battle of Antietam. In the 
fall of _ 1865 he came to Columbia County, settled on the farm where he now resides, 
and built a fine two-story frame house, which is one of the best in the township, and the 
improvements on the place are all first-class. Mr. Camp owns 106 acres of good land. 
He married, in January, 1850, Harriet Henkel, who has borne him nine children, five of 
•whom are living: Lucinda, wife of Edward Cleaver; John H., married Clara Cherington; 



LOCUST TOWNSHIP. 



493 



Andrew C , married Mary Balig; Lincoln and Elmira. Mr. and Mrs. Camp are members 
^f the Lutheran Church. He served as auditor of this township nine years, and is one of 

'^' ^ELuIh c'crEAV^^^^^^^^^^^ P. O. Roaring Creek, was born.in Columbia County 

Penn.. March 18, 1833, a son of Joseph and Sarah (Case) Cleaver, natives of Penn. and of 

:Scotch-(Holland Dutch descent. His great-grandfather came from Scotland in 1-86, and 
Settled n New Jersey where he died. His maternal ancestors, six generations back, came 
£,m Holland in S (the exact date taken from the old records) and settled in New 
Jersey His ancestors on both sides came from that State to Columbia County, Penn., 
about 1806 The grandfather, David Cleaver, settled in Catawissa where he engaged in 
mercantile business; was among the first merchants of that place ^nd the only one at that 
time. He also owned several farms in Franklin Township-some 400 or 500 acres-which 
he rented out He built the brick hotel in Catawissa known as the ' Susquenanna House,_ 
but never SonduSed it, engaging in mercantile business all his life after coming to this 
Sunty He Tared sii children: Rebecca, Elizabeth, Elijah, Joseph, John and David 
SS whom are now deceased. Sublect's maternal grandfather Adam Case came about 
the same time and settled in Catawissa, where he bought a farm along the Catawissa 
Creek He carried on farming all his life. He reared a family of thirteen children, as 
follows: Elizabeth, Hester, Sibilla, Jonathan, William, Jacob,. Nathan, Malan Christian 
M ton Sarah, Rebecca, Susanna. Four of these are yet hving: Christian at Havre de 
Grace Md; Jonathan, in Illinois, married a Miss Cox; Sibilla, widow of John Manley, in 
Danville Penn.. and Rebecca, wife of Richard Douty, in Shamokm. Peiin Adam Case 
died January 29. 1848. Joseph, the father of our subject, was born in Catawissa Town- 
sWp> and wi brought up a farmer, and also did teaming. After his marriage he settled 
in what is now known as Franklin Township, and there followed farming all his life, 
owrng a farm at the time of his death, February 33. 1834. His widow died January 27, 
1856 They were the parents of five children: Eliza (deceased)^ Harriet (deceased), Mati - 
da (wife of Allen John, in Mahaska County. Iowa). Elijah C. and Rebecca (deceased). 
Our subject was only eleven months old when his father died and he remained with his 
mother until sixteen vears of age, when he hired himself out for four years. In 18o2 he 
Smmenced life for himself, and rented a farm in Roaringcreek Township which he 
cultivated one year before his marriage, his sister, Matilda keeping house for him. After 

• Ms marriage he remained on the same farm one year, and then moved in o Catawissa 
Township, where he remained two years laboring. In the spring of 1857, he moved to 
where he now resides and purchased the farm consisting of 104 acres of land. He has 
made all the improvements on the place, all of which are hrst-c ass. He married, March 
S 1853 Martha A. Cool, daughter of Philip and Hannah (Smith) Cool. Mr. and Mrs. 
Cleaver are the parents of nine children (eight of whom are now ^^^"gj^^^sley M. Brit- 
ton W. (married to Sarah Ernest), Charles L. (married to Mary J Perry) Nelson E Curtis 
(deceased), Clarence Grant, Joseph C, Rosie A. and Hannah L. Wesley M. is a graduate m 
both courses (degrees: B. E., M. E.; B. S.. M. S.) of the Bloomsburg Normal School, and 
alsoagSarfroS 1886. classical course; Nelson E. is a graduate of 

the collegiate preparatory course of Bloomsburg; he has attended, three years. Dickinson 
College, Carlisle, and will graduate in 1887. Mr. Cleav.r has served a^ school director 
one tirm He and his wife and five of their children are members of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church. He is amember of the G. A. R. at Catawissa. Dunngthe civil war he served 
in Company I. Thirteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia, and was at Camp 
Biddle and Cold Springs, near Hagerstown during an emergency. In politics he is a Ke- 

^"^ELIAS EARNEST, farmer, P. O. Pensyl, was born in Columbia County, Penn.. Feb- 
ruary 4 1853. to John and Maria (George) Earnest. The father was a native of Carlisle 
Columbia Co . Penn.. and there learned the trade of a blacksmith. At the age of 
twenty-one he moved to Columbia County and built a blacksmith shop, in which he car- 
ried on his trade a number of years. He bought a farm duiing the latter part of his life 
and followed agricultural pursuits until his death. January 30. 1883. After coming to this 
county he was married to Maria George, who is yet living and makes her home with Elias. 
Her husband is buried in Numidia churchyard. Our subject was reared in Locust Town- 
shin where he has always resided on the old homestead. His father willed him the farm 
of eighty-three acres, to which he has since_ added, making in all ninety three acres at 
present. He has made farming his occupation. . , . . t f 

OLIVER EVANS, farmer, P. O. Roaring Creek, was born in what is now Locust 
Township this county. July 13, 1834 ; son of Evan and Sarah (OUver) Evans His father 
was a native of Pennsylvania and his mother of New Jei^ey. His paternal grandfather 
came from Wales and his grandmother from England. His grandfather settled in what 
is now Locust Township, in this county, on the farm adjoining where our subject now re- 
sides. He bought a tract of land about a century ago and followed farming until his 
death. December 15. 1831. Subject's father was born in 178o. married February 23. 1815. 
and settled on the farm now owned by his son. He was a prominent man in his day. and 
was often called upon to act as arbitrator, etc. ; was well educated for his time ; taught 



494 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

school for a number of years, and was looked up to by his neighbors. Politically he 
was a Whig. His death occurred December 22, 1843. Sarah, his wife, died December 13, 
1878, aged ninety years, two months and ten days ; she had made her home in the house 
where Oliver resides from the time she began housekeeping until her death. She and her 
husband were the parents of ten children, nine of whom lived to manhood and woman- 
hood (six are still living): Mehetabel, widow of George Hughes, of Catawissa ; Jane, wife 
of Peter.K. Mensch, in Roaringcreek ; Harriet ; Oliver ; Lavinia, widow of Thomas Beck- 
er, in Plymouth, Penn. ; and Mary, widow of Charles Dyer, in Roaringcreek. John died 
October 26, 1817 ; Ann, wife of Enoch Wolverton, died in April, 1860 ; James E. died in 
the service of his countrj', in the regular army, at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, Penn., 
November 21, 1862 ; Sarah, wife of Amos Strausser, died October 12. 1886, in Franklin 
County, Mo. Our subject was reared on the farm where he now resides and which 
has always been his home. It consists of fifty-eight acres of good land. He was married 
February 28, 1861, to Deborah A., daughter of John C. and Rachel (Hibbs) Myers, natives 
of Northumberland County, Penn., born before Columbia County was takes from North- 
umberland. Mr. Evans and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 
politics he is a Republican. Mr. Evans has in his possession an old pocket-book that be- 
longed to his grandfather Oliver. It is probably over one hundred years old and con- 
tains receipts dated 1772, and other papers dated more than one hundred years ago. 

WILLIAM FETTERMAN, farmer, P. O. Numidia. was born in his present residence. 
Locust Township, January 16, 1842, a son of Jonas and Mary A. (Barriuger) Fetterman, 
natives of Pennsylvania and of German descent. His grandfather George came here from 
Berks County over a century ago, and settled on the place where our subject now lives. 
He took up about 1,000 acres of land and first built a little log cabin in which he lived a 
number of years. He also built the present residence of our subject about three-quarters- 
of a century ago, and was among the first settlers of this county. He was a stone-mason 
by trade which he followed during the early part of his life, but later followed farming. 
He was the father of eleven children, five of whom survive, viz. : Elizabeth Fisher, Sally 
Yeager, Catharine Hamer, John and Joshua. The father of this family died in 1859, and 
is buried in the cemetery of the Evangelical Church, of which denomination he was a 
member. Jonas Fetterman was born on the farm where his son, our subject, now 
resides. He was a farmer and remained on the old homestead which he owned at the time, 
of his death. After that event our subject bought the homestead, where he has always re- 
sided. This farm was taken up, cleared, etc., by the Fetterman family and is still owned 
by the name. In 1862 William Fetterman enlisted in company H, One-hundred and Thirty- 
second Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served nine months. He partici- 
pated in other engagements at Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, which 
were hard-fought battles. He married, October 21, 1873. Catharine Lewis, and they are 
the parents of three children: Lizzie, Nola and Hattie. Mr. and Mrs. Fetterman reared a 
family of seven children, of whom the following are still living: Catherine, wife of David 

5. Helwig; Rebecca, wife of William Stefnogh, residing at Berwick, this county; Charlotte, 
wife of Amandus Billeg; Henrietta, wife of Michael Fetterolf. Mr. Fetterman's farm 
now consists of 123 acres; his grandfather took up a large tract, but sold it all off with the 
exception of 200 acres at the time of his death. 

DAVID HELWIG, farmer, P. O. Roaring Creek, was born in Columbia County,, 
Penn., April 30, 1838, a son of Peter and Charity (Martz) Helwig, natives of Pennsylva- 
nia and of German descent. His great-grandfather came from Germany, and his grand- 
father, Frederick Helwig, came from Berks County to Columbia County about 1800, and 
settled near Catawissa, where he bought a large tract of land and lived until his death. 
He was quite an extensive farmer in his day, and very successful. In his political views 
he is a stanch Democrat. Our subject's father was born in 1801; was reared to the shoe- 
maker's trade, which he followed off and on; also learned the mason's trade, at which he 
worked for several years. After his marriage he settled on the farm where Peter Helwig 
now lives, and there resided for a number of years, when he sold out and moved to Cata- 
wissa, and lived a retired life until his death in 1881. His wife died some years before. 
They were the parents of nine children, five of Avhom yet survive: David, William, 
Eliza, Peter and Mary (wife of Daniel Fenstermacher). Our subject was reared on a farm, 
and at the age of twenty-four married and commenced business for himself. He farmed 
until 1873, when he bought the farm of fifty acres where he now resides. A year later he 
moved on it and added to it, until now it consists of eighty acres of fine land. He erected 
a good residence and a fine barn at a cost of about $3,000. He married, in May, 1867, 
Sarah, daughter of George Graig and Martha (Fox) and the following named chil- 
dren were born to them: Henry, wife of Ida Gaston; Joseph W., married to Sarah Wag- 
ner; Maria, wife of Galen Yeager; George B. McAmsey; Charles; Hannah (deceased), 
Sussn, Maude and Edward. The parents are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. 
Helwig has held the office of school director and tax collector. 

C. HENRICKS, farmer, P. O. Numidia, was born in Prussia, Germany, February 

6, 1847, a son of Joseph and Sophia (Drifs) Henricks. natives of Germany. His father 
followed farming in the old country, and in 1867 with his family took passage on a sail- 



LOCUST TOWNSHIP. ^^^ 



iogvesselatHambvug and landed in New Y^^^^^^ 

Se^e%^?siS aSlil fl^hS w^lJe^rikM 

Our subject then learned the carpenter's trade, and f^^oj^^^^^^^^^^^^Xd'!^^^^ 
ent residence, with the exception of about two years, ?^h«f„li«3\^S'^.S;iL in Cook 
His father died in 1869 in Ashland, but his mother is stiH livmg and ^^^^^^^^^jj '^uVi J: 
County, 111. They were the parents of °ine <;hildren, six of whom are stuwn^^^^^^^ 
Charles Rechor, wife of Joe Blanch; John; Caroline, ^i^/ ^^ J^^f/Jf eonS^Ung of 1^^^ 
and Sophia. In 1880 our subject bought the tarm ^l^^f.^fi^^o- children were'bon to 
acres. April 8, 1869, he married Minnie Hans, and the following cuarenw« 
?Sem: Frederick, John (deceased), Charles, Hannah (deceasedyyilliam,Chri^^^^^^ 
gast, Martyn and Emma. Mr. and Mrs. Henricks are members of the Lutheran i^nurcn, 
and he is also a member of the Grange. „K^^r, ;t, T nnmt Township. 

ROLANDUS HERBEIN, miller, P. 0. Roaring Creek, was Jorn in Locus^ natives of 
this county. August 12. 1841, a son of Peter K. and Catherine (;f^°;f ^ ^^^^^'^i" and 
Berks-County and of German descent. His great-grandfather ^^ame/i^.™ .^''Xut i815, 
settled in Berks County, whence his g^^ncifather David can.e to this f "77j^«S,\l,eA 
settled in Slabtown. bought a property and operated a S^i^t-m lUor a le^^^^ 
bought a small farm, and a few years later a tract of land on which f ^J^^^jI'^Yej^j.^ed the 
Our%ubjecfs father was but a small boy when the ^amiy moved he^e^ of sevencSren: 
miller's trade, which he followed all his life, and died m 1869, the t^lf "^^ ^^/^^ g^rah T. 
Rolandus, Albert, David, Susan, Peter, Mary A (wife «J <^^«/.f .^tunlil the outbreak 
Our subject was reared to the miller's trade, and worked for his tf^^^i until Uie oui 
of the Rebellion, when in August, 1861, he enlisted in the Catawissa Guards in the nine 
months' service. They went from Catawissa to Harrisburg; thence ^^ Wa^f "^g'^'Jlerbeiii 
and participated in their first battle at Antietam. After that .fngap"^^.^; t p .„ ^nd 
was seized with typhoid fever, and was taken to the field hospital at Hai per si^ji^ y-^^^ 
lay there some weeks when his father came and took him home. , ^^^^"'J;^;' :„ed about a 
ery he took a relapse and was moved to Harrisburg hospital where he remam ^.^_ 

month; was then taken to Little York, where he remained ^"^^^^ .^'^.'.fSas After 
charged; then he returned home, and has since suffered from a ^^^l^?^t 'awor\i Mr. 
his return he engaged in milling until 1880, when he retired, being "^'^'I'f ,,^" „.„„ several 
Herbein has served as townshtp auditor, judge of elections and scb^l director^^s^ ^^ 
terms. In 1883 he was messenger in the House of Representatives ^t^^"'^ . ^^g Qe,.. 
married, in November, 1866. Lucy A. Fetterman. Mrs. Herbem is ^ ™^oT Numidia. In 
man Reformed Church. Mr. Herbein is a member of the I-O- V" V' r, ami i small tract 
politics he is a Democrat. He owns his lot and residence ii; blabtown, duu a 
of woodland containing about eighteen acres. , „ „„oiTin this county. 

SILAS H. JOHNSON (deceased) was born in Roaringcreek Township this^^^^^^^^^ 

August 28, 1809, a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Roberts) '^ol^^^^^'/'tn Holland and 
County, Penn., and of German descent. His great-grandfather canie trom n ^^ ^^^ 
his great-grandmother from AVales. His grandfather came from f^l^f^^J ";;, • and there 
umbia at an early day and settled in Mine Gap, where he built a s^aU log ui j^^^^j^ 

lived until his death, making baskets and brooms. Our subject s father came ^^^^^ 

County in 1806. and settled in Roaringcreek Township, where he bou ni a ^^^^^^^^^^ 
Joseph Strahl and there resided a number of years. He was a stone-nidsuu ^^ 

the trade in early life. Later he moved to Locust Township, and t^eif tueu ^^^^ -^^^^ 
was the father of fourteen children, four of whom survive: Levi, resiamg i ^^ j^^^_ 

Wis.; Martha, in Numidia. Columbia Co., Pean.; Silas H. and ^^^'^"','\'.rade which 
than W. Black. Our subject was reared on a farm and learned the cai Pet"*-! ^. . ^^ ^^ -^^ 
he followed for five or six years. He was then employed on public ^oiiv un^ ^^ ^^ »^^ 
years, and saved up enough to buy a farm of twelve and one-halt acr*^^- acres, 

too small to plow and too biff to hoe. so he sold it and bougnt ui ^ ^^^ ^^ ^.g_ 
With that purchase also he was displeased, and accordingly sold it. ana pa u ^^^^^ ^^^ 
ceived on the farm he now owns. He first bought ninety;three acres in a '^ ^^^^ 

at the time of his death owned 155 acres of good land. This farm ^fs all iini^"^.^^ ^ ^^^^^^ 
consequence was that he had to begin in the woods. He cleared it an ou - ^^ 

house which is still standing and is over fifty years old. There /^^ now the^secon^ ^^^^^ 
buildings on the farm and all that he accumulated was the result ot nis u g^rbara 

and economy. He married, in November, 1831, Eliza, daughter o\ J^^°" J^^of whom 
(Fisher) Runk. Mr. and Mrs. Jonhson were the parents of eight_ children sevi. ^ 

/s^ are living: Henry B., in Oliphant, Luzerne County; George W in f l^'i^f^^^'yt^Jo-^, k. jn 
^K-inMounfCarmel, X^wa; Mary E.. wife of Henry T. John, Mount J'^^^i JjJ,^^ied in 
^ Marshall County, loVa ; Lizey and Isaac C. . residing in this township Mrs Jf f f ^^Ylntvre 

1876, a life-long member of fhe Methodist Episcopal Church, and is burie i° ^J^^fi^^^^^ 
Cemetery. Mr. Johnson served as justice of the peace a short time to fill ajacaiiY.^.^^^ ^^ 
also supervisor of the township and served six years as school directoi^ ^J- " , , , ^f 
his death, which occurred February 12. 1887. Mr. Johnson was one of t^^^J) resiaeni. 
Columbia County, having been identified with the interests of it for over tnree qua 
of a century. In politics he was a Republican. 



496 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

DANIEL LEIBY, Sr., (deceased) was born in Northumberland County, Penn., in 
June. 1808, a son of Frederick and Catherine (Pensyl) Leiby, natives of Pennsylvania and 
of German descent. His grandfather, Frederick, came from Germany when quite small 
-with his parents, and settled in Shamokin, Northumberland Co., Penn. He was a cooper, a 
weaver, a farmer and a "Jack of all trades." He owned a farm and was quite extensive- 
ly engaged in agricultural pursuits. He moved °,to this county about 1818 and settled 
■where Joseph Carland now resides, and bought a large tract of land on which he made 
all the improvements, and the houses which are yet standing are built of brick. He 
served in the war of 1812. His wife used to load a couple of sacks of grain on her horse 
and take them to the mill at Hamburg, being three days on the round trip. Daniel, our 
subject, was about twelve years old when his parents moved to this county, and remained 
at home until he became of age. After his marriage he settled at Slabtown, where he lived 
two years. In 1847 he bought tlie place where Daniel, Jr., now resides, it all being timber. 
By hard labor for many years he accomplished a great deal, cleared it all off, built a 
house and barn and here lived until his death in December, 1883. He was twice married; 
first to Mary Yost, by whom he had five children, two living, Elias and Jeremiah. The 
deceased are Reuben, Catherine and George W. Mr. Leiby next married March 13, 1853, 
Susanna Dilleplaw, a native of Oley Township, Berks County, and of French descent. 
Her grandparents came from France and settled in Berks County, where they purchased 
farms and followed agricultural pursuits. Eight children were born to his second mar 
riage, seven of whom survive: Daniel, Jr., Jackson, Mary E., Hannah, James M., Emma 
and Andrew. By a former marriage Mrs. Leiby was the mother of two children, Sarah 
and Margaret. Mr. Leiby was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, in which 
he was deacon and elder for many years, and always took a deep interest in religious 
affairs. He had a host of friends, and was often called upon by his neighbors to "doctor" 
their horses and cattle, to cure snake bites, etc. He had held a number of township 
offices, and was looked up to as a thorough Christian man, honest in all his dealings, and 
was deeply mourned by his family and friends. Daniel, Jr., was born March 14, 1853, and 
remained at home until of age. He worked out a few years, and in the winter of 1885 
bought the old homestead consisting of 140 acres. He was married March 25, 1875, to 
Rebecca Elizabeth Stine, and seven children were born to them, five of whom are living: 
Maggie S., Nettie V., James E., Susan M. and Grover Cleveland. The deceased were 
Nora A. and an infant. Mr. and Mrs. Leiby are members of the Presbyterian Church. 

DAVID LEIBY, farmer, P. O. Pensyl, was born in Shamokin Township, North- 
umberland Co., Penn.. December 22, 1822, a son of Frederick and Catherine (Pensyl) 
Leiby. His father was a native of Greenwich Township, Berks Co., Penn., and his 
mother of Shamokin Township, Northumberland County, and of German descent. His 
grandfather, Pensj^l, was born in Reteberg, Germany, came to this country when ten 
years of age and settled with his parents in Northumberland County, where he followed 
farming all his life. His grandfather Leiby was born in Berks County, but moved to 
Northumberland County about 1775, where he followed farming all his life, and was 
among the first settlers of that county. Our subject's father was born in Berks County, 
and moved with his father to Northumberland County, where he lived until 1817, when he 
came to this county and settled near Numidia, in Locust Township, where he bought 
150 acres of land which was patented. He liv-ed on it nearly twenty years before paying 
for it, and never paid any rent. The laud was nearly all timber, and he had a hard time 
clearing it off; bears and panthers at that time were also numerous. He died on this farm 
in 1868, and is buried in Numidia Cemetery. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, for 
which his widow drew a pension for a number of years. He was the father of the follow- 
ing children: Daniel (deceased), George (decea.sed), John, David, Samuel, Hannah (wife 
of Solomon Rider), Sarah (widow of Jacob Hoover), and Polly. David, our subject, was 
only five years of age when his father moved to this county, and remained with the latter 
until his death. In 1865 he bought the farm where he now lives, consisting of 150 acres of 
laud, and has lived here since. When a boy he worked hard for his father, helping him 
to clear the land, and by his industry alone has acquired all that he now owns. He mar- 
ried, in February, 1850, Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel and Maria Raup, and to them were 
born eleven children, eight living: Caroline, wife of Michael Stine; Lloyd married 
Amanda Stine; William H. married Catherine Honerberger; Abram L. married Catherine 
Mowry; Maliala, Hannah, Ida I. and Minui A. Mr. Leiby and family are members of 
the Presbyterian Church. His ancestors figured prominently in Northumberland County, 
and his father was a prominent early settler of Columbia County, of which Mr. Leiby is a 
substantial citizen. 

SAMUEL P. LEV AN, farmer, P. O. Newlin, was born in what is now Locust Town- 
ship, this county, October 21, 1827, a son of Benjamin and Mary (Poe) Levan, natives of 
Pennsylvania, and of French descent. His great-grandfather, with three brothers, came 
from France, and settled iu the lower counties of Pennsylvania, where they lived and 
died. His grandfather, a farmer, was born in Berks Count.y, Penn., came to this county 
about a century ago, and bought a large tract of land on which he built and resided until 
his death. Benjamin Levan, subject's father, was a large land owner, and built the stone 



LOCUST TOWNSHIP. 497 

residence now occupied by John Levan. This is now three-quarters of a century old, and 
was- in its early days considered a very elegant home. Benjamin used to keep as many 
as six horses, employing a large number of hired hands, and was in his time the 
most extensive farmer in his neighborhood. He died about 1845, in Centre County, Penn., 
and his wife in the State of Illinois, where she is buried. They were the parents of eleven 
•children, only three of whom are living: John, Samuel P. and Daniel. Our subject was 
reared on a farm, and remained at home until fourteen years of age, when he hired out 
on a farm. He burned charcoal one summer and chopped wood one winter, and worked 
at Michael Mowry's five years, until he became of age, when he got a suit of clothes and 
$100 in money, and was sent to the ministry. He was connected with his brother in 
Numidia and Kerntown in mercantile business for three or four years, and also di-ove a 
huckster wagon over the county when it was still thinly settled. After his marriage he 
moved to where he now resides, and renled the place for twelve years, and at the end of 
that time bought the farm which he still owns, consisting of 127 acres. He was drafted 
October 16, 1861, in Company I, One Hundred and Seventy-eighth Regiment, Pennsylvania 
Volunteer Infantry, served nine months, and paid $100 for a substitute. He was married, 
in September, 1856, to Charlotte Fox, who bore him six children, four living: Wilson, 
Laura, Ruth ana and Kimber, and died in July, 1883. Mr. Levan married, in March, 1885, 
Rosanna Giible, by whom he has one child — Frank T. Mr. and Mrs. Levan are members 
of the Methodist Church. He is also a member of the Grange; has been inspector of 
elections, and is one of the prominent and successful farmers of Locust Township. 

DANIEL P. LEVAN, farmer, P. O. Numidia, was born in Roaringcreek Township, 
this county. May 21, 1831, a son of Benjamin and Mary (Poe) Levan, natives of Pennsyl- 
vania and of French descent. His great-grandfather and two brothers, who were all 
Huguenots, left France on account of religious persecution, and settled in Berks County, 
Penn. His grandfather, Daniel, was born in Berks County, and while young moved to 
Northumberland County, took up a tract of land, but did not remain, coming to Columbia 
County, and settling in Roaringcreek Township, where he owned a large tract of land. 
He lived here untifhis death, engaged in farming. Our subject's maternal grandfather, 
Poe, served in the Revolutionary war. Our subject's father was born in Berks County, 
and came with his parents to Columbia County, where he became a large landholder and 
an extensive farmer. He died in Centre County, Penn., in 1842, and his wife in Stephen- 
son County, 111., where she is buried near Freeport. (For further ancestral history, see 
sketch of S. P. Levan.) Our subject was reared on a farm, and at the age of eleven j'ears 
■went to live with his sister Mary, with whom he remained about five years. At the age 
of seventeen he commenced to learn the blacksmith's trade with Casper Shutt, at Slab- 
town, and served three years. He then followed his trade about twenty-four years, a 
part of which time was spent in Schuylkill County. In the fall of 1864 he moved to 
where he now resides, bought forty-two acres and put up all the improvements, which are 
flrst-class and extensive, and now owns ninety-five acres of good land. He gave up his 
trade in 1874, and has turned his attention since that time to farming, at which he is suc- 
cessful. He has been twice married; first in May, 1857, to Anna Stokes, who was acci- 
dentally killed in 1858 by being thrown from a wagon, her skull being fractured. In 
May, 1860, he married Sarah J. Christian, who bore him ten children; Anna (wife of 
Henry Perry), Rebecca (wife of Charles S. W. Fox), Flora A., Walter, Elmer, Amy S., 
D. Raymond, William C, Emma C. (deceased), and Benjamin F. (who was killed by 
lightnnig in 1878, when ten years of age). Mr. and Mrs. Levan are members of the Method- 
ist Episcopal Church. He is also a member of the Grange. His great-grandparents and 
his grandmother (then an infant) were captured by the Indians in Berks County, taken to 
Wyoming Valley, Luzerne Co., Penn., and kept a prisoner for seven years. The parents 
became separated and the mother had to marry a chief to save her life. When she and 
her cliild were aided in escaping, she returned to find her husband married again, he 
believing that she had been killed. 

LEMUEL PARRY, farmer, P. O. Bear Gap, was born in the southern part of Wales, 
April 9, 1822, a sou of Lemuel and Eleanor (Daws) Parry, also natives of that country, 
where tlie father lived and died. Prior to coming to America our subject worked on a 
farm and also in the iron works. In 1851 he left his native country, took passage in a 
sailing vessel at Liverpool, G. B., and after a voyage of five weeks and three days, arrived 
in New York. Thence he came to Penn.sylvania and remained about a month at Tama- 
qua, after which he went to Minersville, Schuylkill County, and worked in the mines un- 
til 1866. In 1862 he enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Regiment, 
Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantrj', under Capt. Leib of Ashland, and served nine months, 
participating in the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. In the spring of 1866 
he moved to where he now resides, and bought 135 acres, on which he has made nearly 
all the improvements, and has one of the nicest residences in the township. He married, 
December 24, 1854, Joann Powell, a native of Carmondale, whose parents were also natives 
of South Wales. To Mr. and Mrs. Parry eleven children were born, eight of whom are 
living: Lemuel, John, William, ilary E., David, Clara E., Even T. and Chester A. Mr. 
Parry commenced life in this country with very little capital, but by industr}^ and hard 
labor has acquired a comfortable home. 



498 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

THOMAS SEABORNE, merchant and farmer, P. 0. Newlin.was born in the county of 
Hereford, England, November 8, 1842, a son of Philip and Catherine (Harper) Seaborne, 
(the latter of Welsh descent) and both natives of England. They were the parents of 
nine children: William, John, Catherine (deceased), Elizabeth (deceased), Margaret, 
Thomas, Mary, Anna, Jane (deceased). The father who was a farmer, died in June, 1886. 
Our subject was reared on a farm in his native country and also worked in the fireworks 
in Wales. At the age of twenty-four he took passage at Liverpool for America, and after 
a voyage of eleven days landed at New York. May 33, 1866. He intended making Chi- 
cago his destination, but finding his funds insutScient he stopped off at Minersville, Penn., 
and worked in the mines one year. He then farmed three years for a man who wanted 
an English farmer, after which he married and moved to Columbia County, where he 
rented a farm in Locust Township. After six months he moved to Centralia, and there 
engaged for six months in mercantile business until 1872, when he bought the property 
where he now resides. Here he engaged in mercantile business until 1874, when he sold 
out his stock to Lee & Rhodes, moved to Ashland, Penn., and again engaged in mercan- 
tile business until January, 1877. At that time he moved back to Newlin, where he has 
since been engaged in mercantile business, carrying a general stock. He was married, in 
November, 1869, to Margaret Bryant. Mr. and Mrs. Seaborne are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. He owns forty-six acres of land and his store building 
and residence, and his way of doing business is sure to lead to success. 

WILLIAM B. SNYDER, of the firm of Snyder Bros., merchants, Roaringville, was 
born in Locust Township, this county, June 29, 1858, a son of Mayberry and Margaret 
(Yeager) Snyder, natives of Pennsylvania and of English-German "descent. His grand- 
father, John Snyder, came from New Jersey to this county at an early day and located 
in Mifflin Township, where he bought a farm, and died in 185J. His maternal grand- 
father, Yeager, was a stanch Democrat, and took an active part in politics; served one 
term as commissioner of this county. Our sabject's father was born in Mifflin Township, 
this county; moved to Locust Township in 1847, and purchased afarm in 1866, where he has 
since resided and is still engaged in agricultural pursuits. He is the father of two children: 
William B. and John W. Our subject was reared on a farm and received a liberal education. 
In 1882-83 hewasclerkin thepostoffice and store of Jacob Yeager at Slabtown, and Decem- 
ber 1, 1884, with his brother John, embarked in mercantile business, which he has since 
continued under the firm name of Snyder Bros. They started on a small scale, but their 
business soon increased, when they were obliged to seek more roomy quarters. They 
recently finished a fine two-story building, 26x32, with tilass front in store-ioom, erected at 
an expense of $2,000. The Messrs. Snyder are enterprising young men, and deserve great 
credit for their manner of conducting business. William B. was married to Ida J. Cool 
December 1, 1886. 

SOLOMON STRAUSER, farmer, P. O. Roaring Creek, was born in Northumberland 
County, Penn., August 15, 182;") ; a son of Peter and Mary (Adams) Strauser, natives of 
Pennsylvania and of German descent. His grandfather, Casper Adams, came from Ger- 
many, settled in Northumberland County, where he bought a large tract of land, and fol- 
lowed farming all his life near Elysburg. Our subject's father was born in Berks County, 
Penn., and while young went co Northumberland County, where he followed farming 
a number of years. In 1834 heremoved to where our subject now resides, bought 100 acres 
of land, to which he af terward'added, and there lived until his death in 1856. He was the fa- 
ther of ten children, four of whom are living : Mary, Solomon, Levina and Peter. Our sub- 
ject was reared on the farm ; at the age of twenty-three married and moved to Slabtown, 
where he worked by the day for one' year. After liis father's death he bought the farm, 
of 111 acres and moved on it, where he has since lived. He married, August 15, 1847, 
Louisa Helwig, who has borne him eleven children, seven of whom are living: David, 
John, Nathaniel, Sarah (wife of Richard Adnms), Elias, Harney and Elizabeth. Mr. and 
Mrs. Strauser are members of the church. He served as overseer of the poor and has 
been supervisor eight years. 

ELIAS H. WHITNER, merchant, Newlin, was born in Roaringcreek Township, 
this county, March 28, 1853 ; a son of John and Catherine (Helwig) Whitner, natives 
of Pennsylvania and of German descent. His great-grandfather, who was a minister of 
the gospel, came from Germany. His grandfather, Abraham, was born in Berks County 
and came to Columbia County about 1810. He was one of the earliest settlers in Roaring- 
creek Township, where he bought a tract of land and remained engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits until his death. He at one time was a large land-owner, having what now constitutes 
three farms. Our subject's father was born in Roaringcreek Township, in 1827, and was 
reared to farming. After the death of his father he came into possession of the old home- 
stead, which he still retains. He is the father of three children : Mary, wife of Cornelius 
Felterman ; Elias H., and Sarah, wife of John D. Reinbold. He and wife are members 
of the Reformed Church. Our subject was reared on a farm and remained at home until 
sixteen years of age, after which he spent his time in teacliing and attending: school and 
various other avocations, until the spring of 1881. He then engaged in mercantile business 
atMillgrove, in partnership with O. W. Cherington, and thus continued until the spring of 



LOCUST TOWNSHIP. 499 

1883, when Mr. Whitner sold his interest to his partner and started in mercantile business 
for himself at Newlin, which he has since followed. He carries a general stock val- 
ued at $3,500, insured. He married, April 8, 1880, Flora E. Cherington, who has borne 
him four children, two of whom are living : Lulu and Claudia. Mr. and Mrs. Whitner 
are members of the Reformed and Methodist Episcopal Churches, respectively. He is 
postmaster at Newlin, having been appointed June 20, 1884, the office having been estab- 
lished July 12 of the same year. He owns the building in whieh he has his store and res- 
idence. It is a two-story structure, erected at a cost of $2,000. Mr. Whitner is an enter- 
prising gentleman, courteous and genial, and enjoys a good trade. In politics he is a Re- 
publican. 

DR. J. C. WINTERSTEEN, physician and surgeon, Numidia, was born in Mifflin- 
ville, this county, May 8, 1862, a son of Joseph O. and Lydia (Wolf) Wintersteen, natives 
of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch-German descent. His grandfather, Robert, was born in 
Scotland, came to this country when a young man and settled in New Jersey, where he 
lived until his marriage. He then moved to Columbia County, Penn., and settled in 
Mifflin Township, where he resided until his death. He and his wife are both buried in 
Mifflinville Cemetery. Our subject's father learned blacksmithing when about fourteen 
years of age, and has since followed that trade. He built a shop and residence in Mifflin- 
ville, where he has lived for about sixty years. In connection with his trade he also 
attends to auctioneering. To him and his wife twelve children were born, nine now liv- 
ing: Dora, wife of Jeremiah Maury; Jordan; Laura; Lloyd, an attorney at Bloomsburg; 
Susan, wife of Dr. I. A. Fetherolf, residing in Mazeppa, Union County; Mattie C, wife of 
W. C. Hartsell; Rush G., husband of Nan Schweppenheiser; John C, married to Fannie 

A. Shuman, and Minnie A. The deceased are Fannie, William H. and Warren H. Our 
subject was reared in Mifflinville, where he attended the schools until nineteen years of 
age. He then read medicine under Dr. J. L. Shuman, of Wapwallopen, and after his 
death his preceptor was Dr. B. F. Gardner, of Bloomsburg. In the fall of 1884 he entered 
Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, and graduated in the spring of 1886. In April 
of the same year he bought the practice of G. V. Means of Numidia, and is just now 
establishing himself as a practicing physician and surgeon, for which profession he is well 
qualified. November 26, 1883, he was married to Fannie, daughter of George A. and 
Mary A. (Yost) Shuman. Dr. and Mrs. Wintersteen are parents of two children: Fred 

B. and George A. The Doctor is a member of the I. O. O. F. Mrs. Wintersteen is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

LIVINGSTON YEAGER, tanner, Slabtown, was born in Locust Township, this 
county. May 22, 1847, a son of John Yeager, who married a Miss Byerly, and both were 
natives of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. His grandfather, John, came from 
Berks County to Columbia County when quite young, settled in Slabtown, and built the 
first tanyard in this section of the county. He followed tanning several years, and then 
kept the first hotel in the village of Slabtown in a little log cabin. He was a shoemaker 
by trade, owned four or five farms, and resided here until his death. Our subject's father 
was born here, and reared to the tanning business, which he followed until his death in 
1867. Livingston Yeager was reared in Slabtown, and when a boy learned the tanning 
business with his father. At the age of twenty-two he commenced for himself, and 
worked for his brother Millington in the upper tanyard for about four years. He 
worked at Elysburg, Light Street and Bloomsburg, and in the spring of 1881 took 
possession of his father's old tanyard, and has conducted it very successfully to the pres- 
ent time. In February, 1869, he married Joanna Laubach, and five children have been 
born to them: Kersey, Clarence, Ezra, Charles and Minnie. Mr. and Mrs. Yeager are 
members of the Presbyterian Church. 

OBEDIAH YOCUM, farmer, P. O. Elysburgh, was born in Roaringcreek Township, 
this county, September 8, 1848, a son of Elijah and Jane (Campbell) Yocum, natives of 
Pennsylvania and of German descent. (For ancestral history see sketches of Elijah L. 
and E. Yocum.) At the age of twenty-one our subject married and settled where he now 
resides and where he has since remained, and owns 150 acres of land. He married 
Johanna, daughter of James and Hannah Hile. Mr. and Mrs. Yocum are the parents of 
eleven children, seven of whom are still living: Daisy E., John W., Ezra E., William Alven, 
CJlaude C, Raymond E. and Henry Hile. Mr. and Mrs Yocum are members of the 
United Brethren Church; he has been a member of the school board one term, and was 
elected and served one term, in 1885, as constable. In politics he is a Democrat. Our 
subject is descended from an old and prominent family of the county. 

EZARIAH YOCUM, farmer, P. O. Bear Gap, was born in Roaringcreek Township, 
this county, February 8, 1851, a son of Elijah and Jane (Campbell) Yocum, natives of 
Pennsylvania and of German descent. Elijah's maternal grandfather, Mclntyre, first set- 
tled in what is now Catawissa Township, on the place now owned b}^ E. M. Tewksbury, 
and known as the Mclntyre farm. He was one of the first settlers of the county, the In- 
dians being quite numerous at that time, and died in Roaringcreek Township. Elijah, 
subject's father, a farmer and lumberman, moved into Locust Township about 1855, and 
settled where his son, E. L., now resides, and owned over 1,000 acres, which he divid- 



500 BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

ed before his death. Mr. Yocum was a man of great business capacity, and died Iq 
1881, the father of ten children, six living: Joanna, wife of Phineas Thomas; Sarah, wife 
of John Johnson; Obediah; Ezariah; John and Elijah L. Our subject was reared on a farm 
and remained at home until twenty-two years of age when he married and settled down 
where he now resides. He owns 386 acres of land, of which about one-half is under cul- 
tivation. Mr. Yocum has made nearly all the improvements on his farm, and built a large 
two and one-half story frame house in 1876, which is one of the finest residences in the 
place. He married in 1873, Joanna Hummel, and four children were born to them: Sam- 
uel C, Ester J., Laura B. and Emma D. Mr. and Mrs. Yocum are members of St. Paul's 
United Brethren Church. In politics he is a Democrat. 

ELIJAH L. YOCUM, farmer, P. O. Elysburgh, was born in Locust Township, this 
county, July 31, 1859, a son of Elijah and Jane (Campbell) Yocum, natives of Pennsylvania 
and of German descent. His grandfather first settled in what is now Catawissa Township, 
this county, on what is known as the Mclntyre farm, and was one of the first settlers of 
this section. Elijah, our subject's father, was at one time a large land owner, having 
about 1,500 acres of land. He was engaged in farming and lumbering and was one of the 
most successful men in the county in business affairs. He owned two saw-mills, and some- 
times had steam saw-mills on his place. He died January 19, 1882, the father of ten chil- 
dren: Elizabeth (deceased), Johanna, Jesse (deceased), Caleb (deceased), Sarah, Obediah, 
Ezariah, John C, an infant unnamed (deceased) and Elijah L. The mother of this fam- 
ily is yet living and resides with her son, Elijah L. Our subject remained with his parents 
until his marriage, then resided with his mother until the death of his father, and now 
lives on the old homestead consisting of 175 acres. Mr. Yocum has a finely improved 
place and is an industrious citizen. He married, December 34, 1879, Sarah J. Yost, and 
one child has blessed their union, William E. Mrs. Yocum is a member of the Method- 
ist Episcopal Church. In politics Mr. Yocum is a Democrat. 

NICHOLAS A. YOCUM, of the firm of Yocum & Brother, merchants, P. O. Bear 
Gap, was born in Northumberland County, Penu., September 6, 1854, a son of Peter M. 
and Eliza G. (Gilger) Yocum, natives of Northumberland County, and of German descent. 
His grandfather, Gilger, a farmer, came from Germany and settled in Northumberland 
County. Our subject's father, Peter, was a farmer during the greater part of his life, and 
was also engaged in mercantile business a few years, but is now living a retired life. His 
wife died August 5, 1881. Our subject was reared on the farm on which he worked (ex- 
cept two years spent at painting) until 1881. when he engaged in mercantile business with 
H. M. Yocum. which partnership still continues. He married, February 4, 1882, Clarissa 
J. Thomas. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal and United Breth- 
ren Churches, respectively. In politics he is a Republican. 

Henry M. Yocum, of the above named firm, was born in Northumberland County, Feb. 
19, 1845, a son of Peter M. and Eliza G. (Gilger) Yocum. Our subject was reared on the 
farm, where he remained until eighteen years of age. In 1863 he enlisted in the State 
militia, and served about four months: in March, 1864, he enlisted in Company B, One 
Hundred and Eighty-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close 
of the war under Capt. A. B. Brown, of Danville. He participated in a number of battles, 
among them Cold Harbor and front of Petersburg, the most of his army life being passed 
in Virginia and West Virginia. At three miles west of Petersburg his company went in 
with fifty-six men and came out with twenty-two. He was mustered out July 9, 1865, re- 
turned home and remained on the farm about five years. In 1870 he began clerking for 
Peter Yocum, witli whom he remained eight years. He then farmed two more years, and 
in 1881, in partnership with his brother, Nicholas, bought the store of Peter Yocum and 
engaged in mercantile business. They carry a general stock, valued at about $2,800, and 
have a large and increasing trade. Our subject was married, December 25, 1865, to Mary 
A. Brofee, who has borne him six children: Elsie, Ida, Wesley, Kimber, Curtis and 
Bessie E. Mr. and Mrs. Yocum are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 
politics he is a Republican; was elected justice of the peace in 1880, and held that oflJice 
five years. The mother of Mrs. Yocum came from Philadelphia and her father from Ireland. 

DANIEL YODER, farmer, P. O. Roaringcreek, was born in Northumberland County, 
Penn., July 12, 1847, a son of Abraham and Catherine (Troutman) Yoder, natives of 
Pennsylvania and of German descent. His father's great-grandfather came from Ger- 
many and settled in Berks County, where he resided several years and then moved to 
Schuylkill County, bought a tract of land, farmed and kept the old tavern at Mount 
Pleasant, but later left the place and went to Delaware County, Ohio, where he died. 
He never received anything for the farm he left, which was afterward taken up by other 
parties who discovered coal on it, and it became a valuable property. Our subject's 
father was born in Berks County, but spent the greater part of his life in Schuylkill 
County. He owned several properties, and in early life followed lumbering and teaming. 
In 1867 he came to this county and settled in Locust Township near the foot of the Little 
Mountain, where he bought some mountain land, and resided until his deatli in July, 
1880. He was the father of eleven children, eight living: Aaron, who served in the civil 
war and lost a limb; Daniel, Samuel, Hannah, Leah, Rachel, Elizabeth and Susan. Our 



MADISON TOWNSHIP. 501 

subject was reared on a farm and remained at home until twenty-two, when he went west, 
visiting Iowa and other Western States and was absent about six months. A year after 
his return he settled in Frackville, Schuylliill Co., Penn.. on land belonging to him, 
where he resided about five years following the lumber business. In 1875 he bought the 
farm where he now resides, and which consists of 106 acres of good land. He has made 
a great many improvements and built a barn 35x75 feet. He was married, September 17, 
1871, to Sarah A. Long, and they are the parents of eight children, seven of whom are 
living: Sylvester, Esther, Daniel L., Abraham, Joseph, Wellington and Rachel C. Mr. and 
Mrs. Yoder are members of the German Reformed Church as are also Sylvester and Esther. 
Our subject served two years as superintendent of the Lutheran Reformed Sunday-school 
— a union school. In politics he is a Republican. 

DR. PIUS ZIMMERMAN, physician and surgeon, Numidia, was born in Mifflin 
Township, Columbia Co., Penn., November 9, 1854, a son of Jeremiah and Clarissa (Miller) 
Zimmerman, natives of Wurtemberg, Germany. Before coming to this country his father 
traveled through France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Australia, working at his trade, 
and in 1850 took passage in a sailing vessel at Hanover, Germany, and came direct to New 
York, where he remained about one j'^ear, working at his trade. While there he met the 
lady who afterward became his wife, and who came to this country in 1851. He went 
from New York to Philadelphia, where he worked at his trade about one year and then 
took a trip to Mifflinville, and remained some time buying property and making arrange- 
ments to build. He then returned to New York, where he married, and with his wife 
came to Mifflinville, and here remained until the spring of 1867. They then moved to 
Ringtown, Schuykill Co., Penn., where he now resides engaged in harness business. He 
was three times drafted during the civil war; the first time into the nine months' service, 
and had proceeded as far as Harrisburg, when he was taken ill and removed to his home, 
receiving a certificate from the physician. He lay about one year before recovering, and 
was again drafted, but paid his quota; the third time he prepared to leave for the field, 
but the war closed before he was called. Our subject was reared to the saddler's trade, and 
attended school during the winter until he was eighteen. He then taught seven winter 
and two summer terms. He read medicine about two years before he entered the medical 
college, hi.s preceptor being Dr. H. D. Retchler. In the fall of 1880 he entered Jeffer- 
son Medical College at Philadelphia, and graduated April 2, 1883. The following Octo- 
ber he established himself as a practicing physician and surgeon at Numidia, where he has 
since continued. He enjoys the confidence of the people and has a large practice. He is 
a pleasant, genial and courteous gentleman. He was married December 1, 1885, to Lillie, 
daughter of Wellington and Sarah (Hurst) Yeager. In politics the Doctor is a Democrat. 



CHAPTER XXXVI. 
MADISON TOWNSHIP. 



GEORGE BEAGLE, farmer, P. O. Mordansville, was born June 16, 1816, near Neu- 
stadt, on the river Aish, in Bavaria, and came to America with his brother in 1840. He 
had learned the miller's trade before leaving the old country, and when he came to this 
country he engaged at work in Boss Seibert's mill in Salem, Luzerne Co.. Penn., where 
he worked nine months; he milled in several places, and for several years operated the 
Montgomery mill at Eyer's Grove; he then abandoned milling, and located on the farm he 
now owns in 1854, which he had purchased in 1850, and since tliat time he has been en- 
gaged in agricultural pursuits. Ho was married in 1844 to Magdaline, a daughter of Jacob 
Copp, whose wife was a Heinbach. Mrs. Beagle died March 4, 1879. Of eight children 
born to them, five are now living: John H., in Iowa; Frederick, in Mt. Pleasant, Penn.; 
Robert, in Greenwood Township; Rebecca, wife of Henry Miller (deceased), and Almira, 
keeping house for her father. Mr. Beagle owns a three-fourths interest, in the Beagle mill 
located in Hemlock Township, also the hotel at Eyer's Grove, and several lots in the town. 
He spends his time on his farm in the culture of grapes, quinces and other small fruits, 
and is also successful with bees. He is a member of the German Reformed Church, and 
in politics a Democrat. 

JOHN BLLHIME, farmer, P. O.Mordansville. Michael Bilhime, grandfather of our 
subject, was born in Sussex County, N. J. ; he was a soldier of the Revolulion, was a bearer 
of dispatches for Gen. Washington, and in making his way across the mountains to Valley 
Forge was severely frozen, wliicli incapacitated him for active duty, aud he received an 



502 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

honorable discharge. He married Elizabeth, sister of Daniel Welliver, came to what is 
now Milton, and located in the fall of 1776 on Muddy Run, where he made his settlement 
and was repeatedly driven off by the Indians, having to return to New Jersey for protec- 
tion, but after the war he was unmolested. He had one son and one daughter. His son 
John married Mary, daughter of Valentine Christian, and of the eleven children born to 
them eight grew to maturity, viz. : Catherine, Jared, Elizabeth, Sarah, Michael, Christian, 
John and Rebecca. John, the subject of this sketch, was born on Spruce Run in Decem- 
ber, 1819; here grew to manhood, and when twenty-eight years of| age married Harriet, 
daughter of Edward and Elizabetli (Sechler) Morrison. After his marriage he engaged in 
farming on the homestead, subsequently moved to where his grandfather settled, then 
moved to Mahoning Township, (then in Columbia County) where he remained two years, 
and in 1857 he located on Black Run Junction, settled by Jacob Snyder in 1701. and has 
since resided here. He has four children: Franklin, Elizabeth, Clarence and Woodward 
B. Elizabeth married Judsou Wintersteen, of Montour County; Franklin is a merchant 
tailor and resides in Turbotville; Woodward B. resides in Upper Hemlock, engaged in 
farming; Clarence is at home. Mr. Bilhime is one of the substantial citizens of Madison 
Township. 

JOHN CHRISTIAN, stone-mason and farmer, P. O. Mordansville. Among the early 
settlers of Madison Township was the Christian family. The pioneer of the family was 
Valentine Christian, who was a fifer in the war of the Revolution; his people were in this 
county prior to the war, and were at one time driven out by the Indians. He married a 
Miss Robbins and reared several children. The father of our subject was John Christian, 
who married Frances, a daughter of Jacob Welliver, and to them were born four children: 
Mary, Rebecca, Jacob and John. John was born October 14, 1829, in this township, and 
moved to Pine Township with his parents when ten years of age, and when nineteen went 
to learn the trade of stone-mason with John Rantz; worked at the journey work several 
years, then moved back to this township in 1852, where he located. In 1855 he married 
Sarah, daughter of William and Sabrina (Teeple) Robbins. They have two children: 
Clark and Boyd, both at home. Clark married Hannah J., daughter of Nelson Kitchen, 
and they have two children. In politics Mr. Christian is a Republican. 

CYRUS DeMOTT, farmer, P. O. Eyer's Grove. The pioneer of the DeMott family was 
Richard, who came from New Jersey to this county fully one century ago, and located on 
the farm now owned by John and David Shultz. Richard was born in 1755, and died May 
26, 1827; his widow died August 5, 1849. They reared the following named children: 
Mary, Rosanna, John, Sarah, Rebecca, Isaac, Jacob, Abigal, Richard. David, William 
and Elizabeth. Jacob, father of our subject, was born September 9, 1792, in this town- 
ship; he married Catharine, daughter of John Patton. After his marriage he settled on 
the farm now owned by Cyrus. He served as justice of the peace, and before the counties 
were divided was commissioner of the county, also supervisor of the poor; was a member 
of the Baptist Church for nearly sixty years, serving as deacon and elder. To Jacob DeMott 
and his wife the following named children were born: Mary, Margaret, John, Rosanna, 
Sarah, William, Cyrus, Samuel, Catharine, Harriet and George. The father died Febru- 
ary 11, 1886, in his ninety-fourth year; his wife died in 1869. Cyrus was born in 1834, and 
was reared on the homestead. In early life he served an apprenticeship as carpenter, and 
followed the trade for fifteen years; then bought a farm in this township and farmed six 
years; then rented the farm for a time, and in 1876 purchased the home place, where he 
has since resided. In 1862 he enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Seventy-first 
Regiment, and served nine months. He was married in 1868 to Annie L. Heller; she 
died in October, 1873, leaving no children. In 1880 he married his present wife, Antoinette 
B., daughter of George W. Suplee. Mr. DeMott is a member and clerk of the Baptist 
Church. 

FREDERICK DERR, farmer. P. O. White Hall, was born October 12, 1804, on the 
farm he now owns, which was improved by his father, George Derr, who bought a tract 
of about 241 acres of the first occupants, the Sutfin brothers. The deed was executed in 
1817, but George Derr had occupied it several years previous. George Derr was born in 
1777, and married Mary, daughter of William Carnahan, by whom he had three children: 
Frederick, Margaret and Jane. George Derr, the father, spent his days on this farm and 
died at the advanced age of eighty-one years; his wife died several years previous. Fred- 
erick, the subject of this sketch, remained on the farm until he attained his twenty- 
eighth year, then went to Bay County, Mich., and worked at the carpenter's trade (which 
he had learned before leaving home) working at this vocation twenty-five years in that 
place; while here he married Elizabeth M. Clarke, a native of New Hampshire; she died 
in 1842, leaving no issue. He returned to this county in 1858, at the time of his father's 
death, located on the home farm, and has since been a constant resident of this farm. 
He was married, the second time, to Ellen, daughter of Jacob and Mary (Bogart) Wel- 
liver. Mr. Derr has no children. 

FRANCIS EVES was born in Madison Township, Columbia County, about the year 
1820, son of Parvin Eves. He was reared to manhood on the farm now owned by Wilson 
Eves, and here lived several years, then moved to Millville, where he died about 1884. He 



MADISON TOWNSHIP. 503 

married Rachel Wilson, who died the same year as her husband. They had five children: 
Matilda, Anna, Wilson, Martha, and Mary. Wilson was born October 25. 1850, and when 
in his " teens " moved with his parents to this township, and settled on the farm he now 
owns. He married Sarah J., daughter of Peter Wolf. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Eves have 
three children: Charles W., Howard C. and Fannie. 

THOMAS H. GINGLES, farmer, P. O. Jerseytown. The Gingles family came to 
this county shortly after the Revolution. The name of the grandfather was James Gingles, 
a native of New Jersey; he purchased the property now owned by the family in Madison 
Township on September 15, 1795, of James Starr, the same being patented by him, Starr, 
on July 17, 1795. James Gingles married Martha Doak, by whom he had three sons and 
one daughter: Robert, Jane, John and James. John Gingles, father of our subject, 
was born August 17, 1793; he married Martha, a daughter of Thomas and Sarah Adams, 
who was born July 8, 1807; her parents came from Ireland in 1803; was married and settled 
on the present homestead in 1838. To John and Martha Gingles were born seven chil- 
dren, six living to be grown: Martha J., Sarah A., James. Mary, Thomas H. and Will- 
iam A. Thomas H. was born October 24, 1839, was reared on the farm and has always 
lived here. Thomas has never married. 

ALBERT GIRTON, farmer, P. O. Jerseytown, is a son of John Wesley Girton, who 
was born March 31, 1821, on Dutch Hill, in Madison Township, Columbia Co., Penn. 
The great-great-great-grandfather of our subject was George Girton, who came from 
England, and settled in New Jersey. His son, John (great-great-grandfather of Albert), 
was the father of the following named children: Stephen, George, William, Jacob, Esau, 
John and Marshall. The last named was the great-grandfather of Albert, and came to 
this township at an early day, settling on Dutch Hill. He kept a hotel here several years, 
and married Miss Ellen Kinney, who bore him the following children: William, John, 
Catharine and Margaret. To William and his wife Elizabeth were born Andrew, Marshall, 
Ellen, John, Wesley, Euphemia, Elizabeth, Ira, Anna, William L. (who was a soldier in 
the civil war, and was killed in battle) and Shepherd (who was a soldier in the Mexican 
war, and died there). John Wesley Girton married Hannah Flick, daughter of Daniel and 
Catherine (Lilly) Flick, by whom he had three children, viz.: Albert, Mary F. and 
Charles. He settled on this farm in 1861, and remained here until his death, January 3, 
1877; his widow yet survives him. For several years previous to his coming here he had 
been engaged in the carding and fulling business, and operated a factory in Montour 
County. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years, and in 
politics was a Republican. Albert Girton, who resides on the home farm, was born in 
Montour County, July 34, 1846, and came with his parents to this township, where he has 
since resided. He married Gertrude, daughter of George W. Suplee, one of the well 
known residents of the county. They have one child, Raymond. Mr. Girton is a mem- 
ber of the Baptist Church, and politically a Republican. He takes an active interest in 
the affairs of the township, and is school director. 

ELISHA BIGGS HARTMAN, farmer, P. O. Buckhorn. was born August 7, 1837, in 
Hemlock Township, a son of George and Margaret (Fox) Hartman. John Hartman, his 
grandfather, immigrated to this place from Berks County, made his settlement in what is 
now Hemlock Township, and there reared a family whose descendants have grown up in 
the forks of the Susquehauna. Elisha grew to manhood in Hemlock, and remained with 
his parents until twenty-four years of age, when he married Mary E., daughter of Daniel 
Ernest. Mr. Hartman located in Madison Township in 1864, and purchased where he now 
resides, the place being known as the Ludwig Young farm; he has since purchased the J. 
Bechtel farm, and is a successful farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Hartman have two children: 
Anna U. and John H. He^is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics a 
Democratic. 

ERASTUS HENDERSHOT, farmer, P. O. Jerseytown. is a son of John Hendershot, 
a native of Madison Township, born March 18, 1803, who was the second son of William, 
who was a son of Michael Hendershot. whose children were Isaac, Jesse, William, John, 
Phoebe, Margaret and Sarah. To William Hendershot, grandfather of Erastus. were born 
George, John, William, Michael, Ralph. Henry, Robert, Erastus and Sarah. The wife of 
William was Mary, daughter of William Kitchen, who married a daughter of Col. 
Bodine of Revolutionary fame. John Hendershot, father of Erastus, married Mary, a 
daughter of William Welliver. John is yet living; his wife died April 25, 1834. The 
children born to them were Elizabeth, Sarah, Mary and Erastus. The latter was born in 
Jerseytown, July 16. 1832, and married Mary, a daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Eyer) 
Welliver. After his marriage he located on the farm he now owns. Mr. and Mrs. Hen- 
dershot have seven children: Gershom B.. William B., Emma J., Charles H., John C, 
Ada L. and Anna C. In politics Mr. Hendershot is a Republican. He owns 115 acres of 
land. 

AMOS P. JESTER, farmer and stock raiser, P. O. MordansvlUe, was born in Mount 
Pleasant Township. July 18, 1817, fourth child and second son of a family of ten children 
born to Aaron and Tamar (Parker) Kester. The subject of this sketch was brought up in 
Mount Pleasant Township, remaining at home until about twenty-four years of age, when 

37 



504 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

lie went to Greenwood Township, and for twelve years lived with his brother-in-law, 
Charles Eves. Then he returned to Mount Pleasant and remained on the homestead about 
two years. In December, 1854, he married Anna W., daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth 
(Ogden) Kester; the following spring he located on this farm. He has 129 acres. Mr. and 
Mrs. Kester have had three children, two living: Alvaretta, wife of L. P. Kline, of Mount 
Pleasant; Moro, a student. Teressa (deceased) was the wife of L. P. Kline. Mr. Kester 
has achieved success, and secured for himself a competence and a good name. 

CONRAD KREAMER, farmer and merchant, P. O. Jerseytown, was born November 
28, 1824, in Philadelphia, the eldest of a family of seven sons born to Conrad and Catharine 
(Bowman) Kreamer. The Kreamer family are of German origin. Conrad, the father of 
our subject, came from Germany when a young man and located in Philadelphia, where 
he lived until the year 1832, when he removed to this county with his family, and located 
in this township on land which he purchased. He had ten children, six of whom reared 
families. Conrad was reared to maturity on the farm his father located upon, and after 
twenty-one years of age he worked out at $8 per month during the summer, and $5 for 
the winter months. He afterward secured a horse, and then another, and with a team he 
began farming, and from this small beginning he became wealthy, and now ranks among^ 
the well-to-do farmers in Columbia and Montour Counties. He came to Jerseytown about 
the year 1855 and located on this place; previous to this he was for twelve years engaged 
in the huckstering business, also bought and sold lumber. He began merchandising here 
at the time of his coming, which he has since carried on. He has about 1,500 acres of 
land divided into eight farms. He was married in 1856 to Mary, daughter of Ivan and 
Margaret (McBride) Hendershot. To them have been born ten children: Maggie J. (de- 
ceased), William E., Ida C, John J., George F., Charles A., Anna C, Evan H., Florence 
and Louis. 

HUGH McCOLLUM, farmer, P. O. Jerseytown, was born June 8, 1817. one mile 
northwest of Jerseytown, the youngest son of Ephraim and Catherine (Seibring) Mc- 
Collum. The grandfather of our subject, John McCollum, was a soldier in the Revolu- 
tion, and his son Ephraim, father of Hugh, was a teamster during a portion of that 
struggle. To John McCollum and wife were born four children: Jacob, a physician, died un- 
married; John and William (both went north and settled in New York State), and Ephraim, 
who came to this county about 1796, settled where J. M. Girton now resides, and here 
reared his family. He died December 12, 1830; his wife, Catherine, died August 27, 1841. 
Of the ten children born to them they reared eight: John, David, Jacob, Ann, Betsy, 
Ephraim, Margaret and Hugh. Hugh was born and reared in this locality, and when six- 
teen years of age learned the tanner's trade in the yard his son, Ephraim Warren, now 
owns. He was married March 2, 1841, to Mary C, daughter of Allen and Catherine 
(Fruit) Watson. They have had four children: Catherine, wife of James Beugler, in 
Williamsport; Margaret J., died aged seventeen; Sarah A., wife of Judson Axe, in thia 
township, and Ephraim Warren. The last named is his father's successor in the tannery, 
and has owned and operated it since he was twenty-one years old. In 1882 he was burned 
out, but at once rebuilt and is now doing a good business. Mr. McCollum and entire fam 
ily are members of the Presbyterian Church. 

JOHN MOSER, farmer, P. O. White Hall, has been identified with the interests of 
the township for many j'ears. He was born January 19, 1822, in Amity Township, Berks^ 
Co., Penn., son of Peter and Anna (Steinrock) Moser, to whom twelve children were 
born, ten of whom were reared. John was reared on a farm, and came to Derry Town- 
ship with his father, when he was eighteen years of age, and remained with his father 
until he was twentj'^-nine. He located on the farm he now owns about the year 1856, and 
has since resided here. He married Margaret, daughter of Daniel Crumley, and by her he 
has had nine children, six living: Henry, residing at Turbotville; Daniel, in Montour County;. 
John W. and Peter at home; Emma, wife of John Ellis, in Montour County, and William 
H. at home. Mr. Moser has three farms. He is prominent in church matters, and one of 
the liberal-minded citizens of the township. 

J. L. MOSER, farmer, P. O. White Hall, was born June 18, 1828, in Amity Township, 
Berks Co., Penn., and was raised on a farm. After he attained his majority he went to- 
Reading, and there learned the carpenter trade, which he followed until about 1855. when 
he came to Montour County, and for a time located near \Vasliingtonvilk\ where he fol- 
lowed his trade for a time, and then bought 700 acres in the north part of Madison Town- 
ship, and built a small house on the same in 1856; in the spring of 1857 he moved on the 
place, and here he has since resided; has cleared 100 acres out of the same tract, and since 
sold off until he now has about 200 acres under good improvements, having excellent. 
farm buildings. He was married September 4, 1851, to Anna M., daughter of George and 
Lydia (Kline) Smith. They have five children: George, Louisa, Emma, Levi and Sadie. 
George is fireman on the Erie Railroad; Louisa is wife of S. Gardener, in L^'coming County; 
Emma, wife of Levi Fortner; Levi and Sadie are at home. Mr. Moser is a member of the 
Lutheran Church at Washingtonville. lie is a Republican in politics. 

WILLIAM MASTELLER, farmer. P. O. Buckhorn. was born February 19, 1830. in 
Northumberland County, Penn., son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Shultz) Masteller, to whom 



MADISON TOWNSHIP. 505 

were born nine children: Joiin, Mary, Rebecca, William, Margaret, Sarah E., Jane, Paul 
and Jacob. William came to this county in the spring of 1856, with his wife to whom 
he was married the year previous. Her maiden name was Sarah Ann Heller, daughter of 
John and Mary Ann (Richard) Heller. In 1856 William located on the farm where he 
now resides; he owns another farm in Hemlock Township. Mr. and Mrs. Masteller have 
six children living: Harvey, married and resides in Hemlock Township; George, a teacher 
and member of the Reformed Church, lives at home; Warren, Claudius, Eva and Mary, all 
at home. 

SAMUEL REICHARD (deceased). Frederick Reichard, father of the above, was of 
German descent, came to what is now Madison Township, this county, and settled on the 
farm now owned by his grandson, John Reichard, married a Miss Gross and reared seven 
children to maturity, viz.: Samuel, Isaac, John, Hannah, Polly, Katie, Teney. Samuel 
was born on the farm about 1801, grew to manhood here, and was married to Christina 
Taylor, daughter of John and Barbara (Hittle) Taylor, who reared three children — one son 
and two daughters. After Mr. Reichard married he settled on the farm, and lived here 
until his decease which occurred in 1856; his widow yet survives him, residing on the home 
farm. There were eight children born to them: Simon, Ellen, Jacob, Elias, John, Harriet, 
Matilda and Amos; all married and reared families except John, who resides on the home- 
stead farm with his mother, and is engaged in farming pursuits. Samuel Reichard was a 
consistent member of the Lutheran Church, and was a man highly esteemed in the com- 
munity. 

JACOB SHOEMAKER, contractor and farmer, P. O. Mordansville. The Shoemaker 
family was among the early settlers in this county. The pioneer was Abram Shoemaker, 
who came from Jersey and located in Columbia County. His wife was Margaret Mellick, 
by whom he had nine children: Mary, Andrew, Jacob, Kate John, Isaac, Michael, Mar- 
garet and Abram. Jacob, the father of our subject, was born July 14, 1789, and married 
Martha Kinney, and to them were born ten children: James, Elsie, John, Abram, Philip, 
Jane, Margaret, Jacob, Elisha and Levi. Jacob, the subject of this sketch, was reared in 
Madison Township on a farm, and at twenty years of age began learning the carpenter 
trade, which he followed for six years; then engaged in farming, which he carried 
on continuously until about 1878, since when he has carried on his trade. In 1873 he 
located on the farm he now owns, which he has carried on since in connection with his 
trade. He married, August 13, 1857, Mary, daughter of Cornelius Vanhorn. Mrs. Shoe- 
maker died March 11, 1886, of pneumonia. To this union were born seven children: Ida, 
Jane, Elnora, Townsend, John, Harriet and Warren. Mr. Shoemaker has been a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Church about thirty years. Mrs. Shoemaker was a member of the 
same. In 1884 Mr. Shoemaker was elected director of the poor. 

J. C. SHULTZ, farmer, P. O. Jerseytown, was born inMontour County May 22, 1843, 
the eldest son of William and Eliza (Kinney) Shultz. William Shultz was born February 
14, 1814. Eliza was a daughter of Rev. John Kinney, son of James Kinney, an old Rev- 
olutionary soldier. Peter Shultz, subject's grandfather, married Sallie Robbius, and they 
had the following children: William, Jonathan, Jacob, James, Henry, Dr. Benjamin F., 
Mary and Peter; all reared families. To William Shultz and his wife Eliza were born 
the following named children: John C, Dr. P. H. (deceased), David A., Sarah E. and 
Oliver P. John C. came to this township when eighteen years of age. At the age of 
twenty he began life for himself, farming the homestead farm. He was married May 25, 
1865, to Mary J., daughter of William and Sallie (Kitchen) Johnson. They hive four 
children: Harry E., Ada B., Beryl B. and Sadie F. Mr. Shultz has been a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church for twenty years, and is trustee of the same. 

A. C. SMITH, farmer, P. O. Jerseytown. John Smith, the great-grandfjther of 
A. C, was born April 11, 1750. He married Nellie McFall, by whom he had ihe follow- 
ing children: Henry, Francis, John. Elizabeth, Margaret, Hugh, Elisha B., Anna and 
Alexander M. Henry was the grandfather of A. C, and by his wife, Mary Creveling, he 
had the following children: John, Henry, Jackson, Creveling, Margaret, Kl-j^iior, Eliza- 
beth, Delilah, Mary, Martha and Nancy, all of wliom were reared to maturity. John, 
the father of A. C, was born in this township, and married Margaret Sheep, and to them 
were born Henry J., Mary J., John W., Andrew C, William E., Elizabeth E. and Thorn- 
ton A. Andrew C. was born,October 20, 1849, in this township, and February 17, 1870, 
married Mary, a daughter of J. M. and Susan (Brugler) Girtou. After marriage he set- 
tled in this township, where he has sinc« resided, locating on the farm owned by Susan 
(Brugler) Girton's heirs, consisting of 176 acres, known as the John Brugler farm. 
He has three children: Susan M., Lloyd G. and Emma M. He is a member and trustee 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

SILAS WELLIVER, farmer, P. O. Jerseytown. The Wellivers rank among the pio- 
neers of Madison Township. Daniel Welliver came here from New Jersey, and located 
on the farm now owned by his grandson Silas. His wife was a Robbins, and they reared 
a large family, whose names were William, John^ Obadiah, Jemima, Rebecca, Sallie, 
Charity and Polly. Daniel, the father of Silas, married Sarah Eyer, who bote him eight 
children, viz,: Catharine, Silas, Phineas, Abigail, Lucinda, George W., Mary and Charity. 



506 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Silas, who resides on the homestead, was born October 37, 1821; he married Mary E 
Fruit, who died November 31, 1871. Of the four children born to them there are now liv- 
ing: Miles, farming the homestead; Sallie, wife of Wilson Derr, in Lycoming County; 
and Robert, a druggist, recently graduated from the College of Pharmacy in Phil- 
adelphia. 

THOMAS CHALKLEY WILSON, farmer, P. O. Millville, was born November 2, 
1847, son of Reuben Wilson, one of the well known residents of this county. Thomas C. 
was reared on the farm he now owns, consisting of 123 acres, and has always resided here. 
He was married May 4, 1875, to Hannah, daughter of James and Mary (Roth) Mather. 
They have no children. In politics Mr. Wilson is a Prohibitionist and takes an active 
part in the cause. 



CHAPTER XXXVII. 
MAINE TOWNSHIP. 



J. D. BODINE, justice of the peace, Mainville, was born in Catawissa Town- 
ship, Columbia Co., Penn., November 26, 1849. His parents, Peter and AnnaM. (Vought) 
Bodine, were natives of New Jersey, but removed with their parents to this county when 
young, and were married at Catawissa by Squire Bald^^ The former died in 1865, but 
the latter is living at the age of seventy-eight years at Catawissa. Our subject, the 
3'oungest in a family of ten, was reared in Columbia County and has alwaj^s made his 
home here, with the exception of a short time spent at Kingston, Luzerne Co., Penn. He 
received his education at the common schools of Catawissa, and at the age of fifteen 
years commenced clerking for the firm of J. K. Sharpless & Son, at Catawissa, with whom 
he remained three years. He then went to Kingston, Luzerne County, where he clerked 
for about six months, when he came to Centralia, this county, and clerked for William 
Torry about the same length of time. He then returned to Catawissa and again entered 
the employ of Sharpless & Son, with whom he remained three years. In 1875 he came to 
Mainville and engaged in mercantile business until the spring of 1884, when he sold out to 
W. M. Longenberger. Mr. Bodine was elected school director of Maine Township about 
1880, and .served for three years as secretary of the board. He was elected justice of the 
peace of Maine Township in 1880, served his full term, and in 1885 was again elected to the 
position. At Iris first election he succeeded W. T. Shuman, who had filled the position 
for twenty- five years. Mr. Bodine married at Renovo, Clinton CountJ^ this State, May 
1, 1879, Miss Eliza Sharpless, a native of Columbia County and a daughter of J. K. and 
Mary M. (Harder) Sharpless. Both parents are living at Catawissa. Mr. and Mrs. Bodine 
are the parents of two children; both are living: Ray S. and Anna M. Squire Bodine is a 
member of the Sons of America, having joined in 1870. He was State Marshall in the 
State Camp of the order one year, and was first member initiated by the Catawissa Camp, 
and one of the charter members of Washington Camp, No. 258, at Mainville, in which 
camp he has filled all the chairs. He is a Democrat politically, and has several times 
been a delegate to the county conventions of that party. The family attend the services 
■ of the Methodist Church. 

WILLIAM S. FISHER, farmer, P. O. Mainville, was born in what is now Maine 
Township, Columbia County, March 7, 1836. His parents, John and Judie (Kiefer) Fisher, 
were born in Berks County, where they were also married. They later removed to Col- 
umbia County where they passed the remainder of their lives. About 1851, while coming 
;back from Mainville with a load of planks, etc., the father, while attempting to guide his 
four-horse team, was run over by a wheel of the wagon and killed. His widow died on 
the 15th of March, 1885. and both are buried in Fisher's C^jurch Cemetery. William S. 
was reared in Columbia County and has always made it his home. He remained'at work with 
his father until the latter's death, after which he remained at home one year. He then worked 
on the farm, etc., until arriving at the age of twenty-five, when he bought a piece of land 
and settled down to farming for himself. In the meantime he had commenced his edu- 
cation in the common school of his district; then attended Dickinson Seminary, Williams- 
port, one term, and later one term at Millville Seminary. He then taught school five 
terms before commencing farming and after that two terms more. He married, in this 
county, in February, 1861. Miss Mary Margaret Breisch, a native of Columbia County and 
a daughter of George and Rebecca (Wahl) Breisch. Her father is dead and is buried at 
Catawissa, where her mother still resides. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher are the parents of ten 
children: George Alpheus (a teacher in the common schools for the past three years), 



MAINE TOWNSHIP. SOT 

Horace M. (a stenographer and telegrapher in the employ of the Chesapeake & Ohio Rail- 
road, at Richmond, Va.), Fannie R. (wife of William C. Stevenson, who is engaged in. 
manufacturing woolen goods at Nescopeck), John L., Sarah Margaret, Pearles J., Emerson- 
T., Irene E., William Claude and Bertha Maude. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher and family are 
members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Fisher now has 109 acres of land, of which about 
100 are in cultivation. He has served as school and election officer, and has held other 
township offices. He is clerk of Union Immanuel Lutheran Church, and has been for 
over twenty years, having been appointed by Rev. W. J. Eyer, father of Mr. Eyer of Cata- 
wissa. Mr. Fisher's brother, Daniel, who lives at Limestone, was clerk of the church a. 
number of years previous to that time. 

F. P. GROVER,farmer P. O. Mainville. was born in Columbia County.Penn., September 
10, 1852, a son of Michael and Catherine (Miller) Grover, both natives of Columbia County 
where they spent their lives. The father died April 2, 1876, and is buried in the Milflia 
Cemetery. The mother now lives with our subject. The latter was reared in Columbia 
County, and has always made it his home. He married, in 1876, Miss Sarah Hartzell, a 
native of Columbia County, and a daughter of Henry and Sarah (Breisch) Hartzell, the 
latter of whom is dead; the former resides in Maine Township, this county. Mr. and Mrs. 
Grover were the parents of five children, of whom four are living: Blanche Victoria, Mazy 
Elmira, Harry Gilbert and Annie Florence. The deceased one was an infant. Mr. 
Grover has about 150 acres of land, of which about 120 are under cultivation. The- 
Grover family were early settlers of Columbia County, having come here no;arly three- 
quarters of a century ago. 

JOSEPH HARTZEL, farmer, P. O. Mainville, was born May 9, 1823, a son of Mich- 
ael and Elizabeth (Fisher) Hartzel, both natives of Berks County, this State. The father 
was a son of Peter Hartzel, a native of Germany. The mother was born in Berks. 
County, Penn., and was a daughter of Peter and Sarah (Yocum) Fisher, the former a 
native of France and the latter of England. Michael Hartzel, and wife both came with 
their families to Columbia County in the early part of the present century, and here they 
married and spent their lives. The grandparents of Joseph are buried in St. John s Cem- 
etery at Catawissa. His father died about 1855 and his mother in 1883. The former 
is buried in Fisher's Church Cemetery, and the latter at Catawissa. Our subject was 
reared to farm life, and has always made Columbia County his home, now owning and 
farming the place which his father cleared. Joseph married in Columbia County, Novem- 
ber 20, 1845, Miss Matilda John, a native of Columbia County and a daughter of Hiram 
and Catherine John, both now deceased. Her great-grandfather settled in this county iiii 
1770, being one of the first settlers. Mr. and Mrs. Hartzel are the parents of ten children, 
seven of whom are living: Martha Jane, wife of William Keiger, residing in Mainville, 
this county; Alvaretta, wife of Charles Phaler, of Catawissa, this county; Fannie, wife of 
John A. Shuman, residing in Maine Township; Margaret Ellen, wife of Anderson Shu- 
man, residing in Maine Township; Joseph Albert, married to Jane Shuman, residing in> 
Maine Township; Hettie and Charles Franklin. The deceased are Emma, Clara and 
Harvey. Mr. Hartzel has ninety-five acres in his home tract, and two other tracts of sev- 
enty-five and ten and one-half acres, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Hartzel and family are 
members of Union Immanuel Church. He has held local offices in his township, includ- 
ing that of supervisor, four or five terms. 

MARTIN VAN BUREN KOSTENBAUDER, P. O. Mainville, was born in Mifflin 
Township, Columbia Co., Penn., August 30, 1839, a son of Henry and Sarah (Hartzell) 
Kostenbauder, both of whom died in this county— the former May 10, 1855, aged forty- 
five years; the latter, March 14, 1848, aged thirty-one years, and they are buried in Union 
Emanuel Churchyard, near Mainville. Martin V., the eldest of four children, was reared, 
in Mifflin and Maine Township, this county, and has always made this county his home. 
He married April 27, 1876, Miss Susan L. Rhawn, a native of Catawissa Township, Colum- 
bia County, born April 11, 1839, a daughter of Casper and Catherine (Crook) Rhawn. Her 
father was born near Halifax, Penn., reared in Liverpool, same State; died March 4, 1883,. 
and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Catawissa. Her mother was born in 1819, irt 
Catawissa Township, where she now resides. Our subject and wife are the parents of 
two children: Catherine E., born October 27, 1878. and Jennie Robbins Kostenbauder, 
born April 6, 1882. Mr. Kostenbauder enlisted on the 13th of July, 1861, in Company A, 
Sixth Pennsylvania Reserves, and was assigned to the First Army Corps, Gen. George A. 
McCaull of Lancaster commanding, and served in the following engagements: Dranesville, 
Whitehouse Landing, Savage Station, Seven Pines, Chickahominy Swamps and Malvern 
Hill. After that came the evamation of Harrison's Lauding 1)y McClellan's forces. Mr. 
Kostenbauder was discharged December 31, 1863, on account of disability,on pajuns issued 
by surgeon in charge, J. Simmons, of Davis Island Hospital. On account of the hard- 
ships endured in the defense of his country. Mr. Kostenbauder returned to his honie 
greatly reduced in health, and is now totally blind, which is wholly due to the hardships 
he underwent while in the service. The maternal grandparents of Mrs Kostenbauder 
were born in Reading, Berks Co., Penn. Her grandparents were in this State when the- 
Indians were still numerous, and witnessed many stirring events in its early history.. 



508 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

William L. Kostenbauder, a brother of our subject, was drowned in Nescopeck Creek, 
Luzerne County, Penn., September 2, 1850, a^ed nine years. Our subject and wife are 
members of the German Reformed Church. In politics he is a Democrat. 

NATHAN MILLER, farmer, P. O. Mainville, was born in what is now Maine Town- 
ship, Columbia Co., Penn., December 18, 1832, to George and Eve (Cocher) Miller. The 
family were originally from Berks County, Penn., and the grandfather of Nathan con- 
ducted an apple distillery on his place in the early times. Both grandparents died in this 
county, the grandfather in the fall of 1862, the grandmother a number of years prior. 
Both are buried in the Union graveyard at Mifflinville, this county. The parents of Nathan 
died in this county, his father in Mifflinville about 1878, and his mother about 1863; 
they are buried in the Union Immanuel Churchyard in Maine Township. Our subject 
was reared in this township, and has always made Columbia County his home. He com- 
menced working for his father when young, and remained with him until twenty-one 
years of age. After that he worked for his father one year for pay, that being his first 
work for compensation. After leaving his father's employ he rented laud in Orange 
Township, this county, where he farmed a place for live years. He then went to Centre 
Township, but after he had been there three years, his mother dying, at the request of his 
father he returned and farmed the home place, where he has since resided. The first year 
he followed agriculture in Centre Township he raised 1,121 bushels of tiue wheat on forty 
acres of laud, for which he received from $1.25 to $1.50 per bushel. When Mr. Miller 
moved to the place he found very little improvement, the residence at that time being the 
building which he now uses as a woodshed. He has eighty-two acres on his home place, 
nearly all which is highly cultivated, and he has put up good and substantial improve- 
ments. He also has two other places of 54 and 106 acres respectively. He married in this 
county, November 30, 1854, Miss Catherine A. Nuss, a native of Columbia County, and a 
daughter of Charles and Chanty (Miller) Nuss, both deceased, and buried in the Union 
Immanuel Churchyard. The former died in 1877, and his funeral sermon was the first one 
preached in the Union Immanuel Church. Mr. and Mrs. Miller were the parents of ten 
children, of whom eight are living: George A., married to Tenie Constable, residing in 
Ottawa Count}% Kas.: Harrison D., married to Mary Henry, residing in Mifflin Township, 
this county; Lewis H., married to Dell Steely, residing in Maine Township, this county; 
Oscar F., in Nescopeck. Luzerne Co., Penn., learning the tailoring business; Nathan B., 
learning telegraphy; David Montgomery; Ida Eudora and Ella Catherine; Charles and 
Alice are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are members of the German Reformed Church, 
the Immanuel Union. 

J. B. NUSS, of the firm of J. M. Nuss & Son, proprietors of the Mainville mills, P. O. 
Mainville, was born near Mainville, Columbia Co., Penn., October 28, 1850. His parents, 
John M, and Mary (Gearhart) Nuss, are also natives of this county and reside at Main- 
ville. Our subject has made the county his home, with the exception of four years spent 
in Philadelphia. He received his education at the common schools of his township and 
Williamsport; also attended for one year Dickinson Seminary, and later the State Normal 
School at Bloomsburg for four j^ears. He then taught for five winter and two summer 
terms in a select school. In 1872 he went to Philadelphia and engaged with John J. 
Lytle as accountant, and after that with Smedley Bros., with whom he remained until 
January, 1876, when he returned to Columbia County and became identified with the 
milling business, in which he is at present engaged. He married, January 12, 1881, Miss 
Ada A. Shuman, a native of Mifflinville, Columbia County, and a daughter of George 
Shuman; she died December 25, 1885. Three children were born to their union: Gerald 
Astor, who died at the age of seven months, and two who died in early infancy. Mr. Nuss 
atttends the services of ihe Reformed Church. In politics he is a Democrat. 

WILLIAM H. OTT, farmer, P. O. Mainville, was born near Williamsburg, North- 
ampton County, May 10, 1833, a son of David and Mary (Evans) Ott. The parents were 
born in Northampton County, and when William H. had reached the age of about seven 
years they removed to Columbia County, locating in Greenwood Township, where they 
spent the remainder of tt^eir lives. The.mother died February 17, 1866; the father July 2, 
1886, and both are buried in Dewitt Cemetery, in Greenwood Township. AVilliam H. was 
reared in Columbia County, where in 1860 he married Miss Henrietta E. Brown, a native 
of this county and daughter of Jacob Brown. She died in 1868. By that marriage there 
were four children, of whom one is living, Mary Catherine. The deceased are Edwin 
Brown, Eleanor Fulton and Jacob Luther (twins). Mr. Ott married his present wife in 
March, 1870. Her maiden name was Susan Schell, and she was born in Columbia County, 
Penn., a daughter of Edmund and Esther Schell, both living at Beaver Valley, this county. 
Mr. Ott enlisted in the latter part of December, 1861, in Battery F, One Hundred and 
Twelfth P. V. I., Col. Angeroflf, afterward under Col. Gibson. Thej' were first assigned 
to the defenses of Washington; in the summer of 1864 they were sent to the front and 
detached to the Eighteenth Army Corps, Gen. Smith. Mr. Ott was with his command in 
a number of minor engagements, also at the blowing-up of Fort Hell at Petersburg. He 
was discharged in the winter of 1864-65 at Virginia, and then returned home after three 
years of service. Politically he is a Republican. 



MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP. 509 

WILLIAM K. SHUMAN, farmer, P. O. Catawissa, was born in Columbia County, 
Penn., in 1849, son of John F. and Catherine (Breisch) Shuman, both natives of Columbia 
County and now residents of Catawissa Township. Our subject was reared in Columbia 
County and has always made it his home. He lived with his parents up to the time of 
his marriage, when he and his brother, J. C, bought a farm in Maine Township, which 
was conducted by J. C, while William K. remained on the home farm, which he bought 
in the spring of 1885, having sold out his interest in the other farm. William K. was 
married in this county April 18, 1871, to Miss Emma J. Hess, a native of Columbia County 
and a daughter of Philip and Catherine Hess. Her parents are residents of Espy, Col- 
umbia County. Mr. and Mrs. Shuman are the parents of two children, both living: Min 
nie Eudora and Charles S. Mr. Shuman has about 145 acres of land, of which between 
ninety and 100 are under cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Shuman are imembers of Imman- 
uel Union Church. He has been supervisor of Maine Township for two terms and is a 
Democrat politically. 

J., A. SHUMAN, farmer, P. O. Mainville, was born in what is now Maine Township, 
Columbia Co., Penn., October 31, 1854, a son of Rudolph and Susannah (Seidel) Shuman, 
both born in Columbia County, where they lived until their death, the former dying in 
October, 1881, the latter in August of the same year; both are buried in Immanuel Union 
Churchyard, in Maine Township. The father was a farmer in the latter part of his life, 
but previous to that was a merchant, an iron master, having for many years operated an 
iron furnace and forge near Mainville. Our subject was reared in Columbia County and 
has always made it his home. He commenced his education in the common schools of 
his district and finished in the normal school at Bloomsburg, where he attended eight 
terms. During the time of his attendance at the normal school he had taught two terms 
in Schuylkill County, North Union Township, and Maine Township, Columbia County, 
respectively. After finishing his schooling he taught three more successive terms in 
Maine, then one term in Beaver and two more in Maine. He was then married, March 19, 
1878, to Miss Fannie Hartsel, a native of Columbia County and a daughter of Joseph and 
Matilda (John) Hartsel, members of early families, and now residing in this township 
(see page 507). Mr. and Mrs. Shuman have one child — Clyde. After marriage they 
located where they now reside, which is the old "Shuman homestead," and where our 
subject commenced farming. He is at present secretary of the school board of Maine 
Township, having been a member of the board and its secretary since 1884. Mr. Shuman 
has 156 acres of land, about 125 of which are under cultivation. He and his wife are 
members of Immanuel Lutheran Church. In politics he is a Democrat. The Shu- 
man family were among the early settlers of this county, and the grandfather of our sub- 
ject was, in the early times, owner of very large tracts of land in this vicinity, making 
his home where W. M. Longenberger now resides in Mainville. 



CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP. 

ELISHA B. BROWN (deceased) was born near Mifflinville, Penn., May 13, 1819, the 
youngest child of Samuel and Dorothy Brown, and died September 23, 1885. His great- 
grandfather, James Brown, was born in England, November 12, 1716; coming to America, 
he settled on Long Island, but finally moved to Warren County, N. J., where he owned a 
large tract of land extending three miles along the Pawlins Kill from near Columbia to 
Hainesburg. His son, John, the grandfather of our subject, married Mary M. Brugler, 
and immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1795, and purchased 400 acres near Miflainville, for 
which he paid about $5,000. At the age of eighteen, Elisha B. Brown engaged in mer- 
cantile pursuits with Samuel Creasy and John Brown, the firm name being Browns & 
Creasy, and thus continued for forty-four years. The firm of Browns & Creasy was estab- 
lished in 1838. The business was purchased of Robert McCurdy for nearly $8,000. Their 
patronage embraced a large extent of territory. Mr. John Brown died in 1856. He was 
succeeded by Mr. N. B. Creasy. " Creasys & Brown " appeared upon the new sign. It was 
a peculiarity of this firm to hold at all times a large cash surplus to be available in emer- 
gencies. Samuel Creasy died in 1873. In 1882 E. B. Brown retired. The business then 
passed under the exclusive control of N. B. Creasy. During the Presidency of Gen. Harrison, 
in 1840, our subject was appointed postmaster of Mifflinville, and with the exception of six 
months he held the office as principal or assistant until his death. As a business man he 
was eminently successful. He possessed a superior mind enriched by reading and obser- 



510 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

vation; was positive, accurate and true, his judgment was held in high esteem,and his coun- 
sel was frequently sought. He never deserted a friend. He was a man of principle, honor 
and strict integrity, and lived and died an exemplary Christian. In 1845 he married Mar- 
tha, daughter of John H. Bowman. Her mother dying when she was a child, she found a 
home with her grandfather, John Freas, nearBriarcreek, Columbia Co., Penn. Her father 
immigrated to Michigan in 1837, and became identified with the business interests of the 
territory, engaging in mercantile business and building several large flouring-mills; 
was one of the founders of the village of Colon and the town of Three Rivers, and became 
a member of the Legislature. Mrs. Brown, besides having the advantages of the schools 
of her neighborhood, attended an academy at Catawissa under the charge of a Mr. Brad- 
ley. She is a voluminous reader and preserves the vivacity of her youth in a way that is 
remarkable. The three children born to herself and husband are still living: J. Jordan, 
Dorothy N. and Martha B. 

J. Jordan Brown was born March 31, 1848. He attended a select school taught 
by Hiram Hutchison, and afterward completed a course at Williamsport, Dickinson 
Seminary, graduating in 1867. He then attended lectures at Jefferson Medical College, 
Philadelphia, and took the degree of M. D. in the spring of 1870, and since that 
time has been practicing his profession at Mifflinville. He has written some able ar- 
ticles for the medical press. While at college he took a special course in operative sur- 
gery under the personal supervision of Prof. William H. Pancoast, and has gratified his 
taste in this line by doing some work rarely performed in a country practice. We might 
mention among these operations, those of double hare-lip and cataract. In 1880 he mar- 
ried Miss Mary, daughter of David F. Brands, of Hackettstown, N. J. She attended 
Blair Academy and Schooley's Mountain Seminary; is talented with the brush and her 
works of art do her credit. Calm and self-possessed, she is the sunshine of her circle. 

Dorothy Nice, second child of Elisha B. and Martha (Bowman) Brown, is a namesake 
of her paternal grandmother, who was of a family of Nices living near the Delaware Water 
Gap. She is endowed with a delicate nervous organization rendering her very suscepti- 
ble to aesthetics, but inherits her father's latent force. She spent two years at Wyoming 
Seminary, where her talent for music was developed and was rewarded by flattering com- 
mendations. She has the Brown characteristics of being strongly attached to place and 
friends. 

Martha Bowman, the youngest child, of Elisha B. and Martha (Bowman) Brown, 
gave evidence in childhood of superior mental strength. She developed a taste for busi- 
ness, and upon the death of her father assumed a large share of the financial management 
of the family. She possesses many of the mental characteristics of her father. Her mem- 
ory is seldom surpassed and she is a close observer of men and things. Her common sense 
and native vigor of mind avail her and more than compensate for the want of a collegiate 
education. 

M. M. HARTZEL, farmer, P. O. Hetlerville, was born in Mifflin Township, Colum- 
bia Co., Penn., February 2, 1845, a son of Jonas and Mary Magdalena (Heller) Hartzel, 
both natives of this county. John Jacob Hartzel, grandfather of our subject, came from 
Northampton County, Penn., about 1813, and located in Roaringcreek; thence came to 
Mifiiin Township, one year after. He was a cooper by trade but bought a farm in this 
township, on which he put up a cooper-shop and carried on coopering and farming for 
many years, but gave up the cooperage about thirty years before his death. He died 
about September, 1867, aged ninety years, ten months and four days, and is buried at 
Mifflinville. He was twice married; first to Miss Nuss, and second to Mrs. Harpster, but 
survived both. Jonas Hartzel, father of our subject, learned the cooper trade when a 
boy from his father, and followed it five or six years, when he gave it up and turned his 
entire attention to farming. He was actively engaged at farm labor until the time of his 
death; he died June 9, 1881, aged sixty-five years, seven months and seventeen days, and is 
buried at MiflUinville. His wife died November 13, 1879, aged sixty-one years, five months 
and ten days, and is buried by the side of her husband. Our subject was reared in Colum- 
bia County, and followed farming on the home place until he arrived at the age of twenty- 
two, when he went to Berwick and commenced to learn the carpenter's trade. He then 
worked at car building until 1868, when he went to Nanticoke and worked for two years 
on the construction of the breaker for the Susquehanna Coal Company. He then re- 
turned to Berwick, and was engaged at car building until the spring of 1881, when he 
bought eighty-five acres of laud which had formerly belonged to his father, and this land 
he has since continued to farm. He married in Mifflin Township, in April, 1871, Miss 
Frances Ann Longenberger, a native of Butler Township, Luzerne County, and a daugh- 
ter of Simon and Lucinda (Kikendall) Longenberger, both deceased and buried at Mifflin- 
ville. Mr. and Mrs. Hartzel were the parents of four children, three of whom are living: 
Lulu May, Minnie Florence and Clarence Bruce. The deceased one was named Wilson 
Montgomery. Mr. Hartzel is a member of the Grange, and has been a member of other 
organizations. He is also a member of the Old School Lutheran Church; his wife of 
the Baptist denomination. In politics he is a Democrat. He is serving at present as 
a school director. 



MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP. 511 

MICHAEL HELLER, farmer, P. O. Hetlerville, was born in Mifflin Township, Col- 
umbia County, September 8, 1823, a son of Christopher and Susannah (Lantz) Heller. The 
former was a native of Hellertown, Northampton Co., Penn., and was there reared to- 
farm life; was also married there and afterward removed to Columbia County, where he 
lived the remainder of his life. It was about 1816 when he came to this county. His 
father, Michael Heller, the grandfather of our subject, was a soldier in the Revolution and 
served under Washington. Christopher followed farming after coming to Columbia 
County, and put up a blacksmith shop, where he did his own smith work. He died about 
December 14, 1861, aged seventy-six years, and is buried in the Mifflinville Cemetery. 
His widow died May 4, 1872, aged eighty-four years, and is also buried at MifflmviUe. 
Our subject was reared in Mifflin Township and has always lived on the place where 
he now resides, and which his father settled upon coming to this county. He farmed 
with his father until the retirement of the latter, when our subject took the entire 
charge of the farm. His father willed him eighty-five acres, and since that time he has^ 
added sixty-three acres more. Our subject married in Columbia County, March 13 
1847, Miss Mary Ann Heller, a native of Columbia County, and a daughter of Michael 
Hetler. Her parents are both deceased and are buried at Mifflinville. Mrs. Heller died 
in 1863, and is buried at the same place. She bore her husband seven children, four of 
whom are living: Francis Whitney, married to Mary Elizabeth Heller (they reside 
at Wapwollopen); Hiram Wesley, a resident of Montrose, Susquehanna County, this 
State; Christopher Columbus married to Anna Dodson (tiiey reside at Hazleton, 
Penn.), and Sarah Catherine, t The deceased are John Madison, Harriet Alice 
and an infant. Mr. Heller's second marriage took place February 15, 1864, with 
Miss Elizabeth Smoyer, a native of Columbia County, and a daughter of Peter Smoyer. 
Her parents are both deceased. By this marriage the following children were born: 
Alfred Bartley, Amandus and Wilson Arnolphus, living. Rush Monroe, Martha Minerva, 
William Harvey and an infant unnamed are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Heller are mem- 
bers of the German Reformed Church, of which he was for many years deacon. He is 
now overseer of the poor and is serving his third year in that capacity. He is a Repub- 
lican and was twice elected to the position notwithstanding the fact that the township 13^ 
over ten to one Democratic, and although he made no effort to be elected. He is a 
member of the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 246, Berwick, and has passed all the chairs in the 
lodge. 

AARON W. HESS, hotel-keeper, Mifflinville. was born in Luzerne County, Penn., 
November 30, 1827, a son of Jeremiah and Mary (Fenstamacher) Hess, the former a native 
of Wilheim Township, Northampton Co., Penn., and the latter of Luzerne County, same 
State. The father came to Luzerne County with his parents when but eight years of age, 
learned the miller's trade and later erected a mill at Wapwollopen, Luzerne County. 
After operating the mill for a couple of years he traded the property for a farm on which 
he lived for the remainder of his life. He died in 1880 aged about eighty-five years, and 
during the last twenty-five years of his life had lived retired, attending to his farm. His 
wife died in 1860, and both are buried in Beach Haven Cemetery, Salem Town- 
ship. They were both members of the Reformed Church, and were the parents of thirteen 
children, ten of whom are living, and of which Aaron W. is the seventh child and made 
his home with his parents and worked with his father until the age of twenty-one, and 
from that time until twenty-five worked at home in the winter and boated in the summer 
on the canal from Wilkesbarre to Baltimore and Philadelphia. He had a boat built, of 
which he was the owner, and with which he was engaged during the time mentioned in 
the coal and lumber carrying trade. He married, January 2, 1855, in Beaver Township 
this countv. Miss Esther Bittenbenner, a native of Luzerne County, and daughter of 
Jacob and Catherine (Nuss) Bittenbenner, both deceased, her father being buried near 
Shamokin and her mother at Nescopeck, Luzerne County. For the first two years after 
his marriage Mr. Hess and his wife lived on his father's farm in Luzerne County. The 
year after marriage he discontinued business on the canal and sold his boat. On remov- 
ing from Luzerne County he located in Mifflin Township, Columbia County, where he 
had purchased a farm of 113 acres. There he lived for eight years and then removed to 
Mainville and took charge of the hotel now conducted by Mr. Longenberger, which he 
had also purchased. The next spring he sold both the farm and hotel and came to Mifflin- 
ville where he bought the hotel property which he now owns and conducts. This was 
in the spring of 1867, and Mr. Hess has since continued at the same stand. He and his 
wife were the parents of six children, two of whom died in infancy. The living are Clara 
Adora, wife of A. W. Snyder, a merchant at Mifflinville; Harvey Wilbur, a traveling 
salesman for J. C. Bright & Co., shippers and dealers in oil— he also learned the jeweler's 
trade at Hazleton; Milton J., studying dentistry with Dr. Ervin of Catawissa, and George 
W., learning the jewelry business at Hazleton. Mrs. Hess is a member of the Lutheran 
Church, as are most of the family. Mr. Hess owns thirty-five acres outside the cor- 
poration besides ten or twelve acres in lots and residence property in Mifflinville, also a 
house and lot in Mountain Grove. He was overseer of the poor for two years. In poli- 
tics he is a Democrat. About two years after our subject's mother died his father married 
Widow Ruckle, who died shortly after his death. 



512 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

L. B. KOEHLER, farmer, P. O. Mifflinville, was born at Nescopeck, Luzerne Co., 
Penn., May 18, 1854, a son of John George and Catherine (Heller) Koehler. His father 
was a native of Saxe-Coburg, Germany, and his mother of Bethlehem, Penn. The former 
learned the trade of pump-making in his native country, and at the age of twenty -six 
took his departure for America, coming direct to Luzerne County, Penn. After remaining 
a year he sent for his family, and his father, mother, two brothers and sisters came over and 
settled in Luzerne County, where his parents died and also one of his brothers. He carried 
on pump-making and also owned his farm, which was conducted by his sons. He died in 
Luzerne County on the 2d of February, 1884, and is buried at Black Creek, Luzerne 
"County. His widow died May 3, 1885, and is buried alongside her husband. Our subiect 
was reared at Nescopeck and made it his home until coming to Columbia County in the 
spring of 1885. He farmed his father's place until 1882, when he purchased it and con- 
tinued to farm until coming to his present location. He was married at Conyngham, 
Luzerne Co., Penn., June 12, 1874, to Miss Catherine Biltenbender, a native of Black Creek 
Township, Luzerne County, and a daughter of Jonas and Caroline (Lutz) Bittenbender, 
former a native of Luzerne County, latter of Columbia County, and are still residents of 
Black Creek Township. Mr. and Mrs. Koehler were the parents of six children, of whom 
four are living: Caroline, Jonas Marcellus, Adas and Cora May. The deceased are 
•Clara Idella and an infant unnamed. Mr. Koehler has over seventy-two acres of land, 
of which about sixty-eight are cultivated. He and his wife are members of the Old School 
Lutheran Church, still retaining their membership at Black Creek Church, Luzerne County. 

WILLIAM J. NUNGESSER, proprietor of the South Mifflin Mills, P. O. Mifflinville, 
was born in Mifflin Township, Columbia Co., Penn., January 23, 1851 ; a son of George 
and Phtebe (Eckroth) Nungesser, both natives of this county. The former followed farm- 
ing until about 1881, when he sold the farm and mill to his son (our subject), with whom 
he remains retired from business. His wife died on the 1st of July, 1878, and is buried at 
Mifflinville. Our subject was reared on the farm where he now resides and which was set- 
tled by his grandfather over a century ago, which makes quite a record for one family on 
■one piece of ground. Our subject spent his early life at farming his father's place, and 
about a year after the construction of the mill he commenced learning the milling busi- 
ness, after which he acted as the miller of the plant until 1881. He then bought eighty-six 
acres, and hiring a miller, devoted his attention to farming. In the spring of 1885 he re- 
sumed milling and now carries on both occupations. He was married in the county, 
December 25, 1874, to Miss Ellen Bredbenner, a native of Columbia County, and a daugh- 
ter of Conrad and Hannah Bredbenner, residents of Beaver Township. Mr. and Mrs. 
Nungesser are the parents of three children : Martha E., George C. and James J. Mr. 
Nungesser is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and his wife of the Old Lutheran. In 
politics Mr. Nungesser is a Democrat. 

J. N. PEIFER, merchant tailor, Mifflinville, was born in Georgetown, Northumber- 
land Co., Penn., December 12, 1834 ; a son of Nicholas and Mary (Fetterholf) Peifer, both 
natives of Lower Mahanoy Township, Northumberland Co., Penn. The former was a 
tailor, which trade he followed until his death ; he is buried at Georgetown. The latter 
resides at Mahantondo Station, Dauphin County, this State. J. N. was reared in George- 
town, and at the age of twelve years commenced to learn the tailor's trade with his fath- 
er, and worked with the latter until he had reached the age of eighteen years. He then 
:Started for himself, opening his first shop in the Mahontondo Valley, and conducted it about 
a year ; thence went to Sacramento, Schuj'lkill County, where he worked at journey work 
until the following spring, when he worked on the canal and boated that summer. In the 
iall he took a trip to Stephenson County, 111., and worked at farming and tailoring until 1855. 
He then went to the Madison County (Wis.) lumber regions, and was engaged in rafting on 
the river about seven months. In the fall he went to Rockwell, 111., and worked at tailor- 
ing that winter, and in the spring worked in his cousin's brickyard in Monroe County, Wis. 
He returned to Pennsylvania in'the fall of 1856, and worked with his father until 1857. 
February 19, of that year, he married Miss Catherine Shafer, a native of Northumberland 
Clounty, Penn., and a daughter of George and Sarah (Ressler) Shafer. Her father was acci- 
dentally killed, but her mother is still living in Jackson Township, Northumberland 
County. After his marriage he started a shop for himself at Hickory Corners, same 
county, and continued it until the war, when he enlisted in Company B, Sixth Pennsyl- 
vania Reserves. He served with the regiment until April, 1862, when he was discharged, 
having participated in the battle of Dranesville. He then returned home, where he re- 
mained until March 12, 1864, when he again enlisted, this time in the 'Thirty-fourtli Inde- 
pendent New York Light Infantry, field battery, captain, Jacob Rcemer. They were assigned 
to the Army of the Potomac and served in the following engagements : Wilderness, Spott- 
sylvania Court House, Salem Church, Gaines' Farm and Cold Harbor. They were before 
Petersburg from June 17 to August 19, and September 30, 1864, served in the defense of 
Petersburg and participated in the operations resulting in the fall of Richmond. Mr. 
Peifer was also present at the grand review at Washington, and was discharged June 26, 
1865, and returned home. His first wife died May 6, 1865, the motiier of three children : 
Jerome Wilson and Mary Ann, who conduct a shop at Nescopeck, Luzerne County, and 



MONTOUR TOWNSHIP. 513 

Catherine, deceased. Mr. Peifer removed to Mifflinville in tlie fall of 1865, and from 1867 
to 1876 resided in Rockport, Carbon County. January 30, 1866, he married Mrs. Fry, 
daughter of George Miller, and by this marriage four children were born : Ulysses Grant, 
a cutter at Watsontown ; William Thomas, a tailor ; Ella Matura Jane and John Jacob 
Astor. Mr. Peifer is a member of the C. G. Jackson Post,No. 159, at Berwick. He and 
family are members of the Lutheran Church. 

ABRAHAM SCHWEPPENHEISER, farmer, P. O. Mifflinville, was born in Mifflin 
Township, Columbia Co., Penn., January 3, 1833, a son of John Jacob and Rebecca (Sut- 
ton) Schweppenheiser, the former a native of Columbia County, this State, and the lat- 
ter of the State of New Jersey. They lived in this county until their death. John 
Schweppenheiser followed farming during life, and died February 30, 1866; his widow 
died in September, 1880, and both are buried in the Mifflin Cemetery. Abraham was 
reared in Mifflin Township, and has always made his residence at the old homestead, and 
farming his occupation. He married, in Lycoming County, on the 34th of May, 1847, 
Miss Elizabeth P. i Clark. Her parents are both deceased, and are buried in Lycoming 
County. Mr. and Mrs. Schweppenheiser are the parents of seven children, of whom six 
are living: Catherine, wife of C. R. Henderson, in McDonough County, 111.; Ella, wife 
of George Milton Lehman, in Mifflin Township, this county; Lydia Alice, wife of Aaron 
A. Bredbenner, also in Mifflin Township; Martha, wife of Jacob Knecht, resides in J3er- 
wick, this county; Miranda, wife of R. S. Wintersteen, Mifflinville, and Wilmina Jane. 
Mr. Schweppenheiser has ninety acres of land, all of which is under cultivation. He is 
a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and his wife of the Methodist. He has 
served as supervisor two years and as school director of Mifflin Township eighteen years. 
In politics he is a Democrat. 

JACOB YOHE (deceased) was born near Mifflinville, this county, October 13, 1810, to 
Peter and Nonie (Fortner) Yohe, the former a native of Berks County, Penn., and the latter 
of N ew Jersey. Both came to Columbia County when young; here they were married, lived 
and died, and both are buried in Mifflinville, the former died about 1855 and the latter about 
1851. Jacob learned the milling trade when a boy at the Mifflinville mills, and when he had 
reached manhood and finished his trade his father built the Yohe or Mifflin mills, which 
Jacob conducted for his father until the latter's death. About two or three years after 
that event Jacob purchased the mill property, which he conducted until one year before 
his death. He was then elected county treasurer and served two years, after which he 
lived retired until his death. He married, October 18, 1836, Miss Rachel Brown, a native of 
Columbia County, born February 13, 1814, and a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Lunnen- 
berry) Brown, both of whom were born in the State of New Jersey, and were there married 
before coming to Pennsylvania. The former was a farmer in New Jersey, and followed that 
occupation after coming to Columbia County. Besides Rachel, there were ten other chil- 
dren, of whom six are living, including Mrs. Yohe. Mr. Brown died in this county in 
February, 1863; his wife had died some years prior. Mr. and Mrs. Yohe were the parents 
of eight children, two of whom are living: Margarei, wife of Luther Hutchins (had ten 
children, four living), at Rock Glen, Luzerne Co., Penn., and Marshall, who resides with 
his mother. The deceased were named as follows: John "Wesley, whose widow and two 
children survive him; Ezra; David Brown; Ashbol Gwynn, whose widow and two chil- 
dren survive him; Naomi Jane and Benjamin Fortner. Mr. Yohe died August 39, 1871, 
and is buried at Mifflinville. He was a man much esteemed, and enjoyed a large and 
favorable acquaintance thi-oughout this section of country. He was a member of the 
Methodist Church; his widow is a member of the same at Mifflinville. 



CHAPTER XXXIX. 
MONTOUR TOWNSHIP. 

PETER A. EVANS, treasurer of Columbia County, P. O. Bloomsburg, was born in 
Montour Township, this county, January 15, 1846, a son of Issachar M. and Maria (Appel- 
man) Evans. He was educated in Bloomsburg at the old seminary, and in 1865-66 com- 
pleted his studies at Dickinson Seminary. He then returned to the old homestead in 
Montour Township, where he has been engaged in farming up to the present time. From 
the time of attaining his majority Mr. Evans has taken an active part in politics and has 
served his vicinity in many local offices. In 1880 he was appointed United States census 
enumerator for his district. In 1883 he served as a delegate in the State convention 



514 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

which nominated Gov. Pattison. In 1884 he was nominated and elected treasurer, receiv- 
ing the largest majority of any candidate on the ticket. In 1873 Mr. Evans married 
Samantha, daughter of William White, of Scott Township. He and family reside Id 
Montour Township on the homestead, which was formerly owned by his grandfather, 
Peter Appelman. The Appelman family is one of the oldest in the county. The father 
of Peter was Matthias, who settled in Millwell shortly after the Revolution. He was born 
near Trenton, N. J. The great-grandfather, Mark Evans, was a native of Lancaster 
County, and came to this county in 1816, settled in Greenwood Township, and was a 
member of the Society of Friends; he was a carpenter, and also engaged in farming and 
lumbering. Jacob, his son, was also a carpenter until middle life, when he adopted farm- 
ing. In 1856 he was elected associate judge and served one term, and also served in several 
local offices. He was a member of the Methodist Church fifty-five years, and a church 
officer many years, and ministers of that denomination made his home their stopping 
place. Our subject is a member of the Grange and of the I. O. O. F. 

FRANK L. FAUST, operator of the White mill, Montour Township, P. O. Blooms- 
burg, is a native of Hemlock Township, this county, born in 1858, a son of John and 
Julia (Sheppard) Faust. In 1874 he began to learn the milling business in what is now 
called the Red mill, and after seven years' experience, in 1881, opened up in the same 
business on his own account at his present location, one mile from Bloomsburg, having 
leased the mill for a number of years. The White mill has four run of stone, one wheat, 
two choppers and one for grinding buckwheat. It is fitted up in the most modern style 
on the buhr system, and turns out the finest qualities of wheat and buckwheat flour. Mr. 
Faust does a custom business and sells to the home trade and the merchants in adjoining 
towns. In 1882 he married Hannah Allegar and three children have blessed their union: 
Wilbur, Edith and Arthur. Mr. and Mrs. Faust are members of the Lutheran Church, 
and he is a member of the American Mechanics Lodge at Bloomsburg. 

GEORGE W. MEARS, D. L. & W. R. R. Agent, Rupert, was born January 3, 1848, a 
son of Alexander and Phoebe (Knouse) Mears. He was reared in Bloomsburg and vicinity 
and educated in the schools of the neighborhood. July 4, 1861, he enlisted in Company 
A, Sixth Regiment, Pennsylvania Reserves, Volunteer Infantry, was mustered into serv- 
ice at Harrisburg and the United States service at Washington, D. C. July 27, 1861, he 
participated in the battles of Dranesville, Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, 
Fredericksburg (where a bullet struck his belt plate, knocking him down, which caused 
him a severe bruise), Gettysburg (the last two dajs ), Mine Run, where he was wounded 
by a piece of shell on the shoulder joint, necessitating the amputation of the left arm at 
the shoulder. He also participated in many other engagements throughout Virginia, 
Maryland and Pennsylvania, and May 1, 1863, was promoted to the rank of sergeant. He 
was mustered out June 11. 1864, having served three years; on leaving the army he 
learned telegraphy and was employed five years in the Lackawanna & Bloomsburg Railroad 
office at Danville, and in 1871 was appointed agent at Rupert for the D. L. & W. R. R., 
and has also acted as telegraph operator and express agent. He married, in 1870, Mary 
A. Appelman, who bore him five children : Wellington E., died in infancy; Elmer A., 
Howard R., Ottile and Ulvsses G. The last four are living. 

JOHN S. MENSCH, "farmer, P. O. Bloomsburg, was born May 9, 1839, a son of Mi- 
chael and Margaret (Shuman) Mensch. He was reared on the farm and received a 
good education. December 27, 1859, he married Matilda, daughter of Daniel and Hannah 
(Cleaver) Zarr, and born January 13. 1840. After marriage he engaged in farming and in 
October, 1881, bought his present place of 150 acres al»out two miles from Bloomsburg, in 
Montour Township. Mr. and Mrs. Mensch are members of the Episcopal Church at 
Bloomsburg. He is a Democrat and has served his township in various local offices; was 
school director of Catawissa three years; is interested in the Agricultural Society in which 
he served one year as a member of the executive committee. To him and wife were born 
thirteen children: Flora, born October 17, 1861; George, August 13, 1863; William, January 
6, 1865; Clara, September 20, 1866; Daniel Z., August 19, 1868; John Harrv. July 8, 1870; 
Margaret, February 17, 1872; Morris C. S., September 16, 1873; Charles, April 16, 1875; 
Ada, January 5, 1877; Frank, July 28, 1879; Guy, February 21, 1882, andMaybury Hughes, 
March 2, 1886. All are at home except George, who is a railroad engineer. The Menscli 
family is an old one in Columbia County. The great-grandfather of cur subject was John 
Mensch, who settled near Catawissa with his family about 1800. His farm was situated 
at the mouth of Roaring creek and consisted of 400 acres, about 160 of which are still in 
the hands of his descendants. His son, John, lived on the old homestead, and eventually, 
partly by inheritance and partly by purchase owned the entire tract. He was an hon- 
ored citizen, a member of the Lutheran Church, and died about 1873, aged eighty-four 
years. 

WASHINGTON M. MONROE, manufacturer, Rupert, was born at Muncy, Penn., 
September 3, 1838, a son of Isaac S. and Elizabth (Davis) Monroe, who settled in 
Catawissa in 1832. The father was foreman on the construction of the Pennsylvania 
Canal, and later was extensively engaged in the lumber business. He was an influential 
Democrat until 1861, when he became identified with the Republicans. He served a» 



MONTOUR TOWNSHIP. 515 

associate judge of the county six years, and during the war was United States Assessor of 
Internal Revenue for three years. He attended the Friends' meeting, but was not a mem- 
ber of that society. He was born in Woodstock, N. H., b.ut came to Pennsylvania when 
about twenty years of age, and thereafter made it his home. He married at Catawissa, 
and to him and wife seven children were born, only three of whom lived to maturity: 
Sarah J., wife of Peter R. Baldy, and now deceased; Mary E., wife of Austin H. Church, 
at Ashland, Penn., and Washington M. Our subject was reared at Catawissa, and 
obtained his education at Pottstovvn Hill school, taking a three years' course. In 1861, 
with his father, he established the business of manufacturing powder kegs at Rupert, and 
in 1866 was admitted as a partner. His father dying in 1879, our subject assumed full 
charge and has since conducted the business. Since its start the factory has turned out 
90,000 twenty-five pound kegs annually, valued commercially at about $30,000, giving 
employment to eleven men. Mr. Monroe married, in 1861, Ellen B. Leonard, who was 
born near Reading, Berks County. Four children blessed their union: Elizabeth, Mary 
C, Ellen and Irene, all living at home. Mr. and Mrs. Monroe are members of the Protest- 
ant Episcopal Church. He is agent for Dupont's Powder Company for the counties of 
Columbia, Montour, Snyder, Union and Northumberland. 

LLOYD PAXTOX, farmer, P. O. Rupert. The Paxton family of Columbia County 
is descended from an English family of that name, who came from England with William 
Penn and settled in Buckingham, Bucks Co.. Penn. The first of the family to come to 
Columbia County was Jonas Paxton, born June 25, 1735, ard Mary (Broadhurst) Paxton, 
his wife, who was born December 31, 1754. They settled at Catawissa, where they both 
died, he in 1796 and she April 5, 1838. Their son, Joseph, was born in Bucks County 
February 3, 1786, and came to this county with his parents when he was quite young. He 
was a tanner and carried on that business for many years successfully at Catawissa. He 
was a leading man in his day and acted as general manager in business matters in his 
vicinit}'. He was also a private banker to some extent. Joseph Paxton was the principal 
originator and projector of the Catawissa Railroad (now the Philadelphia & Reading). 
He succeeded in interesting Nicholas Biddle, the president of the United States Bank at 
Philadelphia in the railroad, and under their joint efforts the road was built. He owned 
considerable land in the neighborhood of Catawissa, and took a deep interest in agri- 
culture, owning a fertile farm in Bloom Township. He also introduced some of the first 
short-horn stock in the county. He was a regular attendant at the Friends' meeting at 
Catawissa and had charge of the settlement cf many estates. He was a Whig politically, 
and a personal friend and correspondent of Henry Clay and Daniel Webster, autograph 
letters from both being found among his effects. He died at the beginning of the civil 
war, which filled him with regret, and was thought to some extent to have hastened his 
death, which occurred August 21, 1861. Joseph Paxton married Catherine Rupert April 
24, 1809. She was a daughter of Leonard Rupert, and, on the death of her husband, 
moved to the old Rupert homestead, which had been purchased by her grandfather, 
Michael Bright, in 1784, in Rupert, Montour Township, where she has since resided. De- 
cember 25, 1886, she was one hundred years old, and supposed to be the oldest living 
person in Columbia County. Llojd Paxton, a grandson of Leonard Rupert, now owns 
the homestead tract at Rupert, which was bought by Michael Bright, his great-grand- 
father, In 1774. 

SQUIRE JOHN G. QUICK, farmer, P. O. Rupert.was born in Rush Town3hip,North- 
umberland Co., Penn., January 19, 1824. His ancestors were of German descent and set- 
tled in New Jersey long before the war of the Revolution. John Quick, his grandfather, 
was a soldier in that struggle, in which his maternal grandfather, Samuel Moore, was ser- 
geant. John and Nancy (Hummill) Quick located in Rush Township, Northumberland 
County, soon after the close of the Revolution, and there died in February, 1824. His 
widow died at the home of her son. John H. Quick, in Rupert, in 1831. John H. Quick was 
born in Warren County, N. J., in 1789. and married Elizabeth Moore, who was born in 1791. 
They became the parents of our subject, and bought the farm now occupied by him, in 
1829. There they passed the remainder of their lives. The father was a Democrat, and 
served his vicinity in various local offices, and in religious belief was a Presbyterian, as 
was also his wife. He died in 1852, and his wife in 1850, and both are buried in Rosemont 
Cemetery at Bloomsburg. The old homestead of 140 acres is still owned by their son, our 
subject, and is located just adjoining the village of Rupert. John G. Quick was reared to 
farm life and from the age of six or seven years has resided at his present home. He is a 
Democrat and has always been an active worker for the interests of his party; has served 
in all local offices, except those of supervisor and assessor; was for twelve successive years 
secretary and member of the school board and for twenty-five years has acted as justice of 
the peace. In that time he has tried upward of 500 cases, only two of which were ever 
appealed; in one ofthe.se his judgment was sustained in a higher court, the other was with- 
drawn. Squire Quick married, in 1853, Sarah Mover, and one child, Minnie, has blessed 
their union. Mrs. Quick and daughter are members of the Episcopal Church. 'The 
Squire is a member of the F. & A. M., of Catawissa, and of the P. of H. and has been sec- 
retary of the Farmers Produce E.xchange at Bloomsburg since its origin. 



516 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

, CHAPTER XL. 
MOUNT PLEASANT TOWNSHIP. 

SILAS CLARK BEAGLE, blacksmith, Mordansville, was born at Mordansville, 
Mount Pleasant Township. Columbia Co., Penn., April 8, 1863, son of Leonard and Mar- 
garet (Mordan) Beagle. Michael Beagle, grandfather of our subject, emigrated from Ger- 
many to this country after he had reared the most of his family, came directly to Colum- 
bia County and located about a quarter of a mile north of Mordansville, when the sur- 
rounding country was yet very wild. His wife's maiden name was Rebecca Margaret. 
When they located at the point mentioned they put up their improvements, consisting of 
a frame house and buildings, the house being now occupied by Hiram Bogart. Here 
Michael Beagle died about 1872, his wife having preceded him by one or two years. 
They are buried in Dutch Hill Cemetery. Leonard Beagle, brother of our subject, was 
born in Germany, and when he was fifteen years of age his family immigrated to the 
United States and located in Columbia County. He spent the remainder of his life in 
Mordansville and vicinity. He was married in this county to Margaret Mordan, by whom 
he had one child, Silas Clark. Leonard Beagle enlisted in the nine months' call, and, 
after serving his time out and coming home, he enlisted in Company H, Thirty-second 
Heavy Artillery, though they served as infantry. He was with his regiment until the 
time of his death, which occurred in camp from fever brought on by exposure. His re- 
mains were sent home to his family and buried in Dutch Hill Cemetery with.the honors of 
war. His widow, now wife of Michael Hawk, resides at Eyer's Grove. Silas Clark 
Beagle was reared at Mordansville, and at the age of over seventeen years commenced to 
learn the trade of blacksmith at Harmon Severson's shop. He worked there between two 
and three years, then came to Mordansville and built his present shop, which he has con- 
ducted ever since. He does all kinds of blacksmith repair work, ironing of wood work, 
etc. He was married in this county November 23, 1882, to Miss Eva Jane Hippenstlel, a 
native of this county, and daughter of Peter and Sallie Hippenstiel, residents of Mount 
Pleasant Township, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Beagle are the parents of two children: 
Howard Ammerman and John Franklin. Mrs. Bieagle is a member of the Lutheran 
Church. 

SAMUEL HARTZEL, farmer, P. O. Light Street, was born in Mount Pleasant Town- 
ship, this county, November 12, 1834, son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Delong) Hartzel. Jacob 
Hartzel was born in Northampton County, Penn., was there reared, and thence came to 
this county when a young man, and shortly afterward bought land where Samuel now 
resides. He cleared up this land and farmed it, and also followed the trade of shoemak- 
ing (which he had learned in Northampton County) after coming here until his death. 
He was married in this county to Mrs. Elizabeth Stouffer, nee Delong, widow of John 
Stouffer, and they were the parents of two children: Joshua, in Mount Pleasant Town- 
ship, this county, and Samuel. The father of this family died in October, 1878, his 
wife in March, same year. They are buried in Canby Cemetery, Mount Pleasant Town- 
ship, this county. Samuel was reared in Mount Pleasant Township, and has spent his 
lifetime of over half a century at the place where he now resides. He has always made 
farming his occupation, though he assisted his father to some extent shoemaking, and 
also occasionally followed the carpenter trade. He was married in this county in June, 
1857, to Miss Christiann Straup, a native of this county, daughter of Jonathan and Cath- 
erine (Clauser) Straup, both deceased, latter buried at Canby, this county. Mr. and Mrs. 
Hartzel are the parents of four children, three now living: Jacob Harvey, married to 
Samantha Sitler (they live in Centre Township, this county); Anna Mary and Lucinda 
Rebecca. The one deceased was an infant unnamed. Mr. Hartzel has about 115 acres of 
land, all of which lies in Mount Pleasant Township. Mr. and Mrs. Hartzel attend the 
Lutheran Church, of which she is a member. He is a Democrat politically, and has held 
the office of school director and supervisor. 

ELIAS HOWELL, retired. P. O. Light Street, was born in Limestone Township, Mon- 
tour County, Penn., September 27. 1825. son of William and Anna (Titus) Howell, former 
of whom was born in New Jersey in 1802, and the latter dying during our subject's in- 
fancy, his uncle, Vinson Dye, took him to raise. In 1810, when William was but eight 
years of age, his uncle removed from New Jersey to what is now Limestone Township, 
Montour Co., .Penn., and with him William lived, assisting on the farm until he had 
reached the age of eighteen years, when he went to learn the trade of stone-mason and 
plasterer, in the same neighborhood. While living there he was married to Miss Anna 



MOUNT PLEASANT TOWNSHIP. 517 

Titus, and in 1836 they removed to Mount Pleasant Township, this county, where he 
bought 150 acres in the same neighborhood as the present farm of his son, Elias. He then 
devoted almost his entire attention to farming, doing only his own mason work, following 
agricultural pursuits until about ten years before his death, when he lived a retired life. 
Mr. and Mrs. William Howell were the parents of eight children, six now living: Mary 
Ellen, wife of William Hower, in Luzerne County, Penn.; William, in East Nanticoke, 
Penn.; Edith Ann, wife of William Bowman, in Carthage County, Mo.; Robert C, in 
Mount Pleasant Township, this county, John V., in Bloomsburg, Penn., and Elias. The 
father of this family died April 1, 1874. He and his wife are buried in the Blooms- 
burg Cemetery. Elias Howell, 'subject of this sketch, was ten or eleven years of age 
when the family removed from Montour County to what is now Mount Pleasant Town- 
ship, this county. In the spring of 1843 he went to Bloomsburg to learn the black- 
smith trade with William Sloan, and worked with him two years; then went to Montour 
County, where he resided two years; then returned to this county, and for some seven or 
eight years worked by the day for different farmers; then went into the mines in Bloom 
Township, this county, and was there engaged thirteen years at contract work. He then 
bought eighty-four acres of land in Mount Pleasant Township, this county, and commenced 
farming; also leased a limestone ridge near by, put up a kiln, and for six years was en- 
gaged at that business as well as farming. After that time he gave his entire attention 
to farming until the spring of 1881, since which time he has lived a retired life, renting his 
farm. He was married in this county in November, 1846, to Miss Emeline Andrews, a 
native of Columbia County. She died April 19, 1885, at the age of tifty-nine years, three 
months, nineteen days, and is buried in the Vanderslice graveyard, Hemlock Township, 
this county. Mr. and Mrs. Howell were the parents of eight children, four now living: 
William, married to Emily Laubach, in Hemlock Township, this county; John, married 
to Mary Whitenight, also in Hemlock Township; Anna Margaret, wife of Peter Melick, in 
Mount Pleasant Township, this county; Isaiah Willetts, married to Catherine Wolf, on the 
home place. The deceased are Sylvester, Robert Francis, James Franklin and Clarence 
Lloyd. Mr. Howell is a member of the Methodist Church. His wife had also been a 
member of that church from her fourteenth year to the time of her death, forty-five years. 
He is at present collector of Mount Pleasant Township, which office he has held since 
1880; has also been treasurer of the school board for six years. He has held the office of 
supervisor for three years, and overseer of the poor four years. He is a member of Light 
Street Grange, No. 31, P. of H. 

THOMAS P. Mc BRIDE. Bloomsburg, steward of the Bloomi Poor District, com- 
posed of townships of Bloom, Scott, Greenwood and Sugarloaf, was born in Berwick, 
this county, January 17, 1819, son of John and Edith ('Gossner) McBride. Nathaniel Mc- 
Bride, grandfather of Thomas P., came to this coimty in the early days, and located in 
Hemlock Township, where he bought and cleared up land. John McBride, father of our 
subject, was born in this county and reared here to faj-m life. He afterward abandoned 
farming and gave his attention to the mason's trade, following that occupation principally 
at Bloomsburg. He was also engaged on the work of the Catawissa Railroad. He was 
married in Berwick to Edith Gossner, and they were the parents of thirteen children, of 
whom six are living: Thomas P.; Maria, widow of John Banghart (she lives in Lime 
Ridge, this county); Alexander, in Hughsville, Penn.; Elizabeth, wife of Solomon Smith 
(they live near Three Rivers, Mich.); Mary, widow of Henry Crum (she lives in Blooms- 
burg, this county), and Franklin P., also in Bloomsburg. The father of this family died 
in 1858, the mother in 1844, and both are buried in the Lutheran cemetery at Bloomsburg. 
Thomas P McBride, subject of this sketch, was reared in this county, where he has always 
made his home. When he was nine years of age he went to work on the farm of Isaac 
Coon, where he was employed three years. He then began boating on the canal between 
Bloomsburg and Philadelphia, and for three years followed that occupation. He then com- 
menced to learn the tailor trade with B. Rupert of Bloomsburg, with whom he was em- 
ployed about eight years. He then bought a canal boat and engaged for himself in 
the coal carrying trade between Bloomsburg and Baltimore. He was thus employed about 
two years when he sold his boat and was engaged the next year in the store of L. B. Ru- 
pert, and for the next year boated with William Morril. He then went in partnership 
with Elias Mendenhall, and was engaged with him in boating for four years. He then 
removed to the lumber woods in the upper end of this county, where Mr. Mendenhall had 
purchased a tract of land and superintended the farming and lumbering at this place for 
fifteen years. Later he bought fifty acres of land near Rohrsburg to which he moved, and 
farmed it three years. March 28, 1876, he was appointed steward of the Bloom Poor Dis- 
trict. He did not find the farm in very good condition when he took charge, but he has 
brought the place up to a high standard by constant improvements, and now it is a credit 
to the county. Since he has taken charge there have been four boards of overseers, and 
as Mr. McBride has retained his position all this time, it is ample evidence that his adminis- 
tration has been HatisfactorJ^ He was married in this county September 8, 1858, to Miss 
Amanda Bobbins, a native of this county, daughter of Margaret Robbins, deceased. Mr. 
and Mrs. McBride are the parents of four children, of whom two are living: Urban us, 



518 BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

married to Prebella McHenry, in Light Street, this county, and Margaret, wife of Jacob 
Hirleman, in Bloomsburg, this county. John and Mary are deceased. Mr. McBride 
is a Democrat politically. 

CHARLES H. MASON, farmer, P. O. Canby, was born in the city of Philadelphia 
June 11, 1815, son of William and Parthena (Wetherill) Mason. There were three broth- 
ers in the Mason family who came over in the "Mayflower" and landed at Plymouth 
Rock in 1620. Capt. John Mason, who is so prominently spoken of in history, is the 
one of these brothers from whom Charles H. is descended. The great-grandfather of 
our subject was Ebenezer Mason. He had a son, also named Ebenezer, who was the 
grandfather of Charles H., and was born at Ashford, Conn.. March 37, 1749; was married 
June 2'6, 1774, to Mary Hastings, who was also born at Ashford, Conn., December 17, 1752. 
They were the parents of eleven children, as follows :^Rufus, born May 23, 1775, died July 
29 1776; Mehetabel. b. August 23, 1776, d. April 1, 1800; Rufus, b. May 3, 1778. d. Sep- 
tember 10 1812; Eliphalet, b. June 23, 1780, d. March 11, 1853; Ebenezer, b. October 2, 
1782 d May 10, 1873; David, b. July 27, 1784, d. August 29, 1848; Alva, b. August 9, 
1786' d April 21, 1863; William, b. February 17, 1788, d. Februarv 28, 1844; Mary, 
b. May 26, 1790. d. December 14, 1866; Chester, b. June 10, 1793, d. November 29, 1845; 
Margaret, b. June 7, 1795, d. April 26, 1882. The father of this family died July 
25, 1824, and was buried at Ashford, Conn. After his death his widow removed to 
Monroeton, Bradford County, where she died in September, 1834, and is buried there. 
William Mason, father of Charles H., was born and reared at Ashford, Conn., and 
on arriving at a suitable age, went to Hartford, where he learned the art of wood- 
engraving, and in 1810 removed to Philadelphia where he followed it, being the first in 
that line in the Quaker City. He followed this art a number of years and then com- 
menced the manufacture of philosophical instruments, such as air-pumps, electrical ma- 
chines, etc., including a telescope for himself. He conducted that business until seven- 
teen years before his death, when he gave his attention to art, instructing in drawing and 
designing, and this he followed until his death. Among his designs was an ideal one, 
which he called the " inventor's head;" it is in the shape of a human head, formed en- 
tirely of mechanical appliances, and so constructed as to be a good likeness; although 
very minute in its detail, it was drawn with a lead pencil and shaded with India ink. 
Charles H. Mason has a photograph of the drawing in his possession. Among others who 
studied designing, etc., under William Mason were Thomas U. Walters, the designer of 
Girard College, and John Troutwine, a noted civil engineer. Mr. Mason was married in 
Philadelphia to Parthenia Wetherill, a native of Salem, N. J., born January 3, 1793. They 
were the parents of seven children, of whom six are living; Samuel Rufus, in Dodge Coun- 
ty, Neb.; Charles H. and Margaret Ann, wife of William H. Strickland, in Reading, 
Penn. (twins); Mary Delia, wife of Samuel C. Hays, in the stationery business in Phila- 
delphia; Amanda Jane, widow of John Dainty (she lives at Beverly, N. J.); Catherine 
Wetherill, widow of Nathan Stern Beekley (she lives in Philadelphia); William Morrison 
(twin to Mrs. Beekley) is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. William Mason, parents of the above, 
are buried at Philadelphia. Charles H. Mason, subject of this sketch, was reared in Phil- 
adelphia and tliere educated. At the age of seventeen he went into the country in Bucks 
County, where he served an apprenticeship of five years on a farm. In 1836 he went to 
Monroeton, Bradford Co., Penn., and there worked at different employments, farming, 
rafting on the river, lumbering and teaching school, and in 1842 went to Hill's Grove, 
Lycoming Co., Penn., where he resided until 1846, moving theuce to Shrewsbury, same 
county, where he lived until 1849. In that year he came to Mount Pleasant Township, 
and operated a saw-mill on Fishing creek for'one year. From that time until 1852 he 
worked by the day. At the latter date he began to learn the carpenter and millwright 
trades, and on completing bis instruction went into the millwrighting business as jour- 
neyman with Marshall G. Kinley of Bloomsburg, this count3^ and for seven years 
worked with him most of the time. After that he worked at carpenter work until 1880, 
when, his wrist being broken, he abandoned that work, and since then has done little else 
than attend to the farming of his lot. He married June 16, 1841, Miss Mary Tingley, a 
native of Hughsville, Lycoming Co., Penn., born March 30, 1821. She died March 8, 1876, 
and is buried in the Lutheran cemetery at Canby. By that marriage there were eight 
children, seven now living: William Chester, in Mount Pleasant Township, this county; 
Jeremiah M., in Wichita, "Wichita Co., Tex.; Martha Jane Craven, wife of John McMuUen, 
in Knoxville, N. Y.; Nelson Winfield, in Holland, Lucas Co., Ohio; Samuel Rufus, in 
Toledo, Ohio; Sarah Elizabeth, wife of William A. Wait, a druggist in Sugar Notch. Lu- 
zerne Co., Penn., and Isaiah Willett Hartman, a salesman in the carpet store of Hudson & 
Simington, Detroit, Mich. Amanda Melissa, the second born, is deceased. Mr. Mason 
was again married December 16, 1877, this time to Catherine Ann McCaslin, widow of 
Marvin McCaslin of Montoursville, Lycoming Co., Penn., and daughter of John and Jane 
Dudder, natives of this county. Her grandfather was from New Jersey. Her father 
died January 17, 1883, aged seventy years, ten months and three days, and was buried at 
Canby, this county. Her mother died February 22, 1837, aged twenty-five years. Mr. 
and Mrs. Mason are members of the Lutheran Church. In politics he is a Republican. 



MOUNT PLEASANT TOWNSHIP. 519 

PHILIP MILLER, farmer, P. O. Eyer's Grove. was born in what is now Madison Town- 
ship, this county, September 24, 1834, son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Welliver) Miller. Daniel 
Miller, who at the time of his death was one of the oldest citizens of this county; was born 
June 10, 1784, in New Jersey, about twenty miles from Easton. He was reared to farm life 
and March 10, 1809, he was married to Betsey Welliver, who was four years his junior. He 
enlisted for two years in the war of 1813, but after bein^ in the army little over a year, he 
grew tired of a soldier's life, and gave a man f37 to serve his time out. In 1830 he 
with his wife and four children removed to Pennsylvania. They first lived on the farm 
now owned by John McMichael in Greenwood, this county, and afterward in several 
places in Greenwood, Madison and Mount Pleasant Townships. In September, 1864, he and 
his wife took a trip to New Jersey, their old home, but the latter taking sick, it was four 
months before she could return, and from this illness she never fully recovered. They 
were the parents of nine children of whom four are now living: Aaron, in Hemlock Town- 
ship, this county; Sarah, widow of Martin Kilgress, in Lycoming County, Penn.; Henry 
A., in Mount Pleasant Township, this county; and Philip. Robert, Nancy, wife of Samuel 
Neyhart, Effie, wife of George Whitenight, John and Phoebe Ellen are deceased. The 
father of this family died in February, 1880; the mother died February 17, 1874. They are 
buried in Ikeler's graveyard,Mount Pleasant Township. Philip Miller.subject of this sketch, 
was reared in this county to farm life, and made his home with his parents until his mar- 
riage, after which event, his parents leaving that place, he farmed it for two years after- 
ward. He first bought land in 1861, purchasing fifty acres where he now resides, to which 
he has since added about five acres more. He was married November 2, 1848, to Miss Ann 
Keller, who died on April 7, 1853. By this marriage there were two children : Wesley B., 
married to Miss Ida B. Shumaker (they reside in Madison Township, this county) and 
Francis B. (deceased). Mr. Miller again married December 12, 1861, Miss Elizabeth 
Keller, a native of this county, and daughter of Henry Keller. By this marriage there 
were four children, one now living, Jennie. The deceased are Rosa Clemintine, David 
Masters and Warren. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are members of the Methodist Church. Mr. 
Miller has held the offices of school director and supervisor of Mount Pleasant Township. 

JOSEPH E. SANDS (deceased) was born July 18, 1811, in Mifflin Township, Columbia 
Co., Penn. His ancestors came from England, the pioneer of the name being John 
Sands, who was obliged to leave his native country on account of religious persecution. 
He settled in Berks County, Penn., and from him are descended all of the name in this 
county. The father of our .subject was John, son of Daniel, who was a son of the pioneer 
John. Joseph E. when a lad was brought by his parents to Briarcreek Township, Colum- 
bia County, and during his minority worked for Andrew Hunlock,who carried on a woolen- 
mill. While in his employ he learned the business thoroughly, and in 1835 came to 
Oreenwood Township. That year he married Esther Lundy, and three years later came 
to what is now Mordansville, and built a woolen-mill, which is now operated by his son, 
C. L. He carried on that business up to the time of his death, which occurred February 
34, 1881, of apoplexy, at Philadelphia. He had visited the above city with his son 
Charles to buy goods, and while there died very suddenly, while making his purchases. 
He was buried with Masonic honors, of which fraternity he was an honored member, and 
his remains now repose in Orange Township, in the McHenry Cemetery. In speaking of 
Mr. Sands he can well be called a representative man in Columbia County. In politics 
he was a Republican though not a partisan. He was appointed the first postmaster at 
this place, and in 1875 was elected county commissioner, and served with credit to himself 
and satisfaction to his constituents. He was generous and liberal, and his hand was ever 
ready to contribute to the wants of the needy. He was a successful business man, and 
was always in the front when the general interests of the people were at stake. He 
reared a family of seven sons and one daughter, all of whom married. Three of the sons 
•served their country in the civil war, and Mr. Sands, himself, went out with the militia 
when the Southern forces invaded the State in 1863. 

CHARLES L. SANDS, president of Mordansville woolen-mills, Mordansville, was 
born near Rohrsburg, this county, December 16. 1849 ; son of Joseph E. and Esther 
(Lundy) Sands. John Sands, grandfather of our subject, came to this county from Berks 
County, Penn., in the early part of the present century. He was born in Berks County, 
and there learned the miller's trade, and when he came to this county he went to Mifflin 
Township, where he was the miller of Brown's mill, near Mifflinville, for a number of 
years. From there he removed to near Orangeville, and operated the Bowman mill a num- 
ber of years, and from there removed to Greenwood Township and run the Fulmer(nowthe 
Alinas Cole) mill and while connected with this mill he fell dead from apoplexy while 
working in the orchard near by. His death occurred in June, 1856. He was married in 
this county to Miss Hannah Eck, of Briarcreek Township, also a member of an early set- 
tler's family. She survived her husband about seven j'ears. They are buried in the Mc- 
Henry graveyard, in Orange Township, this county. They were the parents of six chil- 
dren, four now living: Mary, in Greenwood Township, this county ; Ann, wife of Baltis 
Girton, now living in Aledo, 111.; Uzilla, widow of James Strong, who was in the service of. 
the Union, and was killed at Fort Fisher— she lives at Dushore, Sullivan Co., Penn.; 

38 



520 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Horace lives at Wyalusing, Bradford Co., Penn. ; Emma and Joseph E. are deceased; 
Joseph E. Sands, father of Charles L., the second in order of age of these children, was 
born in Mifflin Township, while his father was the miller at Brown's mills. He made his 
home with his parents until he had reached the age of eighteen years, and then went to 
work to learn his trade in the woolen-mill of Andrew Hunlock.Briarcreek Township, this 
county. He learned the trade there, and when he had obtained a thorough knowledge of • 
the business he erected a woolen-mill of his own, one mile north of Rohrsburg, on Green 
Creek. He worked that mill until 1856, but as the woods around became cleared up the 
creek began to fail, and finally he found it impossible to run the mill with the water of 
that stream. In 1856 he erected a mill on the banks of Little Fishing creek, in Mount 
Pleasant Township, which forms the nucleus of the present Mordansville woolen-mills. 
He operated this mill until about one week before his death, when he sold it to Charles 
L. Sands. He was married in this county to Miss Esther Lundy, a native of this county, 
and daughter of Henry Lundy, and they were the parents of ten children, seven now liv- 
ing : Henry H., in Hemlock Township, this county; William E., in Mount Pleasant 
Township, this county ; Thomas E., also in Hemlock Township ; Anna Margaret, wife of 
W. W. Eves, one of the firm of Ellis Eves & Brother, merchants at Millville. this coun- 
ty ; Charles L. ; Joseph H.. in the hardware business in Bowling Green, Ohio (he is married 
to Mary Turner, a native of Wood County, Ohio), and James P. The deceased are Elijah 
and John (twins), and Susannah. The father of this family died February 24, 1881, while 
at Philadelphia on a business trip. He was a strong Union man during the war, and 
went out with the militia at the time of the invasion of the State by ihe Confederate 
forces. His widow died September 3, 1886. They are buried in the McHenry graveyard, 
Orange Township, this county. The mother was a member of the Christian Church ; the 
father was a Friend by birthright. Mr. Sands had held the office of commissioner of Col- 
umbia County from 1876 to 1879. He was the first postmaster of Mordansville, which 
position he held until his election as commissioner. He was a well known man in Colum- 
bia County, and commanded the respect of even those who differed from him in his views. 
Of his children, three were in the service of the Union during the war. Henry H. was 
twice a volunteer, at first in Company E, One Hundred and Thirty-second Pennsylvania 
Volunteers, and while in the regiment participated among others at the battles of Antie- 
tam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. The second time he enlisted was in 1864, in 
Company D.Two rtundred and Tenth Pennsylvania Infantry, and was in the battles of 
Hatcher's Run, Gravelly Run, Five Points, and the regiment participated in the movements 
about Petersburg which resulted in the fall of that stronghold and Richmond, and the 
surrender of Lee ; also participated in the grand reunion of the victorious armies of the 
Union at the national capital at the close of the war. William E. was in the 
One Hundred and Third Pennsylvania Infantry. He served with his regiment 
from February, 1865, until the close of the war. Thomas E. was in the independ- 
ent cavalry, and was engaged principally in the civil service department. Charles L. 
Sands, subject of this sketch, was reared in this county, and made his home with his par- 
ents until he was eighteen years of age, and then went to work at the carpenter's trade 
with Abraham Dildine, of Orange Township, this county, with whom he was engaged one 
year. He then returned to his father's home and lived there until 1871, when he began 
dealing in horses to some extent, and obtained the contract for building the stone work 
of the Wilson bridge across Little Fishing creek, which he constructed. He then rented a 
farm in Mount Pleasant Township, this county, which he carried on until 1875, when he 
removed to Millville and commenced in the livery business, and established the first stage 
line from Millville to Bloomsburg. It was thought at that time that this stage line would 
not pay, but he made the business remunerative, and it is so to this date. He closed out 
this business in the spring of 1880, selling out to Humphrey Parker, and then camt; to 
Mordansville and helped his father operate the mill until the following spring, when he 
bought the mill. He then added new machinery and in the spring of 1886 enlarged the 
mill by the erection of an addition. He carried on the business alone until 1888, when M. 
J. Elder obtained an interest in the operation of the mill, and the firm remained Sands & 
Elder until the spring of 1886, when William H. Hagenbuch obtained an interest, and the 
style of the firm is now C. L. Sands & Co. The capacity has been increased, since Mr- 
Sands bought the mill, from 6.000 to 25.000 pounds. Mr. Sands was married in this coun- 
ty May 13, 1871. to Miss Mary Zeigler, a native of the county and daughter of Daniel and 
Catherine Zeigler. both deceased and buried in the Canby graveyard. Mount Pleasant 
Township, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Sands are parents of three children : Elizahetii 
Maude, Maggie Alverda and Joseph E. Besides the woolen-mill interests, Mr. Sands is 
also engaged in farming, having land aggregating 162 acres in Mount Pleasant Township, 
on which he carries on farming. He is justice of the peace of Mount Pleasant Township, 
having been elected in the spring of 1884. He was '>ne of the vice presidents of the Col- 
umbia Countv Agricultural, Horticultural and Mechanical Association from the spring of 
1881 to that of 1886. 

JAMES P. SANDS, merchant and postmaster, Mordansville, was born in Greenwood 
Township, this county, October 24, 1854, and made his home with his parents until his. 



ORANGE TOWNSHIP. 521 

marriage, which took place December 20, 1877. He received his education in the pub- 
lic schools of Mount Pleasant Township and at the Greenwood Seminary, Millville. 
When a boy he assisted his father in the woolen-mill and store and learned the trade in 
the mill. In 1875 his father gave him an interest in the store and the firm was J. E. 
Sands & Son until November, 1879, when James P. bought the interest of his father and 
conducted the business alone until August 14, 1883, when he sold an interest to Howard 
E. Eves, and the firm was Sands & Eves until March 19. 1886, when Mr. Sands bought 
the holding of his partner and has since conducted the business alone In September, 
1886, he commenced the erection of a new building for a store and residence, 27x40 feet 
in ground area and two stories in height. He carries a complete line of general merchan- 
dise, his stock being valued at about $4,000. He was commissioned postmaster at Mordans- 
ville by Marshall Jewell, postmaster, in December, 1875. He is at present connected with 
the schools of Mount Pleasant as director, and has also held the position as auditor of the 
Columbia County Agricultural, Horticultural and Mechanical Association. He was mar- 
ried in this county to Miss Susan A. Eves, a native of this county, daughter of Benjamin 
K. and Mary W. (Welliver) Eves, both natives of this county, former of whom died im 
this county in June, 1879, and is buried in the Friends burying-ground, at Millville; latter 
resides with a sister at Williamsport, Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Sands are the parents of four 
children, three now living: Justin Earl, George Eves and Mary Esther. Mildred Lucy 
is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Sands are members of the Society of Friends. He is a mem- 
ber of Oriental Lodge, No. 460, A. F. & A. M., at Orangeville, and jhas held the oflfice of 
Junior Warden. 

JOHN H. WOLF, farmer, P. O. Bloomsburg, was born in Bucheneu, Hesse Darm- 
stadt, Germany, May 23_, 1827, son of Henry and Magdelina (Schen) Wolf, former of 
whom followed farming in his native land until coming to this country. John H. was 
reared to farm life, and became agent for a wine house, in whose interest he traveled 
through a number of German States and into France. In 1851 some young friends of his 
came to America, and located at Hazleton, Penn., and as they wrote back favorable ac- 
counts of the country, our subject was induced to make up his mind to try his fortunes in 
the New World. He had received a good education at home in his native town, going as 
far as the course of the normal school in Bloomsburg. In 1853 he went to Bremen in 
company with friends and relatives, and there taking a farewell leave of those he had 
known during his youth, he took passage on a sailing vessel bound for New York, which 
he reached after a tedious voyage of fifty-eight days, there being little or no wind. Arriv- 
ing at the Empire City, he went directly to Luzerne County, where he was engaged in the 
mines for six years, and then came to Montour County; here he bought a farm of forty 
acres in West Hemlock Township, where he remained, farming the place until 1871, when 
he moved to the old Paxton place of 148 acres in Mount Pleasant Township, which he 
bought in 1881, and here now resides. He was married at Hazleton, Luzerne County, in 
1854, to Miss Louisa Heck, a native of Diedenshausyn, Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, and a 
daughter of Michael and Catherine Heck. She came to this country on the same ship 
with Mr. Wolf. Mr. and Mrs. Wolf are the parents of nine children: John J., married to 
Willetta Brumstetler, living in Mount Pleasant Township, this county (he is a graduate of 
the State Normal at Bloomsburg); Henry C, married to Mary Shive, in Bloomsburg; 
William; Otto; Frank; Kate, married to Isaiah Howell, in Mount Pleasant Township, this 
county; Mary; Lizzie and Lillie. Mr. and Mrs. Wolf are members of the Lutheran Church. 
He is supervisor of Mount Pleasant Township. He takes an active interest in public 
affairs, and has held some official position almost since coming to this country. He was 
seventeen years in the church council, and a short time after coming to this country was 
elected school director, to which he refused a re-eleclion after holding the position eight 
years, and in 1885 was elected to his present position. He is a member of Light Street 
Grange, No. 31, P. of H. Mr. Wolfs mother died in the December following his 
departure for America, and in 1857 his father came to this country and located in Luzerne- 
County. He died at Fillmore, Carbon County, in 1884. 



CHAPTER XLI. 
ORANGE TOWNSHIP. 



GEORGE W. APPLEMAN, farmer, P. O. Welliversville. was born on the farm where- 
he now resides. November 10, 1840, a son of George and Rebecca (Kinney) Appleman, 
the former a native of Montour County, the latter of New Jersey. To George and 



522 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Rebecca were born six children that grew to maturity: Matthias, Isaac K., Amanda, David, 
George W. and Emanuel. Amanda is the wife of Hiram Bowman; David resides in Wis- 
iconsin; Isaac K. in Mount Pleasant; Matthias in Bloomsburg; the others in this township. 
'George W. was reared on the farm. He taught school several years during the winters 
and remained with his parents as long as they lived. He married, in January, 1881, 
Elizabeth McHenry, a daughter of John and Sabiua (Conner) McHenry. He has two 
children: Edith and Arthvu" R. Mr. Appleman owns 140 acres of land and is a member of 
the Grange. 

EMAiSTUEL L. APPLEMAN, farmer, P. O. Welliversville, was born on the homestead 
in Columbia County, June 2, 1848, the youngest son of George and Rebecca Appleman, 
and was reared to agricultural pursuits. February 6, 1872, he married Elizabeth J., 
daughter of Samuel Gillaspy. She was born near Rohrsburg, and to her and husband 
have been born four children: Fannie Udella, Lulla May, Charles Orval and Hubert 
Harold, the latter dying September 27, 1881, aged six months and six days. Mr. Apple- 
man has a farm of 100 acres, which is highly improved and one of the best in the town- 
ship. Both Mr. and Mrs. Appleman are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
with which they have been identified since about 1885. He is a member of the Grange. 
Mrs. Appleman was born September 14, 1850. in Greenwood Township, a daughter of 
Samuel and Charity (Van Horn) Gillaspy. She has five sisters and two brothers, all of 
whom are living in" the county except Ida, the wife of Ellwood Kester, of Audubon County, 
Iowa, and James, in Montour County. 

WESLEY BOWMAN, farmer, P. O. Orangeville, was born in Mifflin Township, this 
county, October 3, 1818. The Bowman family came originally from Switzerland, whence 
Wesley's great-grandfather came to this country and settled near Delaware Water Gap, 
Northampton Co., Penn., and died near Newberry in 1830. He had four sons: Jesse, 
John, Christopher and Thomas. Thomas was the father of Henry, Christopher, John, 
Jesse, Wesley, George, Sophia, Sarah aqd Susan. Of these, Henry was the father of our 
subject, and was born in Northampton County, Penn., about 1785. He removed with his 
father to Briarcreek about 1800. His wife was Sarah, daughter of James Brown, and 
after marriage they moved to Mifflin Township, where he engaged in farming. There he 
also built a mill and passed the remainder of his life, dying in 1828. His widow survived 
until 1868. They were the parents of fifteen children, thirteen of whom lived to be 
grown: Samuel, Christopher F., Thomas, John, George L., Henry, Manassah, Wesley 
{subject), Mary, Peniniah, Seth, Hiram, Lavinia, and all of these, save John, married and 
reared families. AVesley remained in Mifflin Township until he was fourteen years of 
■age. Later he operated a mill for his uncle, and in November, 1839, married Mary Ann 
Williams, daughter of Samuel and Maria (White) Williams. In 1844 Mr. Bowman located 
where he now resides, on what was known as the Frutchy tract, and ^in the fall of 1868 
built Bowman's mill on Fishing creek. He has about seventy acres in the mill tract. He 
has had four sous and one daughter: Righter R., Henry C, Taylor Z., Millard F. and 
Anna M. Righter R. died in 1871. He and Henry C. served in the civil war, both in the 
Sixth Regiment Pennsylvania Reserves. 

CAPT. HARRISON J. CONNER was born in Orange Township, Penn., December 9, 
1841, the eldest son of Isaiah Conner, who was born in Centre Township in 1812, son of 
John Conner, a Pennsylvanian by birth. Subject's mother's maiden name was Catharine, 
daughter of Reece Millard. Three children were reared to maturity: Harrison J., Mil- 
iard F. and William T. Isaiah Conner died in 1855; his widow is yet living. Harrison 
J. worked in the tannery with his father when young, and the war breaking out he en- 
listed as a private in Company A, Sixth Regiment of Pennsylvania Reserves, for three 
5^ears. served out his time and filled every position up to second lieutenant in his_ compa- 
ny. After serving out his time he was commissioned first lieutenant, and was in Com- 
pany G, Third Regiment United States Veteran Volunteers, Hancock's First Army Corps; 
^served until the spring of 1866, coming out as captain. After his return home he visited 
the West; was elected justice of the peace" and is now serving his second term. 

JOSEPH CRAAVFORD, farmer, Orangeville, is descended from one of the early set- 
tlers of Columbia County, and was born in Mount Pleasant Township, September 25, 1818. 
His father, Joseph Crawford, was born in 1778, and was the second white child born in North- 
nmborland County, in a fort. Joseph, Sr., was a son of Edward Crawford, of Scotch de- 
scent, whose ancestors came from Scotland and settled in the lower counties. Our sub- 
ject's mother was Elizabeth, daughter of Andrew Mellick. Subject's father was reared to 
farming, and he and wife had eleven children, nine of whom were reared to maturity: 
Edward, Andrew. John, Joseph, Stephen, Mary, Catherine, Elizabeth. Sarah Ann. Our 
subject remained on the farm until he was twenty-seven years of age. In 1842 he married 
Catherine, daughter of Harmon and Anna ( Evland ) Labour, and in 1846 located on his 
farm in Mount Pleasant, where he resided until 1877. He then located in Orange Town- 
ship and there he has since remained. He has been successful; owns several farms, and 
has a competence for his declining years. To him and wife nine children were born, five 
of whom are living: Clinton, Harmon, William, Alfred and Anna, All reside in this 
county except Harmon, who is in Russell County, Kas. Another son, Joseph F., was 
killed in New Mexico in December, 1880, and three died of diphtheria in 1866. 



ORANGE TOWNSHIP. 523 

WILLIAM DELONG, retired, Orangeville, was born March 3, 1813, in Orangeville, 
when there were but a few houses in the place. When eighteen years of age he began 
learning the shoemaker's trade, and followed it continuously until 1884, since which time 
he has lived retired. He began poor but by patient industry and economy acquired a 
competency for his declining years. He married in February, 1842, Rebecca Labenberg, 
born in Catawissa, daughter of Lewis Labenberg. Four children were born to this union: 
Perry, engaged in the harness business; Mary, wife of Sylvester Hutton; Jerome B. and 
Clement, in the tin and hardware business. Samuel Belong, father of our subject, was 
an early resident of Sunbury and a son of John Delong. Samuel married Elizabeth 
Plank and they became the parents of Edward, Henry, William, Jesse, Mary and Cather- 
ine. Edward and Catherine removed to Northampton County, where the former died; 
Jesse moved to Luzerne County, while William and Henry settled in Orange Township; 
Mary is the wife of Henry Faus, and resides in Ohio; Catherine never married. Our 
subject is a member of the Lutheran Church and has been since he was eighteen years of 
age. Politically he is a Greenbacker. 

JOSEPH PATTON DeWITT, farmer and stock dealer, P. O. Rohrsburg. was born 
in Orange Township, this county, January 5, 1846, the youngest child of Isaac and Nancy 
B. (Stewart) DeWitt. Isaac was born in Rush Township, Montour County, was a wheel- 
wright by trade and also followed farming. In 1851 he located one mile north of Rohrs- 
burg. He reared a family of five children: Amanda, Clinton K., James M.. Williamson 
M. and Joseph. Amanda married Jacob Terwilliger, of Light Street; Clinton and James 
are farmers in Fishingcreek; William.son M. died in January, 1885. The father died 
July 9, 1875. Joseph F. remained at home until about the age of twenty-five. In 1875 
he purchased the property where he now resides, and which has since been his home.. 
He is engaged in farming and stock raising and also in huckstering. He married, in 
1867, Susan A. Reece, daughter of T. J. and Mary (Reeder) Reece. Three children 
bless their union: Cora B., Thomas E. and Stella M. One died in infancy. 

ALPHEUS MOORE DeWITT, merchant, Orangeville, was born at Light Street, 
Penn., February 13, 1851, a son of John H. and Caroline (Mears) DeWitt. John H. was 
born near Light Street in Orange Township, a son of Isaac and Mary (Haughauat) DeWitt, 
and two weeks after his birth was taken by his grandfather, Abram Moore. He lived 
with him until he was eighteen years of age, when he returned to Light Street to learn 
the trade of a wheelwright. He married in 1849 and died March 11, 1857; his widow sur- 
vived him until 1881. To him and wife were born four children: Alpheus M., George B.,. 
Lillie M. and Hester A. Lillie M. died in childhood. Hester A. married Boyd Henry and 
located in Light Street; George B. married Jennie Lamon, located in Plymouth and died in 
February, 1881. Alpheus M. is now the only male representative of the family, and was but 
six years old when his father died. He was reared by Abram Moore in Greenwood until 
nineteen years of age. Later he attended the normal school at Bloomsburg during the 
summer, and taught school in the winter and farmed in Greenwood. From 1879 to 1881 
he clerked in a store, and in May of the latter year set up in business for himself, in part- 
nership with George S. Fleckenstine, under the firm name of Fleckenstine & DeWitt, which 
association continued until December.jl883. Mr. DeWitt then started on his own account 
in the building which he now occupies. He carries a general stock of merchandise, 
drugs, hardware, paints, oils, etc., and does a good business. He married in February, 
1880, Mary S. Conner, who was born in this township, a daughter of Samuel and Mary 
(Achenbuch) Conner. They have one child living, Mary; Harold C. died at the age of 
four years. Mr. DeWitt is a member of the Reformed Church. 

ABRAM B. DILDINE, farmer, P. O. Welliversville, is a son of Andrew Dildine, who 
was born near Bloomsburg, this county. Andrew was a son of John and married Ruth 
Bogart, daughter of Abram and Margaret (Creeger) Bogart. To them were born four sona 
and six daughters: Elizabeth Ann, Abram B., John O., Margaret, Jacob, Isaiah, Amanda, 
Sarah J., Mary E., Ruth. Abram B. was born May 27, 1816, on the Reichard farm, and 
lived here until he was thirteen years of age. When twenty-one years of age he began 
to learn the carpenter's trade, which he followed several years, and becoming a contractor 
did an extensive business. His first wife died April 26, 1878, quite suddenly of heart disease. 
After her deal h he abandoned contracting, returned to his children and engaged in farming. 
In June, 1883, he married Mrs. Eliza Freece, who was born in this county, a daughter of 
Henry Hoomel. By his first wife he had nine children: John A., Ruth C, Celestia A., 
Sarah M., George W., Dora J., Mary A., Joseph C. and Amanda A. His first wife was a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he and his present wife are also mem- 
bers. Mr. Dildine is a member of the Grange; politically he is a Democrat. 

ISAAC K. DILDINE, farmer, P. O. Welliversville, the youngest son of Andrew and 
Ruth (Bogart) Dildine, was born in this county June 3, 1826, and when six j-ears of ao;e 
came with his father to this township. He located on the farm now owned by Reece ^Ic- 
Henry, a part of which tract is now owned by our subject. Isaac remained at home until 
twenty years of age and farmed for his father. He first married, December 6, 1853, Ange- 
line B. Hughes, who was born June 26, 1829, in this county, a daughter of Charles and 
Mary (Rhodes) Hughes. After marriage he located on the farm he now owns. Mrs. Dil- 



524 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

dine died March 20, 1863, tlie mother of three children: George H., Charles H., Anna E., 
and of these Charles H. is the only one now living. The other children died of diphthe- 
ria — George March 31, and Anna E. April 1, 1863 — and were buried in one grave. Decem- 
ber 6, 1868. Mr. Dildine married Mrs. Angeline Drake, a native of this county and a 
daughter of Peter Knorr. To this union one child, Cora B.. was born, September 12, 
1871, and died of diphtheria December 18, 1881. By her former husband, Col. Levi 
Drake, Mrs. Dildine had three children: Winfield Scott, McKindra L. and Laura M., 
in Ford County. Kas., the wife of Frank P. Vandeislice. Col. Drake was a soldier in 
the Forty-ninth Ohio Infantry, and was killed at the battle of Stone River, being in com- 
mand of the regiment at the time of his death. lie also served with distinction in the Mex- 
ican war. McKindra L. was killed August 9, 1877, in the Rocky Mountains, at the battle 
of Big Hole by the Nez Perces Indians. He was an orderly and a brave soldier. Win- 
field S. served during the civil war and returned home unscathed, and is a practicing phy- 
sician in Erviile, Muskingum Co., Ohio. Mr. Dildine is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and Mrs. Dildine of the Presbyterian Church, at Orangeville. 

JAMES B. HARMAN, justice of the peace, Orangeville, was born in Orange Town- 
ship, October 17, 1833, a son of George and Mary (Knorr) Harman. His father was a 
ifative of Northampton County, Penn., a son of Henry Harman, of German stock. James 
B. learned the cabinet-maker's trade, of which he was master at the age of twenty. He 
then bouglit out Alfred Howell, with whom lie had learned the business, and has since 
conducted the same. He married Harriet, daughter of Judge Covanhoven. Mr. and Mrs. 
Harman are the parents of four cliildren : Lawrence C. and William W. in Leavenworth, 
Kas., and George H. and Delia. Mr. Harman was elected justice of the peace in 1862, 
and has since occupied that position, and has also held nearly all the other township 
offices. He is a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church, and a member of the A. F. & 
A. M., Lodge No. 460, also of the R. A. and Commandery. 

GEORGE W. HESS, farmer, P. O. Orangeville, was born July 16, 1845, on the farm 
where he now resides, and which he owns. His father, Jeremiah Hess, was born in 
Salem, Luzerne County, and married Maria Poe. George W. was reared to agricultural 
pursuits and took charge of the farm in the spring of 1869. He married October 15, 1868, 
Sarah Smith, a native of Luzerne County, born in 1845, a daughter of Samuel Smith. 
Mr. and Mrs. Hess have live children : Maria C, Clarence M., Samuel S., Ernest E. and 
Joseph M. They are members of the Reformed Church. Mr. Hess is a Democrat in 
politics. 

GEORGE LEONARD JOLLY, M. D., Orangeville, was born in Kingston District, 
Luzerne County, Penn., September 16, 1855. At the age of twelve he began his self-sus- 
taining career. He received the advantages of the common schools and afterward attended 
the high school, and later took a full academic course in Beaumont, Wyoming County. 
He then came to Orangeville where he studied Latin and Greek under the instruction of 
Rev. Canfield, and finally nearl}' completed his course in Lafayette College, and soon ex- 
pects his degree — A. M. He then returned to this place and taught in the academy for 
nearly five years, during which time he began reading medicine with Dr. O. A. Megargell, 
and afterward graduated with honors at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Balti- 
more, Md., in the spring of 1883, also receiving a duplicate from Jefferson Medical College 
of Philadelpliia. He began to practice at Wapwallopen with Dr. Shumau, who shortly 
after went to Florida to recruit his health, leaving his practice to Dr. Jolly, who re- 
mained three years, coming in February, 1886, to Orangeville, where he purchased the 
residence and practice of Dr. C W. Ammerman. Dr. Jolly is in every respect a self-made 
man, for which he deserves credit. He has now a large practice which is increasing 
rapidly. March 10, 1885. he married Miss Sadie J., a native of Luzerne County and a 
daughter of Thomas B. Case. The Doctor and Mrs. Jolly are Christian people. 

A. H. KITCHEN. farmer.P.O. Orangeville. Amos Hickson Kitchen was born in Green- 
wood Township, September 22, 1826, the eldest sou of Daniel and Allace (Smith) Kitchen. 
The grandparents were Wheeler and Sarah (Hickson) Kitchen, the former a native of New 
Jersey. Wheeler and his wife had nine children: Daniel, Henry, Samuel, Joseph, Sarah, 
Mary, Jane, Rachel and Anna. Daniel was twice married; first to Allace Smith, who 
bore him four children: Amos H., Sarah A., Daniel and Samuel. When he was quite 
young Amos H. removed with his father to Fishingcreek Township, where he remained 
until he was twenty-four years of age. August 7, 1849, he married Sarah McHenry, who 
was born in Fishingcreek Township June 14, 1827. After marriage Mr. Kitchen removed 
to Greenwood Townsliip and located on a farm, remaining until April 3, 1873. He then 
removed to his present place, but still owns the homestead in Greenwood Township. He 
and Mrs. Kitchen are the parents of five children: Daniel Wheeler, Amos P., Clemuel B., 
Margaret J. and John V. Daniel W. resides in Bloomsburg, the manager of the Farmers' 
Exchange store; Clemuel is engaged in railroading, and Margaret is the wife of Howard 
Kline, and resides in Wood Count}', Ohio. 

COL. HIRAM R. KLINE (deceased; was born in this township December 27, 1815, 
on the farm now occupied by A. H. Kitchen, and was a descendant of one of the repre- 
sentative families of Columbia County. His grandfather, Abram Kline, immigrated to 



OKANGE TOWNSHIP. 525 

America from Germany prior to the Revolution, located in New Jersey and then moved 
westward to what is now Orange Township, Columbia Co., Penn., settling here when the 
county was a wilderness. His children were Harmon, Abram, George, Matthias, Isaac 
and Elizabeth. Isaac was the father of Hiram R. and married Marj% daughter of Abram 
Willett, and by her had ten children: Charity, Sarah, Abram, Elizabeth, Lavina, Hiram R., 
Peter, Almira, Arminta and Mary. Hiram R. married October 31, 1842, Rebecca, daugh- 
ter of John and Mary E. (Fehr) Achenbach, who was born December 25, 1817, in Briar- 
creek Township. At the age of thirteen she moved with her parents to Orange Town- 
ship. After marriage Mr. Kline moved to Raven creek and for five years was engaged in 
milling. He returned to Orange Township and engaged in farming until the spring of 
1877, when he moved to Orangeville and led a retired life. He died suddenly of apoplexy 
May 29, 1881, while on a trip to the farm. He was a stanch Democrat, for years was 
weighmaster of the North Pennsylvania Canal, and in 1860 represented the county in the 
Legislature. He was an excellent singer and taught vocal music in his early manhood. 
He was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church and an esteemed citizen in the 
community in which he lived. He left a widow and four children: Mary E., wife of 
Joseph K. Moyer, resides in Centre County, Penn.; Sarah J., is the wife of Rev. A. Houtz; 
John Howard, married Maggie J., only daughter of A. H. Kitchen; Harriet A., married 
John F. Mengle. 

JAMES M. LONG, hotel-keeper, Orangeville, was born October 12, 1847, in Hunt- 
ington Township, Luzerne Co., Penn., a son of Joseph F. and Sallie (Shay ) Long. The 
father was born April 7, 1810, in Luzerne County, a son of Abram Long. The mother 
was born June 29, 1824, in Seneca County, N. Y., a daughter of Samuel and Sallie (Fowler) 
Shay. The Shay family came originally from Ireland, and the maternal great-great- 
grandfather of our subject married a sister of Lord Fitzgerald, of Scotland. Joseph F. 
and Sallie Long had four children: Charles, James M., Abram and Harris, the last named 
being deceased. Charles served through the civil war as an artilleryman and is now a 
minister of the gospel of the Christian Church, and is stationed at Youngstown, Ohio; 
Abram resides in Espytown. After his marriage Joseph F. located in Luzerne County 
and engaged in farming. In 1850 he removed to Greenwood and conducted a foundry 
there. He died May 25, 1879 ; his widow yet survives him. James M. was reared to farm- 
ing and learned the molder's trade, at which he worked fourteen years. September 8, 1864, 
he enlisted in Company D, Two Hundred and Tenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Second 
Division, Fifth Corps, and received an honorable discharge at the close of the war. He 
returned home and worked for three years in the lumber woods of Sullivan County. He 
then came to Benton and drove stage three years and afterward engaged in farming. In 
the spring of 1886 he came to Orangeville and took charge of the Hagenbuch Hotel prop- 
erty. In 1865 he married Arminta J., daughter of Daniel J. and Elizabeth (Taylor) 
Phillips. They have two children : Emma and Bert E. 

CYRUS McHENRY, farmer and surveyor, Orangeville, was born September 12, 
1821, a son of Edward and Sarah ( Cutter) McHeury. The former was born November 
1, 1789, in Orange County, N. Y., a son of Thomas McHenry, who was a soldier m the 
Revolution, and whose ancestors caule from Ireland. Our subject's motlier was born in 
Northampton County, Penn., in 1791, a daughter of Samuel and Mary ( Cole ) Cutter. 
Thomas McHenry, the grandfather of Cyrus, came with his wife and family to Columbia 
County, in 1791, and located in Fishingcreek Township. The children of Edward and 
Sarah McHenry were Keturah, Samuel. Cyrus, Thomas, Mary, all of whom lived to be 
grown and all reared families, except Keturah. Cyrus was reared to farming and learned 
surveying from his father, with whom he remained until the latter's death. He resided 
on the old homestead until 1886, when he moved to town and has since lived retired. 
June 9, 1864, he married Mrs. Rebecca Hagenbach, who was born in Centre Township 
March 13, 1833, a daughter of Henry and Susanna DeLong. The former was born in 
Berks and the latter in this county. Mr. and Mrs. McHenry have three children : Edward, 
Sadie and Emma ; Edward resides on the homestead ; Sadie is a dressmaker in Blooms- 
burg, and Emma at home. Mr. McHenry still attends to special calls for surveying. 
Politically he is a Democrat. Mrs. McHenry's father was a son of Andrew DeLong, 
whose wife was a Metzler. Her mother was a daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth (Yox- 
stimer) Seibert. Henry DeLong and wife had four children that grew to maturity: Peter, 
Rebecca, John and Elizabeth. 

O. A. MEGARGELL, M. D., P. O. Orangeville, was born May 18, 1836, in Wayne 
County, Penn., a son of Joseph Megargell, who was born near Philadelphia and who 
married Abigail Hewett. Our subject's paternal grandfather was also named Joseph and 
was twelve years old when the British occupied Philadelphia. His maternal great-great- 
grandfather was Capt. Dethic Hewett, who was killed at the massacre of Wyoming. The 
Megargells are of Scotch origin; the Hewetts of Welsh. John Hewett, son of Capt. 
Dethic, was the first sheriff of Luzerne County, Penn. Joseph Megargell, father of our 
subject, was born June 20, 1803, and died in 1876. His wife was born July 7, 1817. They 
became the parents of seven children: Orville Albinas (subject), Thomas J., Martha R., 
Alice L., Mary E. and Joseph H. living, and Dethic, now deceased, who served in the Sixth 



526 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Pennsylvania Reserves, Company A, in the civil war. Thomas J. is a merchant in Scran- 
ton, Penn., and Joseph is a merchant at Big Rapids, Mich.; Martha is in the millinery 
business at the same place, and Alice is the wife of Dr. Vance, of Rohrsburg, this county. 
The others are deceased. Orville A. was reared on the farm and came to this place with 
his uncle, John Megargell, with whom he remained until he was fifteen years of age. He 
then worked at home and at the age of seventeen began teaching school. He then took 
up the study of medicine in the spring of 1856 and continued in his studies until graduat- 
ing in June, 1859, at Castleton, Vt. In July of that year he began practice in Luzerne 
County where he remained 'until May, 1861; then he came to Orangeville. and there he 
has since remained. November 3, 1859, he married Rebecca, daughter of Samuel and 
Phoebe Achenbach. Dr. and Mrs. Megargell have three children: Lillie, Fannie and 
George Mc. The Doctor is a member of the A. F. & A. M. of theR. A. C., and of the 
Commandery at Bloomsburg. 

JOHN NEYHARD, farmer, P. O. Orangeville, was born in September, 1817, in what is 
now Centre Township. His father, Christian Neyhard, was born near AUentown, Lehigh 
Co., Penn., and removed to this county about 1800. He settled in Centre Township and 
engaged in farming. His wife, Elizabeth Seager, bore him eight children: Solomon, 
Lydia, Mary, Freney, David, Daniel, Hannah and John; all of whom settled in this 
county except Lydia, who moved west. John was reared on a farm and has been twice 
married, first to Sally Ann Evans, a daughter of Benjamin Evans and a native of this 
county. Mrs. Neyhard died in September, 1843, leaving one child, Lavina, wife of O. B. 
Herring. His second wife was Esther V. Fleckenstine, a daughter of Jacob and Margaret 
Fleckenstine. To this union nine children were born: Francis, who was accidentally 
killed on the railroad, December 33, 1867; Margaret, Anna E., Mary, Isaiah, Amos, Will- 
iam H., Aggie and Esther C. Mr. Neyhard on coming to this county purchased eighty- 
five acres, whicli was a part of the Kline tract. He and Mrs. Neyhard are members of 
the Reformed Church; politically he is a Democrat. 

AARON R. PATTERSON, farmer, P. O. Orangeville, a member of one of the represen- 
tative families of this county, was born April 6, 1833, in Greenwood Township. His grand- 
father, Archibald Patterson, was a native of Scotland, and on immigrating to tiiis country 
located in what is now Greenwood Township. He was twice married, but his first wife, 
Effle, from whom is descended this branch of the family, bore him the following children: 
Archibald, John, Aaron, William, George, ESie, Jane and Ann, all of whom reared 
families and settled in the county, except Jane who moved to Pottsville. William was 
the father of Aaron R., and was born in Greenwood Township, January 17, 1803. Feb- 
ruary 9, 1826, he married Charity Ann Kline, who was born October 9, 1804. William 
died July 36, 1853, and his widow August 4, 1883. Eight children were born to them, as 
follows: Abram W., Aaron R., Matthew B., Daniel M., Mary E., Isaac E., Sarah L. and 
Effie E. Aaron R. removed to this township with his parents during his minority, and 
for several years carried on milling for his father at Stillwater, Fishingcreek Township. 
After his father's death he returned to this county, and later, December 31, 1859, married 
Sarah E. Kline, who was born in Greenwood Township, January 29, 1831. Five children 
were born to Mr. and Mrs. Patterson: Anna A., William H., Frank W., Charles E. and 
Lizzie. Mr. Patterson has resided on his present farm since 1857, engaged in agricultural 
pursuits, and is a ready worker in wood and iron. He and Mrs. Patterson are members 
of the Presbyterian Church at Orangeville. 

M. B. PATTERSON, farmer, P. O. Orangeville, is the third son of William and 
Charity Ann Patterson, and was born June 4, 1835. He was reared in Orange Township 
to agricultural pursuits. December 37, 1860, he married Nancy C. Youngs, a native of 
the Dominion of Canada, and a daughter of Abraham and Susanna (Horton) Youngs. 
Mr. Patterson is engaged in farming, and having no children of his own has adopted two. 
He is public spirited and identified with the Presbyterian Church at Orangeville, in which 
he is a ruling elder and recording secreta^J^ 

GEORGE N. SMITH, tinner, Orangeville, was born in Luzerne County, Penn., in 
1849, the third son of Conrad and Julia Ann (Watman) Smith. Conrad was a native of 
Bavaria, a blacksmith by trade, and emigrating to this country settled in Luzerne County, 
Penn., where he remained until 1868. He then came to this county and located in Orange- 
ville, where he died in 1873; his widow in 1874. They had a family of four sons and four 
daughters. George N. began to learn the trade of tinner with his brother, and worked for the 
latter in this place for three years. In 1873 he bought his brother's interest, and has since 
continued in the business himself. He married, September 24, 1873, Blanche P., daughter 
of Jonas Kisner. Mr. Smith is a member of the I. O. O. F., No. 364, Mountain Lodge; is 
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has been identified witli the busi- 
ness interests of Orangeville for eighteen years, and makes a specialty of iron tin roofing 
and spouting. 

DR. A. 'P. STODDART. Orangeville, was born in the city of Philadelphia, June 25, 
1857, a son of John A. and Mary C. (Kennard) Stoddart, the latter a daughter of Rev. 
Joseph H. Kennard, a prominent divine of that place. Our subject was educated in Phil- 
adelphia, commenced reading medicine in 1877, and graduated from the Hahnemann 



PINE TOWNSHIP. 52T 

Medical College March 10, 1880. He then beffan the practice of his profession in a hos- 
pital of his native city, where he remained a short time. He then moved to this county 
and engaged in the practice of his profession in this township, where he has an excellent 

Eatronage. He married in April, 1883, Lizzie B., daughter of Joseph Lilley, of Light 
treet. Dr. Stoddart is a zealous member of the Masonic order. Oriental Lodge, No. 460, 
A. Y. M. 

MILES A. WILLIAMS, tanner, Orangeville, was born March 15, 1827, a son of Dan- 
iel R. and Elizabeth (Corastock) Williams. The father was a native of Sussex County, N. 
J., and a son of John Williams, of Scotch-Irish descent. His mother was a daughter of 
Zebulon Comstock, who was saved in the Wyoming massacre on account of his plump 
appearance as an infant. Miles A. was reared in Luzerne County up to 1846, when, in 
April of that year, he came to this county. In 1843 he commenced learning the tanner's 
trade in Luzerne County, and later commenced business for himself in this township and 
county, in partnership with Samuel Achenbach, which continuedjuntil 1853. He then super- 
intended one year for Alexander Creveling, in Centre Township, this county. He then 
returned to ()rangeville and worked one year for Isaiah Conner, when he erected a build- 
ing and engaged in business for himseif. His business has constantly increased since 
then, and he now tans about 700 or 800 hides a year. In November, 1853, he married 
Lavonia, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Green) Covanhoven, They have four children: 
Laura, Warren W., James L. and Edith. Harvey 8. died May 22, 1885, aged eighteen 
years, six months and six days; Elizabeth died at the age of three years, and John H. died 
in infancy. Mrs. Williams died July 25, 1882, a Christian woman. Mr. Williams is a 
member of the F. & A. M. and has been the second master in Oriental Lodge, No. 460. 
Since 1856 he has been identified with the Republican party. 



CHAPTER XLII. 
PINE TOWNSHIP. 



EMANUEL BOGART, farmer, P. O. Pine Summit, was born in Catawissa, this 
county. May 18, 1828, son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Moyer) Bogart. The paternal grand- 
father of Emanuel, Nicholas Bogart, was of German descent, .served as|a captain in the war 
of the Revolution, was taken prisoner, imprisoned in a church, and died while a prisoner. 
To Jacob and Elizabeth Bogart eight children were born: Maria, Joshua, Emanuel, 
Israel, Noah, Harriet, Sarah and Margaret. Our subject when a boy came to Lycoming, 
here grew to manhood and for several years followed lumbering; also operated a saw- 
mill. In 1854 he went to Canada, returned the same year, still followed the lumbering 
business; but finally, in 1858, purchased the farm he now owns, of 100 acres, since adding 
until he has 136 acres. He was married in October, 1856, to Maria, daughter of Philip and 
Sarah (Albertson) Shoemaker. They have seven children: James B., David C, Cora J.,. 
Sarah E., Susan J., Clara B. and Eva Lena. They attend the services of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. Mr. Bogart was member of Company A, Ninetieth New York Vol- 
unteer Regiment. First Brigade, First Division Nineteenth Army Corps, in the late war. 
Held the oflSce of school director for twenty-one years; also several years as supervisor. 
In politics he is a Democrat. 

JACOB CHRISTIAN, farmer and miller, P. O. Derrs, was born in Madison Town- 
ship, .June 12, 1825, the eldest son of John and Frances (Welliver) Christian. Jacob re- 
moved with his parents to this township when a boy, was reared to manhood on the farm, 
succeeded his father at his death, and has since resided here. He was married in September, 
1848, to Martha, daughter of Chester and Rachel (Mellick) Smith; she died September 1, 1884. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Christian were born nine children: Theodore S., John C, Thomas H.. J. 
Judson, Mary E., William B., Howard S., Justin L. and R. Euphemia. Mr. Christian has 
been for several years engaged in lumbering, operates a saw-mill, and has a chopping-mill 
in connection with the saw-mill. Of late years he has given more attention to farming. He 
and nearly all the family are members of the Baptist Church; he has been trustee and 
also held other ofiices; has served the township in official relations. 

SAMUEL J. ECKMAN, farmer, P. O. Sereno, was born August 25, 1889, in Lancaster 
County, Penn., only son of Samuel and Barbara (Krug) Eckman. When twelve years 
of age, Samuel removed with his parents to Sullivan County, and was here reared to ma- 
turity and farming pursuits. Beginning at the age of eighteen he worked for two years 
in the lumber woods, and at the age of twenty he went to leai-n the carpenter's trade, 



S28 BIOGBAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

which he followed tor twenty years. He came to this township and purchased the farm 
he now owns, having over 180 acres, which he has largely improved and brought to a 
good state of cultivation. He was married December 26, 1861, to Hannah Fought, daugh- 
ter of Jacob and Julia (Kricher)"Fought. To this union have been born eleven children: 
Charles, Julia, Mary, Jennie, Willie, Bessie, John, May, Pearl, Blanch and Ella, who died 
in her fourth year. In connection with his farming Mr. Eckman carries on a shingle- 
mill and manufactures birch oil. He and Mrs. Eckman are members of the Lutheran 
Church, with which he has been officially connected. Politically he is a Republican, and 
is secretary of the school board. 

EZRA EVES, farmer, P. O. Sereno, was born in Madison Township, March 28, 1838. 
«on of Parvin and Annie Eves. He was reared in Madison Township until he attained 
his majority, and then removed to Greenwood Township. When he was twenty-two 
years of age he was married to Phoebe, daughter of James and Mary A. (Rhodes) Mather. 
Two years later he removed to Lycoming County, remained here three years, and engaged 
in farming. In 1868 he returned to Greenwood Township, and located on the Patton 
farm where he lived five years. Then he moved to Pine Township, and for seven years 
lived on the Ashton farm, now owned by William Masters. In the spring of 1883 he 
located on the farm he now owns at Sereno, where he is engaged in farming. He has 
three children: Chalkley G., Lena and Louella. The eldest child, Willie A., died at the 
age of six and one-half years; the last four died in infancy. 

THOMAS EVES (deceased) was born in Millvilie, February 1, 1804, and Novem- 
ber 18, 1838, he married Esther, eldest of a family of fourteen children born to Joseph and 
Mary (Kline) Lemon. In the spring of 1842 Thomas and his wife came to Pine Township 
and purchased of James Leggott the farm now owned by J. L., which was settled and im- 
proved by Philip Yeager. Here he engaged in farming, and for several years operated a 
«aw-mill and manufactured lumber. Here he died March 29, 1864; his widow, Esther, 
yet survives him. Three children were born to them: Simon (died July 17, 1861, aged 
twenty-one years, nine months, and fifteen days); Mary A., married to John V. Welliver; 
and Joseph L. Joseph L. was born October 8, 1853, and with the exception of two years, 
has always lived on the farm. He married Sarah, daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Ap- 
plegate) Biddler. Mr. and Mrs. Eves have one son, Henry W., born August 27, 188.5. 

JOHN F. FOWLER, P. O. Pine Summit. The Fowler family are of English ex- 
traction, and were among the early settlers of Columbia County. Benjamin Fowler, the 
grandfather of John F., was a British subject, and when a boy came as a servant to one 
of the officers who came to America to fight thejcolonists. After the war was over he 
learned the blacksmith trade and settled above Espy, in this county, followed his trade 
and farmed also. He married Deborah, a daughter of David Fowler. To Benjamin and 
Deborah were born the following named children: James, David, Daniel, Benjamin, 
William, Gilbert, Sarah and Nancy. David, the father of John F., died in 1876, aged 
ninety-one years. He reared four children: Catharine, Sarah, John F. and Sophia. 
John F. was born in Centre Township, May 2, 1813, was reared to farming, and operated 
his father's farm until 1842, when he came to this township and purchased the farm now 
owned bj^ N. L. Moser. He remained here until 1866, when he purchased the farm he 
now owns. May 29, 1836, Mr. Fowler married Julia A., daughter of John Fortner; she 
died January 29, 1866, leaving seven children: Dorcas F., Mary E., Alvin C, Sarah E., 
David, Jeremiah R. and William M. Mr. Fowler married for his second wife, January 
10. 1867, Hannah M., daughter of Joseph and Mary (Sparks) Houghton. By this last 
union he has two children^ Herve}^ O. and Mattie M. 

J. R. FOWLER, farmer and distiller, was born in this township March 17, 1854, the 
sixth child and the third son of John F. and Julia (Fortner) Fowler. He was reared 
on the homestead farm, and remained under the parental roof until twelve years of age; 
his mother dying when he was young, he left home and learned the puddler's trade at 
Danville, and worked in the rolling-mill for several years. In 1875 he engaged in the 
lime business in Muncy Township, Lycoming County, remained here until the spring of 
1880, when he came to this township but continued the lime business until 1881. In 1880 
he started the distillery here at Pine Summit, which he conducted until 1883, when he 
located on the farm he now owns, which w-as purchased of Fowler Lyons, consisting of 
^50 acres and has since been engaged in farming. The place has been much impi'oved by 
him, a new barn being built, one of the best in the township. He married Eliza Lathlean, 
born in Sourleo, England, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Dunn) Lathlean. Mr. and Mrs. 
Fowler have one child, Lillie Dunn. Mr. Fowler is a member of the I. O. O. F., lola 
Lodge No. 711, and is secretary of the same. 

JOHN GORDNER, retired farmer, P. O. Unityville, was born September 27, 1809, 
in Moreland Township, Lycoming County,son of Daniel and Catharine (Neufer) Gordner. 
The parental grandfather of John was Jacob Gordner, who came from Berks County 
soon after the Indian war, and located in Muncy Creek Township, Lycoming County, 
was shot and scalped by one of the Indians remaining after the war. He had five sons 
— Peter, John, Philip, Daniel, George — and several daughters. Daniel, the father of 
our subject, was five years of age when his father was killed by the Indians. He grew 



PINE TOWNSHIP. 529 

to manhood on his father's farm and remained here for many years. He was twice mar- 
ried; first to Sarah Hill, bv whom he had six children. His second wife, Catharine 
Neufer, the mother of our subject, bore him seven children : John, Hannah, Katie, 
Henry, Jonathan, William and Esther. John, our subject, remained on the home farm 
until his marriage in the fall of 1833, when he came to his present residence; he first 
bought 200 acres which was covered with timber, afterward added 200, and kept on until 
he had 450 acres. The first year he lived here he brought his bread and meat from 
Lewisburg, and his feed from Limestoneville; he soon cleared land and had grain to sell. 
His wife, Catharine, bore him nine children: Hannah (wife of Jacob Chamberlain); Sarah 
<wife of James Budman); Henry; Susan (Mrs. John Lore); Jacob (resides in Lycoming 
County); Daniel; Thomas; John; Margaret (wife of Britlon Hartley, of Milton). Mrs. 
<Jordner died of pneumonia, after four days' illness, April 13, 1884, and had been a mem- 
ber of the Lutheran Church about thirty-five years. Mr. Gordner has been a member of 
the same church over forty years, and has been deacon, elder, trustee, etc., since his first 
membership. All of the children are also members of the church. He has been success- 
ful in life, and has started all of his children in business; has been supervisor, overseer of 
the poor, school director, etc. In politics he is a Democrat. 

THOMAS B. GORDNER, farmer, P. O. Unityville, was born March 6, 1848, on the 
homestead adjoining his own farm. He was the fourth son and seventh child born to John 
and Catharine (Stackhouse) Gordner. Our subject remained on the home farm until he 
became of age, then worked for his brothers about two years. His father then gave him 
ninety acres of land, all of which was covered with timber, which he began clearing. 
When he was twenty-four years of age he married Hannah C, daughter of John and 
Elizabeth (Poust) Berger; they lived one year with his father; in the meantime he built 
his house, and September 11, 1873, he occupied it, and has since resided there. He now 
-owns 322 acres, having added 232 by his owns exertions. Mr. and Mrs. Gordner have four 
children: John Oliver, Harriet Elizabeth, Charles Henry and Daniel Ezra. They are 
members of the Lutheran Church, he having been deacon of the same for several years; 
lie is also a member of the P. of H. 

WILLLVM GREENLY, superintendent and farmer, P. O. Serene, was born in this 
township in 1839, a son of Richard (born in 1812) and Sarah (Chamberlin) (born in 1819) 
■Greenly. Both parents are still living. William remained at home until twenty-two years 
of age, and was reared to farm pursuits. About 1873 he came to Sereno and learned the 
tanner's trade with Edward Richie; since 1881 he has been superintendent of the tannery, 
having the entire management. He was married in 1872, to Martha, daughter of George 
Welliver. Mr. and Mrs. Greenly have three children: Harrison W., Cora and Clara. He 
purchased a farm of 100 acres in 1886, and is now carrying on the same. In politics he is 
a Republican. > 

BENJAMIN H. LEE, farmer, P. O. Millviile, was born in Scott Township, Columbia 
County, in 1838. He removed to Centre Township when a lad, and here grew to manhood, 
reared to farming pursuits. He is the eldest son of Charles and Mary (Zeigler) Lee, to 
whom were born a family of twelve children, all of whom lived to be grown. Our sub- 
ject was married December 2.5, 1862, to Sarah J., daughter of Samuel and Margaret (Gulp) 
Shaffer. After Mr. Lee was married he farmed the homestead one year; then moved to 
Orange Township and farmed one year; then farmed one year below Light Street, three 
years" in Briarcreek, then returned to Orange Township, and here farmed eight years; 
came to Pine Township and farmed the Shadrach Eves farm three years, and in Novem- 
ber, 1881, he moved to his present place consisting of 112 acres, having built the house 
and barn previous to his coming. Mr. Lee has greatly improved the farm, and now has 
a very desirable location, his residence overlooking the town of Millviile and the valley 
below. To Mr. and Mrs. Lee have been born seven children: Samuel, Margaret, Charles, 
Fannie, John, Minta and Harry. In politics Mr. Lee is a Democrat. 

BENJAMIN LORE, farmer and lumberer, P. O. lola, was born in Jordan Town- 
ship, Lycoming County, November 19, 1840, the fourth son and fifth child born to John 
and Mary Ann (Wilson) Lore. The paternal grandfather of our subject was William 
Lore, who came from New Jersey, located in Lj'coming at an early day. and reared a 
family of seven children, of whom John was the father of our subject. To John and 
his wife were born seven children: George P., John, Mary, William, Benjamin, Sarah and 
Thomas. Our subject was left fatherless at the age of six years. His mother died in 
1857. When twenty years of age he commenced learning the carpenter trade with his 
brother John, and this he followed for about seven years. He came to this county in 
1861. He married Sarah J., only daughter of Catharine Chamberlain. He made his first 
purchase in 1867, and located on his present farm in 1882. He has six children: Emma 
E., wife of John F. Edgar; Henry H., Mary C, George B., Myra B. and Franklin B. 
Since the spring of 1886 he has been a partner with his brother John in the California mill 
property. Thev have a tract of about 400 acres, and manufacture their own lumber. 

THE LYONS FAMILY came originally from New Jersey. The name of the pioneer 
was John Lyons, who came to this county about 1803. To John Lj'^ons and his wife (who 
was a Wiley) were born Joseph, Mary, James, Robert, Edward, Eliza, Solomon, Paul, 



530 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Hannah, Esther and Isaac, all of whom reared families excepting Edward. The father 
died when these children were young, and his wife married Peter Moury and removed ta 
New York with a portion of the children. The only ones that settled in this locality were 
Solomon and Joseph. Joseph was born December 15, 1795, in Sussex County, N. J., and 
was brought by his parents to this county when an infant, and for several years lived at 
Millville; then came to this township and here grew to manhood, and spent his entire life 
in this neighborhood. For seventy years he was an efficient member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and was the principal founder of the church in his neighborhood. He 
was drafted in the war of 1812, but his services were never required. He accumulated 
quite a large property, but backing his immediate friends caused his estates to become 
greatly embarrassed before his death. His wife's maiden name was Paugh, and to them 
were born six sons: Robert J., Wesley, Isaac P., Ezra S., Joseph B. and Richard W. 
Joseph Lyons died September 15, 1886, after two days' illness, being ninety one years old;, 
his wife died at the advanced age of eighty-five years. Richard Watson, the youngest 
son, was born in 1832, and has always lived in this township. He clerked in a store some 
time, then engaged in farming and lumbering for several years. In 1866 he began mer- 
chandising at Pine Summit, and has since continued. He is also engaged in farming, and 
for some years carried on huckstering. He has been twice married, first to Phoebe 
Houghton; she died December 23, 1875. To them were born four children, three living: 
William, Park and Sallie. His second wife was Susanna, daughter of James and Margaret 
Fannsworth. He was drafted three times, and volunteered twice, but on account of legal 
technicalities was released on the two first drafts, and when the third draft came he was 
already in the service as a volunteer. He has served as deputy and postmaster (with the 
exception of one year, when he was justice of the peace) since the establishment of the 
office here, and has been township auditor. In politics he is a Republican. 

JAMES MASTERS, farmer, P. O. Sereno, was born September 28, 1812. the 
second son of David Masters born in 1783. near Kennett Square, in Chester County. 
James Masters was the grandfather of our subject, and married Margaret Salkelby whom 
he had five children— three sons and two daughters, viz. : Isaac, Sarah, Martha, David and 
John. All lived to be grown and raised families. Sarah married Samuel Kester— they 
rode to Berks County on horseback to be married by the Friends' ceremony; Martha 
married Andrew Eves, son of John Eves, the pioneer; Isaac married Paul Kester's 
daughter, and subsequently moved to Ohio ; John was a rambler, and never made a per- 
manent settlement ; David married Mary Eves, a granddaughter of the pioneer, and set- 
tled in Madison Township on Spruce Run, adjoining lands owned by the pioneer Eves, and 
the Demotts. (The place is now owned by Conrad Kreamer.) This he settled in 1791, 
there being no improvements on the place. He here made his settlement and lived until 
he died in 1832, aged eighty-four years and some months. He built a saw -mill here, and 
his son David added to this a carding machine, subsequently a clover hulling machine, 
and finally his son Joseph converted the hulling-mill into a chopping-mill. "David was 
eight years of age when he came with his father to that place: there he grew to manhood 
and married Mary Eves, daughter of Joseph, who was a son of John Eves, the pioneer. 
To David and Mary were born George, James, Sarah, Joseph, Margaret, Parvin, Mary, 
Elizabeth, all living to be grown. George married Margaret Mather, settled in Mill- 
ville and had four children : Sarah, David, Mary M. and William. Sarah married Dan- 
iel Rote, and located near Millville ; Joseph married Sarah Edwards, and subsequently 
moved to Muncy, Penn.; Margaret married Benjamin Warner, and located in Muncy 
Valley ; Parvin resided in Philadelphia, was thrice married, rearing children from each 
wife; Mary married George D. Keller, settled near Watson farm, first in Light Street, 
Columbia County, and ran a blacksmith shop in Northumberland County, and afterward 
at Muncyborough; Elizabeth married Morris Ellis, a descendant of William Ellis, one of 
the early settlers of Muncy Valley ; James married January 1, 1835, Abigal, born March 
3, 1812, daughter of Francis and Mary Rote, the latter of whom was a daughter of Daniel 
Welliver, one of the early pioneers of Madison Township. After James was married he 
moved to below Eyer's Grove, and operated the old Dreiblebissmill, owned then by Frick, 
Paxton & McKelvy; this he operated until 1837, when he moved to Millville and took 
charge of the grist and saw mill owned by his father; this mill he conducted until about 
1841, when on account of failing liealth he then rented the mill, and for four years clerked 
for his brother George and his partner, Mather. Then on account of the mill losing trade 
by his absence in 1845, he again took charge, and gave it his personal attention until the 
spring of 1849; then the mill burning down, he quit the milling business and came to 
Sereno in December, 1849, embarked m the mercantile business, and carried this on until 
1857, when he discontinued the store and engaged in farming. He purchased the farm, 
in 1850, in Greenwood Township of, 107 acres, and in 1858 purchased the farm of 228 acres 
in Pine Township, where he now resides, and has since been engaged in farming pursuits, 
having about 240 acres, and has been successful in his business. He has six daughters 
and one son : Mary, Elizabeth, Francis, Catharine, Sarah E., Margaret A. and Susan. 
Mary is the wife of Dr. J. B. Patton ; Elizabeth is the wife of R. L. Rich ; Francis resides 
at home, and married Orpha, daughter of Wilson M. Eves of lola, Penn. (he has two 



PINE TOWNSHIP. 531 

cfhildren, Alfred and Marion) ; Catharine and Margaret are both single ; Susan is the wife 
of John Eves, the wagon manufacturer. 

NATHAN L. MOSER. farmer, P. O. Pine Summit, was born in Amity Township, 
Berks County, September 4, 1833, fourth son of George and Mary (Ludwig) Moser. 
Nathan was brought up on the farm of his father, reared to agricultural pursuits, and 
continued on the homestead several years after he attained his majority, having charge 
of the farm. His father died in March, 1862, and he was one of the executors of the es- 
tate, remained one year after and settled up the estate, then went to Mahanoy City, where 
he was engaged in merchandising about two years, and the business proving unsatisfac- 
tory on account of the stoppage of the coal works, he sold out and came to Columbia 
County and purchased the farm he now owns, consisting of 155 acres, well improved, 
having good farm buildings and pleasantly situated. He was married to Ellen, daugh- 
ter of Joseph Nagle and Sarah (Keifer). Mr. and Mrs. Moser have five sons and three 
daughters: Mahlon K., Wellington, George, Albin, John, Olivia, Anna, Virdilla. Mr. 
Moser is a Republican in politics and a member of the Lutheran Church. 

ROBERT POTTER, farmer, P. O. Sereno, was born in this township, April 19, 
1838. Robert Potter, his father, came from England to this country about the year 1828; 
his wife was Jane Boot, and their family consisted of the following named children: 
Ann, William, Joseph, Thomas, John, Charles, Mary J., Fannie, Henry and Robert. 
Robert was the youngest of the family and remained on the homestead until twenty-five 
years of age, when he came to Sereno and learned the tanner's trade of Samuel Scatter- 
good; was foreman and worked in the tannery for several years. He purchased the farm 
he now owns in 1876, and has since been engaged in farming pursuits, now owning a 
good property, which he has acquired through his diligence and economy. By his first 
wife, Mary E., daughter of John and Nancy (Welliver) Bennett, seven children were 
born: Elizabeth, Marietta, Charles, Susan, Edward, Clyde and Bertha. His present wife 
was Sarah, daughter of Asa and Elizabeth (Falls) Wetheral, and to this union have been 
born three children: Carrie, Frank and Reba. His eldest daughter, Elizabeth, married 
Henry Greenly, of Millville, and Marietta married Benjamin Drake, of Light Street. 
<;!harles removed to California. 

DAVID ROTE, farmer, P. O. Sereno, was born September 13, 1832, in Madison 
Township, eldest son of Daniel and Sarah (Masters) Rote. He resided here until March, 
1886, when he purchased the farm he now owns, known as the John Bruner farm. He 
married Mary, daughter of George Welliver; his wife Elsie was a daughter of Simon and 
Mary (Robbins) Kinney. The Kinneys were from New Jersey, and among the early set- 
tlers in Pine Township. Mr. and Mrs. Rote have two children: Sarah E. and Anna E. 

HIRAM SCHULTZ, farmer, P. O. lola, was born in Greenwood Township, July 25, 
1816, eldest son of John Schultz. The latter was a tanner by trade, which he followed for 
several years. He bought 339 acres and settled on the farm now owned by Ezra Eves, 
near Sereno, and here he died. He reared six children: Hiram. Daniel, Lydia, Melinda, 
Harriet and Zebulon. Hiram was married first November 10, 1837, to Sarah Houghton, 
■daughter of Joseph and Mary (Crysters) Houghton; she died leaving six children, five 
now living: Joseph. Mary J., John, Julia and Sarah E. He next married October 4, 
1851, Harriet, daughter of Benjamin and Rebecca Watts. To this last union the following 
named children were born: Charles W. (in Trenton, N. J.), Clarence W. (residing in this 
township), Samantha (wife of Jeremiah Howard), Woodward, Emma (wife of William 
<3rreenlee, of Millville), Savilla (wife of John W. Cox, of Nebraska), and Lawson. Mr. 
Schultz settled here in 1837, when the land was covered with timber; this he cleared, and 
now has ninety-six acres in all. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Ohurch for fifty years, and has held several ofiicial positions in the same. In politics he 
is a Democrat. 

PHILIP WESLEY SONES, P. O. Sereno, sawyer and foreman of the Benfield Mills, 
was born May 20, 1832, in Moreland Township, Lycoming County, son of Peter and Sa- 
villa ( Lowe ) Sones. The paternal grandfather of P. W. was named Peter, as was also 
his great-grandfather, the latter of whom served through the Revolution arj^ war, and 
lived to the advanced age of ninety-eight years. Phillip W. was reared in Moreland 
Township until ten years of age. when he removed with his parents to Sullivan County; 
he learned the carpenter trade which he followed a few years, and about the year 1853 he 
located in this township, purchasing the farm he now owns, and has since engaged in 
lumbering; for several years he has been foreman and sawyer in the Benfield mills. In 
May, 1853, he married Mary Ann, daughter of Lewis and Catharine ( Hunter) Chamber- 
lain. They have five children: Calvfn L.. Sarah C, Susan E., Lewis E. and Mary E. 
Mr. Sones is a member of the Evangelical Association, also of the lola Lodge, I. O. O. F. ; 
has been school director tor twenty years, and is overseer of the poor. In politics he is a 
Democrat. 

ABRAHAM TITMAN, farmer, P. O. lola, was born in Greenwood Township, March 
1, 1843, the eldest son of Isaac and Beulah ( Kline ) Titman. The grandfather of our sub- 
ject was Abraham Titman, whose wife was Jane Robbins, and to them were born three 
<;hildren. Abraham was among the early settlers and for several years kept a tavern on 



532 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



the place now owned by Humphrey Parker, on the Greenwood road; he was a farmer, also 
operated a saw-mlU and carried on lumbering. Our subject was reared in Greenwood 
Township, where he lived until he located on the farm which he now owns, consisting of 
100 acres; he came here in 1865. He married Emma, daughter of Philip Shoemaker, and 
they have one son, Walterji., born March 26, 1868. They are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church at lola. 

PHINEAS WHITMOYER, farmer, P. O. Pine Summit, was born May 27, 1840, in 
Franklin Township, Lycoming County, son of Eli and Catharine (Reed) Whitmoyer, whose 
offspring were four sons and four daughters, viz. : Euphemia (now Mrs. J. T. Crist); Phin- 
eas; Lydia (Mrs. John Gordner); William, Emanuel, Rebecca, Isabella S. (now Mrs. Syl- 
vester Hill), and Charles W., all of whom save Phineas settled in Lycoming County. 
Phineas left home at the age of twenty-one. and when twenty-five married Maggie, 
daughter of Benjamin and Deborah (Welliver) Wintersteen. After his marriage he lived 
for several years in Lycoming County engaged "in farming, a portion of the time being on 
the homestead farm; subsequently removed to Pine Township and purchased the farm he 
now owns, which formerly belonged to his father-in-law, Mr. Wintersteen. He was for 
several years engaged in lumbering. Mr. and Mrs. Whitmoyer have two children: Ben- 
jamin and Nora. 

R. P. WHITMOYER. farmer, P. O. Pine Summit, was born September 18, 1840, son 
of Simon and Sallie (Kisner) Whitmoyer. The father was a blacksmith and built the first 
shop that was erected in this region. He died here in 1849, aged forty-nine years, three 
months. Hiswidowdiedat Charlevoix, Mich., in 1885, aged seventj'-f our years, four months 
and five days. She was a daughter of Michael Kisner, whose father, John, came from Ger- 
many. Simon was a son of Conrad Whitmoyer who settled here at an early day. Our 
subject's great-grandfather came from Germany, and had two sons; both settled at Ber- 
wick, Penn. Conrad had fifteen children: John, Joseph, Polly,'Caty, Mary, David, Lyda, 
William, Betsy, Michael, Simon, Eli, Adam, Susan Hess, and Ephream. These children 
move d with their parents to Lycoming County at an early day, there settled and reared 
families. R. F. was left fatherless at an early age, but remained with his mother until 
the breaking out of the Rebellion, when he enlisted, September 12, 1861, in Company F, 
One Hundred and Sixth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, served three years, when he 
re-enlisted in the same company, remained until the close of the war, and was discharged 
as first sergeant. He was in about twenty-five general engagements; was captured Janu- 
ary 22, 1864, at Petersburg, and was nearly six months in Andersonville, but was finally 
paroled in November, 1864 All of his brothers, five in number: Leonard, Michael, Clark, 
Galord, Amos and their sister Rebecca were in the war, and his brother-in-law, Thomas, 
was killed in the last battle of Petersburg. Richard returned from the war and bought 
the old homestead, where he has since lived. He was married September 28, 1865, to 
Elizabeth, daughter of Philip and Sallie (Albertson) Shoemaker. Mr. and Mrs. Whit- 
moyer have seven children living: Sallie, Frank G., Orpha R., Lynn S., Clay, Blanche, 
Sylva; Galena died aged eighteen months. He is a member of Bryan Post No. 439, 
located at Unityville, Lycoming Co., Penn., also of the P. of H. In politics he is a 
Republican. 



CHAPTER XLIII. 
ROARINGCREEK TOWNSHIP. 

DANIEL W. RARIG, farmer, P. O. Mill Grove, was born in Roaringcreek Township, 
Columbia Co., Penn., September 1, 1848, a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Whitner) Rarig, 
natives of Pennsylvania and of German descent. His paternal grandfather came from 
Germany and settled in Schuylkill County, where he remained engaged in manufacturing 
shingles and farming until his death. His maternal grandfather came to Columbia County 
in the early part of the present century, and settled in Roaringcreek Township. Cata- 
wissa was then the nearest market, and he used to ride thither on horseback, taking his 
produce with'.him, 'receiving six cents per pound for butter. He owned a large tract of land 
and followedfarming all his life. Our subject's father was born in Schuylkill County. 
After his marriage he moved to Columbia County, and bought a farm in this township, 
where he lived until his death, in June, 1874; his widow died in June* 1886. Our subject 
was reared on a farm and remained at home until he was married, when he worked one 
year at the carpenter's trade. In 1872 he moved to where he now resides and bought 100 
acres, but now owns eighty-nine, having sold off the rest. He married, February 9, 1868, 



SCOTT TOWNSHIP. 533 

Mary E. Hoffman, who has borne him eight children: Henry, Elizabeth, Ulysses, Oscar, 
Emma, John W. S., Effle and Daisy May. Mr. and Mrs. Rarig are members of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church. He has served as county and State tax collector for eight j^ears, 
school director for eight years, and road supervisor. Mr. Rarig is one of the prominent 
men of the county, and hns been in office ever since he has been old enough to vote, wliich 
shows that he gives satisfaction as an office holder. He is the agent of the Buffalo Phos- 
phate Company. 



CHAPTER XLIV. 
SCOTT TOWNSHIP. 



AARON BOONE, P. O. Espy, was born in Columbia County February 14, 1815, a 
son of Benjamin and Margaret (Creveling) Boone. His grandfather, Benjamin Boone, 
was a cousin of the renowned Daniel Boone, of Kentucky, and was the first of the family 
to settle in Columbia County, locating in Centre Township on 300 acres of land. This 
tract was bounded on one side by the Susquehanna River, and extended a mile back. He 
was reared in Berks County, near Reading, and was a prominent man in his day. He 
died at the age of eighty-one years. His son Benjamin, the father of our subject, was a 
farmer, and also carried on an extensive shad fishery, employing seven men from Easter 
until June. He inherited from his father 150 acres of the old homestead, and there died 
in 1851, at the age of sixty-three years. He and his wife are buried in Heidler's church- 
yard. At the age of twenty-three, Aaron Boone married Mary, a daughter of Samuel 
Webb, Sr., whose family was also among the pioneers of this county. Mrs. Boone died 
in 1849, leaving two children, Charles A. and Samuel W., who are still living. Mr. 
Boone's second marriage took place in 1850, with Hannah Wagner, who bore him five 
children: Shepperd R., Olin S., Paul Anthony, Jesse Edmund, and Mary K., all of whom 
are now living. Mr. Boone has been for over fifty years a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and has served for many years both as steward and class-leader. He 
remembers with distinctness the establishment of nearly every Methodist congregation 
in the section extending from Bloomsburg to Berwick, and has donated money for every 
Methodist Church building that has been erected in his lifetime within this vicinity. 
The house that his grandfather lived in, in Centre Township, was built in 1790, and is 
still standing; the barn was erected about the same time, and is also in a good state 
of preservation. He also recollects in 1822-23 when great numbers of the people were 
carried off by typhus fever. The canal at this point was begun in 1827 and finished in 
1831, and our subject's father helped carry the line in surveying the county lines in this 
and other parts of the State. Bear, deer and wild fowl were very numerous at that 
time, and his father used to make a yearly hunt for the larger game, supplying his family 
with venison. The road where Afton now is was then known as " Webb's Lane," and 
was a famous place in early days for horse racing. In the ridge near by are beds of lead 
and zinc which were worked in an early day, some on our subject's land. Mr. Boone 
owns 160 acres north of Afton, also a nne residence and lot at Afton. For many years 
he was engaged in boating on the canal. 

G. W. CREVELING, merchant at Afton, P. O. Espy, was born in the immediate 
neighborhood, December 19, 1833, a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Ruckle) Creveling. 
His father died in September, 1835, while on a trip west, at or in the vicinity of South Bend, 
Ind. The mother died in 1856. G. W. lived on a farm close by Afton until he was about 
eleven years old; from that time in Espy until 1861, receiving his education, in the mean- 
time, in the common schools of that place. At the age of thirteen years he engaged at 
boating as driver on the Pennsylvania Canal, afterward as bowsman, steersman, then 
captain; afterward, in 1853, he bought a half interest in a boat, then the whole of it, and in 
1855 owned two boats and freighted between Pittston, Baltimore, Philadelphia and in- 
termediate points. He continued thus until 1856, when he abandoned active boating, 
though still owning a boat and liiring a man to run it. Before the age of twenty-one he 
had accumulated about $3,000. In the fall after closing boating, in 1856, he began to keep 
books in the office of Fowler & Creveling, with whom he remained four years. In April, 
1857, he became part owner of the Limestone Ridge, near Espy, and has since been interested 
in shipping limestone. March 16, 1858, he married Frances M. Millard, a daughter of 
Josliua K. Millard, -of Espy. In 1861 he personally assumed charge of shipping limestone 
at the Ridge, and in March, 1884, he and his brother, Alfred, established the present store 
at Afton. In 1867 he bought out his brother's interest and contin\ied alone until 1873, 
when he took E. C. Trembly as a partner, and continued until 1877, since which time he 



534 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

has been alone. Mr. Creveling enlisted as an emergency man in 1863 for ninety days, and 
was in the United States service for about sixty days. He is a Republican and has served 
his vicinity in various public offices. Mr. and Mrs. Creveling have two children: Charles 
M., born August ::i4, 1859, an assistant in the store and limestone business, and Edna M., 
born July 5, 1875; another daughter died in 1865, aged three and a half years. Mr. Crevel- 
ing is president of the Espy Lime & Cement Company, and was formerly its secretary and 
treasurer. He owns 110 acres of highly improved land in Centre Township, valued at 
$140 per acre. He was the architect of his elegant residence at Afton. The following are 
the children of Thomas Creveling: Eli, who married Jane Heidley, and died in 1866; Isaac, 
married Rebecca Hogenbuch, and died in 1884; Eliza Ann, married to Henry Trembly, and 
died in 1879; Rebecca, died in infancy; Lavina, married H. L. Gearhart, and died in 1875; 
Thomas, Jr., died unmarried, in 1881; Alfred, married Mary M. Worman, and resides at 
Harrisburg, Penn.; Georgej W., resides at Afton, Penn., and John, died at the age of 
three years. George W. and Alfred are the only survivors. Now at the age of fifty-three 
years G. W. is about making arrangements to get out of active business with a sufficient 
competence, his health not being very good. 

HERMAN G. CREVELING, Esq., Espy, was born May 19, 1826, one and a quarter 
miles north of Espy, and is a son of Andrew and Rebecca (Waters) Creveling. He was 
reared on a farm and educated at Espy. He has been three times married, first, in 1847, to 
Hester Willett, who died, the mother of two children, living: Rebecca R.and Ardelia E. His 
second wife was Louisa M. Kuhn, who left no children. His third marriage was with Mrs. 
Catherine Everts, nee Ruckel, by whom he has one child, Clinton R. During his early 
life Mr. Creveling was a farmer, but in 1856 or 1857 embarked in the mercantile business 
with E. F. Richart, and in 1858 and 1859 carried on the business alone. Subsequently he 
engaged in the limestone business for several years, and for the last twenty-five or twenty- 
six years has conducted a butcher business. In 1865 he was elected a justice of the peace 
and has since served in that office, making twenty-two years of service. The Squire is 
now secretary of the Susquehanna Manufacturing Company at Espy. 

J. HARVEY CREVELING, lumber merchant, P. O. Bloomsburg. was born in Co- 
lumbia County October 17, 1830. The first of his ancestors to settle in this county were 
John Creveling and Charity, his wife, who located in what is now Scott Township. John 
owned a farm just east of Bloomsburg. He was from New Jersey, and he and wife were 
members of the Society of Friends. The famous "Creveling grape," well known 
throughout this country, was propagated by Mrs Creveling, the original vine being still 
in good bearing condition, running over a large pear tree near the residence. Mr. and 
Mrs. John Creveling are both buried in Creveling Cemetery. Their son. Andrew, inher- 
ited the old homestead and married Ann I. Henrie, a daughter of Archibald and Sarah 
Henrie. Andrew was born January 22, 1806. His wife died in 1863, leaving a large 
family, six of whom are now living. He subsequently married Mrs. Hikox, then Mrs. 
Harvey, and was then married to Mrs. Fine, and died September 1, 1886, and is buried 
by the side of his first wife in the Creveling Cemetery. He took an active part in public 
matters; was captain and later major of the militia, and was widely known as an enter- 
prising and substantial citizen. He and his first wife belonged to the Episcopal Church. 
When his father retired from active business, J. Harvey bought the old homestead of 135 
acres for $22,000, including a one-half interest in a timber tract near New Philadelphia of 
125 acres. He married, November 27, 1856, Susan A. Conner, and three boys and five 
girls blessed their union: Andrew, married Annetta Hartman, a daughter of Wellington 
Hartman; Sarah; I. Conner; Anna I.; Mary; Lulu; Susan A., and Harvey Scott, all living 
at home, the married son carrying on the old homestead farm. Mr. Creveling is a member 
of the Presbyterian Church, and has served his township as school director and in other 
local offices. He moved to Bloomsburg in 1886 and has partially retired. He has carried 
on the lumber business for fifteen years on West Creek, in Jackson and Sugarloaf Town- 
ships and .still owns seven-twelfths of 372 acres of timber land there. 

WILLIAM E. DIETTERICH, merchant, Espy, was born in Centre Township, Colum- 
bia Co., Penn., Februaryj28, 1847; a son of John and Susannah (Schug)Dietterich. He was 
reared on a farm, received his early education at the the schools of his vicinity and finished 
his studies at the normal school, taking a course of nine months. In 1871 he began busi- 
ness on his own account at Espy, in partnership with T. W. Hartman and Thomas Thomp- 
son, under the firm name of W. E. Dietterich & Company. They opened an ice-cream 
saloon with a capital of $45. At the end of a month Mr. Hartman withdrew, 
receiving $45 as his share. At the end of two months Mr. Dietterich bought out the re- 
maining partner for $118, and in the fall took his brother in as a partner, added groceries 
to the business, which was conducted under the firm name of W.E. Dietterich & Brother. 
At the end of nine months our subject bought his brother out, in 1873 added a general 
line of goods, and has since conducted a successful business. In 1882 he built his present 
fine store and residence at a cost of upward of $3,000. The business is one of the best 
in Espy, and averages upward of $5,000 per annum. Mr. Dietterich is a Democrat and 
has served his vicinity as school director for several years, and is also a member of the 
Lutheran Church. He married, May 30, 1872, Mary E., a daughter of David and Harriet 



SCOTT TOWNSHIP. 535 

Whitmire, of Espy. Mrs. Diettericli was born October24, 1850; she has borne her husband 
one child, Henry Clay, born July 2, 1881. 

DAVID GEISIINGER, postmaster, Espy, was born in Orange Township, in 1845, to 
Samuel and Elizabeth (Fleckenstine) Geisinger. When David was five years of age his 
father died, and he then went to live with Joseph Pohe, with whom he remained until the, 
age of sixteen, attending the common schools. From that time he made his own way in 
the world, and when nineteen, in 1864, enlisted in Company E, Sixteenth Regiment Penn- 
sylvania Volunteer Cavalry, and served in the Rebellion some ten or eleven months, or 
until the close of the war. He participated in the engagements at Stony Creek and Ame- 
lia Springs, where he was Avounded in the left wrist by a gunshot and in the head by a 
saber cut. He remained disabled for some time and his wounds are often troublesome at 
this date. He was principally engaged in skirmishing and scout duty. Mr. Geisinger 
has been twice married ; first, in 1868, to Elizabeth Bupp, who died the same year, and 
March 9, 1871, he married Mrs. Margaret Kisner, whose maiden name was Creveling,a daugh- 
ter of H. G. and Margaret (Wellett)Creveling. They have had three children : William H., 
born December 4, 1878, died Decembers, 1877; Harold D., born January 14, 1875, and 
Ardelia E., born March 29, 1877. Mr. Geisinger was appointed postmaster at Espy 
July 17, 1886, and is the present incumbent. Mrs. Geisinger is a member of the Lutheran 
Church, which the family attend. By her first husband Mrs. Geisinger had one child, 
Leroy Kisner, born November 5, 1868, died November 8, 1883, at the age of fourteen years. 
Mr. Geisinger is a Democrat, and has held several township offices. 

PROF. FRANCIS HECK, P. O. Light Street, is a native of Monterey, Schuylkill 
Co., Penn., born in 1856, a son of John W. and Rebecca (Hartline) Heck, of that county. 
He received the advantages afforded by the schools of his vicinity until the age of fifteen, 
when he became a student at Freeburg Academy. After teaching one term at the age of 
seventeen, he continued his studies at the Freeburg Academy, preparatory to entering 
college. When nineteen (in 1875), he entered Lafayette College, and was graduated from 
that institution in June, 1879. On leaving college he engaged in teaching at Paxinos. 
Northumberland Co., Penn., as principal of the public schools. He there continued two 
years, and then came to Columbia County, in 1882, where he [taught a select school for 
one year and acted as the principal of Orangeville Academy, for two years, which 
position he resigned in 1885. In the fall of that year he became identified with the 
Democratic ISentinel, having cnarge of the educational columns of that paper. Prof. 
Heck for the past year has taught a select school at Light Street. 

SAMUEL McKAMEY, foreman of the Pennsylvania Canal Company's boat yards, 
Espy, was born in that place, October 16, 1830, a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Caldwell) Mc- 
Kamey. His parents were natives of Ireland, and coming to the United States, .settled 
in Plymouth, Luzerne County. The father was a weaver by trade, and followed it all his 
life. He and wife were Episcopalians; he is buried in the Episcopal graveyard at Blooms- 
burg, and she in Espy Cemetery. At the age of eighteen, Samuel began to learn the car- 
penter's trade, which he followed two years. He then bought a boat and followed boat- 
ing and freighting on the Pennsylvania Canal for eighteen years, over the whole 
length of the Pennsylvania & Erie Canals. In 1863 he enlisted as an emer- 
gency man, in Company I, Thirty-fifth P. V. I., and was in service six or seven weeks. 
After giving up the boating, Mr. McKamey worked at stair building for .several years, and 
in 1873 was employed by the Pennsylvania Canal Company at Espy. In 1883 he was ap- 
pointed foreman of their yards. He is a member of the Methodist Church, and has been 
twice married. His first wife, whom he married in 1856, was Martha B. Hic^s, who died 
in 1875, leaving five children; his second marriage took place in 1876, with Mrs. Samantha 
Morgan. His children are as follows: Jennie, Anna, Sally, Blanche and Susan (the last 
named died at the age of five years). Mr. McKamey's brother, Alexander, served as 
lieutenant in the Mexican war, and was promoted to a captaincy. His uncle, James 
Caldwell, went out as captain of his company and was killed at the battle of the city of 
Mexico. 

BENJAMIN MILLER, retired farmer, P. O. Espy, was born in Scott Township, this 
county, May 24, 1818, son of Philip and Mary (Seidle) Miller. Jacob Miller, grandfather 
of Benjamin, was born in Berks County, Penn., following farming, and lived there until 
his death. His father came from Berks County, and took up algood deal of land there, 
and also lived there the rest of his life. Philip Miller, father of Benjamin, was born and 
reared in Berks County to farm life. He was married in Berks County to Miss Mary 
Seidle, a native of Berks County, of German descent. They came to this county in 1812, 
bringing with them their family, which then consisted of one son and one daughter. 
They located at Espy, where Mr. Miller engaged in inn-keeping, which he abandoned and 
bought a farm in this township, which is now owned by Jesse Hoffman, and there 
located and followed farming until about ten years before his death, when he lived a re- 
tired life. He died January 1, 1872, at the age of eighty years, and is buried at Afton. His 
wife died May 8, 1852, and is buried in the Lutheran Reformed Church Cemetery, Blooms- 
burg. They were the parents of six children, of whom four are living: Benjamin; Mary, 
widow of Andrew Jingles, living in Maine Township, this county; Harriet, wife of Joseph 

39 



536 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Breisch, livinj): in Catawissa Township, this county; Regina, wife of Oscar Wolverton, 
living in Northumberland County, Penn. Benjamin was reared in Columbia County, 
where he has always had his home. He made his residence with his parents until he 
was married, and after that event moved into another house on the same farm, which he 
worked, lie lived there until he bought his present farm of nineteen acres. He was 
married in this county February 19, 1857, to Miss Catherine Ale. They came to this 
county from New Jersey and settled in Greenwood Township, where they resided until 
their death. The father died November 1, 1880, and the mother March 1, of the same year. 
They are buried at Kitchen's Church, Mount Pleasant Township, this county. Mr. and 
Mrs. Miller were the parents of one child, Jeanetta, who died when nine months old. 
They reared an adopted child, Sallie, now the wife of William Hoffman. They are also 
rearing another little adopted girl, named Mamie. Our subject and wife are members of 
the Lutheran Church. He is assistant superintendent of the Methodist Sabbath-school at 
Afton. In politics he is a Democrat. 

JOHN MOUREY, hotel-keeper. Espy, was born April 11, 1841, in what is now Lo- 
cust Township, but what was then a part of Roaringcreek, and was reared to farm life. 
His father died when he (subject) was but sixteen years of age and being the eldest of six 
brothers and one sister, he took charge of the farm and conducted it for his mother for two 
years. He then began to learn the shoemaker's trade with Hamilton Fisher at Slabtown, 
but did not complete the trade. He then was employed by his uncle, George Martz, at 
Light Street for nine months, after which he returned home and attended school. He 
then worked one season for Clint Mendenhall, and attended another term of school. Jan- 
uary 1, 1861, he engaged with Solomon Artley, for one year, for $108. January 2, 1863, he 
married Lavina, Mr. Artley 's daughter, and then took the homestead and worked it for 
two years. From that time he began taking a prominent part in politics and then mov- 
ing to Franklin Township, purchased a lot of thirty-four acres from Mr. Artley, and resided 
there two years. He then sold that place and bought sixty acres of the old homestead of 
his mother, on which he erected a house, barn, etc., and resided seven years. His mother- 
in-law dying, he moved to the Artley homestead (rented his own place and sold it a year 
later) and remained two years, when he purchased the Hipky mill in Roaringcreek, and 
still owns it and is interested in running it. He lived at the mill seven or eight years, and 
in 1883 was elected by a large majority, sheriff of Columbia County; entered the office 
the first Monda}"^ in January, 1883, and served until the first Monday in January, 1886. 
The first of the following April he moved to Espy, where he rents the hotel. He owns 
twenty-eight acres and the mill. Mr. and Mrs. Mourey have had six children, five 
of whom are living: Mary M., wife of J. M. Kunkle; Solomon; Clara, married to A. W. 
Long; Michael; Sarah E. and Lavina May (the latter died at the age of one year and 
three months). Mr. Mourey also owns 130 acres of timber land in Roaringcreek, and some 
ten lots at Montandon. He is engaged in attending the hotel, mill, and other property. 

JOSEPH POHE (deceased) was born in Albany Township, Berks Co., Penn., Sep- 
tember 19, 1790. His parents came to this county when he was but a boy. When he 
arrived at sixteen years of age he was apprenticed to Larry Ruck, in Bloomsburg, to learn 
the shoemaking trade. After finishing his trade he went to Mifflinville, borrowed $10 to 
buy a kit of tools, and traveled about among different families, mending and making 
shoes. Mr. Pohe followed his trade until a few years ago. In 1831 he removed from Mif- 
flinville to Centre Township, where he resided until his death (1880). His $10 borrowed 
capital grew into seven farms, besides over $30,000 which he lost by insolvents. He pre- 
served a hammer handle which had been worn off by the use of his hands as he plied his 
trade. Mr. Pohe's father was a captain in the Revolutionary war. His mother and grand- 
mother were captured by the Indians when the former was but seven weeks old, and 
remained captives for eleven years, until by the aid of a fur trader they made their 
escape. Two children are dead and six survive their aged father, and in this volume ap- 
pears a portrait which was placed there by them. His wife, Mary (Wolf) Pohe, died in 
1835. He was a member of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Pohe's successful life is a good 
illustration of what may be accomplished by a faithful pursuit of one's vocation. He 
passed peacefully away, thus removing another of the old " land marks " from his com- 
munity. 

STEPHEN POHE, farmer, P. O. Espy, was born in the town of Mifflin, September 
6, 1835, a son of Joseph and Mary (Wolf) Pohe, both of Berks County. The father came 
to this county about 1800. He was a shoemaker by trade, but was an extensive land- 
holder in Centre and Mifflin Townships, owning some 1,000 or 1,100 acres. He was born 
in 1790, died in 1880, a member of the Lutheran Church, and is buried in Mifflin grave- 
yard; his wife, who died in 1835, is buried by his side. Stephen learned the shoemaker's 
trade, and at the age of twenty-one took charge of his father's fariii. Later he engaged 
extensively in freighting on the canal, operating some eight or nine boats between all points 
for three years, and for the next nine or ten years carried on the boot and shoe business at 
Mifflin. In 1865 he enlisted in Company A, Seventy-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteer In- 
fantry, and participated in quite a number of skirmishes. He served in the Army of the 
Potomac, and was mustered out in October, 1865. He then began farming 145 acres in 



SCOTT TOWNSHIP. 537 

Centre Township, which he still owns, and continued thus employed until 1886. He has 
always been interested in politics and has served his township in various local offices. In 
1878 he was nominated by the Democratic party for county commissioner, and elected by 
a large majority. In 1884 he was re-elected, and is the present incumbent. He is a man 
of fearless convictions, and works for the best interest of the people. Mr. Pohe married, 
in 1856, Sarah H. Hess, who died in 1866, and five of her children are living: Francis L., 
Joseph R. and Charles L. (twins), and Alice Budora and George McL. ; Sally died at the age 
of one year. Mr. Pohe married, in 1867, Mary A. Hess, who has borne him two children: 
Seymour and Minnie G. 

FREDERICK W. REDEKER, M. D., Espy, is a native of Striiken, Prussia, and was 
born November 13, 1853, to Henry William and Caroline (Reiraer) Redeker. His parents 
came to the United States in 1854 and settled in Philadelphia, where the father is .still 
engaged in the cabinet-making business. Frederick W. was educated in the schools of 
Philadelphia, and at the age of twenty-one years began reading medicine with Dr. G. W. 
Metzger, of Hughesville, Lycoming Co., Penn. In 1875 he became a student at the Jeffer- 
son Medical College at Philadelphia, and graduated in 1878. He then began the practice 
of his profession at Exchange, Montour County, and in 1880 located at Espy, where he 
soon established a successful practice. Dr. Redeker married, in 1874, Louise Pfaff, a 
native of Philadelphia, and four children have blessed their union: Caroline, Lillian, Laura 
and Raymond C. Dr. and Mrs. Redeker are members of the Lutheran Church. 

WILLIAM C. ROBISON, retired farmer. P. O. Espy, was born near his present 
residence January 23, 1836, a son of John and Margaret (Christman) Robison. The former 
was the first of the family to settle in Columbia County, locating in Bloomsburg, where 
he married, and in 1834 located in Espy. He was State supervisor of canals for four 
or five years and owned the farm of 140 acres just north of the present depot at Espy. He 
bought the place about 1834 and resided there the remainder of his life. During his early 
manhood he used to freight goods by team between Bloomsburg and the cities of New 
York and Philadelphia for the McKelvys and others; the trip, driving both ways, occu- 
pied three or four weeks. By trade he was a tanner and operated a tannery near where 
the Catholic Church now stands on Third Street, in Bloomsburg. He was successful in 
acquiring a competence; was an elder of the Presbyterian Church for many years, and 
an honored life member of the Board of Foreign Missions of that .church. He was elected 
and served one term in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and always affiliated 
with the Democratic party. He died in 1871 at the age of eighty years, and his widow 
in January, 1885, aged eighty-four years. Both are buried in Rosemont Cemetery. 
They had a family of ten children, only five of whom are now living: Mary E., Huston, 
William C, Martha (wife of C. A. Moyer), and Lovilla (wife of II. W. Kitchen). The 
old homestead is owned by William C. and Huston. William C. has been twice married; 
first in 1868 to Mary, daughter of Philip Achenbach. She died in the spring of 1869, and 
in June, 1885, he married Laura, daughter of Dr. William Case, of Espy. Mr. Robison 
is a member of the Presbyterian Church; politically a Democrat, and has served his 
vicinity in the school board for several years. He enlisted in 1863 in Company E, One 
Hundred and Thirty-second Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, took part in the battle of 
Antietam and served until the expiration of his term— nine months. He was mustered 
out at Harper's Ferry, Va., and during a part of his service was a corporal. 

ALEM: BRITTON white, merchant. Light Street, is a native of Fishingcreek 
Tp., Columbia County, and was born on the old Buckalew homestead. May 9, 1833, 
to Joseph and Lydia A. (Bobbins) White. His father was born in Light Street, March 25, 
1800, and is a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Britton) White, who settled in this county some 
time previous to 1800. Peter owned a farm near Light Street; was a Presbyterian and 
probably of Scotch-Irish ancestry. He died in 1808 and is buried in the old Lutheran 
graveyard at Bloomsburg; his widow died some twenty years later and is buried by his 
side. Joseph White married Lydia A. Bobbins, who was born December 6, 1813, at a 
place called lola, in Greenwood Township. They were married April 15, 1830. Mrs. 
White was a daughter of John Robbins, a pionerer of Greenwood Township, where he 
was justice of the peace and surveyor for many years. John Robbins was a son of William 
Robbins, a native of New Jersey, and settled in Greenwood at a very early date. His wife 
was Mary Woodard, and both died in 1850, within six weeks of each other and are buried 
in the old Methodist burying-ground,in Greenwood Township. Our subject's parents had 
eight children: Sarah C, Alem B., Melesa J., John A., Mary E., Anna A., Harriet M. and 
Eliza R. The mother of this family died December 7, 1851, and her husband then mar- 
ried Deborah Fowler, December 13, 1853, who bore him two children: Florence P. and 
Joseph E. The father died December 2, 1858, and is buried with his first wife in Green- 
wood Township. His widow lives with her son-in-law, H. N. White, at Afton. Alem 
B. obtained his education at Greenwood Seminary, and, when eighteen, began teaching 
school, which he followed until 1865, mostly in Bloom Academy and at Catawissa, also in 
Greenwood Seminary. In 1865 he became interested in mercantile business as clerk for 
J. J. Brower, Esq., and in 1866 opened a store at Ashland, Schuylkill County. This he 
conducted for two and a half years, and was afterward with Mr. Creary at Light Street, 



538 BIOGBAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

two years. In 1871 he bought the general stock of Peter Ent, and subsequently bought 
the buildings and grounds. Mr. White in earlier life was a Democrat but since the war 
he became identified with the Republican party, but is now a Prohibitionist. He was ap- 
pointed postmaster at Light Street under Gen. Grant's second administration, and resigned 
the office in 1883. having served over eight years. He is a member of thirty-seven years' 
standing of the Methodist Church, and has served as steward and trustee for upward of 
fifteen years. Alem B. White was married March 23, 1869, to Esther E. Geisinger, who 
was born September 24, 1843, a daughter of Samuel Gei.singer of Orange Township. 



CHAPTER XLV. 
SUGARLOAF TOWNSHIP. 

JOSHUA B. DAVIS, farmer. P. O. Cole's Creek, was born in Benton Township, this 
county, September 4, 1842, son of Thomas Davis, who was a son of Reuben Davis, who 
came to Columbia County, Penn., in an early day, locating at Catawissa, thence moved 
to Bloom Township and in 1815 settled on Raven Creek, Benton Township; he took a 
good farm there and cleared it up out of a wilderness, and died there July 3, 1858. His 
wife was Catherine Miller, and they had eight children: John, Mary, Thomas, Catherine, 
Ellen. Sarah, Elizabeth and Anna. Solomon and Richard Davis, brothers of Reuben, 
were also settlers in Columbia County. Our subject lived in Benton Township until his 
mairiage, when he settled on Coles Creek. He married December 31, 1863, Harriet E., 
daughter of Jacob Harrington of Sugarloaf Township, this county, and they had eight 
children: Kate E., wife of Herbert Hess; John W., deceased; Thomas W., Ernest G., 
Walter B., LenaG., Emma B. and Alice P. Mr. Davis owns 250 acres of land in Upper 
Coles Creek, where he settled in 1867 and lumbered until 1880, since which time he has 
farmed almost exclusively, except in the season of manufacturing "oil of birch." In 
politics Mr. Davis is a Democrat. 

THE FRITZ FAMILY. This highly respectable family, so well known, need more 
than a passing mention. "Fritz Hill "is known all over Columbia County. The first 
settler on this historic spot was Philip Fritz, who came from Philadelphia to this county 
in 1795; he settled on the east branch of Fishing Creek, near where Thomas Fritz now 
lives, in the vicinity of Central, and in 1797 he removed to the old homestead at present 
occupied by Jesse Fritz. This land was his wife's heirloom. She was Charlotte Debor- 
gur, also a native of Philadelphia. Henry Deborgur and his wife Elizabeth had six 
children: Mary, Charlotte, Henry, Catherine, Esther and Jacob. The tract of land con- 
tained 400 acres and was divided among the six children, and Philip, of course, controlled 
the property left by his wife. On this farm they reared their children, in the woods, 
away from everything but "real nature," living in obscurity and without any advan- 
tages of schools. The children born to them were Henry H., Charles, Philip, Samuel, 
George, John, Ezekiel, Nancy, Betsey, and Maria; all of whom grew to maturity, each 
having a large family. The eldest of these children, Henry H., was born June 28, 1786, 
and in 1814 was married to Margaret Roberts, who was born October 18. 1794. Both lived 
to a good old age at the old Fritz settlement in what is now Sugarloaf Township. They 
were the parents of the following named children: John, born July 27, 1815; Charlotta, 
November 13, 1816; George, May 1, 1818: Jacob H.. January 30, 1820; Josiah, February 2, 
1822; William, August 30, 1823; Jesse, June 8, 1825; Martha, June 20, 1827; Sarah, May 
21, 1829; Mary A., May 2, 1831; Elizabeth, January 25, 1833; Margaret, May 8, 1835; 
Rachel, April 15, 1839. All of these married except Sarah. George, the third in order of 
age of these thirteen children, was born at Fritz Hill, where he spent his early days. He 
was there mai-ried in November, 1841. to Elsie Hess, who was born November 19, 1820, 
daughter of Henry Hess. In the second year after their marriage they located at their 
present place of residence. They were the parents of the following named children: Eu- 
phemia, born November 9, 1842; Lydia A.. August 20, 1844; William, March 29, 1846; 
Thomas B., October 5. 1849; George W., June 10, 1852; Joe W., October 28, 1854; Susan 
J., August 5, 1857; Alonzo P., July 20, 1860; Welbert E., September 15, 1864. Mr. and 
Mrs. George Fritz are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and he is a local 
preacher of that denomination. He is an active citizen and has been intrusted by his 
fellow citizens with a number of township offices. He is the owner of sixty-seven 
acres of land. Jacob H. is next in order of age to George. He was also born at 
tl^ old homestead on Fritz Hill. On the 15lh of February, 1846, be wfis united iu 



SUGARLOAF TOWNSHIP. 539 

marriage with Amanda Laubach ; they were the parents of the following children: Will- 
iam S., who is a dentist in Michigan; Rosella (Hess), lives in Michigan; LaFayette, who 
died in infancy; Amandus, married and now a resident of Sugarloaf Township; Theo- 
dore, a druggist in Michigan; Alice ( Metzgar) lives at Millville; Erastus, a resident of 
Sugarloaf Township; Bedell, died at the age of sixteen years; J. A., a dentist and resident 
of Michigan; C. E., a photographer in Benton; Perry L., a druggist in Michigan ; Flora A., 
a teacher, and John M., who resides with his parents. Jacob H. Fritz, who spent his 
whole life at farm work and in his early days used a flax broke, swingling knife, thresh- 
ing club and other like primitive farming implements. For fifty-two years he swung the 
grain cradle. In his school days he trudged through snow two and a quarter miles to 
the log structure where school was held. He received little assistance from outside sources 
and had to hoe his own row from boyhood. At the age of twenty-one he received his 
first office and the voters of the township have never suffered him to be without oflBcial 
position since that time, every office in the township being entrusted to him except that 
of supervisor. He has also been coroner of Columbia County, and jury commissioner; 
also lieutenant in the militia. But the discharge of his official duties has not pre- 
vented him from bettering his condition in a financial way, and the poor boy of forty years 
ago is now the possessor of 300 acres of land and a comfortable home. For half a century 
he has been an active member of the Episcopal Church, and for thirty-five years of that 
period has guided the destinies of the church Sunday-school as its superintendent. He 
has also been vestryman, secretary and treasurer of the church, and St. Gabriel's Church 
owes to his efforts much of its present prosperity. The only living children of Philip 
Fritz, Sr., are Samuel and Ezekiel,who resides in Susquehanna County. He was married 
in 1824 to Sarah Spencer, now deceased. They were the parents of nine children: Maria, 
Nancy, Andrew J., Ellas, Jefferson, Aaron R., Hiram, Gearhart and Cyrus. Aaron R., 
the sixth of these children in order of age, was born in Benton Township, this county, 
March 23, 1836. He was married May 29, 1873, to Miss Rebecca A., daughter of Hiram 
Baker, of Jackson Township. Mr. Fritz is a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge, No. 746, at 
Benton. He is the possessor of 100 acres of land. He farms this land, but his principal 
occupation is and has been lumbering. For nearly a century the Fritz family has been 
identified with Columbia County and its history, and some of its members have witnessed 
almost its entire transformation from a primitive wilderness to its present prosperous 
condition. 

JESSE FRITZ, farmer, P. O. Cole's Creek, was born June 8. 1825, and was married 
January 8, 1848, t» Miss Sarah Dills, daughter of George Dills, Sugarloaf Township, this 
county, whose wife was Sophia Hess, and the following named children were born to 
them: John W., November 8, 1848, now in Jackson Township, this county; Andrew L., 
August 30, 1850, an attorney in Bloomsburg, Penn. ; Alvaretta, November 25, 1853 (died 
November 3, 1857); Drusilla, November 2, 1856, wife of Jasper Lewis, on Cole's creek; 
Rachel E., February 5, 1859, wife of William Sutliff, of Luzerne County, Penn., and 
Sheridan S., August 9, 1865. Mrs. Fritz died March 5, 1881, and he then married, June 29, 
1883, Mrs. Rosanna Girton, nee Rosanna Hess. Our subject lives on the old homestead, 
commonly known as "Fritz Hill," which has been his home since he was a boy. He 
owns eighty-nine acres of land. In 1880 Mr. Fritz was chosen justice of the peace, and 
has since served the township in that capacity. In politics he is a Democrat. 

E. S. FRITZ, farmer, P. O. Cole's Creek, was born in Sugarloaf Township, Columbia 
Co., Penn., January 19, 1832, son of Samuel Fritz. He lived with his parents until 1858, 
in which year he was married to Miss C. J., daughter of William Seward. Our subject 
and wife, when first married, lived on Cole's creek, where they owned a farm; then 
moved to the saw-mill owned by Hughes, and there remained four years; then came to 
their present place of 107 acres, .seven miles north of Benton. Mr. and Mrs. Fritz have 
two children: Americas S., a teacher by profession, born March 28, 1860, and Esther A , 
born March 14, 1866. Our subject is a member of Benton Lodge, No. 746, I. O. O. F. He 
is town clerk, which position he has held for years; also overseer of the poor, and for 
six years has been one of the school directors, having served as secretary of the board for 
three years. 

JESSE HARTMAN, farmer, P. O. Cole's Creek, was born March 8, 1821, in Fishing- 
creek Township, this county, son of Frederick H. and Elizabeth (Best) Hartman; former 
was born in Northampton County, Penn., in 1792, latter died when our subject was two 
years old. He is of German descent. Jesse Hartman lived in Fishingcreek Township 
till he was twenty-one years old, then moved to Fairmount Springs, Luzerne County, 
where he followed shoemaking seven years; he then came to this township, settling on the 
farm of 100 acres he now occupies. This he has improved and built on, and now has 
about fifty acres under cultivation. Mr. Hartman married, March 7, 1844, Miss Lydia, 
daughter of George Gearhart of Fairmount Springs, and they have the following chil- 
dren: Minor, a shoemaker in Berwick, this county; Fletcher, at home; Rufus A., in Sugar- 
loaf Township; Franklin P., in Cole's Creek, this county; William, in Sugarloaf Town- 
ship; Alvira, wife of Matthew Phenix, in Cameron County, Penn.; Anna, wife of E. G. 
Ri;ssel, m Clearfiejd County, Penn. ; Adelade aR4 Jeanette, at home, Mr. Hartman, in 



540 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

1862, performed nine months' service in the Union Army. His son, Minor, was also a 
soldier of the late war, having served during the greater part of the struggle. Our sub- 
ject has served the people of the township in the capacity of constable and supervisor 
In politics he is a Democrat. 

RUFUS A. HARTMAN, farmer, P. O. Pairmount Springs, was born August 13, 
1851, a son of Jesse Hartman. He left home when eighteen years old and went up " West 
Branch." working a number of years lumbering. He has worked at Berwick, this county, 
several years in building cars, doing the wood work. He came to his present home in 
1885. Mr. Hartman was married August 23, 1878, to Miss Ida, daughter of EleazerZaner, 
at Colley, Sullivan County, and they have two children: Arvilla G., born December 29, 
1879, and Lewis M., born March 18, 1881. Mr. Hartman has invented a very useful piece 
of machinery, a railway gate, which is being tested at Berwick at present, and the future 
looks bright for the inventor. 

ALVIN A. HARVEY, farmer, P. O. Fairmount Springs, Luzerne County, was born 
at Fairmount Springs, May 15, 1841, son of Alfred H. and Margaret (Steadman) Harvey, 
former of whom was a native of Huntington, Luzerne Co., Penn., born in 1812. Our sub- 
ject married November 4, 1863, Sarah, daughter of Earl Boston of Benton Township, this 
county, and they lived in Fairmount, Luzerne County, two years after their marriage, 
and then they came to Sugarloaf Township and settled near the " Five Points," where 
he now lives. One feature worthy of mention is the good horses owned by our subject. 
His children are Bettie, Nora and Phebe D., the two oldest teachers, and were educated 
in New Columbus, Luzerne Co., Penn. In politics Mr. Harvey is a Republican. 

JACOB W. HERRINGTON (deceased) was born in Rensselaer County, N.Y.,June 10, 
1799 ; son of Jesse Herrington, a native of Massachusetts, and who came to Pine Creek, 
Huntingt(>n Township, Luzerne Co., Penn., in 1821. Our subject, in 1836, came to Upper 
Cole's creek, this township, where he had obtained a tract of 500 acres of land. Carried 
on the lumber business and manufacturing shingles by the "shaving" process until 1841, 
in which year he erected a saw-mill adjoining that of J. B. Davis, to whom he sold his 
mill in ;1866. Mr. Herrington then remained retired the rest of his life, dying October 1, 
1878. In 1827 he married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Baker, who was born at 
Kingston, in the Wyoming Valley, and at one time owned half of the Island there. 
Thomas was present at the massacre of Wyoming, and his father was killed in a battle with 
the Pennamites and Indians at Tillbury Creek, near Plymouth, during the Revolutionary 
war. The Baker family came to [Huntington Township, and here Mrs. Herrington was 
born. She died June 16, 1883, the mother of the following children : Milton, born April 
30, 1828 ; Mary M., May 11, 1830 ; Eltruda, June 28, 1832 ; Newton, August 5, 1834; John, 
January 7, 1837; Amanda R., May 7, 1843, and Harriet E., April 3, 1845. Newton 
was married October 26, 1856, to Miss Melissa Dildine, who was born September 27, 1838, 
and died July 14, 1885, and by her had the following named children: Herbert ; Alice A.; 
Jacob W. died May 15, 1864 ; Frances E.; John E. 

JOSHUA B. HESS, farmer, P. O. Central, was born November 4, 1835, on the farm 
known as the Henry Hess, Sr., place, and is a son of Henry Hess, Sr. April^ 1, 1869, he 
married Eda Amanda, daughter of Abram Sorber, of Union Township, Luzerne Co., Penn., 
and they lived on the old home farm till 1877, when they moved to their present place. 
Mr. Hess has seventy-five acres of the home farm and 125 of timber land." Our sub- 
ject and wife have had the following six children : Jennie B. (deceased), Herdick B., Liz- 
zie O., Ira T., Alie G. and Grover Cleveland. The family are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. For fifteen years Mr. Hess was postmaster at Central. 

HENRY C. HESS, P. O. Central. Charles Hess (deceased) a shoemaker by trade, 
was born in Northampton County, Penn., and came to this county, locating in Bloom 
Township, where he married Nancy Gulp. He resided in the townships of Bloom, Hem- 
lock and Mount Pleasant, and in 1833 moved to Espy, this county, where he died that 
same year, and was buried on the hill at Bloom, in the old cemetery laid out by Mr. 
Eyer. Mr. and Mrs. Hess had a family of eleven children, all living; Rachel, married 
to Fred Fnitchie (they resided in Northampton County, Penn., where she is'still living, 
at the age^of seventy-five); Aaron, also in Northampton Township (was a member of the 
Legislature in 1862 and 1863), married Margaret Rundyo, of Northampton County; Elisha, 
in Ross Township, in Luzerne County, married Mary Scott, now deceased; Joseph, in 
Fishingrreek Township, this county: Elizabeth, in New Jersey; Catherine, wife of 
Abram Hess, in this township; Henry C; Shadrach, residing in Benton Township, this 
county, with his daughter Adelia; Lenah, wife of Abram Nicholas, in Northampton 
County, Penn.; Charles, in Ross Township, Luzerne Co., Penn.; Margaret, wife of 
Mr. Broadt, in Michigan. Henry C. was born May 24, 1821, at Bloomsburg, and lived in 
the neighboihood of Bloom until he was thirteen years old, when became to this town- 
ship, wheie he commented carpentering with Peter Hess, which trade he has since con- 
tinued. He was married February 3, 1842, to Rhoda, daughter of Henry Hess, who gave 
him a lot on which he (Henry C.) built a house. They had one child, Elmira, born 
November 9, 1842, wife of David Kocher, and tLey have seven children: Mary E., 
Lenora M., Wellington E., Isabella, Grace, Malcolm O. and Warren. Mrs. Henry C. 



8UGAKL0AF TOWNSHIP. 541 

Hess died September 10,1885, and is buried at St Gabriel's Church. Mr. Hess has been a 
justice of the peace two terms. In politics he is a Democrat. 

ANDREW LAUBACH, Guava, was born January 10, 1826, in Mount Pleasant 
Township, this county, son of Frederick and Mary (Lurish) Laubach. He was twice mar- 
ried, first time February 22, 1848, to Nancy Britton, of New Columbus, Luzerne Co., 
Penn., by whom he had the following named children: John Britton, born Januarys, 
1849, a dentist in Benton, this county; Mary E., born July 24, 1850, wife of G. L. Hess; 
Almira, born October 2, 1851, wife of Westbrook Howell, in Michigan; Clarence, born 
July 6, 1853, married to Martha Cole, who was born May 3, 1863 (they have the following 
children: Horton, William H., Glenn, Freeze and Emma); and Nancy, born March 10, 
1856. Mrs. Laubach dying March 22, 1856, our subject married for his second wife, Feb- 
ruary 17, 1857, Emeline, daughter of William Stephens, and to this union five children 
were born: Benson, born April 27, 1858, in Lairdsville, Lycoming County, Penn.; Edwin 
F., born December 4, 1859, married to Mary E., daughter of William Belles, of New Co- 
lumbus, Penn. (they have one child, Nora B.); Nora Catherine, born September 9, 1862; 
Sarah Eugenie, born May 12, 1865, died March 1, 1868, and William B., born April 15, 
1870. E. F. Laubach after his marriage lived two years in New Columbus, Penn., and 
was in the hotel business during 1884 and 1885, coming to Guava April 1, 1886, where he 
has since remained. In politics Mr. Laubach is a Democrat. 

JAMES N. PENNINGTON was born in Fairmount Township, Luzerne Co., Penn., 
December 20, 1834. Jesse Pennington, grandfather of James N., came to what is now 
Columbia County from Montgomery County, Penn., in 1801, after his marriage with 
Rebecca Colley, daughter of Jonathan CoUey. Upon their arrival they settled in what is 
now Benton Township, south of Swartwout's mill, and while living at this location their 
son Jonathan, father of James N., was born August 21, 1804. Jonathan was married 
October 9, 1826, to Phoebe H. Tubbs. They were the parents of eight children : Nathan 
T., Jesse R., Sally Ann, James N., Mary E., John C, Alex R. and Lolie B. Of the five 
sons, four served their countrv in the war of the Rebellion; Nathan T. was a volunteer in 
the Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry ; John C. enlisted August 13, 1862, in the One Hun- 
dred and Forty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry ; Alex R. was a volunteer in the 
One Hundred and Ninety-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. James N. was mar- 
ried July 4, 1859. to Miss Eliza, daughter of John Laubach, who bore him the following 
children: Nathan W., Charles B.. Winfred S., Phebe B., Mary C. and John N. Mrs. 
Pennington died in 1871, and in 1874 Mr. Pennington was married to Sarah C., daughter 
of J. C. Hess, and to the latter marriage have been born the following children: Harry E., 
Jared D., Lizzie P., Martha P., Chester A., J. Horton. In 1862 James N. was drafted into 
Company A, One Hundred and Seventy-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. At the 
close of his term of service he returned home, but in 1864 he enlisted in Company H, One 
Hundred and Ninety-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered in at 
Philadelphia in September. He was mustered out June 4, 1865, at Arlington Heights. 
His first battle was at Lewis farm. He was wounded in the left thigh and hand at Five 
Forks. He served in the final campaign of Grant's army until Lee surrendered at Appo- 
mattox. Mr. Pennington is a member of Post No. 283, G. A. R., and of Fairmount Springs 
Grange and P. of H. 

JOHN ROBERTS came tO' Benton Township, this county, from near Norristown, 
Penn., about the same time as the Coles and Hesses, settling near the Ira Thomas mill. 
He owned at one time a tract of 472 acres of land, but sold all except seventy-two acres. 
He died in November, 1834. He had two sons: John and William, and four daughters: 
Margaret, who married Henry J. Fritz; Catharine, who married A. A. Kline; Lillie, who 
married Mathias Rhone, and Nancy, who married George Kline, of Ohio. John went to 
Mercer County, Ohio, thence into the army where he died. William was born near Nor- 
ristown, Penn., and came to the county when very young, and died on his farm February 
25, 1854. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Matthias Rhone, and she died in 1876, the 
mother of the following named children: John, Matthias, George, Hannah, Susanna, 
Wilson W., Samuel, Sarah Jane, David and Lemuel. William Roberts purchased of his 
father about 400 acres of land, and built thereon a log house and a log barn. He cleared 
about 100 acres, and just before his death sold 173 acres. Samuel, his son and the sub- 
ject proper of this sketch, was born November 18, 1834, where he now resides, and has 
always lived there. When a young man he learned the wheelwright trade, and this he 
followed until 1856, when he took up farming, which he has since made his chief occupa- 
tion. In 1881 he commenced the manufacture of lumber, buying the timber, and this he 
still carries on. He bought 116 acres of the old homestead, and another 116 acres, part of 
the latter belonging to the old John Roberts property; also has a half interest in 102 acres 
in Pine Township, this county. He cultivates about 100 acres. On his farm Mr. Roberts 
has one of the best orchards in the county, situated above Orangeville, containing 1,000 
trees, which in 1881 yielded 1,500 bushels of apples, being mostly late or winter apples of 
the best variety. He manufactures the apples into cider, and makes vinegar for the 
markets. Mr. Roberts was married October 15, 1856, to Rebecca, daughter of Philip 
Fritz, and by her he had ten children: Rhoda. wife of A. C. Hess, in Michigan; Charity, 



542 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

wife of Philip Hirleman, in Jackson Township, this county; George "W., who naarried 
Agina Runger; Elizabeth C, wife of Scott Laubachs; Charles W.; William F.; Rosa M.; 
Peter; Laura and Lillie. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts and four of their children are members 
of the Methodist EoiscoDal Church. In politics he is a Democrat. 

JAMES M. SHULTZ, farmer, was born February 26, 1828, in Benton Township, this 
county, son of Samuel and Mary (McCarn) Shultz, latter born in Philadelphia. Daniel 
Shultz, the father of Samuel, came to Greenwood Township, this county, from North- 
umberland County, in 1808. Their children were Mary C. (deceased wife of James Kile). 
Hugh (deceased), Rebecca (widow of Peter Applegate), William (deceased), Eliza (wife of 
Ezra Stephens). The father died in October. 1827, and the mother in May, 1834. Our 
subject was reared in Fairmount Township, Luzerne Co., Penn., till he was seventeen 
years old, when he came to this township and learned the carpenter and millwright trade 
of Peter Hess, for whom he worked in all seven years. After this he followed lumbering 
four years; then again worked at his trade on his own account till 1870, in which year he 
again took up lumbering, which he followed till 1874. since when he has engaged exclu- 
sively in farming. He located on his farm in 1868, having bought 174 acres which 
he still owns. Mr. Shultz m.arried, February 5, 1850, Elizabeth, daughter of George 
Mosteller, and they had eleven children: Charity, wife of William Clinger; Lany 
(deceased); Eliza, wife of Moses Savage; Samuel (deceased); Peter K. ; Mary, wife of A. 
Cole; Richard; Henry Allen (deceased); Eldora; Rena M., and Philip. Mr. Shultz was 
elected supervisor in the spring of 1885, and has served as constable. 

PETER K. SHULTZ, farmer, blacksmith, etc., P. O. Central, was born March 30, 
1856, in this township, near Central. He lived under the paternal roof until 1878, on No- 
vember 17, of which year, he was married to Miss Helen, daughter of Collins Sutliflf, who set- 
tled in this township and died on the property where Conrad Hess lived. When of age 
our subject learned blacksmithing at Cole's Creek with B. F. Peterman, and after finish- 
ing his apprenticeship commenced his trade at Central, where he worked two years (till 
1883), then moved to his present place, having bought seventy-four acres of land, the Sut- 
liff property, at that time all woodland, and here he has now the finest place between Ben- 
ton and the North Mountains, all the improvements having been made by his own exer- 
tions. He has about twenty acres cleared. Here he has also built a shop, in which he 
does blacksmithing and general woodwork repairing. Mr. and Mrs. Shultz have two 
children: Hurley G. and Marvay Dane. The family attend the services of the Methodist 
Protestant Church. In politics Mr. Shultz is a Democrat. 

EZRA STEPHENS, farmer, P. O. Central, was born in Sugarloaf Township, Colum- 
bia Co., Penn., January 31, 1820. His father was a native of Connecticut, and descended 
from ancestors who came over in the Mayflower. The great-grandfather of Ezra in an 
early day moved from Massachusetts to Connecticut, where the grandfather died, and 
from which State the father of Ezra went to the State of New York when nine years of 
age; there he lived until the age of nineteen years, when he settled in Columbia County, 
Penn., where he remained until his death. His birth occurred in 1798. Ezra Stephens 
lives at present in Jackson Township, attending to the saw-mill of A. Stewart, located in 
the northwest corner of the township. His life has been spent in Sugarloaf Township 
(except during his term of service in the army), where he cleared up a large farm in his 
time, and now owns a good property. October 16, 1862, he was drafted in the United 
States service, and served until August 11, 1863, during which time he was at Fortress Mon- 
roe, Newport News, Yorktown and Whitehouse Landing. He was a preacher at one time 
in the Methodist Church, but has to some extent abandoned the calling. Mr. Stephens 
has reared a family of seven boys and two girls. 



PART III. 



History "of Montour County. 




"^"^'^'^.J^. ^y^l a.d'.^^c 



History of Montour County. 



CHAPTER I. 

INDIANS. 



CIVILIZATION struck the native savages of this continent tike a bh"ght. 
The great and populous tribes and their strong bands of waixiors and 
hunters, fiercer than any wild beast and as untamable as the eagle of the 
crags, have faded away, and the remnants of the once powerful and warlike 
nations are now huddled upon reservations, and in stupid squalor are the pau- 
pers of our nation, begging a pitiful crust of bread, or in cold and hunger 
awaiting the allowances doled out by the Government for their support. The 
swiftness with which they are approaching ultimate extinction, the stoicism 
with which they see and feel the inevitable darkness and destiny closing upon 
them and their fate is the most tragical epic in history. Soon their memory 
will be only a fading tradition. To real history they will give no completed 
chapter, because they did nothing and were nothing as factors in the grand 
march of civilizing forces. They gave the world no thought, no invention, no 
idea that will live or that deserves to be classed with the few things born of the 
human brain that live and go on forever. As a race they had no inherent 
powers of self- development or advancement. Like the wild animal they had 
reached the limits of their capacity, and had they been left here undisturbed 
by the white race, they would have gone on indefinitely in the same circle — 
savages breeding savages. Such are nature's resistless laws that the march 
of beneficent civilization is over a great highway paved with the bodies and 
broken bones of laggard nations — nations who pause within the boundary line 
separating the ignorant savage from intelligent progress. Nature tolerates 
none of this sentimental stuff of ' ' Lo, the poor Indian. ' ' It wastes no time in 
futile tears over the suflPerings of ignorance and filth, but ' ' removes ' ' them 
and lets the fittest survive, and to them belong the earth and the good things 
thereof. Ignorance is the worst of deformities, and it is sickness and prema- 
ture death to any people or nation. Knowledge is simply the understanding 
of the physical and mental laws. In the briefest words, this is all there is of 
it. It is not in reading Latin or Greek, no more is it in metaphysical mathe- 
matics — the committing to memory of books or the other thousand and one 
things that were once so eagerly memorized and esteemed the perfect wisdom. 
The one characteristic that will ever redeem the memory of the Indian race 
from contempt is his intense love for his wild liberty and his unconquerable res 
olution never to be enslaved — a menial drawing the wood and receiving the 
blows of the lash from a master's hand. He would sing his death song and 
die like the greatest of stoics, but he would not be yoked. When penned ny 

lA 



4 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

as a criminal, he beat against the iron bars like the caged eagle, and slowly 
perished, bnt died like an Indian brave, and rejoicing that thus he conld escape 
the farther tortures that to him were far beyond death itself. 

The treatment of the red men by the Government has not been wise and 
generally was not just. Often crxielly robbing them — not in the sense we took 
their lands, because their title of priority amounted generally to no more than 
did the possession of the nest of bumble bees, or the migrating birds and buffa- 
loes — but Government traders swindled them of their pelts, furs and game, and 
gave them the worst evils of our civilization — whisky, powder, lying, deceit 
and hypocrisy. Government agents and missionaries preached and enjoined 
upon them our splendid Christian code of morals, and the busy traffickers robbed 
swindled and debauched and murdered them without hindrance or rebuke. 
Our National Indian Bui'eau has, from its foundation, been the failure of the 
age — a failure hon'ibly expensive in our public treasury and the blood and lives 
of our people. Earnest and noble missionaries took their lives in their hands 
and went among them, carrying the Cross of our Lord and Master. Often en- 
tire tribes would in a day, after hearing the first time the story of Calvary and 
the Cross, profess religion, ask to be baptized, and in a body, because for the 
moment Christians. But they were Christians as they understood it, and when 
Joliet had thus converted a tribe, they adopted the flag of the Cross, and with 
^his war banner, a talisman of victory and death to their enemies given to 
them by the great Manitou, they went gladly forth on their holy mission for 
scalps. This was but ignorance, the intense credulity of ignorance trying to 
cleanse the filthy body by putting on clean clothes, that only soiled the clothes 
and did not clean the body at all. It was an attempt to make these people moral 
and Christianize them by commencing the wrong way. The first thing to do 
was to give them comprehension, if possible, some rudiments of true knowledge 
— to see the difference between truth and error, and then better morals would 
of themselves inevitably follow. The Government made even a worse mistake 
in its use- of them — treating with them as independent nations, and at the 
same time as national wards, to be fed, clothed and armed — independent peo- 
ple, public paupers, under distinct rules and laws of government; giving them 
lands and taking them from them at will; penning them up, like the great 
western cattle ranches, and sending them agents and traders to feed them on 
rotten food and cheat them; fill them with the fiery liquid of hell to stupefy 
and drive them to starvation and death. When this long and terrible tragedy 
has been played out to the end, the curtain rang down upon the last sad scene, 
then will' not some philosopher rise up and tell the world how all this mistake 
could have been mostly spared us? On behalf of our people and Government 
the way was plain and simple, when the Anglo-Saxon placed his foot upon 
this continent never to take it up, had taken possession of it by right of dis- 
covery and piu'chase and organized his government, had he simply said to the 
Indian, as to his own people, you are one us — not a voter, but a citizen — and so 
far as liberty and property are concerned, you are under the same laws as the 
white man and none other; you must obey the law and be a good citizen, other- 
wise we will punish you as we do our own. Now live as you please, but you 
must support yom-selves or starve. This rich world is before you, take care 
of yourselves and we will protect you as we protect ourselves, no more and no 
less. This plan, it seems, was too plain and simple for our fathers, or for us 
to adopt. Yet it is among the fundamental principles of all just and wise 
governments. A good government should be neither a hangman nor a great 
boarding-house keeper. It was not made to feed and clothe its people, nor 
anybody; nor is it an institution for the distribution of alms. A man is a dem- 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 9 

agogue of fearful proportions, or one of amazing ignorance, -wbo believes 
that it is the duty of the Government in the abstract, to tax one citizen in order 
to feed and clothe another citizen. Such fallacies are a monster perversion of 
all healthy ideas of the purposes for which governments were institut ed among 
men. Infuse the people generally with siach notions of the powers and duties 
of rulers, and dry rot, decay and dissolution await it. 

In the disposition of this important question it seems that William Pena 
and Lord Baltimore were more than a century in advance of their age. Their 
treatment of the Indian is the fairest page of our two centuries and a half of 
contact with that people. In pity for the ignorance of these children of the 
forest, they leaned to error's side often in their great charity, justice and integ 
rity in all transactions concerning them; paid them their prices for their pos- 
sessions, respected every right of theirs and often, rather than reach a fatal 
disagreement, repaid them for what they had already purchased. If there 
was any advantage, they gave rather than took it; approached them with 
kindness and fatherly love rather than the rifle and the stake. In return for 
all this the people of Pennsylvania should have been spared the tomahawk 
and the murderous incursions upon their scattered and defenseless frontier 
settlements. But they were not. A savage knows little of gratitude. His 
ideas of commerce are simply to sell you anything you want, regardless of 
whether he owns it or not, and he tries to collect again and again every time he 
fancies he needs it, the price of the purchase. 

In 1768, at Fort Stanwix, the Six Nations, in solemn treaty sold to the pro- 
prietaries what was then erected into Northumberland County, now embracing 
eleven rich and populous counties of this portion of the State. The whites 
took peaceable possession of their piirchase, the Indians retiring to the hills, but 
for years many still remained within the boundaries of the "new purchase." A. 
village of Delawares remained where Danville now stands, at the mouth of 
Mahoning Creek. It was a feeble and harmless remnant of a once powerful 
race, that had been conquered and nearly destroyed by their more powerful 
enemies of the five tribes. The terrible ordeal of the war of the Revolution 
was swiftly approaching and the Indians in the hills lent a willing ear to the 
emissaries of Great Britain, and the murderous raids down the beautiful valley 
of the Susquehanna, and the bloody massacre of the Wyoming are to us the sad 
memories of the Indians' treachery and shocking cruelties. In 1776-77 the 
raids and murderous forays of the painted savages caused such alarm and ter- 
ror among the people of this wild region that all who could get away fled for 
their lives to the older settlements or to the stockades and forts nearest at 
hand. A chain of forts had been erected along the lino of our northern bor- 
der. One of these was at Washingtonville and the other was Fort Mead. At 
this long distance of time we~can have but little appreciation of the dread ap- 
prehension that for these long years rested upon these hardy borderers, espe- 
cially the women and children, like a hideous nightmare. The Indians contin- 
ued these depredations and retreats to their mountain fastnesses until the ex- 
pedition of Gen. Sullivan in 1779, which cleared this portion of the borders oT 
both the British and Indians, driving them as far north as Ithaca, Newton anfi 
Painted Post, in the neighborhood of Elmira. Thus, in the year 1780 the set- 
tlers were enabled to return to their homes in Montour County and resume 
their peaceful avocations of subduing the forests and planting their virgit 
fields. 

In May, 1780, Robert Curry and his wife were traveling on horseback on 
their way from Northumberland to the Mahoning settlement, and when near 
midway of the two places they were attacked by the savages. He was killed 



C HISTORY OF MONTOUE COUNTY. 

and scalped, his skull being broken into fragments by blows with the toma- 
hawk. She was taken prisoner. They greatly admired her jet black hair. 
They told her she was ' ' heap pretty squaw, ' ' and promised they would not 
hurt her. When night overtook them and they went into camp, they tied her 
hands and feet with hickory bark. When the savages were sound asleep, she 
cut the bark from her wrists and ankles with a pair of scissors that she had 
concealed, and which the captors had failed to find in the search of her person. 
She then stole away and fled for life into the darkness. She had gone no great 
distance when she was missed, and they commenced a vigorous search with 
lighted torches. She saw she was pursued, and hastily concealed herself in 
the top of a fallen tree. They passed over the trunk of the tree, and as they 
did so kept crying out, "come out squaw, we see you. " But she lay only 
the closer in her hiding-place, satisfied they had not seen her. After a long 
search they abandoned further efforts, and soon broke camp and continued 
their journey. When convinced they were well gone she ventured out and 
returned to the place where was her murdered husband. She had her hus- 
band's mangled body brought to Danville, and buried in the old, first ceme- 
tery, the third interment in this old graveyard. The Indians approached a 
cabin (the exact spot nor the name of the family cannot now be definitely 
known, but it is supposed it was near the north line of Montour County), they 
found there a mother and two daughters. They murdered the mother and 
took the daughters prisoners; they started to attack another settler's house, 
when the eldest girl prisoner told them not to go there as there was a number 
of white men assembled there for mutual defense. The Indians cautiously 
reconnoitered, and found this was true, and they seemed pleased at this cau- 
tion given them, and concluded they would not murder the girl, but promised 
her protection. They were about to murder her young sister, however, who 
they said was too small to make the journey to Canada, where they were 
going. The older sister now begged and entreated to spare her little sis- 
ter, promised that she would carry her in her arms when she could not keep 
up; that she shoiild not delay the party in their travels. The Indians listened 
to her earnest pleadings, and spared the child on condition that she would 
carry her when she could not travel fast enousfh or gave out. One of the men 
cut off a portion of the eldest girl's dress, and made a band to put over her 
shoulders, in which the yoxing one was placed. When they camped that night 
he made her a pair of moccasins, which were of great service in the toilsome 
journey. Many times the party attempted to steal horses on which they could 
expedite their journey, but without success. They were obliged to keep in the 
rear of the settlements on the way, and, as expert thieves as all Indians were, 
they suffered often seriously for food. Amid all these weary marches and 
sufferings the brave girl, without a complaint, bore the weight of her sister, 
and the party finally reached Montreal in safety. Here they remained a year 
when the elder sister was exchanged and returned to her home, but was obliged 
to leave her sister in captivity. One of the Indians claimed they could not 
part with the child, that his squaw had come to love her, and they must keep 
her. This was the last her friends ever heard of her. The returned captive 
afterward married Mr. Davis, of Limestone Township. 

In 1782 three boys were passing along the road or trail, loitering and play- 
ing. When they turned and started home, one of them, named David Carr, 
loitered behind until the other two passed out of view, when he was pounced 
upon by the Indians from their hiding-place in the bushes close by, and carried 
off a captive. He remained a prisoner with the savages several years. 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 7 

MADAME MONTOUR. 

A name destined to forever remain in America, not so much for who she 
was or what she did, bnt because her name has been given to this county, to 
Montour's Ridge, Montoursville, and many other places of historical interest, 
that will keep it ever green and fresh in the minds of all people. Already 
you may ask the average citizen here in Montour County, the young genera- 
tion of course, and they can not tell you whence the name is derived. It is 
but little the historian now can tell you of Madame Montoui'. She was a white 
woman by birth, and an Indian by adoption and choice. What her maiden 
name was is not known. She had the name of Montour from her dusky hus- 
band, Roland Montour. As the name is clearly French, Roland must have 
been given a French name by the French settlers in Canada, and even his 
Indian name, if he had any, is as completely lost as is the Madame' s. Her 
superior intelligence, it seems, manifested itself even to the dull brains of the 
savages, ere she had long made her home among them and become one of 
them, and they yielded much to her superior powers. That she never turned 
renegade to her own race is the one fact that has preserved her gratefid mem- 
ory, and is the sole cause of the name of Montoiu" being now known to man- 
kind at all. It is not known how long Roland lived after their marriage. It 
seems they had four children, one, a daughter, who married an Indian, and at one 
time lived near Shamokin. There were tkree sons. Some chroniclers have tried 
to identify Madame Montour to be that squaw, "the old fuiy Queen Esther," 
but this evidently was incorrect. The Madame was ever friendly to the whites, 
and had it in her power, especially in the meetings of the whites and Indians, 
in forming treaties. The esteem with which in her day she was regarded, 
may be somewhat inferred by the verbal message sent by Gov. Gordon by his 
deputies. He said : ' ' Give kindest regards to Madame Montour and to her 
estimable husband, and speak to them to the same purpose. Count Zinzen- 
dorf speaks in terms of great praise of her in his account of the Indian trou- 
bles in the Wyoming. She took an active part in the treaty of Lancaster in 
July, 1774. This was a very important agreement with the Six Nations, and 
it is proper to concede more to Madame Montour in bringing the Indians to 
agree to it than to any one else. 

She left two sons, one of whom lived to be a much respected man in his 
day, looking much more like a sun-tanned French officer of the army than a 
dirty Indian. 

Where Madame Montour died and where she was buried is not now known, 
and probably never will be ascertained. 



CHAPTER II. 
SOME OF THE EARLY FAMILIES. 

WE are in the dawn of the second century since the first settlers came to 
what is now Montour County. The only record these sturdy people 
had time to make of themselves, for the contemplation and pleasui'e of their pos- 
terity, was almost solely by the works of their hands amid trials and difficulties 
"we can but poorly appreciate now. Without machinery, tools, money or the 



8 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

rudest appliances of civilization, they bad to carve outtheir way against appall- 
ing obstructions. That they did it, not only well, but at all, is one of the mar- 
vels in the history of the human race. The world's " seven wonders " that have 
passed down for the admiration of so many ages are, in the aggregate and ab- 
stract, but childish, simple nothings — floating bubbles — compared to that of 
the continental conquerors — these liberators of the human race, who builded, 
no doubt, wiser than they knew, but yet who built for all ages and for all man- 
kind. The sublime story of these simple, grand men and women has never 
been properly told, is not understood by their descendants of to-day. Their 
memories have been grossly neglected and too often now their wonderful story 
has passed away forever with their decaying bones. 

The few mentioned in this chapter include but a small portion of those 
whose family names should be indelibly stamped upon the pages of the history of 
Montour, yet these few names include about all, in connection with the ac- 
counts of many others in diflFerent parts of this work, of whom it is possible now 
to give any definite and reliable information. 

To write the history of the early days of what now constitutes Montour 
County and to write the history of the Montgomery family would be mostly 
one and the same thing. Gen. Wm. Montgomery wrote this upon the blank 
leaf of an old family Bible: "August 3rd, 1809. — By the goodness of divine 
Providence, I have this day numbered seventy-three years," (not noticing the 
change of style) ' ' and it is but right that I should leave a record of something 
of God's goodness to me in so long a life. I was the third son of Alexander 
and Mary Montgomery, who both died leaving me an orphan of ten or eleven 
years old." 

From Mr. A. F. Russel it is learned that Alexander and Mary Montgomery 
had eight children — seven boys and one girl. William, Daniel and Margaret 
Montgomery emigrated to Northumberland County together from Chester 
County. William was born August 3, 1736, and died in May, 1816, at the 
green old age of eighty years. William had become a prominent man in his 
native county, Chester, before the Revolution. He was a member of the '• As- 
sociators" and a delegate in a convention "of the people of the Province of 
Pennsylvania," assembled in Philadelphia, January 23, 1775. He was again 
a delegate of the convention that assembled in Carpenter's Hall, Philadelphia, 
June, 1776. He was now " Colonel " Montgomery. 

In June, 1776, Col. Montgomery's battalion, the Fourth Chester County 
Militia, 450 strong, was ' ' serving its toiir ' ' in New Jersey, and it is supposed 
was in the battle of Long Island in August, 1776. Then his regiment became 
known as the "Flying Camp." In 1773 he came to Northumberland County, 
and November 26, 1774, is the date of the deed of J. Simpson to W^illiam Mont- 
gomery for ' ' 180 acres of land on Mahoning Creek, north side of the east 
branch of the Susquehanna, called ' ' Karkaase. ' ' This is the land on which 
Danville was originally laid out. He removed his family to this place in 1776 
or early in 1777. Here his youngest son, Alexander, was born October 8. 1777. 

He was a fearless borderer of brawn and brain admirably suited to the tur- 
bulent times that were then upon the country, and that in consequence of In- 
dian raids weighed so heavily upon the outer settlements. In 1779 he was a 
member of the Assembly from Northumberland County. In March, 1780, he 
voted for an act "for the gradvial abolition of slavery." In 1784 he was 
elected by the Assembly a member of Congress; resigned February 7, 1785. 
In 1785 he was appointed president judge of the district composed of Northum- 
berland and Luzerne Counties. In 1787 he was appointed a commissioner to ex- 
ecute the acts of the Assembly entitled "an act for ascertaining and confirming 



1 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 11 

to certain persons called ' Connecticut Claimants ' the lands by them claimed 
in the county of Luzerne, etc." In December, 1787, he was appointed deputy 
surveyor of Northumberland and Luzerne Counties; when he received this 
appointment he resigned his office of president judge of the courts. In 1791 
he was induced to accept a commission of justice of the peace. These last two 
named acts are strong character marks of the man himself. In 1808 he was 
presidential elector, the vote of Northumberland County standing: William 
Montgomery, Republican-Democrat, 2, 793, and for the Federal candidate, 220. 
This is the briefest outline of his military and official life, but his|perma- 
nent greatness and fame should rest chiefly upon his domestic, commercial and 
agricultural labors. To the little colony of settlers he was much like a careful 
and protecting father. He boldly ventured upon any scheme of merchan- 
dising or manufacturing that promised to yield good fruits to the people. 
In an address to his neighbors in the dawn of this century he told them that 
these hills were full of iron, and he believed there were those listening to him 
who would live to see here great iron factories, employing vast numbers of 
laborers and yielding boundless wealth to the country. His prophecy became 
entirely realized. He established here the first saw, grist and woolen-mills, 
the first store, and in fact the first of almost everything that gave such a power- 
ful impulse to the building up of the town of Danville. We cannot better con- 
clude this account than by completing the quotation from Gen. Montgomery's 
own words with which we commenced this sketch: 

"I early married Margaret Nivin; she was all that could be expected in a 
woman ; she was pious, sensible and affectionate ; she lived with me about thirteen 
years and had issue, Mary, who died at twenty-three years of age; Alexander, 
who died in infancy; Margaret, who died in the same year with her sister; 
• William, who is still alive and has a large family, is about forty-seven years 
old; John, who is about two years younger and has also a large family; Daniel, 
who is still two years younger than John and has a family; Alexander, who 
died about one year old. 

' ' About tw^enty-two months after her decease I married Isabella Evans, a 
most distinguished and delightful woman, by whom I had issue, Robert, born 
in April, 1773; Hannah, born the 22d of January, 1775; Alexander, born 
October 8, 1777, and Margaret, born January 8, 1784. The three former 
are still living, but she died soon after her marriage with Thomas Wood- 
side. Their mother was called away fi'om me in August, 1791, and in April, 
1793, I married a worthy and eminent woman ; her maiden name was Boyd, and 
she was the widow of Col. Mathew Boyd, by whom she had issue, John, who 
died with the dysentery, aged about twenty-three years; also, Rebekah, who is 
married to Rev. John B. Patterson, lives happily and is raising a fine family. 
But I have had no issue by my present wife nor has any uneasiness arisen in 
consequence of it. Nor can it be said that any of my children have had step- 
mothers, being always treated with as much tenderness and respect as they 
could have expected from their own mothers. Another instance of my happi- 
ness and for which I ought to be very thankful is the untarnished morality of 
my children, and the peace and harmony that has always subsisted among 
them. 

"Through all this long life I have been abundantly provided for, have en- 
joyed honor enough unsought by any other means than honestly endeavoring to 
do my duty to my God and my country — great health and much comfort, retain- 
ing my natural powers with little diminution until about five or six years past., 
since when I feel sensibly the advances of age. But I hope that goodness and 
mercy which, have followed me through life will not forsake me when gray hair.s 



12 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

appear, but continue to conduct me down to death, after which, through the 
merits of our Lord Jesus Christ alone and the merc}^ of God our Savior, I hope 
to obtain eternal rest and happiness. 

"Wm. Montgomery. 

' ' Note this year the woolen factory at Danville established under my 
care. ' ' 

Gen. Daniel Montgomery was the third son of the above Gen. William 
Montgomery, and was fifteen years old when his father brought his family to Dan- 
ville to reside. When only twenty-five years old Daniel opened, under the guid- 
ance and assistance of his father, the first store in Danville. Soon he was the 
trusted merchant and factor of a wide circle of patrons. This first store build- 
ing was where the Montour House now stands. November 27, 1791, Daniel 
Montgomery married Miss Christiana Strawbridge. The next year he laid out 
the town of Danville — the part east of Mill Street. The new town received its 
baptismal name from abbreviating his Christian name through the partiality of 
his customers. From this time until his death he was the most prominent 
man in this part of the State; elected to the Legislature in 1800, at once tak- 
ing his father' s place as a trusted leader in public enterprises and politics of his 
district. By leading men throughout the State he was recognized as a man of 
great influence in wisely shaping public affairs. During his actual political 
life of many years he carried on his extensive mercantile establishment, pur- 
chased and owned large tracts of land. In 1805 he was lieutenant-colonel in the 
Eighty-first Pennsylvania Militia. He was appointed major-general of the 
Ninth Division, Jiily 27, 1809. He was the chief promoter in the building of 
turnpike roads in this portion of the State. Elected to Congress in 1807 as a 
Democrat, he served out his term ably and acceptably and declined a re-election. 
He worked efficiently for the division of Northumberland County and the erection 
of Columbia and Union Counties ; Danville was made the county seat of Colum- 
bia County and the father and son donated the land for the county 
buildings, and contributed largely in money toward their erection. In 
1823, though strongly urged by prominent men all over the State, he declined 
to stand for the office of governor. In 1828 he was appointed one of the canal 
commissioners, and while in this office the great internal State improvements 
were inaugurated, and among others the North Branch Canal was located and 
well advanced toward completion. He was a large stockholder and a strong 
promoter of the Danville Bridge Company, comj^leting the bridge in 1829. He 
originated the j^roject of the Danville & Pottsville Railroad and was first j^res- 
ident. Amid these varied positions of trust, great labor and responsibility he, 
like his father, was a noted farmer. Gen. Daniel Montgomery died at his 
residence inDanville, Friday, December 30, 1831, aged sixty-six years. The old 
family Bible bears the following record of his children : Margaret, born October 
18, 1792, died April 1, 1845, unmarried; Isabella, born August 1, 1794, died 
October 11, 1813. unmarried; Mary, born July 26, 179(5, died Septem- 
ber 2, 1797 ; Thomas, born July 19, 1798, died February 22, 1800 ; Hannah, 
born October 16, 1800, married to J. C. Boyd, May 1820; William, born January 
11, 1803, died January 23, 1873, aged seventy, bachelor; Polly, born Febru- 
ary 6, 1805, married to Dr. W. H. Magill, May 1, 1828 (thev have two sons 
and three daughters); Christina, born March 1, 1809, died May, 26, 1836, 
unmarried; Daniel Strawbridge, born July 2, 1811, died March 26, 1839. 

Philip Maus was born in Prussia, 1731. In company with his parents he 
came to Philadelphia in 1741, being then ten years old. He attended school 
and soon he could speak and write both English and German fluently. In 1750 
he was apprenticed to the trade of manufacturing stockings, a circumstance 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 13 

that enabled him in the times of the Revolution to greatly aid and benefit the coun- 
try. Within five years after he commenced to learn his trade he established himself 
in the business, conducting it with great success for the next twenty years, when 
the troubles with the mother country suspended operations. His brothers were 
Fredrick, Charles and Mathew. The latter became a prominent surgeon in the 
war and was with Gen. Montgomery in his expedition into Canada, and 
when Montgomery fell before Quebec he aided Col. Burr in carrying 
away his body. Dr. Maus served through the entire war of independence. 

Phillip Maus married Frances Heap, a native of England, a most estimable 
wife, mother and friend. When his busingiss furnished him the capital he in- 
vested it in the purchase of 600 acres of land. The patents from Thomas and 
John Penn are dated April 3, 1769, and are among the earliest in what is now 
Montour County. The proprietaries reserved a perpetual quit rent of two 
pence per acre, which was paid until the commonwealth compensated the Penns 
and became the proprietor of the lands. The tract of land lay in the rich 
and fertile valleys of Valley Township. At the time of the purchase it laid on 
the outer fringe of the settlements, and hence no improvements were made on 
the property until after the Revolution. But as soon as peace and safety per- 
mitted, Mr. Maus brought his family to this place and for more than thirty 
Tears it was his home. The children of this happy union were George, born 
1759; Elizabeth, 1761; Phillip, 1763; Susan, 1765; Samuel, 1767; Lewis 1773; 
Charles, 1775; Joseph, 1777; Jacob, 1781. Duringthe Revolution Mr. Mauswas 
an active and earnest patriot. He formed the intimate acquaintance, which 
•extended to the end of their days, of Benjamin Franklin and Robert Morris. 
Mr. Maus invested very largely of his ample fortune in furnishing clothing to 
tb ^ army, took his pay in continental money, and of this money, when it became 
valueless, he had several thousand dollars on hand. Baskets full of this old 
currency 'may yet be found in the possession of Phillip F. Maus. What would a 
modern army contractor think if he was to hear this story ? 

Here is a letter that now possesses a historical interest: 

Philadelphia, 9 Octo, 1776. 
Mr. Samuel Updegraflf, Sir: — By the bearer, Mr. Joseph Kerr, I send you theballanceof 
the price of 8 doz pairs of buckskin breeches I bought of you, having paid you £9 in ad- 
vance, the ballance being £14;^ ;is. which he will pay you on delivering him the goods. 
If you have any more to dispose of he will contract with you for them, and I shall be glad 
if you and him can agree. Your humble servant, Phillip Maus. 

Leather breeches, moccasins and hunting shirts of the same were the cloth- 
ing of some of the grandfathers of many of our most aristocratic and exclusive 
people of fashion and wealth of the present day. Could the rehabilitated form 
of one of these appear in his buckskin jerkin well soiled in the service of camp 
and field and, unkempt and unwashed, appear in some of our modern parlors 
unannounced, would not the cooing Charles Augustus and Floritina faint dead 
away? 

At the close of the war his fortune was so reduced, as he had expended his 
good gold for materials to manufacture clothing for the army and took his pay 
in what was in the end valueless Continental money, that he turned his atten- 
tion to his land in this county, and came here in 1782. He found the infant 
settlement of Danville, which had then been founded by Daniel Montgomery 
and his brother William, consisting of a few log cabins and half a dozen fami- 
lies, nearly all from the southeastern portion of the State and the western part 
of New 'Jersey. His lands, when he then looked upon them, presented a mass 
of verdure and deep, tangled wild woods, stretching along the northern base 
of Montour' s Ridge, with the Mahoning flowing through them. He brought 



14 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

with him from Philadelphia two carpenters, and his son Phillip and his own 
willing hands were the means at hand to clear away the great forest, and make 
his beautiful farm. He erected the first cabin in Valley Township. Its site 
was on the right bank of the stream nearly half a mile from the present 
stone mill. He contracted the clearing of other parts of his land, but then the 
Indian troubles commenced, and the people in these unprotected parts had to 
flee to Northumberland for safety. Before leaving the place everything they 
could not carry away, such as implements, tools, etc., was carefully buried and 
secreted from the Indians. The place was then rented to Peter Blue and James 
Sutphel, the bargain being that the lessees were to return and occupy the lands 
as soon as it would be safe to do so. Mr. Maus and family remained in North- 
umberland only a brief time and then proceeded to Lebanon, where he re- 
mained one year; then returned to Northumberland, remained three or four 
years, and then came back to the Mahoning settlement. 

Phillip F. Maus, now living in Mausdale, in this county, is the son of Jo- 
seph and Sally Montgomery Maus and is the grandson of Phillip Maus, one of 
the first settlers in what is now Valley Township and of whom there is an ex- 
tended sketch in the chapter entitled "Some of the Early Families." The 
direct line of descent to young Phillip Eugene Maus, now of Mausdale, is as 
follows: Phillip Maus, his son Joseph, then Joseph's son Phillip F. and then 
Phillip F.'s son Phillip E. Maus. Joseph Maus was born in Philadelphia, 
October, 1777, and came to this county with his parents when about eight years 
old. He married in 1808 Sallie, daughter of John Montgomery, of Paradise 
farm. The issue of this marriage were Phillip F., born September 27, 1810, 
and John M., born in 1812. Joseph Maus died July 26, 18B7. Sallie Mont- 
gomery Maus died May 20, 1872. John M. married Rebecca Gray, who was 
born in 1812 and married in 1833. Phillip F. Maus married Sarah Grallaher, of 
Lycoming County, in May. 1838. Of this marriage there were six children — four 
boys and two girls — all of whom except Phillip E. died in infanc}'. Mrs. Sarah 
Gallaher Maus was a daughter of William and Margaret Grallaher, who 
were early settlers in what is now Lycoming County. They were of Scotch- 
Irish deiscent. The history of the Maus family elsewhere in this book is very 
nearly a complete history of the county fi-om its first settlement to date. 

John C. Gulics was Ijorn in Mahoning Township, December 1, 1807, the 
son of John and Mary (Gearhart) Gulics, natives of New Jersey. Grand- 
father Jacob Gearhart was a Revolutionary soldier, attaining the rank of cap- 
tain, and was long in the service under Gen. Washington. John and Mary 
Gulics had five children, of whom one only is now living. 

Nathaniel and Sarah (Bond) Wilson were of the early settlers in Columbia 
County, Liberty Township. They were natives of Pennsylvania, of Scotch- 
Irish descent. Nathaniel was a soldier in the war of 1812-15. Descendants 
of the Bonds and Wilsons are now citizens of Montour County. One grand- 
son, James Wilson, is a clerk in a store in Danville. 

Samuel Kirkham — how that name brings up the writer's school days and 
" parsing grammar." Pennsylvania must have bred great grammarians — Lind- 
ley Murray was a native of York County, and Mr. Kirkham was a teacher in 
the Danville school in 1819-21. It is said what little grammar Mr. Lincoln 
ever knew he got from Kirkham' s grammar. 

Daniel Frazer came here in 1790. He purchased a farm of John Frazer — 
100 acres. Here he resided thirty-eight years, or until his death. All the 
south part of his farm is now in the corporate limits of Danville. He was a 
most estimable farmer and his death was mourned by a wide circle of friends. 
In 1824 he built his stone residence which is still standing in good repair. 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 15 

Ellis Hughes came here a school-teacher, and for some time taught in the 
schoolhouse a short distance from where the Montour House now stands. He 
was appointed register and recorder by the governor, and served to the public' s 
entire satisfaction. He died in 1850. 

William Hartman came to Danville in 1814, a chairmaker — at that time 
a very convenient kind of workman to have in a community where three legged 
stools were chiefly the seats of honor. He died in 1851. 

November 24, 1784, is the date of the oldest record extant containing a par- 
tial list of those who were first here. It was a subscription paper, drawn by 
Gen. William Montgomeiy's hand, and entitled "Preaching Subscrij^tion." 
It was not especially sectarian and as all men in those days were deeply relig- 
ious in faith and pined for the expounding of God' s word, it is quite probable 
that the list contained nearly every head of a family then in the county, 
who was able to subscribe toward the desired fund. It is an interesting relic. 
To their descendants it is a kind of "Declaration of Independence signers," 
and it is due their memories that their histories, so far as can be now obtain- 
able, be gathered up. The list is here given in full, and following it is such an 
account of their descendants as the writer has been enabled to gather from some 
of our oldest citizens. 

Following is the document and the amount respectively subscribed: 

We, the subscribers, promise to pay the several sums annexed to our names into the 
hands of such person as shall be named by a majority of us to receive and collect the same, 
to be set apart as a fund for the encouragement and promoting the preaching of the Gospel 
among us at the settlement of Mahoning. 

Done this twenty-fourth day of November, 1784. 



£ s d 

Jno. Emmitt 7 6 

Jas. Emmitt 7 6 

Charlie McClahan 7 6 

David Subingall 1 

Peter Blew 7 " 



£ s d 

Wm- Montgomery 3 

John Evart 1 

John Black 10 

Daniel Kelly 13 

Peter Rambo 1 



Jno Wilson 7 6 John Emmet 15 

Jos. Barry 7 6 ] John Clark 10 

Jno. Irwin 15 I Andrew Cochran 1 10 

David Carr 7 6 1 Alex. McMullan.. 

Jacob Carr 7 6] Thomas Giles 

Gilbert Voorhes 7 6 j Robert Giles 

Wm. Montgomery, Jr 3 | William Lemar. . . 

James Henry '. 15 1 William Moreland 

William Grav 7 6 j John Wheeler.... 

Asahel Fowler 7 6 { Levi Wheeler 

Benjamin Fowler 17 6 

Robert Henry 1 2 6 

James Grimes 15 

Martin Todd 5 

Peter Melick 7 6 



15 


7 6 


7 6 


15 


2 6 


15 


7 6 


7 6 


7 6 


10 


2 6 



Garret Vaucamp 

John Ogden 

Lemuel Wheeler 

David Goodman 1 

Joseph Rosberry, Jr 1 10 

In those days distance had but small control in determining where the good 
people would attend divine service. And it is highly probable that the sub- 
scribers above named included families from every settlement in the county. 

Peter Blew (Blue) lived in Valley Township, a good man and a mttch es- 
teemed neighbor among his farmer neighbors. One of his grandsons now re- 
sides in Campbelltown. 

John Wilson, we are told, was a Quaker. John, Thomas and William lived 
many years in Frosty Valley, on the Black road. One of the grandsons now 
lives there. John Wilson married John Maus' daughter. 

David and Jacob Carr settled just across the river from Danville. One of 
Jacob's sons now resides there. 



16 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

It is said that some of the descendants of Peter Melick live on Fishing Creek. 

John Evart lived in Frosty Valley. His son John lived and died on the 
old home place. There is one daughter surviving, living at Danville. 

John Black lived in Derry Township, where he died many years ago. 

John Emmet lived in Frosty Valley. He removed to Bloomsburg. It is 
told that he was one of the believers in the wild story that the Indians before 
they left these parts buried vast treasures of gold in this hill. There was a 
further wild superstition that those who attempted to dig and find the hidden 
treasure would be stricken by the spell of the dusky ghosts, and would flee 
away in terror and pine away and die. A man named Runyon, it was gravely 
related, went there to dig after Emmet had fled and left his digging imple- 
ments. He too fled in terror before the spooks and went off and died. 

William Clark, in company with his brother John, kept Clark's tavern^ 
which stood where Brown's bookstore now is. The building was burned down 
in 1835 or 1836. Tom Clark, son of William, lived here, and died aged eighty 
years. Several of the grandchildren of William Clark are now here. 

Andrew Cochran died many years ago. His son Preston was reared in this, 
county and moved away and died. 

William Crowle was a stone-mason and helped build the old still. 

Thomas Gaskins and family were among the earliest settlers here. He 
had six children: John, Jonathan, Thomas, Mrs. Polly McMullin, Mrs. Betsj 
Forsyth and Rachel (unmarried). Of these John was born here in 1775 and 
died in 1856. His son, William G. Gaskins, was born in 1817, and is now a 
resident of Danville. 

The property now belonging to the Danville Insane Asylum was the home- 
of the Gulics family. There was a large family of children. Of these, Cath- 
arine Gulics married John Gaskins, whose descendants are now residents of 
Danville. 

John Deen, Sr., the first of the name in the limits of this county, came- 
here in 1790. He was born in Philadelphia December 22, 1783. When he 
was an infant his father was lost at sea — a seafaring man in command of a 
vessel. His mother, Eleanor (Frazier) Deen, was a native of Scotland. Some 
of the Fraziers were of the earliest settlers in this portion of the State. Joha 
came to this county with his uncle in his seventh year. The widow married 
John Wilson. She died in Danville, October 1, 1827. in her sixty-sixth year, 
and was buried in the old Presbyterian cemetery. Here John lived fi'om the 
time he came, with his uncle, Daniel Frazier, whose log house was on the hill 
side a little east of Bloom Street, near the present site of the Reformed Church, 
his farm covering the ground that is now the Fourth Ward. Here, at the 
short-termed subscription schools, John acquired what education he possessed. 
In 1796 he was apprenticed to Mr. Hendrickson to learn blacksmithing. Ir> 
1809 he married Miss Mary Flack, daughter of Hugh and Susan Flack, who was 
born near Washingtonville in April, 1785. The Flacks were a large family, 
and their descendants are intermarried with many of the pioneer families. 
The father on the maternal side of the Flacks was McBride, another of the 
very early settlers in what is now Montour County. McBride settled on a 
farm at what is now White Hall. • 

In 1809 Mr. Deen and wife came to Danville. The town was then a mere 
hamlet of log buildings scattered over the territory west of what is now Church 
Street and south of the canal. He occupied the corner now occupied by G. M. 
Shoop, where he lived until 1814. Here he had his smithey shop; here 
three of his children were born, viz. : Thomas, who died at the age of five years, 
John and Julia Ann. He then purchased ground on the opposite side of the- 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. IT 

street of Daniel Montgomery. He here erected what is now the eastern end of 
the frame house now owned by his eldest daughter, Mrs. Julia Ann Bowyer. 
Here he lived the remainder of his life. 

The work in a blacksmith shop in those days was very different from that 
of to-day — but very little machinery; everything had to be hammered out 
on the anvil, and charcoal was the only fuel used. Mr. Deen's account books 
are still in the possession of the family and here are recorded business transac- 
tions dating back to so long a period as now to possess much historical interest. 
As an instance, between 1820 and 1830 here are some of the prices for his 
work: "Setting pair horseshoes, 12^ cents; pair steel-toed shoes, 58 cents; 
toeing old shoes, 12^ cents: pair of shoes (not toed) 46| cents; mending 
bridle-bit, 12i cents; 12 screws, 59 cents; laying a hammer with steel (both 
ends) 46| cents; ironing a two-horse wagon, $15; laying an ax with cast steel, 
70 cents." Bar iron at that time was worth $100 to $120 per ton. At this 
time buckwheat was selling at 30 cents to 35 cents a bushel. In 1824 wheat 
sold for $1.87|^; 11 yards blankets, $10. 31; potatoes, 12i^ cents; muslin, 14 
cents; a day's plowing, with two horses, $1.40. Soon after making his resi- 
dence here he obtained an interest in a fishery located above the mouth of Ma- 
honing Creek, and also one in Gulp' s Eddy, above. The fish caught here at 
that time were many and of the best quality, shad weighing as high as seven 
pounds, and salmon weighing fifteen pounds and rock- fish thirty pounds. The 
best fish sold at 6 and 7 cents a pound. The women made the twine of which 
the nets were made, as they then also made the clothes worn by men and 
women. The spinning-wheel and the loom were then to be heard in almost 
every house. The first woolen factory was erected in Danville more than fifty 
years ago. It was on Mahoning Creek, at the Northvimberland street crossing. 
This is wandering slightly from the subject of this sketch, but at the same 
time it is suggested by gleanings from Mr. Deen's old account book. His 
close industry and economy brought him prosperity, and in 1 820 he purchased 
of Gen. Montgomery the land running eastward along the south side of 
Market Street, paying $100 per acre for it. This was stony ground, not fit for 
cultivation. It was once a great place to pick blackberries. It has long been 
covered with the fine improvements we now see there. In 1826, in addition 
to his business of farming and his large blacksmith shop, he purchased of the 
patentee the right to manufacture threshing machines and opened a factory. 
These were evidently good machines and well made, as Mr. A. J. Still, grand- 
son of Mr. Deen, informs the writer that he saw one of them in 1868 and it 
was still fit for service. Mr. -Deen had contracts on the canal, then being 
constructed, as well as on the river bridge. When the canal was opened he 
owned and ran a boat thereon in the coal trade. At an age when ordinary 
men retire largely from active business life, he built a tannery on the river 
near Church Street. January 5, 1852, his faithful helpmeet departed this 
life. After a long and useful life, widely esteemed, and beloved by a great 
circle of family and friends, he breathed his last July 16, 1864, leaving be- 
hind seven children. His oldest son, John, married Jane Hutton and died 
in 1874; four of his children are still living. Julia Ann, aged seventy-three 
years, is the wife of John Bowyer. James mai-ried Margaret Sanders; Jane 
married Thomas Brandon; Hannah married Kev. Amos B. Still, and has but 
one son living, A. Judson ; and Perry, the youngest son, married Mary Jane 
Ritchie; after her death he married Jane Fullmar. Susan, the youngest of 
the family, married Isaac Tyler: she died in 1865; three of her children are now 
living. 

Freqiient mention of the Frazers (sometimes spelled Frazier) occurs in other 



18 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

parts of this work. Daniel Frazer was born May 2, 1755, and married Sarah 
Wilson in 1772. She died in 1775; he was again married. His second wife 
was Isabella Watson, whom he married on the sixth day of February, 1777. 
He died in Danville on March 26, 1828. His children were Charles, Emma, 
Margaret, James, Alexander, Sarah, Jane, William, Christiana M., Agnes, 
Daniel and Thomas, all of whom are dead, except Christiana, who married 
Enos Miller, who died in 1870. His descendants reside in Montour County, 
New York, and Michigan. He came to this place about 1790 and purchased 
of John Frazer 100 acres of land in the southwest part of his 284-acre tract. 
On this land he resided thirty -eight years, until his death in the seventy - 
third year of his age. He was an honest and industrious farmer, enjoying 
the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens. For a long time he resided 
at the base of the hill, near the site of an old Indian trading post, and a very 
short distance north of the spring. In 1824 he _^built the substantial stone 
residence which is still standing. All the southern portion of his farm is now 
within the corporate limits of Danville. 



CHAPTER III. 



EARLY HISTORY— COUNTY ORGANIZATION— PUBLIC 
BUILDINGS, ETC. 

MONTOUR is among the youngest of the sisterhood of counties of the 
commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as well as being one of the smallest in 
territoiy, but with all this a rich atid precious jewel in the cluster of sixty- 
seven counties of this Keystone State. It was named in honor of Madame 
Montovir, of whom an account is given in the chapter entitled Indians. 

On the fifth day of November, 17G8, the provincial authorities purchased 
the Indian title to the district embraced in the present counties of Northum- 
berland, Montour, Lackawanna, Wayne, Wyoming, Susquehanna, Bradford, 
S^illivan, Lycoming, Union and Centre, all of which were embraced in the 
county of Northumberland, erected in 1772. These eleven counties were of 
themselves a rich empire at the hands of the resolute Anglo-Saxons. The ne- 
gotiations were conducted at Fort Stanwix. Immediately thereafter the first 
surveys were made by the proprietaries. On the third of April following the 
lands were opened to settlers; and so eager was the desire to secure possession 
in the new territory, that over two thousand applications were filed the first 
day. The first survey in what is now Montour County was made February 
22, 1769. A part of this tract is where Danville now stands. On this spot, at 
the mouth of the Mahoning, there was a small village of Delaware Indians. 
Here, it is said, the venerable Tamanund dwelt. The Indians did not wholly 
abandon their village until about 1774. For at least fifteen years they remained 
in the hills hereabout — secure in their rocky fastnesses and sometimes descend- 
ing in their murderous raids upon the settlements. Prior to this purchase the 
Indians permitted no invasion of their grounds by the whites, save as travelers, 
traders and trappers and hunters — with much jealousy and no great good will 
toward the latter. The whites looked upon this fair territory and they coveted 
it. A few daring adventurers had explored its grand old forests, its broad fer- 








-£■70 •■?7„ 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 21 

tile valleys, its cool sweet waters, boiling from its many springs, forming the 
murmuring mountain streams and purling valley brooks, and its forests and 
streams filled with game and fish, and they told their neighbors and friends of 
the wonderful country that lay waste and waiting the pale faced avant couriers 
of civilization; and the story spread among the people and filled them with 
eager desire to visit and to own this beautiful and promised land. To this 
* ' new purchase, ' ' at once it was opened to the hardy settler, there was a rush 
of immigrants that to that time had hardly had an equal in suddenness and num- 
bers. In four short years after the opening of the country the immigration was 
so large that the machinery of civilized government was an imperative neces- 
sity, and a nucleus of a town had been formed at Sunbury and this place was 
fixed upon as a county seat and home for courts and the paraphernalia of law 
and justice. This was done in 1776, or a little less than eight years after the 
people were permitted to come here. Circumstances fixed the abode of the 
new people along the banks of the Susquehanna Kiver, following up from the 
bay the main stream and its two branches where it forks and spreads out in 
different courses. These streams were the only highways that the people could 
use to and from other settlements. This was the case for several years. They 
found here the few Indian trails, and in crossing the mountain ranges and the 
often precipitous foot hills, they were often guided by these in shaping their 
course over the courytry and across the streams. 

In winter when the streams were fi'ozen over, the necessities of the border 
settlers had cut out dim paths over which on caravans of pack-horses they 
transported articles of commerce to and from the settlements. This primitive 
style of transportation grew with the wants of the new country, and men en- 
gaged regularly in the business, employing sometimes extensive trains of horses. 
Two men would attend the train, one in front, a bell on the lead horse and the 
other man in the rear, keeping all in line and moving along in single file. 
Regular pack-saddles were provided and the average load for a horse was 
about 250 pounds. Thus with slow and toilsome step would the caravan wind 
its course across hill and dale, bearing its burdens braving the winter storms 
and the severest weather, and often the swollen streams with their raging, 
angry waters, and sometimes a sudden encounter with the red savages in am- 
bush to loot the train and scalp the drivers. Following these pack-horse paths 
came the first roiigh roads over the rocky hills and unbridged streams, that 
were used during the long winter months for hauling sleds over. The ice 
then bridged the streams, and bore the heaviest loads in safety. This was a 
marked era of improvement in the gi-eat problem of transportation to be in 
turn improved and bettered by fairly laid out roads, bridged streams, and 
sometimes for short distances regular turnpike roads — all gradually developing 
toward the present grand system of canals and railroads that now fly like the 
wind over the country, across the continent, over and through the loftiest 
mountain — argosies laden with the wealth of the world's best civilization. To- 
day we reap where one hundred years ago these hardy and adventurous pioneers 
sowed. Thus we can trace step by step how this wilderness was opened, and 
the grand improvements we now see were slowly and painfully wrought out. 

In the summer season all merchandise was brought up the river, in what 
were called ' ' Durham boats, ' ' and every inch of the way up the long and 
crooked stream was gained only by the hardest kind of manual labor. ' ' Dur- 
ham boats " were like a double end canal boat, or two boats lashed together, 
and were propelled up stream by men pushing by long socket poles, or by sail 
when it was possible to use it. By river or by trail over mountain and defile 
there wei'e no public houses of entertainment by the way to shelter from the 

2A 



22 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

"night and storm and darkness " these travelers, but in time there came th& 
sparsely built cabins and here the traveler, where chance made it possible, 
could stretch himself upon the bare floor with feet to the open fire, and in se- 
curity sleep out the night of storm and in the morning pay his reckoning with 
a sixpence. But few of them could have afforded to pay for a warm meal on 
the way to Beading and back. The average personal expenditure from the 
Susquehanna to Reading — the nearest trading mart — would be two or three 
shillino-s. It is well there were then no comfortable hostelries on the way of- 
fering their tempting retreat to the travelers, for such was their enforced econ- 
omy that they could not have availed themselves of their benefits and they 
would have only increased the i)ainful contrasts of their exposure. 

March 22, 1813, Columbia County was created out of the territory of North- 
umberland County and the county seat was fixed at Danville. There was 
some contention about the location of the shiretown as Danville was said to be 
in an inconvenient place for the majority of the people of the new county, who 
lived in the north and northeast portions of the county. In order to more even- 
ly adjust matters and remove their objections to Danville, in 1816 Colum- 
bia County was enlarged on the west by additional territory taken from North- 
umberland County, extending its lines to the west branch of the river. Again 
the county lines were readjusted in 1818 by taking off a small portion of its ter- 
ritory in the formation of Schuylkill County. It goes without the saying that 
the people of the county had the usual contention in regai'd to settling the per- 
manent county seat. In such matters there are nearly alwaj- s conflicting in- 
terests and clashing claims. Men build golden dreams as to the j^romised 
value of such town locations in increasing the value of their property, while 
the facts are in the end the location of the county seat has but a small influ- 
ence in building up thrifty growing cities. It depends upon the surroundings 
and upon the enterprise and judgment of the first settlers as to where in the 
county is to be built the leading city. All over the country can be found de- 
sertecf villages — places given over to the owls and bats and where waste and si- 
lence broods undisturbed, that were once county towns, over which men had 
wrangled in heated controversy. 

By act of the Assembly, May 3, 1850, the county of Montour was formed. 
Section 2 provides as follows: 

"That all that part of Columbia County included within the limits of the townships 
of Franklin, Mahoning, Valley, Liberty, Limestone, Deny, Anthony and the borough 
of Danville, together with all that portion of the township of Montour. Hemlock 
and Madison lying west of the following line, beginning iat Leiby's saw-mill on the 
bank of the Susquehanna; thence by the road leading to the 'Danville and Bloomsburg 
road, at or near Samuel Lazarus' house; thence from the Danville and Bloomsburg road- 
to the Rock Valley at the end of the lane leading from said road to Obed Everett's house; 
thence by said lane to Obed Everett's house; thence northward to the schoolhouse near 
David Smith's in Hemlock Township; thence by the road leading from said schoolhouse 
to the State road at Robin's mill to the end of the lane leading from said road to John 
Kinney's house; thence by a straight line to John Towsend's, near the German meeting- 
house; thence to Henry Johnson's near Millville; thence by a straight line to a post in the 
Lycoming County line, near the road leading to Crawford's mill, together with that part 
of Roaringcreek Township lying south and west of the line beginning at the southeast- 
ern corner of Franklin Township'] thence eastward by the southern boundary line of Cata- 
wissa Township to a point directly north of John Yeager's house; thence southward by 
a direct line, including John Yeager's house, to the Schuylkill County line at the northeast 
corner of Barry Township." 

The act then proceeds to provide that never, no never shall any portion of Northum- 
berland County be annexed to said county of Montour without the unanimous consent of 
all the voters of Northumberland. Then there occurs a clause fixing Danville as the 
county seat. 

Section 3 provides that the people of Danville shall pay all the costs of the court- 
house and jail. * * Annexed the county of Montour to the Eighth Judicial District of 
the commonwealth. 



HISTOEY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 23 

Section 14 provides that all that portion of Madison Township lying in the new coun- 
ty shall be erected into a new township called Madison. * * That the portion of 
Hemlock Township in the new county shall be erected into a new township called West 
Hemlock. * * All that portion of Montour Township in the new county shall be a 
new township called Cooper. * * That part of Roaringcreek Township in the new 
county shall be called Roaringcreek Township. These new townships were made election 
districts; elections to be held in Madison at the house of John Welliver; West Hemlock, 
Burtis Arumine; Cooper, Jacob Rishels, Thomas Ritters; Roaringcreek, David Yeager. 

The act appointed commissioners to locate the boundary line of the county as fol- 
lows: Abraham Stroub, David Rockefeller and Isaiah B. Davis. 

January 15, 1853, the Assembly passed an act to change the location of the line be- 
tween the counties of Columbia and Montour. Section 1 provides as follows: That 
Roaringcreek Township, in Montour County, and such parts of the townships of Frank- 
lin, Madison, and West Hemlock, in said county, that lie east of the adjusted line of Co- 
lumbia and Montour Counties shall be, and the same are hereby re-annexed to the county 
of Columbia as hereinafter prescribed and established, shall be re-annexed to the county 
of Columbia. The act ,then described the new county line between the two counties as 
follows: Beginning at the Northumberland County line, at or near the house of Samuel 
Readen; thence a direct course to the center of Roaring creek, in Franklin Township, 
twenty rods above a point in said creek opposite the house of John Vought; thence down 
the middle of the stream of said creek to the Susquehanna River; thence to the middle of 
said river; thence up the center of the same to a point opposite where the present county 
line between Columbia and Montour strikes the north bank of the river; thence to the 
said north bank; thence by the present division line between said counties to the school- 
house near the residence of David Smith; ihence to a point near the residence of David 
Smith; thence to the bridge over Deerlick run on the line between Derry and Madison 
Townships; thence by the line between said townships of Madison and Derry and An- 
thony to the line of Lycoming County. John Koons, Gilbert C. McWaine, of Luzerne 
County, and Bernard Reilly, of Schuylkill County, were appointed commissioners to run 
and locate the new line. 

Section 4 changed the name of Franklin Township, in Montour Countj^ and made it 
Mayberry. 

Section 5 provides that so much of Madison Township as remains in Montour County 
shall hereafter compose a part of West Hemlock Township. 

As stated above, the West Branch of the Susquehanna was the original west- 
ern boundary line between Columbia and Northumberland Counties. This in- 
cluded Turbot and Chillisquaque Townships, and by putting these townships into 
the new county it made it possible to name Danville as the county seat with 
fairness as to the accessibility in the lay of the territory to the county town. 
Afterward, however, these two townships were re-annexed to Northumberland 
County [full particulars of this may be found in the preceding history of Co- 
lumbia County] with this territory transferred back and the western line of 
Columbia County readjusted as it is now, the western line of Montour County. 
Danville was considerably to the west of center of the county, and then at once 
commenced the agitation by the people of the northern and eastern portion for 
the removal of the county seat from Danville to Bloomsburg. The large 
bulk of the voters lay in that part of the county. They could outrate the 
friends of Danville. They would regularly elect the county officers, running the 
elections almost solely on this issue. But Danville had able and astute man- 
agers — men of powerful influence, and so the contest went on until 1845 when 
the county seat was taken from Danville and Bloomsburg gained the coveted 
prize. This triumph of the friends of Bloomsburg was not without its effects 
upon Columbia County. The friends of Danville at once commenced the vig- 
orous agitation of a new county to be taken from Columbia's territory, and 
, in live short years complete success crowned their efforts and thus it came 
about that Montour County was formed and Danville by undisputed right again 
became a county seat. 

Danville having triumphed over Bloomsburg and Milton in being designated 
as the county town, she found herself confronted with the rather difficult task 
of providing ways and means to erect the required county buildings — jail and 



24 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

court-house. Her citizens, as well as all the people of this portion of the new 
county, were stirred to energetic action by the fact that they must not allow a 
loophole to the enemies of Danville, who were alert for any pretext on which to 
base a removal of the county seat. The new county made an appropriation 
toward the buildings of $1,050. The other money was made up by private 
subscriptions. Three or four subscription papers were circulated early in 1814. 
Two of these are still extant. They were duplicates and read as follows: 

We, the subscribers, promise to pay into Daniel Montgomery, James Maus and Alem 
Marr, for the purpose of erecting the public buildings in Danville, the county seat for the 
county of Columbia, the sums respectively annexed to our names; nevertheless, in case the 
whole subscription be not appropriated for the 2'>urpose aforesaid, the subscription of each 
subscriber shall be refunded in proportion to the sum subscribed. 

Here was prudent forethought, indeed, on the part of those old fellows, 
characteristic of the time and the men that sounds curious to men of this age, 
when such a thing as expenditures falling short of appropriations are an un- 
dreamed of possibility, much less a probability. The principal names to this 
subscription paper are of suificient interest to preserve to posterity: Dan- 
iel Montgomery, $1,000; William Montgomery, $1,000; Joseph Maus, $100; 
Thomas Woodside, $100; Phillii? Goodman, $100; Alexander Montgomery, 
$100; James Longhead, $100; John Montgomery, $75; Alem Marr, $50; Will- 
iam Montgomery, $50; David Petrikin, $50; John Deen, $35; Eobert McWill- 
iams, $25; John Evans, $25; Wm. Clark, $25; William Mann, $25; Peter Blue, 
$20; Peter Baldy, $12; David Williams, $10; James Donalson, $10; John 
Moore, $10, and others $22. A total of $2,944. 

This generous subscription was sufficient encouragement to commence the 
building of the court-house. Gen. D. Montgomery made an estimate of the 
cost, $2,704.96. The committee to receive and disburse the money was Gen. 
Montgomery, Mr. Marr and Mr. Maus. Messrs. Montgomery and Marr were 
too deeply engaged in their own affairs to give the matter attention, we are 
told, so this duty devolved alone upon Mr. Maus. With his wonted energy he 
entered upon the task — employed workmen, opened stone quarries, brick kilns, 
purchased timbers, hardware, glass, paints and needed materials of all kinds. 
His only resource for boarding the workmen was to establish a boarding-house. 
In person he collected the subscriptions, superintended the work, paid all bills, 
and his unremitting energy and toil soon witnessed the triumph of his labors. 
Of those who worked upon the building the following names are all that can 
now be recalled: Daniel Cameron, a Scotchman, was a carpenter in charge of 
that part of the work; Tunis Gearhart, James and Joseph Crosley, stone- 
masons; William and Gilbert Giberson, brick-masons; chief plasterer was 
the jolly Hibernian, Michael Rafferty. His home was in Danville. Isaac 
Edgar, assisted by Asher Smith and John Cope, made the brick. The 
other employes on the building, their particular posts not being known, 
were John Bryson, John Strieker, Edwin Stocking, Alexander Johnson, 
Benj. Garretson, Nehemiah Hand, William Lunger, Peter Watts, Peter 
Snyder, Fredrick Harbolt, James Thomas, William Doak, D. Henderson, B. 
Long and T. Haller. The total cost ' of the building was $3, 980. 80. It was 
commenced in April, 1815, and completed in September, 1816. 

Looking over the old accounts there is one item, the bare mention of which 
is significant of the change in men' s minds of then and now. It reads : ' ' Sixty- 
four gallons of whiskey, $64." One of the strong citstoms of the times is 
manifested in this expense item. Men then supposed that in order to work 
they had to have their liquor as regularly as their meals. All partook of their 
stimulants, laymen and ministers. It, was the mark of hospitable friendship. 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 25 

after the first comers had got fixed to really live in comfort, to offer all visitors 
the bottle and glass as a pledge of hearty welcome. And at one time it would 
have been a severe judgment, indeed, of one against his caller to have forgot- 
ten this friendly token. The farmer, as soon as possible, erected upon his 
farm a still, and of corn, rye and Wheat he distilled a strong, rough, yet pure, 
whisky; and of his fruit, especially apples and peaches, he made apple- jack and 
brandies. These were a hardy race of nation builders — pious bigots, austere in 
their religious tenets and practices ; severe of conscience and relentless in the pur- 
suit of sin; and in order that no sin might escape, punishing the most innocent 
pleasures. Splendid types of the church militant, full of the fire of patriot- 
ism, devoted to the death to liberty, and as honest as they were fearless! They 
ate heavily of a diet that was mostly meat; they were rugged men and women, 
to whom life and their Christian duties were stern realities. They knew noth- 
ing of the refinements and effeminacy of modern times; had these been brought 
to them, they would have despised them. They had mostly fled from the dire 
religious persecutions of the old world; had felt the heaviest hand of persecu- 
tion — the cold dungeon, the stake and the faggot. These they had left behind 
them, to brave the solitudes, the malaria, the wild beasts and vipers, and the 
yet more deadly tomahawk and scalping-knife of the cruel and pitiless wild 
savages of the forests. What a school in which to rear this new people of 
nation builders! Look out over the fair face of the earth to-day and behold 
what these simple children of destiny have given us — the magnificence and 
magnitude of their work and the poverty and paucity of their means at their 
command. No men the woiid ever possessed had more thoroughly the cour- 
age of their convictions. Their faults and frailties leaned to virtue's side. As 
severe as they were in their judgments, the same cast-iron grooves they gave to 
others they applied with even less charity to themselves. They came of a race 
of religious fanatics and martyrs, and the eldest of them were born in Europe 
when even the most highly civilized portions of the world were in the travail 
of the ages — the age of iron and blood. An age when shoemakers rose from 
their benches, tailors from their boards, an,d coopers dropped their hoops and 
staves and unfurled the banner of the Cross, gathered the sans culottes about 
them, seized the greatest empire in the world, and chopped off the king's head 
with no more awe than sticking a pig. An age when all men were intensely, 
savagely religious. Great wars had been fought for religion. Gunpowder 
had been invented with its civilizing explosive powers. Marching, fighting 
armies, when not fighting, held religious meetings, and illiterate corporals 
mounted the rude pulpits and launched their nasal thunders of God's wrath at 
the heads of their officers. Men kneeled down in the streets and prayed and 
gathered crowds and preached their fiery sermons to eager listeners. The 
churches were filled three times a day on Su.nday with earnest, solemn people, 
and prayers and singing of psalms were the only sounds to be heard in the 
towns or, for that matter, in the country. Nearly every man was a church 
policeman or a minister of God, his baton or license bearing no great red 
seal of state or chui'ch or institution; but, inspired of heaven, he became a 
flaming swoi'd at the garden' s gate against jthe entrance of all sin and all 
pleasure. In 1682 gin was invented, and how quickly men learned to make 
and use it! The fighters and meat eaters drank and gorged themselves with 
the fiery fluid. To their coarse, strong animal natures it was but a variety of 
their sulphurous sermons in liquid form. Gin shops were opened, and signs 
over the doors invited men to "come and get drunk for a penny; and very 
drunk, and free straw to sleep off the intoxication, for two pence. ' ' A part 
of the duties of those we now call bar-tenders was to seize those who fell in a 



2G HISTOKY OF MONTOUE COUNTY. 

stupor and by the heels drag them to the straw, where they were laid by their 
sleeping companions. During the great London riots, when the mob held the 
city for three days and nights, rioting, murdering and burning, they would 
rifle stores and shops, roll the barrels of gin to the front doors, knock in 
the heads and pour the liquid contents into the street gutters, until these 
became running streams of gin but little less fiery and fatal than the hissing 
flames of fire above in the burning buildings. Women and toddling children 
gathered about these gutters of flowing gin and filth, and lying upon the 
ground drank, gorged and died, many of them just where they lay and drank, 
while many others staggered away a few feet, fell and were burned in the 
city's conflagration. 

Of all this world's travail came fatalism — a fatalism simple, terrible and 
sublime. God was inappeasably angry at his children, not so much for their 
conduct as for their eiTors in their creeds. His infinite power was only paral- 
leled by His infinite hate. But one in a thousand, ten thousand or a million was 
elected, and all else were damned before creation and to all eternity. 

Such was the powerful alembic that so slowly through the ages and the 
generations distilled the blood that has lifted our civilization and placed it upon 
the high plane where it is lo-day — that brought liberty and the freedom of the 
bodies and souls of men, that wrested this continent from the savage and the 
wild beast and erected the empire of thought over brutish force and cruel ig- 
norance. 

From this apparent digression, and it is only apparent, we return to the 
completion of this chapter with a brief account of the other and present county 
buildings that have been erected. 

The present court-house was built in 1871. It occupies the grounds of the 
old building with the additional grounds where the building of the Friendship 
Fire Insurance Company stood. The total cost of ground and building was 
$55,000. The contractor and architect was Mr. O'Malley; the brick work was 
done by B. K. Vastine, the stone work by F. Hawke & Co. It is a very sub- 
stantial and commodious building, plain, strong and yet handsome in its out- 
lines and finish. The first floor is occupied by the commissioner's rooms, the 
different clerks, recorder, sheriff and a grand jury room. The second floor is 
the main court room and jury rooms. The whole is well furnished, with all 
the modern conveniences and appliances for the carrying on of the county's 
legal affairs. The vaults for the records are large, comfortable rooms, and are 
ample enough to store away the record books for the next and most probably the 
following succeeding century. * 

The large and solid stone jail was built in 1817-18 by Charles Mann, con- 
tractor. It has two cells on the first story and two on the second ; also a spa- 
cious and roomy residence under the same roof for the sheriff. Its solid appear- 
ance and high stone wall around the part running back from the residence 
portion ought to frighten all the daring of the jailbirds of the country; per- 
haps it does, yet like distress these unfortunates will be always with us, the 
one consolation being that Montour County can boast of a smaller per cent of 
these than almost any other community. 

The Danville Hospital for the Insane is an imposing building located 
on what had been known as the ' ' Pinneo farm, ' ' about one mile northeast of 
Danville. On the 13th of April, 1868, the Legislature passed an act for the 
establishment of the hospital, and appointed a locating commission, composed 
of J. A. Reed, Traill Green and John Cui'wen. After visiting various locali- 
ties in the district, for which the proposed hospital was intended, it was finally 
decided that Danville was the most suitable in all respects. The Pinneo farm 



HISTOKY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 27 

of some 250 acres was accordingly purchased, the citizens of Danville contrib- 
uting a bonus of $16,000. On the 23d of April the commissioners had appointed 
John McAi-thur, Jr., architect, and soon after they chose Dr. S. S. Schultz, 
superintendent, a position be has filled ever since May, 1868, with great credit 
to himself and to the complete satisfaction of the public, The corner-stone of 
the hospital was laid by Gov. John W. Geary on the 26th of August, 1869. 
The building proper is 1,143 feet long. The center building is 202 feet deep. 
They range from three to five stories in height. The wings contain 350 rooms 
each. Altogether there are about 800 rooms. The chapel is a large and beauti- 
ful chamber and will seat 600. It is also the lecture-room and is furnished 
with a piano and an organ. The wing connections are enclosed with iron 
doors, and the building contains every department necessary to an institution 
where so many unfortunates find a home: ofiices, bath-rooms, dining-rooms, 
laundries, kitchen, storeroom and many others. Iron and slate are exten- 
sively used in the construction of the building, in order to strengthen it as well 
as to guard against the danger of fire. The stone in the exterior walls are 
from the well known quarry on the premises. The door and window sills and 
lintels, as also the carriage porch, are of the Goldsboro brown stone from York 
County. The brick in the partition walls were furnished by numerous ma- 
kers of the neighborhood and were laid by Ammerman & Books. The roof, 
the kitchen floors and other apartments are of the best Peach Bottom slate. 
The water tables and quoins are a beautiful white stone from Luzerne County 
and contrast pleasantly with the darker material of the main wall. It is not 
the design here to enter into details beyond that which will give the reader a 
general idea of the complete and substantial character of the building, and its 
manifold appointments, necessary to serve the purpose for which it was erected. 
Its water and gas supply, its heating and ventilating apparatus, its sewerage 
and all similar improvements essential to the health and comfort of the in- 
mates are excellent. Governed by a complete system of laws and regulations, 
this institution stands on the front line of modern improvements, dispensing in 
an eminent degree the blessings for which it was designed. In connection 
with the various appliances of convenience, comfort and economy the visitor 
will also note the beautiful buildings, fitted for their several purposes, that have 
sprung up around this main edifice, solid, artistic and presenting a miniatui'.e 
city of surpassing beauty and taste. The order or style of architecttu'e is the 
Romanesque. The hospital was opened for the reception of patients by pub- 
lic announcement of Dr. Schultz, the superintendent, in October, 1872. The 
first patient was admitted on the 6th of November, following. From that 
period to the present time hundreds have been admitted and shared its benefits. 
Many have been discharged cured, many others have been improved, and others 
still continue to receive its scientific and humane ministrations. Dr. S. S. 
Schultz, who has managed the institution since its organization in 1868, still re- 
mains in his responsible position. He has manifested not only the skill to 
treat successfully all possible cases in the various forms of insanity arising 
from physical or mental causes, but in addition to the qualities of the physi- 
cian he has manifested executive abilities of the highest order in the general 
management of the institution. 

Dr. Schultz is general superintendent, assisted by Drs. Seip and Hugh 
Meredith. 

March 5, 1881, a fire broke out in the building and destroyed all the fe- 
male and one-fourth of the male wards and the center buildings. It origi- 
nated on the second floor of the wards nearest the center, in a closet used for 
the storage of fire-hose and the stand-pipe connected with the general water 



28 HISTOKY OF MONTOUK COUNTY. 

supply. Before effective connections with hose could be made with neighbor- 
ing stand-pipes, the cornice and roof and timbers became involved and the fire 
for the time was inaccessible. Fortunately this section of wards was at that time 
not used by patients, being in the hands of the painters for repairs. There 
were 220 male patients at that time in the hospital. In the confusion nine of 
these escaped the care of their keepers, and some returned in a few days and 
others made their way to their homes. There were 172 women inmates. They 
were temporarily taken care of in the outbuildings until they were removed 
to Harrisburg or Warren Hospitals. No fatal exposures occurred to any of 
the patients. The sum of $209, 116.01 was realized from insurance companies, 
and at once the work of rebuilding was commenced, important improvements 
and changes being introduced. Among other changes were iron beams 
and brick arches, and the making the attic and other floors fire-proof ; large bay 
windows were added to all the rebuilt wards. Thus the entire center building 
was made fire-proof — somewhat less in depth than the old building, and placing 
the kitchen in the rear of it, without any story over it; and reducing the cen- 
tral stories by about one-half in their dimensions; and i^utting up a suitable 
building for storage in the rear. These structural alterations were not expen- 
sive but greatly added to the good purposes of the building itself. The entire 
center building was rebuilt from the foundation and, as indicated above, 
greatly improved throughout, and was ready for occupancy early in 1884. 

This great institution and its beneficent work are largely, and in many re- 
spects solely, the results of the ripe intelligence and eminent management of 
Dr. S. S. Schultz, who has had the exclusive control from the beginning to the 
present. A rich and prosperous government can only pour out its wealth in 
behalf of its poor, unfortunate insane and build a place of retreat and refuge 
for them. The value of the benefaction, however, at last depends upon those 
who manage and control the affairs of the institution and its pitiable inmates. 
Here are required rare executive qualities and irreproachable integrity, as 
well as the clearest understanding of "ministering to minds diseased." In 
these respects the Danville Insane Hospital may be the fitting and perpetual 
monument of Dr. Schultz, telling how truly and how well he performed life's 
greatest work — incomparably greater than if he had won great battles, dethroned 
kings or ruled empires. 



CHAPTER IV. 

DESCRIPTION— TOPOGKAPHY— GEOLOGY— AGKICULTURE, ETC. 

THE rich little county of Montour is of itself, just as it came from the hand 
of its Maker, an interesting and pleasant study — interesting to him who loves 
the swift- flowing crystal rivers, the babbling valley brooks, the mountain tor- 
rents of leaping crystal waters, the mirror-like lakelets, with their white, pebbly 
bottoms, the grand mountain ranges, their rounded hills sweeping away in 
endless forms and windings into the far distant, quiet, soft blue hills ; fantastic, 
beetling, rocky and awe-inspiring sometimes, but mostly sloping from the val- 
ley at an even, gentle angle, and rising so gradually that as they pierce the 
low fog- clouds it seems as though the deep mists come down to rest upon their 
quiet, solid tops instead of the hills rising to them. Here and there the great 
range, with its granite ribs, has been cut in twain by the pent and maddened 




'~« 



V- •» 




HISTOEY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 31 

waters, the Cyclopean work, as grand Dame Nature does everything, commenc- 
ing in the long-ago geological ffions, the waters slowly rising, slowly accumu- 
lating, imperceptibly mounting the sides of the opposing rocky barriers till at 
last a trickling little stream, with hardly force enough to move a straw appar- 
ently, starts over the top. It starts like a poor blind insect on its course, 
timid, meandering, stopping at every pebble or clod against which it blindly 
bumps its head; turning back, turning to pass around, momentarily hesitating, 
the silent forces behind it ever coming on, it breaks over or through the small 
obstruction and, with its gathered energy, rushes straight upon the next ob- 
struction. The little driblet slowly and tortuously makes its way across the 
obstruction, the first scattered raindroi^s plunge over the opposite sides, then 
is commenced the Titanic struggle of the soft and foamy, volatile waters with 
the impregnable, hard mountain of solid granite. A God has set in battle the 
weakest against the strongest, and the waters tear the granite rocks into im- 
palpable dust and scatter them in the world's bottomless seas; and now the 
battle is ended, and in its rocky, clean bed at the base of the mountain gently 
murmurs the sparkling stream, the laughing, sweet waters, with ever and anon 
along its course, quiet, deep jdooIs, reflecting as the most polished mirror the 
trees, the vines, the mountain forest' s foliage and the blue and boundless 
canopy of Heaven. 

Bright little Montour County — beautiful, beautifully faced little Montour! 
We hail and crown thee Queen of, the festival of the foliage. Look, behold I 
This is the 25th of October; any year, every year, it comes with the reg- 
ularity of the seasons. The spring flowers have passed away, the golden har- 
vests are gathered, plenteous, bounteous, luscious — the fi-uits of the flowers so 
fragrant, so life-giving to ail animate nature; the summer's work is done, the 
hot, brassy heavens are softened with the autumnal haze and then most ap- 
propriately is the festival of the foliage — the grandest, most glorious of all 
the season's crownings. Sweeping away up the winding valley, crowning to 
the water's edge the streams and the lakes, clambering up the slopes of the 
hillside and the mountain's range, is the most entrancing panorama of the 
tinted foliage that human eyes ever beheld. Threading these hillsides, resting 
here and there and gazing out upon lovely nature and every angle youi- eye 
turns upon, it bz'ings the awful impression that certainly all this has been just 
dropped from heaven. ' ' The impressions wrought upon the observer, ' ' as the 
gifted Poe said of Arnheim, ' ' were those of I'ichness, warmth, color, quietude, 
softness, delicacy, daintiness, voluptuousness, that suggested dreams of a new 
race of fairies, laborious, tasteful, magnificent and fastidious; but as the eye 
traced upward the myriad-tinted slopes from its sharp junction with the water 
to its vague termination amid the folds of overhanging cloud, it became, in- 
deed, difficult not to fancy it a panoramic cataract of rubies, sapphires, opals 
and golden onyxes, rolling silently out of the sky." 

Describe it who can. Who ever will ? So profuse, so massive, so bound- 
less and so variegated this master work that the pen falls from the nerveless 
grasp while the soul is enraptured and enthralled in silent admiration. What 
but the poets dream of a new race of fairies could thus pencil and tint a 
world! Turn and look yonder at the western slope of the grand old ridge 
along the range of curving hills as they look toward the setting sun — great, 
rolling billows of smokeless flame, swelling, gently sweeping away, entrancing 
visions following each other like the swift rolling waves of the ocean, passing 
endlessly beyond the horizon line. Beautiful Queen of the autumn foliage, we 
hail and bless thee, peerless one! 

While the external beauties of the fair face of the county are in some re- 



32 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

spects not to be excelled, in the world hidden beneath this surface is wealth 
like unto the famed Golcondas — wealth in plant food for the farmer and in 
iron ores for the manufacturer. Montour Kidge passes through the entire 
county. From its base to the Susquehanna River is a broad and rich valley of 
agricultural lands. Passing to the north of the ridge is a broad belt of lime- 
stone land reaching to the Muncy hills ranging along the north line of the 
county. The whole is admirably drained by Mahoning and Chillisquaque 
Creeks and their tributaries. 

Mr. Rodgers, esteemed the best authority on the subject, says of the iron 
ore in the county: 

"From the Narrows to the gap of Mahoning Creek at Danville, the length of 
outcrop of the two ores on the south side of the mountain does not exceed about 
half a mile. That of the hard ore is considerably the longest, and as the iron 
sandstone containing it outcrops much higher on the ridge than the other ore, 
the quantity of this exposed above the water level exceeds that of the latter 
many times. In this part of the ridge, the average length of the slope or 
breast of the iron sandstone ore above the water level alone is probably more 
than 200 yards; that of the fossiliferous ore is materially less, while, for rea- 
sons already shown, the depth of breast of the soft and partially decomposed 
ore may not average more than 30 or 40 yards. The position of the hard 
ore, in the vicinity of the gorge of the Mahoning is shown in our transverse 
section of the ridge at that place. By inspecting the vertical section, which 
I have introduced of the iron sandstone formation analyzed in detail, 
the reader will perceive that while the red sandstone members include two 
or three excessively ponderous layers, rich enough in iron to be applicable as 
iron ores, the thickest of these — the only bed, indeed, which is of sufficient mag- 
nitude to be wrought at the present day — accompanies the lower bed of sand- 
stone, and has dimensions varying from fourteen to eighteen inches. But 
there is another formation here developed, in which beds of iron ore are dis- 
coverable. This is the Surgent older or lower slate, this stratum possessing in 
Montour Ridge a thickness of about 700 feet. Its ore has the form of a very 
ferruginous sandstone in one or two thin and continuous layers, occupying a 
horizon, near the middle of the formation, between 350 and 400 feet below its 
superior limit. Scarcely any difference is perceptible either in aspect or com- 
position between the ore now referred to and that of the iron sandstone. It 
is a sandstone with a large proportion of peroxide of iron diffused among the 
particles, and, like the other bed, includes numerous small flat fragments, or 
pebbles of greenish slate, which by their disintegration leave the surface of the 
blocks, wherever the weather has had access, pitted with little elongated holes, 
forming one of the most distinctive features of these two ores. This ore-bed 
of the lower slate outcrops near the summit of the ridge on the east side of 
the Mahoning Gap at Danville, arching the anticlinal axis at an elevation of 
about 300 feet above the bed of this transverse valley. Traced east and west 
from the Notch, the overlying slate saddles it, and conceals it from view 
wherever the mountain is low and narrow; but wherever the anticlinal rises — or 
wherever, in other words, the wave in the strata increases in breadth and height 
— the ore no longer closes over the axis, but forms two separate lines of out 
crop, one on each gentle declivity between the summit and the shoulder, formed 
by the outcrop of the iron sandstone. In the vicinity of Danville, the thick- 
ness of this layer of ore is not such as to make it of much importance, so long 
as the thicker and therefore cheaper beds furnish an ample supply. Judging 
from the fragments at the point of outcrop I infer its size to be between six and 
eight inches. The facility and cost of mining it will of course depend upon 



HISTOEY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 33 

several conditions connected with the dip and depth of covering, and will vary 
with each locality. 

" One section of the strata at the Mahoning Gap represents the entire mass 
of the mountain as consisting there of the two Surgent slates and their included 
iron sandstone, while the calcareous or ore shales, with their fossiliferous ore, 
rest low at the north and south base. The upper beds of the Levant white sand- 
stone have not been lifted to the level of the bed of the Notch, though their 
depth beneath it cannot be considerable. This proves a sinking of the axis 
fi'om opposite the Narrows to this point; but when the ridge is examined still 
farther east, it becomes apparent that between the Mahoning and Hemlock 
the anticlinal rises and swells again, causing the hard ore of the slate to 
diverge into two outcrops, and the belts of the iron sandstone to recede. About 
half way between those two streams is probably the neighborhood in which 
the section of the mountain has its greatest expansion, and the two belts of the 
iron sandstone are farthest asunder. 

" Let us now, before advancing any further east, attempt an estimate of the 
quantity of iron ore above the water level within a given length — say one mile 
of outcrop — in the vicinity of Danville. 

"I shall reject from my present calculation both the ore of the older slate 
and the compact unchanged fossiliferous ore ; the former as being too thin and 
deeply covered to be profitably mined, and the latter as too poor in iron, and 
too calcareous, to be, under existing circumstances, adapted to the smelting 
furnace. 

"If we assume the soft fossiliferous ore of this neighborhood to have an 
average thickness of from sixteen to eighteen inches, which is probably not far 
from the truth, we may consider each square yard of its surface to represent 
about one ton of weight of ore. Let us now adopt the estimate I have already 
given of the depth to which the ore stratum has been converted into this soft 
ore, and accept thirty yards as the limit. Each yard of length along the out- 
crop will then be equivalent to thirty tons of the ore, and one mile of outcrop 
should supply about 52,800 tons. This amount, it will be understood, is irre- 
spective of elevation above the water level. Turning now to the hard or sili- 
ceous ore of the iron sandstone, we shall find one mile of the outcrop bed to 
offer a far more enormous quantity of available ore. It is obvious that the 
whole of the bed is convertible to use, since the composition of the ore is such 
as to make it fit for the furnace without it undergoing any solvent action, of 
which, indeed, it is scarcely susceptible. The only limit to the depth to 
which it may be profitably wrought, is the cost of mining it, and since this ele- 
ment is materially increased the moment we pass below the water level of the 
locality, it will be expedient to restrict our present estimate to the quantity of 
the ore above this natural line. It has been stated that in the vicinity of the 
Mahoning Gap, the average length of slope or breast belonging to the iron 
sandstone is about 200 yards ; on the south side it is somewhat greater, while on 
the north side it is probably as much less. This is equivalent to 200 tons of 
ore to each yard of the outcrop, the ore bed being from fourteen to sixteen inches 
thick. One mile of length of outcrop will therefore yield 352,000 tons of the ore 
above the water level. All that portion which is in this position is therefore 
nearly seven times as great as the similar part of the soft fossiliferous ore. The 
two ore beds together represent more than 400,000 tons in a single mile of out- 
crop; but as, from the anticlinal form of the mountain, there is a double line of 
outcrop for each kind of ore, it is clear that one mile of length of ridge must 
contain, upon the supposition of no deep ravines or notches intervening, the 
amazing quantity of 800, 000 tons of ore. It is to be remarked that in the fore- 



34 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

going statement I exclude the consideration of the ravines, which interrupt at 
fi'equent intervals the general line of the outcrop of the strata, and reduce ma- 
terially the amount of ore above the vsfater level. 

"An abatement of one-eighth from the quantity as above computed, on the 
supposition of a perfectly continuous outcrop, will probably more than com- 
pensate for the amount thus lost. With this reduction we shall still have, in 
one mile of the ridge, 700, 000 tons of good ore. 

' ' The ore estate attached to the Montour Iron Works of Danville, embraces, 
if I am correctly informed, a total length of outcrop of the iron sandstone ore 
of 2,200 yards, equivalent alone to 385,000 tons; the whole quantity of the soft 
fossiliferous ore I estimate at 45,000 tons, making the entire amount of ore 
available under existing circumstances 430,000 tons. Such is the apparently 
enormous extent of the mineral wealth of this favored locality. " 

The rich mineral deposits are, then, in Montour's Eidge, and this ridge and 
the Muncy Hills constitute the elevated and broken lands in all that part of the 
county north of the river. As only Mayberry Township lies south of the river, 
its topography is given in the account of that township. Much of these hills is 
arable land. This was evidenced to the first settlers by the density of the veg- 
etable growths covering them. But in many places the hillsides are too abrupt 
and others too stony for the labors of the husbandman. All surface soils are 
originally formed by the decay of the rocks, this first producing water plants 
and the short mosses, and these extract food fi-om the pulverized rocks, the 
water and the air, and thus comes nature' s laboratory that makes all the varie- 
ty of soils in the world. Thus, in the long, inconceivably long ago geological 
ages, commenced the preparation for the farmer and the manufacturer that we 
now see here — those thrifty factors in the problem of life. Can you think a 
million, much less a billion, a trillion, or a quadi'illion ? You cannot, any more 
than you can think that the universe has bounds or is boundless. In extent of 
time, past or of space are things that are not thinkable. The results, not the 
time or the how, of these wonderful forces of nature are the practical questions 
that concern us all. Here is formed everything that develops or grows — the 
warmth of the sun, the air, the rocks and the soil, the water and the climate 
are the resistless and ever working forces, molding the round globe, the 
oceans, rivers, mountains and valleys, as well as the most delicate flower, the 
sweet laughter of childhood, the cyclone, the volcano or the earthquake. 

The kind of cattle or horses you will raise, the kind of people that will 
grow in any particular place, what they will know and how they will think, 
the kind of houses, farms, schools, churches and in short the form and quality 
of their civilization, are all foretold by the rocks, the soil, the water, climate 
and the humidity of the air of that particular place. 

The finest quality of limestone underlies all the arable portion of the level 
lands of the county. Here is quarried the limestone for the Danville iron 
mills, the Montour Iron Works having a railroad track to the A. F. Russell 
quarry, as well as a branch of this track extending to their ore beds. 

When the pioneers came here, in addition to the many other obstructions 
that confronted them, they were ignorant of the nature of rocks and soils as 
applied to husbandly. Like the average man now their education in this im- 
portant respect had been wholly neglected. They had what they now call ed- 
ucated men, a chance one, who could read Latin and Greek, but de'il the bit 
could he aid the farmer in telling him where or what to plant upon any given 
spot. He understood Took's mythology through and through — wonderfully 
educated! — but, except by painful experiments, the farmer had to go to the ig- 
norant Indians for the slight information obtainable. He was left to commence 



HISTOKY OF MONTOUE COUNTY. 35 

his experiments in the new world aided, often handicapped, by the recollection 
of how his father had done in the old world home. The first efPort was pretty 
much chance work, but the penalties of ignorance were unerring and severe. 

It is supposed that as early as 1787 some of the pioneers of Mahoning 
planted small orchards; at least a few seedling fruit trees from seeds they 
had thoughtfully brought with them. By the year 1812, it is asserted, 
by those who can go back that far in memory, that there were tolerably abun- 
dant crops of fruit raised to supply the home demand. 

One of the first to plant an orchard was Gen. William Montgomery. This 
orchard was in the immediate vicinity of the old stone mansion-house, now 
northeast corner of Mill and Bloom Streets, and extended to Ferry Street or 
beyond it, and north beyond Centre Street. It was composed chiefly of apple 
trees, with a few peach, pear and cherry trees. At the corner of the orchard, 
near Ferry Street, stood a cider-mill and press, all of the olden style. The 
mill was composed of a wooden wheel, six feet in diameter and a foot thick, 
with a shaft through the center, the wheel revolving in a circular trough or 
groove. In this groove the apples were placed, and by applying horse- power 
to the shaft, passed the wheel over and crushed them to pomace; this was then 
placed in a press of rude and simple construction, and the cider was expressed 
from it. This was the first mill of the kind in the county. It continued in 
use until 1816 or later. 

From the cider apple brandy was distilled. Cider-royal was made by add- 
ing a few gallons of whisky to a barrel of it. The cider-royal was a favorite 
liquor with the young who had not been educated up to the full appreciation 
of whisky. Cider, with the addition of apples, was boiled down to apple- 
butter. To make this, required constant boiling for about twenty-four hours. 
The services of a young lady and gentleman were usually called into requisi- 
tion on such occasions, and they generally found stirring apple-butter to be no 
uncongenial employment. 

Another early orchard was that of Gen. Daniel Montgomery, on the eastern 
side of Mill Street, partly on the ground now occupied by the Montour House. 
The trees bearing the choicest fruit were plainly designated by the number of 
clubs lodged on their branches by trespassers who took delight in stolen fruit. 

Mr. Phillip Maus had a large orchard on his farm on the northern slope of 
an eminence between his homestead and the forks of the road to Mausdale. It 
contained good but not the choicest fi'uit. It was one of the first planted in 
that vicinity. His son George devoted much attention to its care and culture, 
and by building fires at many places in the orchard at times of late frosts, sup- 
posed he several times saved the crop of fruit, or part of it from perishing with 
the cold. 

Beyond this orchard, on the Mooresburg road, were the small orchards, of 
Justus Strawbridge, Lewis Maus and Colin Cameron, of young and vigorous 
trees. 

The next in date, probably 1791, was that of Mr. John Fraser on the north 
side of the Bloomsburg road, and extending back beyond Pleasant Street, and 
between D and F Streets. In this extensive orchard there was much choice 
fruit, all grafted from the Burlington nurseries, then or subsequently famous 
under the management of William Coxe, the distinguished pomologist and 
author of "The Cultivation of Fruit Trees." It made a fine appearance, and 
was in full bearing in 1815. Several trees near the house were almost of forest 
size, and produced excellent crops. The Pennock was a large apple, with 
seven synonyms: the Newtown Pippin, a famous keeper; the large and rich 
Vandervere, a native of Wilmington, with its eighteen aliases; the luscious 



36 HISTOKY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

Harvest apple, earliest of them all; the Rambo, a native of Delaware, a favor- 
ite, which around Trenton was popularly styled the bread- and- cheese apple; 
the Romanite, a small apple but a great keeper, of a dark cranberry color; the 
golden-hued Porter apple; the Maiden's Blush, a native of Jersey, the most 
beautiful of them all; the Winesap, the Greening, the Russet, the large and 
luscious Spitzenberg, the Pearmain, the Doctor apple, which originated in Ger- 
mantown, and others. The Priestley apple had its origin in Northumbei'land, 
but was not very highly prized here. 

On the eastern side of the orchard was a row of cherry trees, which bore 
profusely, and afforded a good supply of that fruit for the neigborhood. Near 
iDy there was also a number of peach trees, bearing fine crops of that luscious 
fruit. 

Mr. Daniel Fraser had an orchard just east of his stone mansion; it was 
planted at a later period than the others; the trees were young and thrifty, 
and bore good fruit, and were in good bearing in 1820. 

These were all Philadelphians, who had in that fine market acquired a just 
appreciation of good fruit, and made laudable efforts to procure it. Some of 
the trees were obtained in that city, some at Burlington and some at North- 
umberland. In the latter place several English emigrants had introduced 
many choice varieties of fruits, and devoted much care to their successful cul- 
tivation. 

Mr. Paul Adams, a mile or two northeastwardly from Danville, had a small 
but prolific orchard, chiefly of winter apples. 

Michael Blue had a noted peach orchard, it was between two and three 
miles out on the hills. He was a Jerseyman, who came from a land where 
they then understood much of the art of raising peaches. 

Agricultural Societies. — A public meeting was called in the old court-house 
on the 18th of February, 1856, to organize the Montour County Agricultural 
Society. The following officers were elected: Thomas R. Hull, president. 
Vice-presidents, Phillip F. Maus, Valley; C. Garrettson, Danville; Robert Pat- 
terson, Liberty; P. Wagner, Limestone; D. Wilson, Anthony; E. Haas, Deny; 
J. Sheep, West Hemlock; G. Shick, Mayberry; William McNinch, Cooper; 
Jacob Sechler, Sr., Mahoning. Secretary, James McCormick; corresponding 
secretary. Dr. C. H. Frick ; librarian, B. K. Rhodes, and treasurer, D. M. 
Boyd. The board of managers were John Best, George Smith, James G. 
McKee, James McMahan, Jr. , A. B. Cummings, Jacob Sheep, A., F. Russel, 
Stephen Roberts, William Henry, William Yorks, Jacob Cornelison, Edward 
Morison, J. M. Best, Mayberry Gearhart, Joseph Levers, John Hibler, Samuel 
D. Alexander, Robert Blee, William Snyder; E. Wilson, secretary. 

The fair in that year was held at the mouth of Mahoning Creek. The an- 
nual fair was subsequently held at Washingtonville. In the course of time, 
however, some difference arose between the town and a portion of the country. 
The result was a split and the organization of another society, known as the 
Northern Montour Agricultural Society. The headquarters of the latter is at 
Washingtonville, where the annual fairs are held. The Montour County 
Agricultural Society holds its meetings and fairs in Danville. This society 
purchased ground fi-om Waterman & Beaver, on the Mausdale road. It has 
been fenced and a good track has been made. 

The society lingered, sometimes doing fairly well and sometimes otherwise 
for some years. On May 8, 1872, a regular charter was procui-ed, and this is 
the proper date from which is to be reckoned the present agricultural society 
at Danville. By the provision of the charter the following were the first officers : 
President, W. J. McKee; vice-presidents, William Yorks and Charles Fen- 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 37 

stermacher; treasurer, Isaac Amerman; secretary, William K. Halloway; cor- 
responding secretaries, Charles W. Eckman and Nathan Brittain. The execu- 
tive committee consisted of John Derr, Sr. , Alfred S. Sidel, David F. Gouger, 
William McNinch, H. W. Houpt, James N. Miller, Emanuel Sidler, Jeremiah 
Wintersteen, William Sechler, D. M. Shultz, Adam Geringer, M. D. L. Sech- 
ler, Bernard Dougherty, David Grove. 

1872^President, W. S. McKee; vice-presidents, W. C. Yorks, Charles 
Fenstermacher ; secretary, W. K. Halloway; treasurer, Isaac Amerman; record- 
ing secretaries, Nathaniel Brittain and Col. C. W. Eckman. 

1873 — President, William Yorks; vice-presidents, Charles Fenstermacher, 
William Angle; treasure!*, W. R. Halloway; recording secretary, Wilson M. 
Gearhart; corresponding secretaries, E. G. Hoffman and James McCormick. 

1874 — President, D. F. Gouger; vice-presidents, Chris Ernest, Frank Sid- 
ler; corresponding secretaries, E. G. Hoffman and W. K. Halloway; secretary, 
W. M. Gearhart; treasurer, Isaac Amerman. 

1875 — President, M. D. L. Sechler; vice-president, Nathan Fenstermacher; 
treasurer, Isaac Amerman; corresponding secretaries, W. C. Johnston and 
Adam Geringer; recording secretary, Charles M. Zuber. 

1876 — President, Thomas Beaver; vice-presidents, M. D. L. Sechler, Will- 
iam Yorks; treasurer, Isaac Amerman; recording secretary, John Sweisfort. 

1877 — President, M. D. L. Sechler; vice-presidents, Emanuel Sidler, Fred- 
rick Kuiss; corresponding secretaries, E. G. Hoffman, William Sidler; record- 
ing secretary, J. Sweisfort; treasurer, Nathan Fenstermacher. 

1878 — President, Peter Mpwrer; vice-presidents, Caleb Appleman, William 
Mowrer; treasurer, Nathan Fenstermacher; corresponding secretaries, Daniel 
Leidecker and E. G. Hoffman; recording secretary, J. Sweisfort. 

1879 — President, William Bertz; vice-presidents, Caleb Appleman, Will- 
iam Mowrer; recording secretary, J. Sweisfort; treasvirer, N. Fenstermacher; 
corresponding secretaries, M. D. L. Sechler, William Sidler. 

1880— President,. Emanuel Sidler; vice-presidents, John Moore, Jacob San- 
dal; treasurer, Nathan Fenstermacher; recording secretary, William L. Sidler; 
corresponding secretaries, Wilson M. Gearhart, J. Sweisfort; representative 
to the State Board of Agriculture, M. D. L. Sechler. 

1881 — President, Dr. S. Y. Thompson; vice-presidents, James Shultz, 
Thomas Cole; secretary, W. L. Sidler; corresponding secretaries, W. M. Gear- 
hart, W. K. Halloway; treasurer, Jacob Sandal. 

1882 — President, S. Y. Thompson; vice-presidents, John Benfield, G. B. 
Runyan; treasurer, James McCormick; secretary, W. L. Sidler; correspond- 
ing secretaries, W. K. Halloway, W. M. ;_Gearhart; representative to State 
Board, M. D. L. Sechler. 

1883 — President, Samuel Y. Thompson; vice-presidents, M. D. L. Sechler, 
Caleb Appleman; secretary, W. M. Gearhart; corresponding secretaries, W. 
K. Halloway, John K. Geringer; treasurer, Jesse C. Amerman. 

1884 — President, John Benfield; vice-presidents, S. Y. Thompson, M. D. 
L. Sechler; secretary, W. M. Gearhart; corresponding secretaries, W. B. 
Baldy, John C. Patterson; treasurer, Jesse C. Amerman. 

1885 — Pi-esident, M. D. L. Sechler; vice-presidents, B. B. Antrim, Frank 
Sidler; secretary, W. M. Gearhart; corresponding secretaries, W. B. Baldy, 
Elias Knerr; treasurer, Jesse C. Amerman. 

1886 — President, Peter Mowrer; vice-presidents, David P. Diehl, Jacob 
Sandal; secretary, W. B. Baldy; corresponding secretaries, W. M. Gearhart, 
John Hendricks; treasurer, Jesse C. Amerman. j^?^'*^ 

The Northern Montour Agricultural Society was organized in 1871, and is 



38 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

located in Washingtonville, where the society is comfortably fixed with grounds, 
tracks and suitable buildings, in the heart of as fine an agricultural district as 
can be found in the State. 

For several years meetings were held in various places. In 1879 it was re- 
moved to its present location on the farm of Gideon P. Dietrick, in Derry 
Township, where the society has leased thirteen acres of land, on which 
they have an exhibition hall 50x80 feet, erected in 1886, large sheds and 
other suitable buildings. They have a fine half-mile speed track and 
grounds for stock and horse exhibitions, etc. It is not at present a joint stock 
association, being owned entirely by the gentlemen who are its officers. They 
intend, however, to apply to the Legislature for a charter, and to make the 
company a regular stock association. The fairs have been uniformly success- 
ful and are yearly increasing in interest and in the number of exhibitors and 
attendance. Its officers are president, Peter Dietrick; secretary, Charles E. 
Shires; treasurer, David Smith. 



CHAPTER V. 

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. 

A MONG the many serious obstacles that confronted the early settlers was 
.ll\. the want of feasible highways for travel and communication with the older 
settlements, means of transportation to supply the people until they could pro- 
duce the necessaries to keep want and hunger fi'om their cabin doors. The ex- 
uberant forest growth, the treacherous waters of the streams, the rugged, rocky 
hills made the country an unknown world to be explored only by the most ad- 
venturous backwoodsmen, the fearless nomadic trappers and hunters who could 
pilot their way by the north star, or, when the heavens were di-aped in heavy 
clouds, by the moss growing upon the trunks of trees. The people followed 
the streams into the dark unknown world, laboriously pushing their primitive 
water crafts against the stream. In the winter the streams were fi'ozen over and 
then in the spring and summer came the great freshets and the droughts and 
low waters. The people had generally but small stores to bring with them, 
and such were their difficulties to overcome on the way that had they had great 
supplies they could not have transported them. The little stock of salt and 
corn or wheat for bread was often exhausted weeks or months before more was 
grown or could be procured. The men fished and hunted to supply meat, and 
many a pioneer family has been compelled to live for long and painful periods 
of time upon meat alone. The writer has heard experiences in this way, of 
how they would have lean turkey or venison and fat bear meat. The lean 
meat they would feign was bread, and the fat bear meat. But no imagination 
could be active enough to prolong this make-believe. And sometimes to the 
accumulated horrors of pioneer life came grim, gaunt famine. Then, indeed, 
the cup of bitter dregs was filled to overflowing. Here was the slow accumula- 
tion of horrors. What a brood of birds of evil omen spreading their wings 
over the land ! When we add to this malaria, disease and death that have 
lurked in wait upon the occupants of all new countries, and that wei'e ever 
ready to spring upon these intruders of the primeval wastes and blast them 
with its poisoned breath ; the dense forests, the gnarled old oaks and the deep 



>o. 



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HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 41 

rooted pines of the hills and the dense forest verdure and tangled growth of 
the valley, the tortuous streams and their angry, raging waters that flung 
their headlong course across the dim trails of the immigrant, and when once 
crossed threatened to ever fence him out from a return to friends and civilization; 
the soft footed beasts lying in ambush for prey, or whetting their sharp gleam- 
ing teeth, and shrieking and howling in famishing hunger that gave them 
dangerous courage; the impenetrable forest growth filled with animal life, 
the tops and branches of the trees crowned with birds of song and variegated 
plumage in happy content, carolling their songs of liberty to the skies; the 
bodies of the trees covered with countless and often poisonous insects, and upon 
the ground and on the branches of the trees the softly gliding reptiles spotted 
with deadly beauty. And now to crown all, and worse and more deadly than 
all these terrors that confronted the settlers, were the red devils in black paint, 
the cunning, stealthy, cowardly, pitiless murderers who slowly tortured their 
helpless victims, men, women and sucking babes with outrages, mutilation 
and the refinement of inflictions that must have always made death a most wel- 
come and happy refuge to the poor victims. When all these terrible obstacles 
had been well mastered and the pioneer had cleared his little patch of ground, 
built his one-roomed log cabin and begun to feel the happy impulses of having 
a home — though never so humble yet the fruition of the day dreams of his life, it 
was his own, and it covered and protected his household goods — yet his vic- 
tory was not complete and his happiness was not to be undisturbed. Then 
impended and sometimes came the more terrible enemy, gaunt famine, who sat 
at the rude board table and laid his long bony hand upon the curly headed 
darlings, blanched the cheek and dulled the eye of the loving wife and mother 
converting her cooing lullaby and the sweet, rippling laughter of childhood into 
a wail — a weak and dying cry for bread. 

Where is there a more mournful chapter in all history than that of the 
terrible sufferings from famine of the colonists of Jamestown and Plymouth ? 
In a somewhat milder form the sad story followed the advance settlers in the 
wilderness. The average pioneer would have his family usually, and but 
little else. And now, nearing the banks of the northern Mississippi, you can 
find in every county ' ' old settlers " who can tell you of the pains of want and 
hunger that hemmed them about in the early days. How the little stores that 
they carried to their new homes were exhausted or destroyed in the storms or 
raging streams, and how the men would hunt for game, and the women and 
children would tend the little truck patch and watch the growing pumpkins 
or corn or other early vegetables, or hunt nuts, berries and roots, or anything 
to sustain life. A venerable old lady told the writer of her experience in 
childhood, one long summer, when herself and the other children often ate 
the pumpkins before the bloom had fallen entirely off; how the first ear of 
green corn came to them like a ray of joy and hope and was devoured raw, 
and what perfect happiness was in that family, grown gaunt and sickly for the 
want of healthy food, when the corn finally hardened enough for the tin 
grater that gave them truly the bread of life. In the long course of time and 
slow tortures the grain for bread would be grown, then the grater would give 
way to the mortar and pestle, and in time the far-away horse-mill or water- 
mill would be the Mecca for long and hard voyages with the grist to grind. 
To go to mill would be a week' s hard labor, and then your own horse and 
hands would, after waiting sometimes a day or two for youi* turn, have to 
slowly grind your own grist. Food that now we would hardly feed our pigs on 
was then procured by the constant and active struggle of every chick and child 
of the household. Coarse and mean as the best food then was, it came to 

3A 



42 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

these poor famishing children of the wilds like manna from heaven. What a 
grim vein of humor there was in the old pioneer's story of going to mill, as 
he related it at an " old settlers' " meeting a short time ago. It was in the 
winter, and he had to make the long journey with his grist, provender and 
food loaded into an ox cart. The outfit made a full load. After many days' 
travel, sleeping under his cart at night, facing the extremes of weather and 
winter storms, he eventually reached the little horse-mill. It was broken and 
could not o-rind. He took up his journey to the next nearest mill, which he 
finally found, and after waiting three days reached his turn, ground what he and 
his team had not eaten, and started home; then was delayed by swollen streams 
and blinding storms, until everything in his cart was devoured except an old 
horse blanket and some skins that were his bedding. And thus he drew the 
vivid pictnre of going to mill and starving on the way home — pioneer experi- 
ences ! 

But thus our nation was cradled. 

The first dim and devious trails were as early as possible supplemented by 
' ' cut oui ' ' wagon roads, that were surely at first difficult enough to travel over 
with a team and an empty wagon. The people annually set apart several days 
to come together and work ^^pon the roads, and then put up rough, poor 
bridges — these were generally washed away the first high water that came. 
But nothing daunted they would be rebuilt — the work done the best they could — 
and other betterments were made to the wagon roads. Slowly, indeed, did 
these essential improvements progress, but finally passable roads and bridges 
were constructed on the main lines of travel and transportation. 

The organization to build the ' ' Centre Turnpike, ' ' extending from Beading 
to the Susquehanna Biver opposite Northumberland, was perfected in 1808. 
One of the active promoters and managers of this daring and important enter- 
prise was Gen. William Montgomery. The work was pushed with sleepless 
energy. It was a work in its day and times as great as was the building of the 
Union Pacific Bailroad in these days. 

In 1814 a turnpike road from Danville to Bear Gap, where it connected 
with the Centre Turnpike, was built. These were important and beneficent 
public works, gained only by the most heroic struggles. The promoters were 
the foremost men in the country — the great benefactors of their age. 

In 1820 the great State internal improvement system was inaugurated. That 
year a citizen of Danville, Daniel Montgomery, was appointed one of the canal 
commissioners, of which he was elected president. He exercised much influence 
over the direction and building of the canals then constructed. While he was in 
this position the North Branch Canal was located. The survey was made in 
1826-27, and the work contracted early in 1828. In 1832 the first water was 
turned in, and a boat that year was loaded with wheat in Danville and taken to the 
Sweetwater — the boat itself being built in Danville. The line of the canal as orig- 
inally built was from Lackawanna Creek to Columbia, a distance of about 150 
miles. There was only three feet tonnage at first, and by raising the ' ' path " 
and by di-edging the canal bottom the depth of water has been increased to the 
present gauge of between six and seven feet. It continued to be the property 
of the State until about 1854, when it was sold, and is now a part of the posses- 
sions of the Pennsylvania Bailroad. 

The building of the canal was an important era in this part of the State. It 
invited men and capital to come and take advantage of what was going to be a 
rapid rise in values and more, what was going to be a day of swift develop- 
ment of public and private enterprises of all kinds. The canal, as all men could 
see, would let in here the light and sunshine of civilization. It would open a 



HISTORY OF MONTOUK COUNTY. 43 

cheap and easy highway of transportation. It would bring together the 
great and rich deposits of iron ore of this place and the fuel of other places 
for its manufactiire. And responsive to this came here men and capital, 
operatives and laborers, and every day, almost every hour, visible signs 
of growth of the most substantial and cheering kind were to be seen on 
every hand. Such a thing as a monopoly was then mostly unknown and un- 
seen in this country. The writer talking to a mechanic who had worked in 
•Danville from the opening of the canal to the present, asked him what he then 
had to pay for coal, and was told that he bought coal then for $1.50 a ton and 
now pays $3. 50. This at first view is unaccountable, especially when we re- 
member that three railroads pass Danville in addition to the canal. 

The Danville Bridge Company was chartered January 2, 1828, "to 
build a bridge across the Susquehanna at the town of Danville." The fol- 
lowing was the company in its first organization. President, Daniel Mont- 
gomery; treasurer, James Longhead; secretary, John Cooper; managers, 
John C. Boyd, William Colt, Peter Baldy, Sr., William Boyd, Andrew Mc- 
Reynolds and Robert C. Grier. On the 3d of March in the same year a con- 
tract was made for the construction of the bridge with John P. Schuyler and 
James Fletcher, who at once commenced the work, and in January, 1829, it 
was completed, being accepted by the company in February, as finished ac- 
cording to contract. The governor was notified of the fact, as the State orig- 
inally held a small amount of stock in the bridge. Daniel Hoffman was elected 
the first toll collector at the annual salary of $65. Previous to the 14th 
of March, 1846, eleven dividends had been declared; on that day the bridge 
was swept away by a flood in the river. Daniel Blizard was carried down on a 
fragment of the bridge and was rescued with great difficulty near the old stone 
house. Subsequent to that date no dividend was declared until 1863. After 
the loss of the bridge in the great freshet of March, 1846, a contract for 
its rebuilding was made with Chester Evans and David N. Kownover; but 
Evans disposed of his interest to Kownover and the latter alone carried on 
and finished the work. This second bridge stood the storms and floods un- 
til 1875 when it too was swept away by the high waters and the floating Cata- 
wissa bridge, that was washed against it with such force as to lift it up when the 
waters bore it away on the 17th of March in that year. The bridge was 
at once rebuilt in the ensuing season. H. F. Hawke & Co. did the stone work 
and the superstructure was erected by the Smith Bridge Company, of Ohio. 
The toll collectors from the first opening of the bridge to the present time 
were Daniel Hoffman, Rudolph Sechler, E. Mellon, Isaiah S. Thornton and 
Joseph Hunter. Mr. Joseph Hunter took charge in 1851. 

The bridge is one-fourth of a mile in length, with a covered footway on 
each side, entirely shut out from the roadway. 

The present officers are president, A. J. Frick; secretary and treasurer, 
J. C. Grove; managers, W. H. Magill, A. J. Frick, Isaac X. Grier, "Wilson 
Metter, G. M. Shoop, B. R. Gearhart, Amos Vastine. Officers are elected an- 
nually. 

The Catawissa Railroad, now the Catawissa division of the Philadelphia 
& Reading Railroad, extends from Tamanend to Williamsport, passing through 
the mountainous and romantic portions of Schuylkill and Columbia Counties 
for a distance of about forty miles, until it reaches the village of Catawissa. 
Between Catawissa and Rupert it crosses the North Branch of the Susquehanna 
River, and at Rupert Station connection is made with the Delaware. Lack- 
awanna & Western Railroad. Leaving the river at this point, the line takes a 
direct coiu'se across a beautiful farming country for a distance of seven miles 



44 HISTOEY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

to Danville. From Danville to Milton, sixteen miles, the route lies through a 
fertile section devoted to agriculture. At Milton it connects with the Phila- 
delphia & Erie Railroad; at Hall's Station it connects with the Muncy Creek 
Railroad. 

The Danville, Hazleton & Wilkesbarre Railroad was commenced in 1868 
and completed in 1871. The active promoter and organizer of this enterprise 
was S. P. Case, its first president. The line extends from Sunbury, where it 
connects with the Philadelphia & Erie, Northern Central, Lewistown &. 
Sunbury & Shamokin division of the Northern Central Railroad, to Tom- * 
hicken, where it connects with the Lehigh Valley Railroad. Mr. Case encoun- 
tered heavy opposition, when he commenced to build his road, from other 
interested corporations, but without money and with but small credit he over- 
came every obstacle. The road is now a part of the great Pennsylvania system, 
and is run and operated by this company. 

The Montour Iron Works has a track passing up Mahoning Creek a short 
distance and then a branch leads off northeasterly to the company' s ore beds ; the 
other leads to the Russell rock quarry. These are private tracks for the pur- 
pose of the company that built them. 

The Lackawanna, Williamsport & "Western Railroad was built and long 
known as the Lackawanna & Bloomsburg road. It became a completed rail- 
road in 1858 and is one of the most important and convenient lines of trans- 
portation that touches Montour County. Its termini are Scranton and North- 
umberland — distance eighty miles. It is leased and operated by the Delaware, 
Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company. 

The Wilkesbarre and Western Railway is now in the course of construc- 
tion across the county. The termini of this road are Watsonville and Shick- 
shinny. Building was commenced in the spring of 1886, and the work pro- 
gressed rapidly, passing through this county to Millville. This is an inde- 
pendent organization and is built in the interest solely of its projectors and 
owners. It passes near Washingtonville and will open up transportation 
facilities to the finest and richest portions of the county. 



CHAPTER VI. 
BORDER WARS— WAR 1812-15— MEXICAN WAR— CIVIL WAR, ETC. 

THE border troubles kept alive the military spirit of the pioneers until the 
angry disputes with England about the impressment of our sailors brought 
us into conflict with that power a second time. Then followed the Black Hawk 
war, the Florida war, the Mexican war, and more recently the most deplorable 
of all, the civil war. In all these conflicts the people of Montour County did 
not falter, they did their duty, they bore a fair and chivalrous part in them 
all. A number of military companies was organized at different periods and 
at an early day. 

In 1814, when the British fleet lay off the coast threatening Baltimore, 
Gov. Snyder ordered the militia of Northumberland, Luzerne and Columbia 
Counties to rendezvous at Danville. About 1,000 men were soon collected, all 
under the command of Maj. Post, of Luzerne County. He appointed Joseph 



HISTOKY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 45 

Maus quartermaster. This young army was stationed in Danville about two 
weeks, when 500 of them were ordered to Northumberland County. When 
they were ready to go to Baltimore and were expecting orders to do so every 
hour, the good news came that the British had been defeated and had sailed 
with their fleet. The battle ground was thus transferred to New Orleans and 
' ' Johnny came marching home. ' ' 

The Danville Militia. — This is the first company of which there is any 
record, and that is unsatisfactory. We only know that at the close of the last 
war with England it was flourishing and well organized. It then numbered 
100 members rank and file and was commanded by Capt. Samuel Yorks, who 
had seen active service as lieutenant in the ' ' Danville Blues. ' ' Thomas W. 
Bell was one of the subordinate ofiicers of the company. Others are forgot- 
ten, a century having almost obliterated the recollection of those early citizen- 
soldiers. 

The Danville Blues. — This was a rifle company commanded by Capt. Isaac 
Blue. The names of its members can only be recalled in part. The im- 
perfection of the roll is a source of regret, as it would be a great satisfaction 
to all, and especially to their descendants, to know the names of those who so 
freely responded. 

The following is a portion of the roll : 

Isaac Blue, captain. John Dugan. Edward Morison. 

Herbert W. Best. John McCoy. David Petrikin, surgeon. 

Isaiah Blue. John Mills. Sanders. 

Colin Cameron. Abner Moore. Jacob Sechler. 

Daniel Cameron. Asa Moore. Samuel Yorks, lieutenant. 

Alexander Campbell. 

This company was in active service on the frontier in 1813, and was sta- 
tioned at Black Rock, where it suffered severely from the malignant fever, then 
known as the Black Rock fever. Some of the members died with the fever 
notwithstanding the skillful efforts of Dr. Petrikin in their behalf. One of the 
victims of the epidemic was Alexander Campbell. 

The Light Horse was a company of light dragoons commanded by Capt. 
Clarke of DeiTy. This company of cavalry was a great favorite of the people 
in its palmy days. Many of the most enterprising young men of the county, 
who were the cavaliers of that day, were members of the " Light Horse. " 
Well armed and equipped, their spirited and showy horses, their tine military 
dress and thorough di'ill, led by their gallant captain, with Trumpeter Sanders 
in his gay, scarlet uniform in the van, sounding his clarion notes to the great 
delight of juvenility, they made the day of parade one of the great gala days, 
ranking with Christmas and the Fourth of July. And right fortunate were 
the boys who were permitted to go to Washingtonville to witness the regimen- 
tal parades in that ancient village. 

The organization of the " Light Horse" dated back to 1810, and although 
not mustered into service during the war that followed, they had promptly vol- 
unteered, and were highly indignant when the Government refused to accept 
their services. 

The members of this brilliant cavalry company have all passed away. 
Many of them attained a great age. The last survivor of the gallant chivalry 
who so gloriously rode their war horses through the streets of Danville has 
long since departed. He was almost ninety years of age when he gave the 
following particulars as his recollection of the roster : 

Charles Clark, captain. James Boyd. James Donaldson. 

John Blue. Lucas Brass. John Donalson. 

Elisha Barton. Isaac Bear. William De Pew. 



46 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 



Charles Evans. 
Charles M. Frazer. 
Charles Frazer. 
John Gulicks. 
John Gaskins. 
James Hamilton. 
Kipp. 



King. 

William Kitchen. 
Daniel Montgomery. 
Lewis Maus. 
Joseph Maus. 
Robert Moore. 
Thomas Moorhead. 



Peter Pursel. 
William Sheriff. 
James Stevenson. 
Henry Sanders. 
Daniel Woodside. 
James Woodside. 
Thomas Woodside. 



Columbia Guards. — This company was organized in 1817, and was long 
the pride of the county. It embraced many of the enterprising and patriotic 
young men of the community. The muster roll at the organization of the 
company or very soon thereafter, has been preserved, and is as follows: 



John Anthony. 
William Barber. 
Samuel Baum. 
Daniel Barber. 
John Best. 
Anthony Boon. 
Matthew Blackwell. 
William Clark. 
Thomas Clark. 
Thomas Colt. 
William Colt. 
James Colt. 
William Cathcart. 
Isaac Cornelison. 
James Carson, captain. 
Alexander Donaldson. 
William Donaldson. 
William DePew. 
Frederick Frick. 

Fisher. 

Thomas Grier. 



Charles Goodman. 
William G. Hurley. 
Ellis Hughes. 
Jacob Hibler. 
Samuel Huntington. 
Jared Irwin. 
Adolphus Kent. 
Amos E. Kitchen. 
John Lundy. 
Asher Lyon. 
Daniel W. Montgomery. 
John Montgomery. 
Henry Marshall. 
John Moore. 
Charles Moore. 
Andrew Y. Moore. 
Burrows Moore. 
Samuel Moore. 
Thomas Moorehead. 
Hugh McWilliams. 



Hector McCallister. 
William S. Maus. 
Gideon Mellon. 
Matthew Patterson. 
George Potter, captain. 
John Pervin. 
Orrin Sholes. 
Jacob Sechler. 

Savage. 

John M. thiel. 
Casper Thiel. 
Samuel Underwood. 
David Woodside. 
Robert Woodside. 
Jacob Wieman. 
Isaac Warner. 
Thomas Wiley. 
James Wilson. 
Charles Wilson. 
John Young. 



The Colambia Guards, together with the Northumberland Artillerists, 
Capt. Priestly, the Warrior Run Infantry and others, constituted the North- 
umberland and Columbia battalion of volunteers, commanded by Maj. R. Cole- 
man Hall. In the summer of 1823 there was a battalion parade in Danville, 
on the then open ground between Bloom and Center Streets. Dr. W. H. Ma- 
gill, then a young man, was surgeon of the battalion. The parade is said to 
have l^een the grandest military display ever witnessed in Danville. 

The Columbia Guards were first commanded by Capt. Potter, and subse- 
quently by Capts. Carson, Colt, Best, Wilson and Frick, until 1846, stretch- 
ing over a period of about thirty years. In that year the first call was made 
upon the citizen soldiery since the organization of the company. Prompted 
by a patriotic desire to serve their country in the Mexican war, their services 
were ofFered and accepted, and the Columbia Guards, under the command of 
Capt. Wilson, numbering ninety-four, rank and file, were mustered into the 
service of the United States on the 28th of December, 1846. Brown fell 
at Matamoras, like a hero in battle, and the banks of the Rio Grande had 
drunk the blood of a Ringgold, and they hastened to the defense of the ' ' starry 
banner," many, alas! to return no more. 

The first engagement of the Guards was at the storming of Vera Cruz, and 
there, at the opening of their brilliant campaign, the lamented Capt. Wilson 
died on the 10th of April, 1847. Capt. Wilson was a model ofiicer. His 
remains were brought home and bui'ied with due honors among his family and 
kindred. From Vera Cruz, the company, under the command of Dr. C. H. 
Frick, proceeded in the victorious march of Gen. Scott toward the city of 
Mexico. In the battle of Cerro Gordo they took a prominent part, and lost 
one of their number, John Smith, who was killed by a musket ball in storm- 



HISTOKY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 47 

ing the heights. At the bloody battle of Chapultepec they lost two more of 
their comrades — William Dietrich and John Snyder. 

On approaching the capital of the enemy, the defense of San Angelos 
with all the military stores — a post of distinguishing honor and vast responsi- 
bility and of peculiar danger — was committed to the Columbia Guards, and 
on the 13th of September, 1847, they were among the fix'st in Gen. Scott's 
triumphant march into the city of the Aztecs and the halls of the Montezumas. 

After an absence of nearly two years, when Mexico was conquered, they 
retiu-ned to Danville on the 28th of July, 1849. 

A little time developed the fact that most of those who returned had con- 
tracted the diseases of an uncongenial climate, and one by one they have 
passed away. Jesse G. Clarke, Ad. Ray and their lamented commander, the 
noble-hearted Dr. Clarence H. Frick, followed on that returnless march to the 
music of the tolling bells, beyond the reach of war's alarms. 

A remnant only survive, but they, too, are treading the down-hill of life, 
and they, too, ere long will rally to the last ' ' reveille, ' ' and form into line 
with the platoon already advanced beyond the river. When the company 
returned it was reorganized; captain, George W. Forrest. 

After Capt. Forrest removed to Lewisburg, Oscar Ephlin was chosen cap- 
tain. Under his command they entered the Union Army, where the brave re- 
cruits who filled the places of the veterans had a taste of actual service. After 
serving their time they were honorably discharged and disbanded as a com- 
pany. The elder members in Mexico, and the younger in the war for the 
Union, have made for themselves a record that is alike honorable to themselves 
and to the county. 

The flag of the Old Guards, riddled and torn in the Mexican campaign, is 
still displayed on public occasions, and always calls forth the warmest feelings 
of patriotism and local pride, as its tattered fragments proclaim the heroism of 
the brave men who followed it through the battle and the storm. On one oc- 
casion it caught the eye and was instantly recognized by Gov. Geary, while ad- 
dressing a mass meeting; and none will ever forget his glowing tribute to the 
' ' Old Guards, ' ' which the sight of their well known flag inspired. 

The following is the roll as mustered into the United States service for the 
Mexican war : 

CAPTAIN. 

John S. Wilson. 

LIEUTENANTS. 

Clarence H. Frick, First lieutenant. 

Edward E. La Clerc, Second lieutenant. 

William Brindle, Second lieutenant. 

SERGEANTS. 

George S. Kline, First sergeant. 

James D. Slater, Second sergeant. 

Robert Clark, Third sergeant. 

Charles Evans, Fourth sergeant. 

CORPOKAXS. 

John Adams, First corporal. 

James Oliver, Second corporal. 

John Smith, Third corporal. 

Arthur Gearhart, Fourth corporal. 

MUSICIANS. 

Thomas Clark, Drummer. 

Jesse G. Clark, Fifer. 



48 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 



PRIVATES. 

Samuel Huntingdon. 
Adam Heisler. 
Henry Hecncastle. 
Oliver Helme. 
William S. Kertz. 
William King. 
Jer(>me Konkle. 
Charles Lytle. 
Ira Lownsberry. 
Robert Lyon. 
John A. Lowery. 
Benjamin Laform. 
Benjamin J. Martin. 
Jasper Musselman. 
Edward McGonnell. 
George Miller. 
William Moser. 
Archibald Mooney. 
Mahlon K. Manly. 
John G. Mai Ion. 
Alexander McDonald. 
Daniel Martial. 
Richard FI. McKean. 
Charles Moynthan. 
Robert McAlmont. 
HughMcFadden. 
James McClelland. 



Norman B. Mack. 
William McDonald. 
Casper Oatenwelder 
Daniel Poorman. 
Peter S. Reed. 
Philip Rake. 
James A. Stewart. 
Peter M. Space. 
Jonathan R. Sanders. 
Oliver C. Stevens. 
Daniel Snyder. 
Edward Seler. 
Peter Seigfried. 
John C. Snyder. 
John N. Scofield. 
William Swartz. 
Joseph H. Stratton. 
William H. Swaney. 
John A. Sarvey. 
Benjamin Tumbleton. 
Adam Wray. 
William White. 
George Wagner. 
Jacob Willet. 
Jerome Walker. 
George Wingar. 
Peter W. Yarnell. 



Charles W. Adams. 
Alvin M. Allen. 
Jacob App. 

George W. Armstrong. 
Frederick Brandt. 
Samuel Burns. 
Elam B. Bonham. 
William Banghart. 
John Birkenbine. 
Samuel D. Baker. 
Francis Bower. 
Francis R. Best. 
William Brunner. 
William H. Birchfleld. 
Randolph Ball. 
Peter Brobst. 
Abram B. Carley. 
Michael Corrigan. 
William Dieterech. 
William Erie. 
Daniel S. Follmer. 
Charles W. Fortner. 
Robert H. Forster. 
Sewell Gibbs. 
Edward Grove. 
George Garner. 
Thomas Graham. 
Shepherd'W. Girton. 

In the war with Mexico the guards were Company C, in the Second Regi- 
ment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, commanded by Col. afterward Gov. John W. 
Geary. 

Montour Rifles. — This company was organized in Danville on the 13th of 
July, 1855, under the command of Capt. J. J. Zuber. August Fogel was 
first lieutenant and M. Rosenstein was second lieutenant. In 1859 Capt. Zuber 
was promoted to a majorship, and some adverse influences caused the dissolu- 
tion of the company. Most of its members entered the United States service; 
the greater portion enlisted in Company E, Sixth Regiment Reserves. The 
company was commanded by M. K. Manly. John Horn was one of the lieu- 
tenants of Company E. 

Tlie First in War. — The first military company that left Danville for the 
war was recruited and commanded by Capt. William M. McClure — 100 men. 
They enlisted for three months and honorably served their time. They were 
in the battle of Falling Waters and had one member killed, whose name was 
Amos Zuppinger, one of the first soldiers killed in battle. Capt. McClure 
afterward commanded Company F, in the One Hundi'ed and Twelfth Artillery, 
and for brave conduct was subsequently promoted to the position of colonel of 
the regiment. 

The Baldy Guards. — This company was organized in Danville and mus- 
tered into the service of the United States on the 25ih of September, 1861, 
under the command of Capt. Joseph F. Ramsey. The best elements of young 
and vigorous manhood in Danville were embodied in this company, nor did it 
disappoint the ardent hopes of the friends it left behind. The company was 
named for P. Baldy, Sr. , an old citizen of Danville. They were attached to the 
Ninety-third Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, and were designated as Com- 
pany H of that regiment. Their first battle was on the Peninsula, at Will- 
iamsburg, and they subsequently were in all the sieges and battles of the Army 
of the Potomac until the closing scene at Appomatox. On the resignation of 
Capt. Ramsey in 1862, Charles W. Eckman became captain of the Baldy 
Guards on the 21st of October, that year. 




^'J-^l^L->^ / 6-^' 



t^- 



1^^^^) 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 51 

On the promotion of Capt. Eckman, Joseph H. Johnson was made captain, 
and served in command of the Baldy Guards to the close of the war. 

The officers of the company, when mustered into the service September 25, 
1861, were Joseph F. Ramsey, captain; Leffred H. Kase and Charles W. 
Eckman, lieutenants; James Auld, quartermaster. 

Second Artillery. — Company F, One Hundred and Twelfth Regiment, Penn- 
sylvania Volunteers, or Second Pennsylvania Artillery, was organized in Dan- 
ville by Capt. William M. McClure. A large portion of its members was 
of Danville and vicinity. This regiment served with much distinction and did 
much hard service during the war. 

Danville Fencibles. — This company was organized in Danville in 1862, un- 
der command of Capt. Joseph E. Shreeve. This company was in the bloody 
battle of Antietam and there it lost seven in killed, namely : J. M. Hassanplug, 
D. Van Ronk, Jacob Long, Daniel Klase, Samuel Hilner, Hiram Hummel 
and John Gibson. Eighteen were wounded. Among the latter were James 
Foster, John Leighow, George Lovett, Charles Flick and D. R. Shutt. The 
company was attached to the One Hundred and Thirty-second Regiment Penn- 
sylvania Volui^teers. Officers. — Joseph E. Shreeve, captain; George W. Van- 
gilder, first lieutenant; Charles N. Norris, second lieutenant. After the battle 
of Antietam Capt. Shreeve was promoted to major of the One Hundred and 
Thirty-second Regiment, and Charles N. Norris was made captain of the com- 
pany. 

Company E, Sixth Pennsylvania i?eserfes, was organized in Danville under 
command of Capt. M. K. Manly, one of the survivors of the Mexican cam- 
paign. Charles Richards and John Hoi-n were the lieutenants. Richards 
subsequently became captain of the company. Among the privates in this 
company were William Keiner, who lost a leg; Nicholas Frazer, killed at Har- 
rison's Landing; Jacob Miller, lost a foot; Ernest Aderhold, lost a leg. 

When the rebels invaded the North there was an ' ' emergency ' ' call for 
troops, when every county and township in Pennsylvania quickly responded. 

The Thirteenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia was speedily recruited, and 
advanced to the front to meet the invading foe. Montoui- County furnished 
two companies for this regiment as follows: 

Company A, with following named officers: Captain, John A. Winner; 
first lieutenant, W. A. M. Grier; second lieutenant, John C. Perrin; first 
sergeant, John G. Hammer; second sergeant, Simon Lyon; third sergeant, 
Elias Knerr; fourth sergeant, T. C. Hullihen; fifth sergeant, William R. 
Pursell ; first corporal, Robert Adams, Jr. ; second corporal, William T. 
Ramsey; third corporal, John W. Thatcher; fourth corporal, Benj. W. Vas- 
tine; fifth corporal, Geo. L'win; sixth corporal, Samiiel Earp; seventh corporal, 
John Werkheiser; eighth corporal, Samuel Haman; quartermaster-sergeant, 
Reuben Riehl. 

Company K, with following named officers: Captain, William Young; first 
lieutenant, Alfred Melon; second lieutenant, Alfred B. Patton; first ser- 
geant, M. B. Munson; second sergeant, A. Jerome Harder; third sergeant, 
Geo. W. Ramsey; fourth sergeant, Alexander Hofner; first corporal, Alfred 
Yerrick; second corporal, Hugh P. Liphart; third corporal, Lewis Byerly; 
fourth corporal, William Miller. 

The expedition went as far as Hagerstown, and were in the service two 
weeks when they retiu-ned to Danville and were mustered out. 

Company F, National Guards, was organized in Danville in 1878; was 
first commanded by Capt. P. E. Maus, and was mustered as Company F of 
the Twelfth Regiment, National Guard of Pennsylvania. Capt. Maus re- 
signed in 1880, and J. Sweisfort was elected captain of the company. 



52 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 



CHAPTER VII. 
SCHOOLS. 

HERE we approach the subject of vital interest to every one. How best 
to rear oiir children, give them sound minds and bodies, fit them to live 
the best lives, and equip them for the struggle of life, is the one overshadow- 
ing problem of existence. A well-poised mind in a healthy body is the su- 
premest thing to be looked upon in this world. For thousands of years the 
world has had its schools with but little variations in the fundamentals in all 
that time. For nearly eighteen hundred years the present system of pietistie 
schools has been carried on, with variations so slight in the material parts as 
hardly to be perceptible. A little more than one hundred years ago came the 
Swiss school-teacher, Pestalozzi, who alone to that time was great enough to 
question the old and supposed divine processes of education, and for himself 
think and act in behalf of mankind. Like every daring doubter and thinker 
he lived centuries in advance of his age, and the educators of to-day will sing 
their feeble paeons to the great Swiss and then drop into the most ancient ruts, 
only covering the ragged pits and yawning chasms of the highway with thinly 
spread varnish of supposed perfected improvements in the schools. Educators 
and school officers are always beset with the imminent danger of becoming 
mutual admiration societies, and when they reach this beatific state it is pure 
folly to expect any thus afflicted to attempt to venture into new highways or 
question the j)erfection of anything that has come to them fr-om the fathers. 
Blunt and rugged old Thomas Carlyle said: " Nature gives healthy children 
much, how much! Wise education is a wise unfolding of this; often it unfolds 
itself better of its own accord. ' ' If the young mind ever does the ' ' better 
unfold itself of its own accord," then the schools are neither infallible nor 
perfected institutions. Then great educators must bestir themselves — not in por- 
traying the beauties of glittering superstructures built upon these ancient founda- 
tions, but in replacing what is rotten by sound timbers. The interest of every 
father and guardian of the young on the subject of education must be increased; 
the knowledge widened until they can make intelligent demands upon the edu- 
cators, and then only will the real schools come. They are not perfect now. 
Grant all the most enthusiastic claim for them they are still very imperfect 
workers in the great cause of civilization. No comment can equal the recent 
startling questions that have been asked by a few of the world's real thinkers, 
such as ' ' Does education educate ?" " Do the schools increase insanity ?' ' 
"Do they sometimes destroy health?" "Does the schoolroom ever over- 
work and break down the pupil?" "Does it really give knowledge?" 
' ' Should the public free school pass beyond the three rudimentary branches 
of education?" "Are strictly graded schools the crowning glory or evil 
of our system ?' ' Here are great and important questions. They have not 
been asked by fools or the enemies of education. How does Nature pro- 
ceed about the work of ' ' wisely unfolding ' ' the rich gifts of heaven to healthy 
children? Who can answer? Yet she knows best; she will not be thwarted. 
She is not a loving old fool that can be wheedled or cheated, cajoled or bribed 
out of pursuing her unalterable, inexorable course in everything — even the 
school and its master. 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 53 

This will strike the reader as an unusual mode of introduction to a chapter 
giving some account of the schools in the county. They are not arguments nor 
assertions about the system of schools. They are a few of the many thousands 
of questions that should be fully considered on the subject, intended as mere 
hints to thoughts that the reader may arouse in his own mind and think out for 
himself. If in a single one they do arouse a healthy investigation in a mind 
energetic enough to pursue the subject to the end, impartially surveying it 
from all sides and in every light, tracing to their sources cause and effect, then 
this book will not have been printed in vain. Simple and crude as are these 
hints, they involve the whole science of biology, the most profound and intri- 
cate questions of life, and he who even tolerably well studies and unfolds them 
will take his place in history as the world' s greatest philosopher. 

The public free schools have been a gradual growth in this country. Our 
fathers were ' ' born in the wildwood, rocked on the wave. ' ' At first they had 
neither schoolhouses nor teachers. The children of that age mostly were of 
necessity left to "unfold " for themselves their gifts of heaven. In time came 
the three months winter subscription school, taught by some stern old Scotch- 
Irish preacher in a floorless and windowless log cabin, where the youths came 
long distances along paths that crossed often streams that were bridged by a 
log felled across them. A dollar's worth of school books would then be a com- 
plete outfit for the highest-roomed pupil, and this kit passed down the line to 
younger brothers and sisters, till the entire family household had passed out 
the batten door of their school-day alma mater. Until the establishment of 
the public schools in 1834, the outfit of a pupil was a Webster's spelling-book, 
a Testament, a Dobold's arithmetic, a slate, a goose quill, and a few sheets of 
foolscap paper. Puncheon benches without backs, a log cut out and oil 
paper over it was the improved window. Ten long dreary hours were spent 
under the eye of the master, who at all events would compel the poor young 
martyrs to keep their books before their faces. But one general theory then 
prevailed in rearing children: task them to the utmost and "spare the rod 
and spoil the child" were the most elevated ideas of fathers and teachers. 
Life was then rough, rude, but earnest and solemn. 

Of the early schools in Montour County Mr. William Henry, in his report 
to the State school superintendent among other things says there were no 
schools known prior to 1790. The first of which there is any account was 
built in 1793 by James Montgomery, father of Hugh K. Montgomery, assisted 
by the few scattered settlers then here, the building stood near the Milton & 
Danville road, and but a short distance from the present county line. James 
Montgomery was the fir.st teacher, and this fixes the fact that he was the real 
^ ' pioneer ' ' teacher in what is now Montour County. How long this first 
building stood is not known. The supposition is there were no other teachers 
taught there except him. In 1797 a rude log house was built on the road 
leading from Danville to Bloomsburg, on the ground occupied by the late 
William Yorks. This building had neither floor nor chimney. The roof was 
rough beams covered with branches, leaves and earth. David Davis, of Val- 
ley Township, was an attendant here in 1800. Mr. Hewitt was then the 
teacher. The next building of which there is any account was built in 1806 
in Washingtonville Borough, particulars of which are given in the chapter on 
Derry Township. 

The recollections of J. Fraser, as published some years ago, differ from 
Mr. Henry's statement somewhat. He gives substantially this account of the 
first school and teachers and pupils. It is of sufficient interest to give the 
substance of it. 



54 HISTOKY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

The old log schoolhouse was built about 1785. It was twenty feet square. 
The tire-place admitted wood ten feet long. Desks were made of a single 
board along the side of the room. There were about twenty pupils at most 
attending. The teachers ' ' boarded around. ' ' Mr. Gibson, a settled inhabi- 
tant of Danville, taught among the fii'st and longer than any ether one. The 
following patrons are known of this earliest school : William and John Mont- 
gomery, John Sechler, John Fraser, Thomas Osborn, William Sheriff, Thomas 
Stevenson, John Gulic, Geo. McCulley, Edward Morrison, Murdo Morrison, 
John Simpson, Paul Adams, John Evans, Phillip Maus, Joshua Halleck, John 
and James Emmitt, Alexander Ewing, Dr. Forrest, John Hill and the San- 
ders, Blues, Moores, Woodsides, Cornelisons and Colts. 

Three months in the year was the term of school. At different periods the 
names of the pupils that can now be recalled were John, Jacob, Samuel and 
Harmon Sechler; Archibald, John, James and Eobert Woodsides; Jacob, Isaac, 
James, Ann and Mary Cornelison ; Jesse Simpson, Mary, Margaret and Charles 
M. Fraser, and their cousin, Charles Fraser; Samuel and John Huntington; 
Isaac, Peter, Samuel and John Blue; Asa, Samuel and Charles Moore; Abbie, 
Josiah, Griffith and William Phillips; Joseph and Jacob W. Maus, Charles 
Evans, John McCoy, Jefferson and Eobert Montgomery, the Sechlers, Erasers 
and Montgomerys were the only ones living near enough to the school to go 
home for the noon meal. 

The fuel for the school was supplied by the windfalls on the school lot, and 
was cut by the boys at nooning. Often the boys were taken away before the 
term was out to help ' ' sugar making. ' ' 

In 1802 a new schoolhouse was erected on ground donated by Gen. Mont- 
gomery. Here Andrew Forsyth taught, also John Moore, who afterward 
became a Danville merchant, Thomas W. Bell and Col. Don Carlos Barret. 
The latter went to Texas, where he became an eminent lawyer and statesman, 
and with Houston was one of the Lone Star State' s triumvirate. 

The last survivor of Gibson's pupils, Jacob Sechler, died in Danville 
Christmas day, 1880. 

In 1813 there were three schoolhouses between Danville and Milton, a dis- 
tance of fifteen miles, and there were then not more than eight in what is now 
Montour County. Then all schoolhouses were built by the voluntary help of 
the inhabitants, whenever enough children were within reaching distance to 
justify the movement. On a certain day the inhabitants assembled, went to 
work, and in a few days the primitive schoolhouse of the olden time was in 
existence. Among the teachers who taught in the county prior to 1813 was An- 
drew Forsyth, a gentleman of an eminent Scotch family, a soldier of the war of 
the Revolution, and an intimate friend of Gen. Washington. He made great 
sacrifices for the cause of liberty. He had amassed considerable wealth when 
the war broke out, but placed everything upon the altar of his adopted coun- 
try and lost it. When the war was over he came to Danville and taught school 
until his death in 1814. It is supposed, from certain papers found after his 
death, that he taught here about six years. The last school which he taught 
was at Mooresburg, where he engendered the disease that caused his death. 

After the formation of Columbia County education received a fresh impe- 
tus, especially in Danville, the new county seat. Mahoning Township at this 
time had three schools, to wit: West Danville, East Danville and Mahoning. 
The ground for the West Danville school was given by Gen. Daniel Montgomery, 
the founder of the town; for East Danville and Mahoning schools the land was 
given by John Sechler, one of the oldest settlers in the county. These schools 
were under the supervision of six trustees, who had charge of the buildings. 



HISTOKY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 55 

The teachers were generally elected by the citizens, who came together at a 
call of the trustees. If a stranger wished to become an applicant, the trus- 
tees either examined him themselves or appointed some competent person to 
perform the duty. But little attention was paid to the schools when once they 
were opened, and three or four months' terms per year constituted the time of 
holding them. 

In 1806 Mrs. Eleanor Best opened a subscription school, which she con- 
tinued successfully until 1824. Some of her old subscription books are said 
to be still extant. Among others whose names appear in her list of pupils are 
Daniel Fraser, Daniel Montgomery, Samuel Yorks and Joseph Cornelison. She 
charged $1.50 a quarter per pupil. She taught spelling, reading and writing. 
In this little primitive school were laid the foundations of men who have left 
their names indelibly impressed upon the history of the country. This little 
school performed one thing well ; that was what it pretended, and all it claimed 
to teach the pupils was taught them in such a way that it was never forgotten. 

After 1816 the following were some of the noted teachers up to the time 
of the establishment of the public schools: Thomas Belle, Don Carlos BaiTet, 
Samuel Kirkham, L. C. Judson, Abraham Lillie, Michael Sanders, Ellis 
Hughes, Michael Best, Isaac Mower. 

When D. C. Barret taught in the West Danville school, it is reported that 
at one time he had one hundred pupils attending. Samuel Kirkham, assisted 
by Ellis Hughes, wrote his English grammar while teaching in the Danville 
school. Ellis Hughes was permanently settled here; his reputation was that 
of the best educated man ever in the county up to that time. He came fi'om 
Catawissa in 1820; he was a good surveyor as well as a teacher; he was ap- 
pointed register and recorder by the governor for the new county of Columbia. 
A schoolhouse that he taught in some years stood near the Montour House, 
nearly on the spot now occupied by the Record office. He did all his teaching 
prior to 1832, and for years examined for the different trustees all teachers who 
applied. He was deeply interested in his life work, educating the you^ng, and 
he also took an active part in the State internal improvements. He filled with 
distinction many places of public trust during his life. He died in 1850. His 
descendants are some of the most respected citizens of Danville. 

The schools of the rural districts were deprived, on account of the sparse- 
ness mostly of the settlers, of many of the advantages of the schools in the 
town, as primitive as were the best of the town schools at that day. The rural 
teachers were generally transient and migratory ih their habits, and the ability 
of the people to pay often compelled them to work for wages that were very 
small indeed. In none of them were any attempts made to teach more than 
the true basis of an English education; spelling, reading, writing and cipher- 
ing ' ' to the rule of three ' ' was the boundary line of the most ambitious at- 
tempts — in the words of the ancient school philosopher and trustee, when he 
announced with impressive dignity that he required all applicants to be able to 
teach the "three r's" — "reading, riting and rithmetic." 

" The Old Center Stone Schoolhouse" in Liberty Township was built in 
1823, and stood a prominent school land-mark in the county until 1872, when 
it was destroyed by an incendiary fire. The ground was given jointly by James 
Strawbridge, father of Dr. J. D. Strawbridge, and here the Doctor received 
the foundation of his education. James Aiken, at one time widely known as 
Pennsylvania's rural poet, was one of the principal teachers in this building. 
James Aiken was preceded by James Laferty, whose assistant was a polished 
Irishman named Duncan. 

The first schoolhouse in Washingtonville Borough was built in 1806 — a fi-ame 



56 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

building that is still standing and is now nsed as a residence. The first teacher 
in this building was Abraham Barry, followed by John Craven, John Moore, 
Mr. Allen, John Reilly and Mr. Hutchinson. The principal promoters of the 
school in Derry Township at this early day were Col. Thomas Moorehead, 
Thomas Eobertson and Samuel Brittain. 

Danville Academy was instituted in the year 1818; the ground was dona- 
ted by Gen. Wm. Montgomery. A two-story brick building was erected under 
the auspices of the Presbyterian Church, which elects trustees for its supervis- 
ion and the care of the property. It has been from its building a chief insti- 
tution of learning in the county, and some of our best edvicators have been con- 
nected with it. The prominemt ones of the early teachers were Mr. Painter, 
R. P. Catley, Isaac Grier, S. P. Johnson, John B. Patterson, A. Wood, Mr. 
Nelson, E. W. Conkling. In 1855 this first building was replaced by the pres- 
ent two -story brick structure, and new and better furniture supplied. Rev. J. 
E. Bradley, afterward one of the publishers of the Montour American, was the 
first principal of the school in the new building; succeeded by Joseph W. 
Weston, Mr. Marr, Mr. Wynn and the present teacher, John M. Kalso, who 
has been at the head of the institution since the year 1871. 

Limestonville Institute is a substantial brick edifice erected in 1862, under 
the control of an association of stockholders, for the purpose of establishing a 
classical high school to be called the ' ' Limestonville Institute. ' ' The first of- 
ficers elected were, president, W. D. Weidenhauser; secretary. Rev. Lucien 
Cort; treasurer, A. S. Wagner ; trustee, David Davis. The school opened with 
a goodly attendance of students under the tutorship of Rev. L. Cort; he was 
succeeded by Mr. Alden, Mr. Brown, of Gettysburg, William G. Ritter, Chas. 
S. Albert, J. E. Shadle, J. B. Bergner, and then Prof. Pullen and wife, of 
Philadelphia, were in charge. 

This very short summary is about all that can now be gleaned by the chroni- 
cler of the schools down to the period of that great movement that resulted 
in establishing the free ^hools. 

FKEE SCHOOLS. 

In 1 830 the first steps were taken in what is now Montour County to secure 
a wider and better system of general education. The school laws then in 
force were very objectionable and defective. Complaints began to be expressed 
on all sides. All institutions of learning displayed activity in a sporadic 
way only, and these short efforts were generally followed by long spells of 
languor and languishing. These were some of the things that started first the 
project of fi'ee schools. Meetings were called where an interchange of ideas 
was had, and at these first meetings and discussions of the subject, as a matter 
of course the friends of free schools found themselves in the minority. 

May 23, 1834, Isaiah Reed, then sheriff of Columbia County, including 
what is now Montour, issued his proclamation, with regard to the public school 
law, for the timely action of the county commissioners. On the 8th of 
June a meeting was held in the court-house in Danville relative to a general 
school system of education, by Nicholas Gouger, Andrew Ikeler and John 
Yeager, county commissioners, together with school commissioners from six 
township of the county, among whom were Hugh McWilliams, of Liberty 
Township, John Fatton, of Mahoning, and William Carnahan, of Derry, now 
embraced in this county. A vote was taken with the following result: For 
schools, John Patton and William Carnahan. The report of the meeting says, 
' ' They agreed to levy a tax of two-thirds of that of the county tax for school 
purposes in Mahoning and Derry Townships." A majority of the delegates at 
this meeting were opj)osed to the measure. 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 57 

The friends of the cause continued to agitate the question, accomplishing 
nothing definite until the year 1836. On May 2 of that year, the county 
commissioners and the school delegates from the several townships met at the 
court-hovise in Danville in conformity to the " act of Assembly prescribing a 
general system of education by common schools." 

The meeting was called to order by Andrew Ikeler, and the roll call of the 
delegates was had to vote on this subject, with the following result: For schools, 
Fredrick Frick, Mahoning ; William Dale, Liberty ; James Johnston, Derry, 
and Samuel Oakes, Limestone. The county commissioners then voted; for 
schools, Andrew Ikeler and Iddings Barkley ; against, John Yeager. A motion 
was then made to raise a tax eqvial to that of the county tax — Mahoning, Lib- 
erty, Derry and Limestone voting in the affirmative; this was reconsidered, 
and a motion to levy a tax equal to three-fourths of the county tax prevailed, 
Mahoning voting for the whole tax. 

Saturday, May 21, 1886, a meeting of the taxable inhabitants of Mahon- 
ing Township was, in pursuance of public notice, held in the house of Thomas 
Clark in Danville for the purpose of ascertaining whether the inhabitants of 
the township were in favor of levying an additional tax for common-school 
purposes for the year 1836. Benjamin McMahan, president of the board, 
presided, and Fredi-ick Frick was secretary. The following resolution was 
after long discussion adopted. 

Resolved, That the meeting be in favor of levying an additional tax for common 
school purposes for the year 1836 equal to one-fourth of the county tax assessed for said, 
year; that the school directors be requested to have the same collected if necessary; and 
that the proceedings of this meeting be signed by the officers and published in the Dan- 
ville Intelligencer. 

In 1837 the State appropriation to the county amounted to $659.16; dis- 
tributed as follows: Derry Township, 350 taxables, received $226.58; Liberty 
Township, 268 taxables, $173.50; Limestone, 121 taxables, $78.32, and Mahon- 
ing, 341 taxables, $220.76. 

The early school records of the districts are unfortunately lost or de- 
stroyed. From the best information to be had it is believed that the four town- 
ships (Derry, Liberty, Mahoning and Limestone) accepted the law about the 
same time, with the view of receiving the pecuniary aid of the State. After 
its establishment the organization of the schools depended mainly upon men 
who had but little experience in education; and the law was imperfectly under- 
stood by the officers who were to enforce it. Therefore the system was not 
generally looked upon as a success, and opposition was soon manifested, which 
continued until after the enactment of the law in 1854 creating a new school 
officer, and giving additional powers to the directors in enforcing the law. 

In 1837 Samuel Bond, James McMahan and James Perry were members 
of the school board of Liberty District, and Ellis Hughes, Benjamin McMahan, 
John Patton, McDonald Campbell and Fredi'ick Frick, of Mahoning Township. 
There are at present 57 schoolhouses in the county, 24 brick and 33 wooden 
buildings, and are situated as follows: Anthony, 5 wooden and 3 brick; Cooper, 
2 fi'ame; Danville, 5 frame, 4 brick; Derry, 6 frame; Pine Grove (a small 
district taken off of Liberty), 1 fi'ame; Liberty, 8 frame; Limestone, 1 frame, 
5 brick; Mahoning, 4 frame, 1 brick; Mayberry, 2 frame; Valley, 6 frame; 
Washingtonville, 1 frame; West Hemlock, 3 frame. 

Tabular statement for the year ending June 1, 1886, of the number of pu- 
pils in the districts, and the average cost for the same: 



58 



HISTOEY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 



No. Male 


No. of Fe- 


Whole No. 


Averape 


Pupils. 


pils. 


Pupils. 


No.Pupils. 


123 


103 


226 


159 


49 


36 


85 


59 


723 


780 


1,502 


1,008 


115 


93 


308 


143 


15 


13 


37 


19 


147 


134 


381 


178 


107 


93 


200 


133 


118 


106 


224 


166 


38 


24 


57 


31 


121 


107 


338 


163 


33 


15 


38 


38 


53 


46 


98 


56 



Cost per 
Month. 



Antliony 

Cooper 

Danville , 

Derry 

Independent (Pine Grove) 

Liberty 

Limestone 

Mahonins: 

Mayberry 

Valley 

Washingtonville , 

West Hemlock 

Total number of pupils, 3,174. 



$1.06 
71 
76 
93 

1.01 
81 

1.02 
84 
94 
73 

1.01 



The following are the teachers for 1885-86. 

Anthony — Laura Sheep, Zella Moyer, Tillie Snyder, Hattie Grimm, Cora 
J. Biddle, Lizzie Wagner, Jennie Naylor and H. S. Schuyler. 

Cooper — Ella Amerman, Lloyd F. Mawi-ey. 

Danville High School — S. M. Gibbs, Hattie Alexander, William A. Sechler, 
Mame Hughes, Laura Kase. 

In the grammar and other rooms are F. M. Galwols, S. C. Musselman, 
Annie Yerrick, Letta Eckman, Ida J. Coxey, Ella C. Wilson, Maggie S. Kra- 
mer, Mary E. Eichardson, Aletta Gulic, Maggie F. Sober, M. C. Madden, C. 
A. Richardson, M. W. Hughes, Mrs. R. B. Maxwell, Ruth A. Weaver, A. M. 
Irvin, Jennie Lawrence, Chrissie C. Wise, Lizzie H. Antrim, M. L. Bloom, 
A. L. McDermott, Lizzie Hyatt, Mollie E. Tillson, R. A. Gallagher. 

Derr'y — Charlotte Saul, I. Lizzie Wright, Maggie Gulick, Annie Lowrie, 
Clara Emons, D. W. Dieffenbach. 

Liberty — Cassie L. Cunningham, Nellie H. Gregory, Lizzie E. Moore, 
Lizzie J. McGinnis, William B. Sheddan, S. P. Dietrich, C. C. Billmeyer, 
Susie Saul. 

Limestone — Elmer B. Derr, E. S. Horner, John E. Ivrumm, William D. 
Steinbach, G. M. Billmeyer, Calvin R. Geiger. 

Mahoning— F. C. Grau, Geo. D. Butler, J. P. Weaver, Ella B. Everitt, 
Lillie Divel, Ella E. Weaver. 

Mayberry — Thomas Elmer, Jr., Emery S. Kimbel. 

Pine Grove — James B. Pollock. 

Valley — Rachael Goodall, Jennie B. McGinnis, Maggie Murray, Pauline 
Groff, George B. Kase, Isaac D. West. 

Washingtonville — Margaret B. Silk. 

West Hemlock — Phoebe J. Stine, Lizzie Richart, William Robinson. 

The following are the names and terms of service of the persons who 
have filled the office of county superintendent of Montour County since 
1854: Paul Leidy, fi'om July 5, 1854, to January 1, 1855, deceased; E. W. 
Conkliug, from January 1, 1855, to March 3, 1856, appointed; A. B. Putnam, 
from March 14, 1856, to December 20, 1859, appointed; Wm. Butler, from 
December 20, 1859, to June 4, 1866, appointed; Wm. Henry, from June 4, 
1866, to eTanuary 3, 1878, deceased; J. D. Cook, from February 1, 1878, to 
June 6, 1878, appointed; M. C. Horine, from June 6, 1878, to September 1, 
1881, elected; F. C. Derr, from September 1, 1881, to June 2, 1884, appointed; 
Frederick Ream, from June 2, 1884, present incumbent. Salary paid in 1854 
■was 1350, and the salary paid at the present time is (1886) is $800. 




■^"Vh. 



'^■S(^Wuu„,„^ &7ro l'e.-:i'7orT<- 




HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 61 



CHAPTEK VIII. 

MEDICAL. 

SICKNESS was here before the learned physician and his pill bags. Malaria 
seemed to rouse up from its lairs along the streams and valleys of the coun- 
try, disturbed by the axe and the plow of industry, and it said to the pioneer, 
"shake." He fought it off as best he could with teas, dogwood, wild cherry 
and boneset, by prayers and penance, and no doubt often appealed to the hor- 
rid practices and swindling devices of mendicant quacks and their nostrums 
and charms — the negro voudoo, the Indian medicine man, the white quack. 

The practice of medicine has greatly changed in the past century. People 
are stronger, healthier and longer lived now than they were a century ago. 
The life of a generation has been extended ten years. What one greater fact 
can be pointed to in the world' s history ? This, too, in the face of the fact that 
people now live less in the open air and sunshine than ever before. Great epi- 
demics have been nearly mastered and this began to come about when our 
fathers ceased to rely upon prayers and penance, and fell upon the simple plan 
of cleanliness, better ventilation, better cooked food and better sewerage, 
healthful recreation and exercise. 

It is said the first regular physician to locate in what is now Montoui 
County, was Dr. Foster, the date of whose coming to Danville can not be pos- 
itively fixed. Of his descendants, Mrs. Valentine Best, his granddaughter, is 
a citizen of Danville. 

Dr. David Petrikin was born in Bellefonte. He came to Danville at an 
early day, studied medicine and here for many years practiced his profession. 
He was elected to Congress and served two terms, 1837-41. He died January 
3, 1849. 

Dr. Bohan R. Gearhart located in Danville to practice his profession in 
1842. He first settled in "Washingtonville, this county, and after remaining 
there a short time, came here. He graduated from Jefferson Medical College 
in 1839 or 1840. He died in May, 1855. 

Dr. Dowell and Dr. Magill were here at the same time, and, while not the 
first, were here very early. 

Among the students of Dr. Petrikin, Danville' s first young men to study 
their profession were Herman Gearhart and Alexander C. Donaldson. 

James Dale Strawbridge, native of Montoui* County, residence, Danville, was 
in the continuous practice fi'om 1847 to 1860; was then some years surgeon in the 
United States Yoiunteers and fi'om 1867 to the present in the practice in Dan- 
ville. He graduated in the University of Pennsylvania in 1847; received the 
degree of A. B. at Princeton College of New Jersey in 1844, and A. M., 1847. 

Dr. Strawbridge has long been one of the most eminent sui'geons and 
physicians in the county. He was a sui'geon in the army during the war, 
was captured and held prisoner for some time in Richmond. In the army he 
soon reached the high position of surgeon of a corps. After the war he was 
elected to Congress where he served to the entire satisfaction of his constitu- 
ency, 1873-75. His greatest reputation is as a surgeon, his eminence here 
winning him a name and fame co-extensive with the entu-e State. 

4A 



62 HISTOEY OF MONTOUK COUNTY. 

William H. Magill located in Danville in 1818, where he was for many- 
years one of the leading physicians in this portion of the country. He married, 
in 1828, a daughter of Gen. Daniel Montgomery. 

R. S. Simington located in Danville in 1854, and here commenced his long 
and brilliant career. He was surgeon in the Fourteenth and Ninety-third 
llegiments of Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served with great distinction. At 
|ihe close of service he resumed his practice in Danville. In 1866 he was elected 
Durgess of the borough, afterward associate judge in the Montour Court; 
after five years' service was re-elected. 

Dr. Strawbridge tells us his recollection of the 2:)hysicians who were prac- 
'.cing in this county when he came here in 1847 is as follows: Dr. W. H. Magill, 
Dr. John Murray (his widow is a resident of Danville), Dr. Bohan R. Gearhart 
(.TQentioned elsewhere), Dr. Wesley R. Gearhart (he was an uncle of Wilson M. 
Giarhart, the present prothonotary). Dr. Isaac Hughes (his widow a resident of 
Daiville) and Dr. Clarence H. Frick, who is noted elsewhere more fully. 

Physicians who have registered in the county since 1881, under the act re- 
quiring physicians to register: 

Soiomon S. Schultz, born in Berks County, Penn. He is one of the attend- 
ing physicians in the Danville Insane Asylum. He has been in continuous 
practice nearly thirty years. He graduated in the University of Pennsylvania, 
March 29, 1856; also received degrees of A. B. in the college of New Jersey, 
Princeton, in 1852, and A. M. in 1855. 

Alonzo Ammerman, a native of Danville, where he resided and practiced 
until his death, January 19, 1886; graduated fi'om the University of Pennsyl- 
vania March 12, 1875; graduated fi'om the "State Normal School," Mans- 
field, Ohio, in 1872. 

. Francis Eugene Harpel, born in Berks County, Penn., resides in Danville 
where he has been continuously fifteen years; practiced in Shamokin and 
Pennville before coming to Danville; graduated from Hahnemann Medical Col- 
lege in 1871. 

James Ogelby, born in County Fermanagh, Ireland; residence, Danville, 
where he has been in the practice eighteen years; received his degree from 
Jefferson medical college March, 1868. 

Robert S. Simington, born in Lycoming County; residence Danville; been 
in active practice thirty-three years; received degree from the University of 
Pennsylvania in 1854. 

George J. Grauel, a native of Prussia; residence, Danville. 

James Dallas Mausteller, born in Montour County; residence to time of 
death, August 26, 1883, in Danville; graduate of University of Pennsylvania 
March, 1871. 

Jacob H. Vastine, born in Northumberland County and located in Danville. 
In the practice twenty-eight years; graduate of Jefferson medical college 1858, 
and in New York Ophthalmic Hospital 1859-60; removed to Catawissa. 

Isaac Pursell, native of Northampton County; residence Danville; in prac- 
tice forty years; graduate of University of Pennsylvania. 

Samuel Y. Thompson, born in Danville, where he resides; in the practice 
twenty years; student in Long Island Hospital, Brooklyn. 

Jacob P. Hoffa, native of Northumberland County; resides in Washington- 
ville, where he entered the practice after his graduation at Jefferson Medical 
College, in March, 1876. 

Montraville McHenry, a native of Columbia County; resides in Exchange, 
Montour County; graduated at Burlington, Vermont, 1878. 

William E. Reed, native of Lycoming County; resided in White Hall; grad- 
uate of Jefferson Medical College, 1880; removed from the county. 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 63 

Charles F. Evans, born in Pittston; resided in Danville; practiced his pro- 
fession in McLeansboro, 111. , Peckville and Canaan, Penn. ; graduate of Ameri- 
can Medical College, St. Louis, Mo., 1876; left the county. 

Hugh B. Meredith, born in Bucks County; residence Danville; graduate of 
University of Pennsylvania, 1877; first practiced in Doylestown and then came 
to Danville. 

Philip C. Newbaker, born in Dauphin County; graduated from Jefferson 
Medical College, March 12, 1869; resides in Washingtonville. 

Benjamin Franklin Shultz, a native of Columbia County; residence Dan- 
ville; graduated from JeflPerson Medical College, 1854. 

Charles Delcamp, born in Schuykill County; left the county. 

John H. Sandel, native of Montour County; located in the practice in Dan- 
ville; removed to Schuykill County; gi-aduate of Hahnemann Medical College^ 
1882. 

Jeremiah K. Bowers ; commenced practice, 1865; student of American Phila- 
delphia University, Philadelphia; he has left the county, residence but tem- 
porary. 

Mandeville O. Greenwald, a native of Allentown, Penn. ; residence Moores- 
burg; graduate of University of Pennsylvania, 1872. 

Boardman P. Backus, born in New York; was but temporarily in the county. 

Francis H. Sinning, of Washington County; temporary. 

J. Brooks Follmer, same. 

Henry C. R. Morrow, born in Erie County, N. Y. ; located in Exchange, 
Montour County; graduate of University of Buffalo; died in 1886. 

John Montgomery Baldy, born in Danville; graduated University of Pennsyl- 
vania, 1884; removed to Philadelphia, where he is now in the practice. 

Michael Servetus Seip, born in Easton; is attendant in Danville Insane 
Asylum ; graduated from University of Pennsylvania, 1876 ; received degree of 
A. B. in Lafayette College. 

William Elmer Ritter, a native of Lycoming County; resides in White 
Hall; graduated from Jefferson Medical College, 1885; was student in Will- 
iamsport Commercial College. 

Eben True Aldrich, born in Lowell, Mass. ; physician in Danville Insane 
Asylum; graduate of Long Island College Hospital, Brooklyn, 1880. 

Nathaniel Whitaker Yoorhees, Jr. , born in Hunterton County, N. J. ; resi- 
dence Danville; graduate of University of Pennsylvania, 1883. 

John R. Kimerer, nativity Nashville, Ohio; residence Danville; graduate 
at College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, 1885. 

Daniel Edward Kiess, born in Lycoming County; residence Washington- 
ville; graduate of College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, 1886; his 
diploma endorsed by Chirurgical College, Philadelphia, and signed * ' Peter S. 
Keyser, Dean." 

David E. Shoemaker, born in Butler County; resides in Washingtonville; 
graduated from Sunbury High School, 1881, and at the College of Physicians 
and Surgeons, Baltimore, 1886; endorsed by the Medico Chirurgical College by 
order of the faculty. 



'''64 HISTOKY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

CHAPTER IX. 
BENCH AND BAR. 

THE first court in Danville was held in the second story of the log ware- 
house on the river bank, a few doors east of Mill Street, in 1814, Hon. 
Seth Chapman of Northumberland County, president judge, and Gen. William 
Montgomeiy and Hon. Leonard Eupert, associates. Primitive as were the sur- 
roundings, there were proper dignity and decorum about the coui'troom, and 
upon the rude bench and at the bar wei*e talents of not only respectable but a 
high order. Henry Alward of Milton was the first sherifp. The coui't, the 
members of the bar, the ofiicers, the juries, and witnesses and parties to suits, 
so far as can now be ascertained, have all passed away. The first prothonotary 
was George A. Frick, who filled the place for many years, and then located as 
an attorney in Danville, where he long continued in successful practice. * Of 
those who came to Danville to court in the practice of the law were Charles 
Hall, Charles Maus of Berlin, Hugh Bellas of Sunbury, Samuel Hepbui'n of 
Milton, Mr. Bradford and George M. Porter of Centre County, James Carson 
of Philadelphia, Ebenezer Greenoughof Sunbury, one of the most eminent law- 
yers of his day. Judge Thomas Duncan and Judge Charles Huston came here 
to attend courts. They were from Centre County. Both were afterward mem- 
bers of the supreme court. William G. Herely of Bloomsburg, James Pleas- 
ants of Catawissa, Alexander Jordan and Charles G. Donnell of Sunbury, at- 
tended court in Danville regularly until they each went on the bench. This 
does not include all the visiting attorneys, but the list is as complete as we can 
now make it. 

The first lawyer to locate in Danville was Alem Marr. He graduated at 
Princeton College in 1807, studied his profession and came to Danville in 
1813. He was a fair lawyer, and noted for his industry. He represented 
this district in Congress, 1829-31. He retired from the practice and re- 
moved to his farm near Milton, where he died many years ago. His mind 
had entirely broken down some time before his death. The second lawyer 
to flaunt his sign to the gentle breezes here was Ebenezer Greenough, 
who came here from Suubuiy. He was noted as a learned and able lawyer, a 
ripe scholar and great jurist. He removed to Sunbury, where he died. His 
son, William R. Greenough, is now practicing law in Sunbury. George A. 
Frick, who is mentioned above as the first prothonotary, was one among the 
first lawyers to locate in Danville. Of all his contemporaries he continued the 
longest in the practice. He reached the age of eighty-four years and died 
in 1872. Legrand Bancroft located here from one of the Eastern States. He 
was in active practice many years, and removed to Pottsville, and eventu- 
allv went to some of the new Western States or Territories, but exactly where is 
not known. None of his posterity are here. James Pleasants was for years a 
familiar figure in our courtroom. He lived in Catawissa. Among the early 
and eminent Danville attorneys were Judge Cooper, the brother of Judge John 
Cooper. Judge Cooper, Sr. , was in a large and successful practice here until 
his death. Attorney John G. Montgomery married Miss Cooper; Mr. E. H. Baldy 

♦For most of these particulara and reminiscences we are indebted largely to the venerable Hon. Joshua 
W. Comly, and to ancient documents furnished by Mr. A. B. Still. 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 65 

married a granddaughter. The great American jurist, Judge Robert C. Grier, 
was at one time a citizen of Danville. While here in practice he was appointed 
judge of the district court of Pennsylvania, at Pittsburgh, and in a few years 
thereafter appointed associate jiidge of the United States Supreme Court. He 
was a native of Cumberland County, Penn. , born March 5, 1794; died in Phil- 
adelphia at the age of seventy-six years. He was graduated in Dickinson Col- 
lege in 1812, when he located in Northumberland County, and was admitted to 
the bar in 1817, and commenced the practice in Bloomsburg. After remaining 
there a year he removed to Danville, where he soon obtained a lucrative and 
extended practice. He was appointed judge in 1838, by the governor of the com- 
monwealth over the Allegheny Court, and lived in Allegheny until 1 848. Pres- 
ident Polk appointed him to the United States Supreme Court in 1846. He was. 
a great jurist, and in the highest sense of the term a patriot and Democrat. 
His brother, M. C. Grier, continued to reside in Danville to the time of his. 
death. 

In 1833 Judge Ellis Lewis was president judge of this, the Eighth Judicial 
District, and occupied the position with distinction eight years. He was suc- 
ceeded by Hon. Charjes Donnell, who served ten years when he died. Then 
Joseph B. Anthony became president judge. He died nine months before his 
ten years' term expired, and Judge James Pollock was appointed to fill out 
the unexpired term. At the next regular election Alexander Jordan was elected 
to the office; was re-elected and completed the two terms, or twenty years^ 
In 1872 Judge William A. Rockafeller was elected to the office and continued' 
in the presiding office as long as this was in the Eighth District. When this- 
was changed to the Eleventh District Judge John M. Cunningham became 
president judge. Then again Alexander Jordan filled the office. In turn he 
was succeeded by Judge Eockafeller. Then Judge William Elwell, the present 
president judge was elected to the office. The county associate judges are 
Dr. R. S. Simington and John Benfield. 

Joshua W. Comly, the eldest son of Charles Comly, merchant, was born in 
Philadelphia, November 16, 1810. Removed with his parents to Milton in 1820,.. 
where he was prepared for college in the academy of Rev. David Kilpatrick. 
After his graduation in 1827 he commenced the study of law in the office of 
Judge Samuel Hepburn, and was admitted as an attorney in the courts of North- 
umberland County. November 17, 1830, when he was twenty years and one day 
old. He was admitted to the practice in the supreme court of Pennsylvania in- 
May, 1833, and located in Orwigsburg, Schuylkill County, in February, 1831. 
In the fall of 1834 he removed to Danville, where he has since resided. He- 
retired from active practice in 1882. 

Paul Leidy was one of the leading lawyers of Danville and held a high: 
position in the respect and confidence of the community. He represented this 
district in the Thirty fifth Congress of the United States. He had also served 
as prosecuting attorney of Montour, held many positions of trust, and died 
respected by his fellow citizens. 

A. J. Frick, born in Danville, 1838, received his education in the schools 
here and in Westmoreland; studied law with William G. Hurley, and was 
admitted to practice in 1855; now retired. 

Daniel W. Rank read law with Robert Hawley, in Muncy, and was ad- 
mitted to practice April 21, 1859. He located in Millersburg until August, 
1861 ; in 1872 removed to Scranton. where he remained ten years, and in 1882' 
came to his present residence in Limestonville. He was elected district attor- 
ney in 1884. 

W. C. Johnston was admitted to the practice of law in 1839, in Columbia. 



66 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

County. He was located in Jerseytown about one year and then came to what 
is now Montonr County. He has been recorder since the county was organized. 

B. K. Rhodes was born near Catawissa; came with his father's family to 
Danville in 1825. Here he attended Mr. Hughes' school, read law with John 
Cooper and was licensed in 1842. When the county seat was taken to Blooms- 
burg he went there and remained until 1852, when he returned to Danville, 
where he has remained since. 

Isaac X. Grier read law in the office of E. H. -Baldy; was admitted in 
1861, and located in Danville where he has been continually in the practice. 
He is now partially retired on account of his health. 

H. M. Hinckley read law with I. X. Grier, entering his office as a student 
in 1872, and was licensed to practice in May, 1875, and at once formed a law 
partnership with his preceptor. Mr. Hinckley graduated in Princeton College 
in 1874. 

Edward Sayre Gearhart, a native of this county, graduated in Wyoming 
Seminary in 1876, attended Princeton College in 1880, read law in the office 
of Grier & Hinckley and was admitted to practice in 1881. 

James Scarlet and Frank C. Angle compose the law firm of Scarlet & An- 
gle. This, while not among the oldest firms practicing law in Danville, is 
in the front rank in success and amount of business they have to look after. 



CHAPTER X. 
NEWSPAPERS. 



"^TO less than two dailies and four weekly papers, besides occasional short- 
_LN| lived publications, some weekly and some monthly, constitute the home lit- 
erary, political and philosophical pabulum of the good people of the county. 
These are classed as two political organs and four independent. This strongly 
marks the recent tendency of that spirit of political independence that is the 
wholesome outgrowth of the last quarter of a century. But a few years ago 
all our daily and weekly publications were strictly organs merely of a political 
party, the best of them showing the strong bias of party faith, and telling 
always a one-sided story — scaling down the truth on one hand and highly 
coloring facts on the other hand. That day of vicious party publications has 
happily passed away. We have party organs yet, but the spirit of public in- 
dependence has invaded their columns, and it is no uncommon thing to see 
even "organs" lashing with whips of scoi'pions the outrageous and flagrant 
doings even of their own party managers or public men. The humblest voter 
is beginning to sometimes dare to vote his free sentiments. Party lines are 
being broken up, and the shallowest- pated torchlight bearer and the loudest 
rallying shouter have begun to reflect " cin bono?^' But as every rose must 
have its thorn — every sweet its bitter, we should be patient with the awful 
fact that we now hear much more of money in elections — buying voters, etc. — 
than was known to our forefathers. 

The first paper published in Danville was the Columbia Gazette, started 
in 1813 by George Sweeny. Anew county had just been formed, and Sweeny 
was the bold pioneer printer who ventured to complete the paraphernalia of 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 67 

the new county by bringing here his printing office. We were not able to 
find even a stray copy of this first paper. It was doubtless a small and quiet 
affair, with a cramped and dingy office, its font of small pica type, distributed 
mostly in the "hell box," without a word of local news (at that time local 
news had not been invented), and for months and months not a line of general 
editorial, but made up of clippings from papers weeks and months old, dry 
sermons, and a few staggering, crazy ' ' ads. ' ' of religious books and sermons 
"were the general features of a newspaper of that day. They were curious af- 
fairs to look at now, and as an evidence of the prevalent idea of that time, the 
writer went patiently over the weekly files of a paper published in another 
county of this State during the war of 1812-15; and as the paper was Federal- 
ist in politics, and the people of its county took an active and patriotic part in 
the war, yet there was not a line in the three years' issue of the paper re- 
ferring to the part enacted by the people of its county. But there were fre- 
quent allusions to that political monster. President Madison. And yet these 
old files possess a great interest to the compiler of history of this day. Their 
very advertisements are historical pictures of the people of that time. The 
tone of these, the subjects they treat of, as well as the character of the 
clippings republished, are all open windows through which you can look at 
that interesting people who have passed away. It is not known how long Mr. 
Sweeny published the Gazette, but it could not have been more than a year 
probably. In 1815 Jonathan Lodge established the Express. In a short 
time he associated with him Mr. Caruthers, and the firm of Lodge & Caruth- 
ers carried on the business. At one time they employed Judge Cooper as 
editor. In 1820 George Sweeny again entered the field of journalism and es- 
tablished the Watchman. His office was for some time on the corner of Ferry 
and Market Streets, now occupied by the residence of Dr. R. S. Simington. 
It seems that then there were two papers, and Judge Cooper edited one and 
Sweeny the other, and with savage goosequills they frequently ' ' roasted ' ' 
each other in a reckless manner, but in a Pickwickian sense. 

The oldest of the papers now in the county is that stanch old Democratic 
organ, the Danville Intelligencer, founded by Valentine Best in 1828. Mr. 
Best has linked his name imperishably with that of the county. As told else- 
"where he was the political and foster father of Montour County. His paper 
commenced as the Democratic local organ, and to this hour it has kept its faith, 
although its founder has long since been sleeping in the silent city. He fought 
manfully the Whigs until the party died ; with an equally fearless courage he 
fought the Republicans until he himself died. He was a much abused man in 
his time, even sometimes persecuted by enemies and deserted by supposed 
friends. But through triumphs and defeats he possessed the courage of his con- 
victions, and when aroused he asked for no quarter, but dealt his assailants 
many a vigorous and valiant blow in return. He died in 1858 in the editorial 
harness. His life work here was a great boon to the paper, and his memory 
"will be long cherished and respected. After his death the paper was published 
for some time by Oscar Kepler in the interest of Mrs. Best. In Septem- 
ber, 1858, the concern was purchased by a number of the leading Democrats, 
who bought shares, and placed J. S. Sanders in editorial charge. He was 
a good workman, and introduced many improvements in the mechanical depart- 
ment. He continued in control until 1862, when he resigned to go to Berwick 
to take the control of a paper in that place. He was succeeded by the present 
proprietor, Thomas Chalfant. The office became the individual property 
of Mr. Chalfant soon after he took control, and so continues to the present. 
The Intelligencer has been an able and consistent support of the Democratic 



68 HISTOEY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

party since it was founded. The best evidence of its standing and influence 
is given in the fact that Mr. Chalfant was postmaster under the last Democratic 
administration which expired in March, 1861, and after Republican control of 
twenty-four years he was again at once appointed to the place with the advent 
to power of the Democrats in 1885. 

Daily Sun. — A sprightly five-column folio; Volume I, No. 1, was published 
November 5, 1883, by Charles Chalfant and D. H. Shields; is issued from the 
Intelligencer office. When the paper was three months old Mr. Shields with- 
drew and the present editor and proprietor, Charles Chalfant, assumed entire 
charg#. It is a morning paper, independent in politics, sprightly and breezy 
in its local and general editorial pages, and has a paying and liberal patronage 
in advertisements from oui" people. This is the second daily paper started 
in Danville, and already it is an assured success as a business venture, and one 
of the permanent concerns of the county. 

Danville Democrat. This was established in August, 18-40, by Charles Cook. 
Its original name was the rather top-heavy title of Danville Democrat and 
Tariff Advocate. A very elaborate name in a new paper always gives the ap- 
pearance of being afflicted with hydrocepholus. Mr. Cook was a man of 
ability. When he quit Danville he entered the Government employ in 
Washington City, where he died in 1874. During the Presidential campaign 
of 1844, he also issued a German paper, called Der Tariff Advokat. Mr. 
Cook battled manfully for the Whig party and the tariff until 1864, when he 
sold his printing office t§ Joel S. Baily. Mr. Cook must have found many 
warm supporters, as is evidenced in a long career as publisher in a day 
when many pitfalls lay in the paths of newspaper men. In 1845, while in 
the Montgomery building, his office was destroyed by fire; the old hand press, 
as the building burned, fell through the floors to the cellar. It was recovered, 
rigged up in fair shape again, and for many years continued to do the press 
work as of old. Mr. Baily continued the paper some years when its lights were 
finally and forever extinguished. Possibly it heard so much of the cry of 
' ' Free trade and sailors' rights ' ' that ran over the land, or that other slogan of 
the ' ' competition of unpaid slave labor, ' ' or possibly it heard not well enough 
that other savory and toothsome watchword, "Two dollars a day and roast 
beef" to encourage it to, in the language of Mrs. Chick, "make an effort," 
and so it turned its face to the wall and died. At the same time Mr. Baily 
purchased the Democrat he bought the American and consolidated the two 
concerns. This brings us to the account of that paper. 

The Montour American was founded December 11, 1855, by D. H. B. 
Brower, one of the strongly marked characters of the Danville press. At 
that time the Whig and Democratic parties each had their able organs; the vet- 
eran journalist for the Democrats was Hon. Valentine Best, and Charles Cook 
was ably battling under the colors of the Whig party. As independent jour- 
nalism was yet unknown, we can readily see that Mr. Brower found it difficult 
to discover good standing room in any of the existing parties. But after it had 
been going a few months Fremont became the national standard bearer of the 
new Republican party, and here was the American'' s opportunity, which it 
eagerly embraced ; its good fortune had come, and so completely did the Ameri- 
can cover the entire ground of organ for the Republican party that it has held the 
undisputed place for thirty years, and still holds it, and promises by its vigor 
and ability to continue securely fortified in its position indefinitely. In 1859 
Mr. Brower sold his office to George B. Ayers, of Harrisbui'g. He changed 
the name to Montour Herald. Mr. Ayers continued to publish it for a season 
and then closed the office and returned to his old home. Mr. Brower pur- 




m4,:y/:U^^^ ^^^ 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 71 

chased the material and again resumed the publication of the American. In 
the meantime its temporary decline and suspension had induced other parties to 
start another Republican organ. After a short time the two papers were con- 
solidated under new proprietors. Mr. Brower sold the American to Joel S. 
Baily, and Charles Cook sold the Democrat to the same party. This transfer 
and consolidation took place in January, 1864. Mr. Baily in the same year 
sold to Mr. Brower, who continued in control until 1871, when the ofl&ce was 
sold to W. H. Bradley and Lewis Gordon, and as an evidence of the growth in 
value of the concern, the price paid was $5,000 cash, the original office being 
valued at $600. In February, 1876, Mr. Gordon sold his interest to Joel E. 
Bradley, and in November of that year Mr. Bradley sold his interest to Edward 
C. Baldy. The paper was then published by Bradley & Baldy. In May, 
1878, E. C. Baldy sold his interest to W. B. Baldy, and the new firm of Brad- 
ley and Baldy published the paper until April 1, 1883, when W. B. Baldy 
purchased Bradley's interest and became the sole editor and proprietor, as it 
is now published. 

The Montour American is the able and reliable Republican organ of this 
county. In the days of the Whig party it was Whig, and at the birth of the 
Republican party, it was Republican. It has been ever true to the interests of 
its party, watchful, vigilant and fearless in its defense, yet, even in the times of 
our bitterest partisan conflicts, it has been courteous and dignified toward its 
political opponents. 

The Danville Record. — Mr. Brower says that in 1876, A. P. Fowler 
having purchased the printing office of S. P. Kase, the Danville Printing Com- 
pany was organized, and The Danville Record started, with Mr. Brower, editor, 
(the first number issued March 16, 1876), which position he filled for two 
years, when circumstances compelled the sale of the office, and the office 
passed into the hands of new owners. 

TJie National Weekly Record. — James Foster, Harry Vincent and Victor A. 
Lotier having purchased the materials of the old Danville Record, commenced 
the publication of The Weekly National Record, April 1, 1878 — a seven- 
column folio, independent in politics and as sprightly and vigorous a young 
paper as can be found anywhere. It was most cordially welcomed by the public. 
Foster and Vincent sold their interest to Victor A. Lotier, the present editor 
and proprietor, who had already given evidence that he was a born newspaper 
man. October 3, 1879, such was its patronage as to compel its enlargement, 
and it was made a nine-column folio, the columns 26 inches in length. It es- 
poused the cause of the greenback party, and by the sheer force of its ability 
compelled the respect of its political foes and the warm admiration of its friends. 

The Daily Record. — Such were the demands upon the weekly Record that 
Mr. Lotier felt called upon to again increase his facilities to accommodate his 
patrons, and May 23, 1881, he issued the first number of the Daily Record. 
It was a five-column folio, and was supposed by many to be a bold and daring 
venture. But the proprietor had carefully estimated its chances, it seems. The^ 
paper was a complete success fi'om the day it was started, April 17, 1882; the 
press of business called for its enlargement to a six-column paper, its present 
size. The daily and weekly, under Mr. Lotier' s able management, are inde- 
pendent in politics, saying their say in a manly fearless way, ' ' with charity 
for all and malice toward none. " 

The Medium. — Mr. Brower after he sold out his interest in the American 
started the Medium, a semi-weekly paper. It struggled and buffeted the waves 
on the troubled sea of journalism for nearly a year and fell to sleep. The- 
office was purchased by the Danville Printing Company and they started the 
Independent. 



72 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

The Independent. — Mr. Brower was placed in the editorial chair. The Print- 
ing Company bought a lot of new materials, went in debt therefor, and in nine 
months after the Independeyit was started it was seized for debt and sold by the 
sheriff. The office then passed into the hands of S. P. Kase. The office 
was closed and remained idle for some time. 

The Mentor. — In 1873 this paper was started by D. H. B. Brower, R. W. 
Eggert, John Lesher and William H. McCarty. They had leased the old In- 
dependent office. The paper was short lived and expii-ed inside of a year. 

The Gem. — Richard W. Eggert, sole editor and proprietor; was first issued 
November 30, 1885 — a sprightly local paper, of five columns, folio, and in- 
dependent. It is issued every Saturday, and in mechanical make-up is a model 
-of taste and elegance. 



CHAPTER XL 

OFFICIALS AND STATISTICS. 

FROM what is now Montour County, there have been seven members of 
Congress elected. Gen. William Montgomery was in the Third Congress, 
1793-95; served one session and resigned. The next in succession was his 
son. Gen. Daniel Montgomery, elected in 1806 to the Tenth Congress, 
1807-09. He served his term, but peremptorily declined a re-election. Alem 
Marr was elected in J 828 to the Twenty-first Congress, 1829-31. Then 
Dr. David Petrikin was elected and served two terms, the Twenty-fifth and 
Twenty-sixth Congress, 1837-41. John G. Montgomery was elected in 1856, 
Thirty-fifth Congress, and died just before taking his seat. He was a victim 
of the noted hotel poisoning at the National Hotel, in Washington, just before 
the inaugvu'ation of President James Buchanan. To fill the place made vacant 
by the death of Mr. Montgomery, Dr. Paul Leidy was elected. Dr. J. D. 
Strawbridge was elected in 1872, to the Forty-fifth Congress, 1873-75. He 
is now a resident of Danville, actively engaged in the practice of his chosen 
profession. 

State Senators. — Valentine Best was elected State senator from Columbia 
and Luzerne Counties in 1850. To him is due, chiefly, the distinguished honor 
of the formation of Montour County. He was a newspaper publisher in Dan- 
ville, and a warm partisan of the borough in all questions affecting the place 
as the county seat, and when Bloomsburg carried off the prize, he, among 
others, only redoubled exertions to score even with the people of the northern 
part of the county, who had carried the day in the long contest — triumphed 
and left Danville to weep over her departed official eminence. He was an oat 
and out Democrat of the Jeffersonian kind. When he took his seat in the 
Senate — a position he had won on the county seat question, and by his own 
tireless energy and good judgment — he fo^^nd that there was some fine work 
to be done in order to carry through the sole measure for which he had gone 
to the Senate — forming a new county. He perceived the relation of the two 
political parties was such that without his vote there was a tie. The Whigs 
were ready to vote for his new county, if they could gain any of their ends by 
such combination. He closed at once with them, and by their votes and his 
own, he was elected Speaker, and thus he was enabled to triumphantly push 
through the bill for the erection of Montour County. 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 73 

Why didn't they call this Best County? Certainly, it would have been a 
name perpetuating the interesting story of how it came into existence, as well 
as the most suitable adjective in the world, descriptive of its territory. 

1851-56, 1858, 1870-72— C. R. Buckalew, the present member elect of 
Congress from this district, was senator. 

1857-59— George P. Steele. The district was then composed of Luzerne, 
Montour and Columbia. 

1873-75— Thomas Chalfant. 

1880 — Elias T. McHenry. District — Lycoming, Montour, Sullivan and 
Columbia. 

1882-86— William W. Hart. \ 

1887— Verus H. Metzger. 

LOWER HOUSE. 

1850 — Benjamin P. Fortner, Columbia County. 
1852 — M. E. Jackson, Columbia and Montour. 
1853-54, 1869-70— George Scott. 
1855— J. G. Maxwell, Columbia and Montour. 
1856— John G. Montgomery, Columbia and Montour. 
1857, 1867-71— Thomas Chalfant. 
1863-64— John C. Ellis. 
1859-60— Samuel Oakes. 
1872 — Dennis Bright. 
1873-74 — Jesse Amerman. 
1875-76 — James Cruikshanks. 
1877-78— James McCormick. 
1879-82— P. C. Newbaker. 
1883 — James McCormick. 
^ 1884— Dr. J. P. Hoffa; re-elected November 2, 1886. 

COUNTY OFFICERS. 

Present county officers are, sheriff, James O. Frazier; prothonotary, Wil- 
son M. Gearhart; register and recorder, William C. Johnston; treasurer, 
George W. Peifer; commissioners, Isaac Amerman, Frank G. Blee, George 
W. Asians; associate judges. Dr. Robert S. Simington, John Bentield; district 
attorney, Daniel W. Rank; surveyor, George W. West. 

William C. Johnston, who has just been re-elected clerk and recorder, 
was the first person elected to that position when the county was formed in 
1850, and has filled the office by re-election from that time to the present. 
When he fills out his present term he will have been in the office forty years. 

The same may be said of G. W. W^est, the county surveyor. He too was 
elected to his office on the formation of the county; has just been re-elected 
and at the end of his present term will have been in the place forty years. 
Evidently these two men have been efficient in their positions and eminently 
satisfactory to the people. 

Commissioners. — 1850, Samuel Yorks, James McMahon, Samuel Shick; 
clerk T. J. Galbraith. In 1852 Galbraith resigned as clerk, and board ap- 
pointed George W. West; 1851, David Yeager was elected commissioner; 
1853, David Wilson; 1854, Jacob Sheep and William Snyder; 1856, Abraham 
Wagner; 1857, Robert Davison; 1858, William McNinch; 1859, Daniel Ram- 
sey; 1860, William Sidel; 1861, Charles Fenstermacher; 1862, Isaac Amer- 
man; 1863, John Moore; 1864, John Derr; 1865, Isaac Amerman; 1867, 
James Shultz; 1868, Andrew C. Russell; 1869, John Dildine; 1870, William 
Yorks; 1871, James Woodsides; 1872, Peter A. Mowrer; 1873, Frederick 



74 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY, 

Kniss; 1874. David Grove; 1875, William J. McKee; 1876, full board was- 
W. J. McKee, J. Auld and George W. Derr; the clerk then was E. G. 
Hoffman; 1879, Isaac Amerman, Stephen Smith, Frank G. Blee; Clerk Lewis 
Kodenheffer; 1880, Georg§ D. Butler was appointed clerk; 1882, Isaac Amer- 
man, Frank G. Blee, George W. Askins; 1883, John C. Peiffer was appointed 
clerk. The last named commissioners and clerk are the board as constituted 
now. 

Treasurers. — 1850, first treasurer elected was George Mears; 1853, Joseph 
Dean; 1855, Daniel Reynolds; 1857, Frederick Blue; 1859, William G. Gas- 
kins; 1861, Edward Morrison; 1863, Abraham Wagner; 1865, William Mc- 
Ninch; 1867, Jacob Sidel; 1869, Isaac Amerman; 1871, Emanuel Sidler;. 
1873, W^illiam Madden; 1875, Bernard Dougherty; 1878, Samuel Blue; 1881, 
George W. Peifer; 1884, James L. Brannen; 1887, George W. Peifer. 

Sheriffs. — 1850, first sheriff elected was Daniel Frazier, elected for the 
term of three years; 1854, Thomas Pollock; 1857, Edward Young; 1860, 
Frederick Blue; 1863, Edward Young; 1866, Jacob Shelhart; 1869, R. C. 
Russell — he died during his term, and W.C. Young appointed by the governor 
to fill the vacancy; 1871, Daniel Billmeyer; 1874, Edward Young; 1877, James 
M. Miller; 1880, Jacob Shelhart; 1883, Nathan Shugart; 1886, James O. 
Frazier. 

Prothonotaries. — First elected, 1850, William S. Davis, elected for term of 
three years; 1854, Hiram A. Childs; 1857, George D. Butler, re-elected twice, 
serving nine years; 1866, William O. Butler, served until first Monday, Janu- 
ary, 1876; 1876, William M. Gearhart was elected, and by re-election has con- 
tinued to hold the office to the present time. His present term of office will 
expire in January, 1888. 

STATISTICS. 

By the last United States census the population of Montour County is given 

as follows: Total, 15,466. In detail it is as follows: 

* 

Antliony Township 1,042 

Cooper Towjiship 383 

Danville Boroui,^h 8,346 

Derry Township 841 

Liberty, including Mooresburg Village 1,166 

[Mooresburg Village] 99 

Limestone Township, including village 731 

[Limstone Village] 59 

Mahoning Tov/n.ship 1,141 

Mayberry Township 230 

Valley Township 1,014 

West Hemlock Township 395 

Washinstonville Borough 203 

Under the apportionment of the State of 1874 the county of Montour 
elects one member of the lower house of the Legislatm-e. The county is in 
the Twenty-fourth Senatorial District, composed of the counties of Lycom- 
ing, Montour, Sullivan and Columbia. It is in the Eleventh Congressional 
District, composed as follows: Columbia, Montour, Carbon, Monroe and Pike 
Counties, and the townships of Nescopeck, Black Creek, Sugar Loaf, Butler, 
Hazel, Foster, Bear Creek, Roaring Brook, Salem, Hallenbeck, Huntington, 
Fairmount, Spring Brook, and that part of the city of Scranton south of Roar- 
ingcreek and east of the Lackawanna River, and the boroughs of Dunmore, 
New Columbus, Goldsboro, White Haven, Jeddo and Hazelton. 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 75 



CHAPTER XII. 
DANVILLE. 

NESTLING in the narrow jet rich valley of the Susquehanna is the borough 
of Danville, just now rounding out its first century. In its story is pretty 
much all that is of interest in our country since the establishment of our inde- 
pendence, that is, its growth and history are at least cotemporary with that 
of our present form of government. At the foot of the town flows the gentle 
blue Susquehanna, with picturesque Montour's Ridge winding by to the north; 
the stately and venerable Bald Top bracing its rocky supports up against the 
town itself, the Montour Iron Works crawling up partly on its feet, and send- 
ing its steam and smoke rolling gracefully up the hillside^Titan and Cyclops 
side by side. South of the river rises Blue Hill, and further along the river 
valley is Mahoning creek as it has cut its way through Montoui- Ridge, and 
empties itself in the river; and across the river to the east, the west, north and 
south, are as fine landscapes, as gentle, wild and varied scenery as the eye 
ever rested upon. Standing close up to the foot of Bald Top (the bare pinnacle 
can only be seen by ascending to it) it looks steep and rugged enough for a 
frowning fortress, grimly watching over the safety of its foster-child, Danville 
at its feet bustling with busy life and roaring and clanging its great machinery, 
while the beautiful valley, with its farms and groves and fruit and ornamental 
trees, stretches away in the distant quiet like a pastoral dream. Where, we 
know not, is there a spot that so combines the useful and the beautiful as this? 
Pass around to the southwest of Bald Top and you see the ' ' Dark Ravine, ' ' 
and there is also the precipice that has been called the ' ' Lover' s Leap ; ' ' but as 
there are lovers' leaps elsewhere, and as lovers even of the pale face persuasion 
are now occasionally leaping for life in fi'ont of an irate boot or shot gun, the 
old stereotyped edition of the Indian legend is threadbare and tiresome. 

The town was founded by Gen. Daniel Montgomery, and at first his store, 
his father's grist-mill, on Mahoning Creek, and the half dozen cabins about it 
were called Dan' s town — it thus became eventually Danville proper. The land 
•embraced in the original town plat was 120 acres, extending fi'om Chestnut to 
Church Streets and fi'om the river to the base of Montour's Ridge, and was 
surveyed by George Jewel, April 3, 1769. September 16 of the same year it 
was purchased of the provincial proprietaries by Turbut Francis. In May, 
1782, he sold to John Simpson. April 15, 1783, John Simpson and wife 
(Ann Grimes) conveyed the tract to William Montgomery, consideration £600. 
The tract below Chestnut Street, including the mouth of Mahoning Creek, 
contained 180 acres and was a part of the proprietary manor (that is, lands 
reserved as private property by the Penns). This tract was conveyed to Rev. 
Richard Peters and John Lukens. 

The Delaware Indians had long had a village at the mouth of Mahoning 
Creek. The Indian's instinct led him naturally to pitch his village of wig- 
wams at what afterward was always an eligible town site for the whites. 
Nearly every great city on the continent was at one time a great Indian rendez- 
vous, extending from New York to San Francisco and Vancouver's Island. 
An ancient and correct map of all the Indian places of great councils, dances 



76 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY, 

and gathering places, would show a wonderful coincidence in their locations 
and the present great cities of the country. The early Indians were migratory, 
simply following the buffaloes, and to one understanding the habits of these 
animals, as they would gather in immense herds and start on their long voy- 
ages, and their peculiar maneuvers when coming to a river of stopping here 
for some time and finally, driven by hunger, they would begin circling and 
bellowing at the water's edge, each time as they came opposite the water the 
inner ones pushing those on the outer line nearer and nearer the water until 
finally into it, when one would take the plunge and start for the opposite 
bank and all would follow; and thus it was that the buffaloes were the 
engineers to the Indians, and the Indians in turn performed a like ofiice for 
the whites. 

On the north of the tracts above indicated the land belonged to John Mont- 
gomeiy, and that on the northeast to Amos Wickersham. Afterward these 
tracts became the property of the Frazers and the Yorks. The lands on the 
southeast belonged to the Sechlers. These land titles fix pretty definitely the 
first owners of the lands now occupied by the borough, and also indicate some 
of whom were the first settlers. 

Phillip Maus, who came just after the close of the Revolutionary war, has 
left on record his first impression of the place on seeing it. He thought there 
were then about half a dozen cabins at what was then called ' * Montgomery' s 
Landing. ' ' Soon after this it came to be known as the ' ' Mahoning Settle- 
ment," and by this name it continued to be called until after 1792, when Gen. 
Daniel Montgomery laid out the town. The territory embraced in his town 
plat was that now lying between Mill and Church Streets and from the river 
to the canal. In 1776 Gen. William Montgomery had built his log house that 
stood so long as the first notable building in the place. It stood near the large 
stone mansion he afterward built that is still standing. In this log house 
Alexander Montgomery was born in 1777, and by a singular coincidence, he 
died in 1848 in the room where he was born. 

Jacob Gearhart had, at an early day, established a ferry across the river. 
The ferry house stood a little above Ferry Street. This pioneer ferry was the 
first step taken toward building the present splendid bridge that spans the 
river. 

John Sechler, father of Jacob Sechler, next laid out that part of the town 
above Church Street. The next land added to the town was by William 
Montgomery, that part below Mill Street to Chestnut Street. It was of this 
addition he donated thirty lots for the purpose of an academy. He also 
donated the ground for the court-house. Gen. Daniel Montgomery donated 
the jail lot. 

The town was laid out by Gen. Daniel Montgomery in 1792, as said above. 
The Montgomerys were the sole spirits of its first formation and growth, sav- 
ing the natural accretions of population drawn to this portion of the new 
purchase after that was made in 1868. The coming here of the earliest strong 
and influential men was due mostly to the misfortunes that then overtook nearly 
all the prominent actors in the Revolution, the financial ruin by the depreciation 
of the Continental money. This ill luck was the good fortune of Danville and 
what is now Montour County. W^hen Daniel Montgomery conceived the great 
idea of opening a store here in addition to his father's mill, there naturally 
opened to his mind the equally important proposition of laying off a town. 
He was then a very young man, but his vision was long ahead and clear. He 
could anticipate what was wanted, and set about supplying that want. A 
mill, a store, a place to buy and sell, a place to have bread ground without 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY, 77 

going all the way to Philadelphia or Reading, a trip then more tedious and 
difficult by far to make than to cross the continent now, were strong induce- 
ments to settlers. Soon after the store and mill were established, their 
existence here and the fact that this was Dantown, had its influence in bring- 
ing Mr. Deen and his blacksmith shop — a convenience almost as great to the 
people as the mill and the store. Then the settlers north and south of the 
river began to make real wagon roads to reach the town with their wagons, 
whereas, before there was anything here to sell or any one to buy, they could 
make their rare trips to the place by means of the trails and paths along the 
devious way. 

The mill, the store and the blacksmith shop continued so steadily to bring 
people into the wilderness that we find as early as 1806 the Government estab- 
lished here a postoffice. Then surely did the good people felicitate themselves 
— their lucky good fortune was about full and complete. Once a week, what 
a luxury, a pony mail passed to Sunbury and back to the old settlements and 
to Philadelphia and to all the world. The postage on a letter was then 25 
cents. It took two weeks at the shortest to send a letter and get a return 
from Philadelphia or anywhere else, but what a vast improvement was that to 
these people hungry for news fi'om friends, in the wilderness. Gen. William i 
Montgomery was the first postmaster. The fame of the new town began to I 
then spread abroad in the land. In Scott's geography of 1806, he makes men- * 
tion of it in these words : "A small post-town on the east branch of the Sus- 
quehanna, at the mouth of Mahoning Creek. A store, a mill, a blacksmith 
shop and a postoffice! No pent up Utica could contract her power," and 
therefore in 1807 the patriots of Danville and vicinity held a great Fourth of July 
celebration, and unconsciously they were blessed by the absence of fire-crackers 
and brass bands. In that day it was only supposed that preachers could speak 
in public, or at least that they were the only men that knew anything to talk 
about. Hence these poor fellows usually had to do all the public speaking, 
preaching' and burying, and take their pay in the general gratitude, with a 
trace of dried beans, hickory nuts and coon skins to make caps for the boys of 
the household. But to return to our subject of Danville's first Fourth of July 
celebration. But few particulars of the occasion can now be learned. There 
was no permanent record made of it, and those who were present are now all 
dead. Gen. Daniel Montgomery was president of the meeting; James Laird, 
vice-president, and Andrew Russell, secretary. The remembrance of but one 
of the toasts offered has come down to us. This is interesting as indicating 
something of the politics of the early day. Jefferson and Hamilton had then 
joined issue on very much the identical questions that have divided parties 
from that time to the present. The two political parties were the Federalists 
and Republicans or Republican-Democrats. In the year 1807 there was a slight 
defection, or a threatened split in the Democratic party in this State over the 
question of supporting Simon Snyder. Some favored Spoyd for the office and 
these were called in derision by the Regulars (now sometimes called Mossbacks 
or Stalwarts) "Quids." James Boyd offered the following toast: "The 
Quids — a jackass apiece to them, and a snail's horn for a spur, so that each 
mule may ride his own ass." (Great applause— all standing.) The sting of 
the sarcasm in this was no doubt fully understood by those who heard it read. 
But this is not what we quote it for. It is something of an index of the politi- 
cal feeling here at that time. The people were generally Democrats. That is, 
with Jefferson Ihey believed in the divine right of the people to rule themselves. 
The Federalists on the other hand desired to copy more closely after the Brit- 
ish form of government — in other words, more power in the government — 



78 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

centralization. They believed that JeflPerson was an irreligious and politically 
a bad man; they said he was fresh from France, where he had become imbued 
with the ideas of French revolutionists, infidels and all that was bad; that the 
government was at last the only safe power to trust, and that it was its prov- 
ince to regulate everything in politics, religion and social life. The Adamses, 
of Masachusetts, and Jefferson, of Virginia, represented these conflicting po- 
litical ideas. In communities where there was a division on these political 
•questions, passions ran high. In an old file of a Pennsylvania paper of about 
1815, the writer of these lines read a long and verbose communication, giving 
an account of the local preacher having read the Sunday previous the procla- 
mation of Madison, announcing peace between this country and Great Britain. 
He charged that the divine had nailed the word of God to the desk and had 
lifted up that political monster, Madison; had preached politics ; desecrated 
the sanctuary; in short, had committed the mortal sin. 

These old fellows were a very religious, stern and dogmatic people. Their 
ancestors had been the victims of the most awful religious persecutions in the 
old world; they had been fugitives from the dungeons, the gibbets and the 
stake and faggot — ears cut oft', tongues cut out, and branded as felons on the 
forehead — that is, those who had not been burned to ashes over slow fires. 
There was much iron in their blood, and almost any of them had been ever ready 
to die, without wincing, the most horrible death for opinion's sake. Their 
politics were but a second edition of their religion. And in either it was nearly 
impossible for them to tolerate any shadow of opposition to their cherished no- 
tions. Hence when political opinions were once formed they struck their roots 
deep in their strong natures. With an Eastern devotion they worshiped their 
political idols, and their hated enemies were little short of devils incarnate, and 
for them they seized the sword of Gideon and smote his majesty hip and thigh. 
But in all of them, thank God, was an intense and consuming hatred of tyr- 
anny. This had passed down in their blood from father to son through gen- 
erations, ever growing in its intensity and added powers. Here happily for 
us, for all mankind, were the seeds bearing the fruits of our nation' s liberties. 

We have stated the era of the coming of the mill, the store, and the black- 
smith shop in the proper order of time and importance to these pioneer people. 
In otu- chapter on schools it may be seen that the schoolmaster and the itinerant 
preacher preceded even these prime necessaries. The little floorless, window- 
less, brush covered schoolhoiise had been built, and here the master of the 
birch and ferule expounded the mysteries of the alphabet. The school- 
teacher was an awfully great man, but he stood second to the preacher, great 
as he was. The average person at that time was of those who supposed all 
perfect wisdom was lodged in the preacher. Such hallucinations passing 
through the ages had made preachers very dogmatic in expressing their judg- 
ments and men very credulous in accepting them. The good man stood be- 
tween God's flaming sword and poor, trembling, fi'ightened humanity. By 
night and by day, on the roadside and in the dark wilderness, at all times and 
everywhere, he pleaded with God to turn aside the ciip of bitter dregs from 
the people, and in his sermons he would confess with tears in his eyes, and with 
choking sobs, that God was inappeasable — that the furies of hell had been un- 
chained for a thousand years, and they stalked over the land gathering human 
fagots for the eternal fires. Mill and store and blacksmith shop and teacher 
and preacher were all and each important things in their day, filling impera- 
tive wants in their time. They would all be very insignificant affairs now, but 
in their day and time they well performed the great part given them to do. 
Bless their shades! 





V>^4^ 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 81 

Almost the first stroke of the woodman's ax disturbed the malaria of the 
valleys along the streams where it had brooded for perhaps ages, and sent it 
riding upon the wings of the wind carrying disease and death to the helpless 
people, making the doctor, his nauseous medicaments, his bleedings and hot- 
water, toast- water and elm-water a commanding necessity. Dr. Foster was 
the first, it seems, to heed the cry of these poor people, and came to Danville. 
Of his descendants are Mrs. Valentine Best, now of Danville. And side by 
side, even before the first days of the ' ' post town, ' ' had been prepared a little 
plot of ground for ' ' the silent city, ' ' then a goodly distance from the town, 
now apparently nearly in its very center. Here ' • the rude forefathers of the 
hamlet sleep." 

Before towns, mills, stores, blacksmith shops, schoolhouses or churches 
are provided, in all places in the world, wherever there is resident humanity, 
among the first is always the compulsory law of nature that compels a pro- 
vision for a resting place for the dead. It is so written on the face of nature 
— the law of ceaseless change, from dust to life, from life to dust. Life, exist- 
ence, death — change, change, change. The vast clock of God ticks off those 
inconceivable cycles of time, those immeasurable geological ages in one; the 
changes are the birth, the death, the decay— the smile of happiness, the sob of 
woe, but all is only change, eternal and ceaseless change; that is the economy, 
the very existence of nature, with the same laws everywhere in the universe, 
applicable to everything animate and inanimate. It is nature' s way as well as 
all creation's highway. Nothing is more common than death; it reaches 
everything, and being so, it cannot be an evil. It is a base and bad education 
that imbues the mind with terrors of its approach, that points it as the king of 
ten'ors, that thinks of it with loathing and horror. Because it may be sweet to 
live, it does not perforce follow that it is the one supreme bitter to die. Nature 
did laot so make it. Anything so common, so universal, could not be so made. 
To the tired and exhausted form, what is so sweet as the approach of sleep, 
and death is but the dreamless sleep that, undisturbed, goes on forever. 

We communed with the early dead in the old Presbyterian Church Ceme- 
tery the other day, wandering between the little mounds and the white slabs of 
marble, here and there, where first began to gather the denizens of "the Silent 
City ' ' in this, then far away, wilderness. It was then outside, away out fi'om 
the haunts of the living; dow the little three-acre plot of ground is nearly in 
the center of the city of the living. It is now fenced up with a low brick wall 
upon two sides, a barbed wire fence supplanting the brick wall that encloses 
two sides, and a high board wall on the other sides, and the gates are securely 
locked, and no more interments are to be made there. Already some of the 
sacred dust has been resurrected and removed to the newer place of burial, 
still away further upon the outside of the towns. Soon, no doubt, all will be 
removed. 

Who was first buried here is not now known. It is said the third grave 
dug in the place was to receive the body of poor Curry, who was so brutally 
miu'dered by the Indians. The grounds have been well kept by the fi-iends of 
the dead, but the first stones that marked the resting places are gone. The 
earliest legible stone now standing bears the date 1801. There are dates 
of earlier burials than this, but the stones were placed over them recently. 

On many of the older stones the lettering is now very dim, and on some al- 
ready illegible. So swiftly does time corrode and destroy the monuments 
builded by the hands. Nations, cities and bronze and granite monuments are 
but ephemeral things, and truly, as Lord Bacon has well said, the impressions 
of the types are the one enduring thing — they are like ships that sail between 

6A 



82 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY, 

the vast seas of time, making one nation partake of the thoughts and illumina- 
tions of another. The poems of Homer have come down to us through nearly 
3,000 years without the loss of even a syllable. The printed sheets of paper, 
the frail records of papyriTs outlast the adamant, and are capable of being ever 
renewed, and these alone are self- perpetuating. Frail, valueless sheet of 
white paper, blown about by the winds; a flash of flame, and it is gone like the 
snowflake on the river, yet touched with the type and you are the one human con- 
trivance that may outlast all other work of the human hands. Thus how 
wisely it is ordered; the humblest may have to their memory monuments that 
will outlive the pyi'amids or the costliest mausoleums ever reared to potentate 
or king. 

There were certainly burials here prior to 1784, and yet, as we have said 
above, there is no legible stone in it of an earlier date than 1801, and it is not 
absolutely certain this date can be correctly read. We could find the names of 
but three persons who were present at the Fourth of July celebration, 1807. In 
passing through this old, first graveyard, it was suggested to our minds in 
reading the inscriptions that here we could almost call the roll of that meeting, 
and we noted the following: John Sechler, died October 5, 1831, aged ninety- 
two years; Christina Sechler, born January 11, 1750, died October 5, 
1825; John Sechler, Jr., died July 16, 1844, aged seventy-two years; 
Barbara, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Sechler, died January 6, 1807;. 
mother Elizabeth Sechler died February 11, 1846; Sarah H. Sechler, died 
November 4, 1849; Herman Sechler, born October 4, 1793, died July 20, 1826; 
Jacob P. Sechler, died July 31, 1842; Hannah Sechler died January 7, 1829; 
Christina, wife of George Bert, died April 29, 1836, aged thirty-three years; 
Peter Kolb died January 5, 1845, aged seventy-four; Anna, wife of Thomas 
D. Siglar, died December 7, 1843 ; Rev. John Patterson, died May 8, 1843, 
aged seventy; his wife, Rebecca, died January 20, 1842, aged sixty; the son, 
John B. Patterson, died September 23, 1832, aged twenty one; John Boyd, 
died August 29, 1801, aged twenty-four (the "01 " is so indistinct that this is 
not certain); Gen. William Montgomery died May 1, 1816, aged eighty; Will- 
iam Montgomery, Jr., born January 8, 1784, died at the age of twenty-two 
years; Gen. Daniel Montgomery died April 30, 1831, aged sixty five; his 
widow, Christina, died November 15, 1848, aged seventy-seven; their daughter, 
Isabella, born August, 1794, died October, 1815; Daniel Strawbridge Mont- 
gomery died March 26, 1859, aged twenty -seven; Margaret (Montgomery) 
Woodside, born January 8, 1784, died aged twenty-two; Alexander Montgom- 
ery, born October 8, 1777, died May 29, 1848; Sarah Caldwell Watson, born 
May 13, 1815, died March 25, 1849; John Thomas, born May, 1802, died 
August 7, 1855; John Russell died June 6, 1851, aged seventy -three; his wife, 
Catharine F. , died April 27, 1846, aged sixty-six; of their childi-en, Robert 
died September 26, 1816; James F., died July 11, 1841; Daniel Cameron died 
March 16, 1831, aged fifty-five; Catharine Cameron died July 11, 1849, aged 
ninety-two; Mary (Childs) Cameron, relict of Daniel, born July 17, 1795, died 
July 14, 1873; John Gulic died November 2, 1837, aged sixty-six; Mary, his 
relict, died October 2, 1848, aged seventy-four; Isaac Gulic died April 29, 
1862, aged sixty; Margaret, wife of John Gulic, born October 1, 1803, died 
October 20, 1855; Gilbert Voris died March, 1797; Jane Voris, October, 1816; 
James Childs, born June 16, 1793, died January 10,, 1871; John Childs, born 
February 12, 1798, died December 12, 1867; Esther K. Childs died May 28, 
1849, aged sixty-three; Margaret Childs died December 1, 1834, aged thirty- 
four: Mary Gragg, wife of John Childs, died July 31, 1846, aged eighty- five; 
Andrew Childs died May 7, 1864, aged seventy-four; Elizabeth, wife of James- 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY, 83 

Childs, born July 10, 1809, died October 11, 1875; James Kreaption, born 
1796, died July 13, 1875; Thomas James died December 17, 1863, aged 
seventy- eight; his wife, Elizabeth, died October 12, 1865, aged seventy-two; 
James Everett died Febniary 18, 1859, aged seventy- eight; his wife, Isabella, 
died January 19, 1849, aged seventy-one; their daughter, Fanny, died Janu- 
ary, 1829; Obed Everett, born July 22, 1786, died March 30, 1852; Mary, 
born November 20, 1789, died April 14, 1852; Daniel Barton died April 27, 
1808, aged seventy-one; his daughter, Emele, died November 5, 1819, aged 
thirteen; Thomas Cousart died August 29, 1853, aged fifty-nine; Robert Curry, 
born December 21, 1775, died December 14, 1857; his wife, Mary, died No- 
vember 21, 1848, aged fifty-seven; William Curry, born June 16, 1778, died 
November 9, 1852; Jane Curry died April 21, 1825, aged seventy-five; Jane 
McWilliams died August 4, 1808, aged thii'ty; Elizabeth McWilliams died 
January 9, 1813, aged sixty-four; Mary, wife of William Caldwell, died De- 
cember 15, 1853, aged seventy -seven; Andrew Clark, born in 1752, died ia 
1831; Mary, his wife, died August 3, 1806; their daughter, Florence, bora 
May 19, 1792, died May 28, 1841; Catharine, consort of OrrinSholes, died June 
8, 1826, aged thirty-eight; Bridget, wife of Cyrus Sholes, died February 19, 
1820, aged fifty-seven; Thomas Lemon died December 9, 1849, aged sixty- 
two; James Lemon died January 6, 1843, aged thirty- seven ; James Lemon, 
Sr,, died December 11, 1842, aged eighty-five; his wife, Rachel, died August 
21, 1840, aged seventy-five; William Lemon died January 3, 1847, aged thirty- 
eight; Lucinda Lemon died September 3, 1849, aged twenty-two; John Mc- 
Cullough died November 15, 1832, aged fifty-two; Jane (Crawford) McCul- 
lough died September 12, 1853, aged sixty-six; George Miller died October 

20, 1843, aged sixty-three; Edward Hathaway, born November, 1819, died 
December 8, 1875; Peter Blue died March 19, 1826, aged seventy-four; Mary 
(his wife) died September 28, 1838, aged seventy-nine; Hon. William Mont- 
gomery, son of Edward William, died January 8, 1846, aged seventy-three; 
his wife, Jane, died October 29, 1807; Daniel W. Montgomery, son of William, 
died August 28, 1830, aged thirty-nine; Capt. John S. Wilson died at Vera 
Cruz, April 12, 1847, aged thirty-five: he was captain of the Columbia guards; 
Joseph Cornelison, born May 17, 1789, died August 18, 1851; Lettia Cor- 
nelison, born July 7, 1778, died September 16, 1863; Sarah Cornelison, wife 
of E. Adams, died September 13, 1852, aged twenty-seven; on a broken stone 
that lies prone upon the ground is this: "Anna Grier departed this life Sep- 
tember 10, 1828;" Robert C. McWilliams died March 4, 1832; Daniel Frazer 
died March 26, 1828, aged seventy- two; his wife, Isabella, died January 19, 
1856, aged seventy-nine; Jane died January 2, 1828, aged twenty; Margaret- 
died March 19, 1824, aged twenty-six; James died March 19, 1836, aged thirty 
six; Jacob Shultz died August 13, 1863, aged sixty-nine; his wife, Elizabeth, 
died August 26, 1858, aged fifty-five; Elizabeth, wife of Jacob Snyder, born 
May 19, 1827, died October 2, 1853; Hugh McWilliams, born 1799, died 1877; 
John Sundry, born July 22, 1799, died September 17, 1858; Stuart Corneli- 
son, born May 12, 1831, died July 30, 1881; Benj. Gearhart died October 22, 
1865, aged sixty-one; Mary Gearhart died November 12, 1867; Benjamin Gear- 
hart died February 22, 1854, aged forty-four; Abner Pittner died October 

21, 1867, aged fifty-three; Mary, his wife, died August 22, 1867, agod fifty- 
eight; John T. Nervine, born July 6, 1829, died November 13, 1872; Phoebe 
Agnes, wife of Isaiah Blue, died January 28, 1864, aged twenty-nine; Lucinda, 
daughter of John H. Russell, died April 14, 1851 ; Margaret, daughter of Alex- 
ander and Jane Montgomery, died March 18, 1876, aged fifty-eight; Jane 
Boyd, relict of Alexander Montgomery, died March 8, 1876, aged ninety-three;. 



84 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

John Best, born February 20, 1799, died December 19, 1870; Mary, relict of 
Andrew Russell, died November 11, 1866, aged eighty; Robert G. Russell, 
died August 15, 1872, aged fifty-three; Valentine Best, born March 8, 1801, 
died October 28, 1857; John C. Boyd died October 18, 1849, aged fifty-six; 
Hannah M. Boyd, his widow, died December 24, 1864, aged sixty-four; Charles 
R. Reynolds, born September 12, 1818, died May 7, 1842; Ann Maria Rey- 
nolds, born September 13, 1820, died January 2, 1839; Thomas Reynolds, born 
February 10, 1788, died August 8, 1880; Mary M., his wife, born May 20, 
1791, died January 6, 1877; James N. Nolan, died March 31, 1857; Hannah 
Blue, born May 10, 1788, died April 6, 1870; John Blue, born March 7, 1788, 
died September 25, 1861; James Voris died May 24, 1866, aged seventy-eight; 
Anna Gray Voris died April 26, 1881, aged ninety-two; John Voris died April 
5, 1848, aged thirty-five years, ten months; Elizabeth (Gulic) Wagner died 
October 27, 1842; Abraham Gulic died March 4, 1852; Priscilla Gulic died 
March 4, 1852, aged seventy-five; Daniel Cameron died March 16, 1834, aged 
fifty-five; Catharine Gulic died January, 1840, aged ninety-two; Robert Moore 
died March 20, 1871, aged sixty-six; Hugh McBride died December 2, 1808, 
aged sixty-eight; Mary McBride died December 3, 1818; Nathaniel McBride 
died June 30, 1821, aged fifty-seven; William Garrett, died September 20, 
1842, aged fifty-nine; Sarah, his wife, died June 5, 1856, aged sixty-six; 
Elizabeth Ross, born April 11, 1761, died June 26, 1816; Jane Ross, died 
July 1, 1820; David Moore, born May 10, 1765, died March 12, 1829; Mary, 
born May 7, 1773, died August 16, 1825; M. C. Grier, died December 25, 
1878, aged seventy; Isabella, J. M. , died June 12, 1850, aged thirty-eight; 
John M. Mulfinger, born 1809, died May, 1869; Thomas Hays, died May 15, 
1840, aged thirty-five; George Gearhart, son of George and Phoebe, died May 
17, 1817, aged seventy-eight; Phoebe Gearhart, died June 21, 1845, aged fifty- 
two; A^cilsa-G«arhart, died March 13, 1813, aged thirty -two ; William C. Gear- 
hart, died September 15, 1834, aged thirty-four; John Frazer, died August, 
1821, aged seventy; Mary, his wife, died 1823; Eleanor, wife of George Wil- 
son, died October 1, 1827, aged sixty-six; Rudolph Sechler, born February 22, 
1773, died June 26, 1857; Susanah Sechler, died September 20, 1871, aged 
ninety years, nine months, two days. 

T!ie first rush of immigration to this portion of Pennsylvania had been 
•effectually stopped by the incursions of hostile Indians. The Wyoming mas- 
sacres are a shocking chapter in the history of that time. The first wave of 
pioneers had but touched this outer border when the mutterings of the swarm- 
ing red devils from their hilly fastnesses sent the wildest alarms among the 
hapless and helpless settlers. Danville was perforce deserted, and the most 
■of the people went to the forts for protection. This was a serious loss to the 
people; it was precious time to them gone in the clearing of their little truck 
patches, and preparing homes and providing food for their families. It must 
have taken some time to partially make amends for the sacrifices they made. 
This seriously retarded the early growth and building up of the town. Thus the 
eighteenth century passed and the present dawned, and six years of this cen- 
tury had come and gone before a postoffiee was established in the place. Its 
growth was uncertain and slow until 1828. The produce of the farmer was at 
low prices and far from markets, with but the most primitive means of trans- 
portation over the most difficult highways. Gen. William Montgomery had 
had a grate made in his house after his own original idea, and was practically 
showing his neighbors that coal could be used as fuel. The avenues of com- 
merce here had not then been opened. The people rafted lumber or rather logs 
(down the river, and for some time this was practically the only real commerce 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 85> 

carried on. Early in the twenties the subject of a canal began to be talked 
about in a vague, in '-^finite way. The people had never heard of a railroad. 
They had only just heard of the steamboat, but their information and ideas of 
it were vague and nebulous. But the canal they understood and fully appre- 
ciated. It was the great and perfect highway to the markets of the workL 
The most daring thinkers of them no doubt anticipated the day when steam- 
boats would ply the waters of the Susquehanna.* But from these day dreams 
they would ever turn to the subject of a canal to Danville. This was the 
golden probability that argued itself into certainty at last. About the year 
1820 the subject of a canal began to be seriously agitated. In 1826 the 
State entered upon a system of internal improvements. Gen. Daniel Mont- 
gomery, most fortunately, was that year appointed one of the canal commis- 
sioners, and became president of the board. In 1826-27 the canal was sur- 
veyed and located, and in 1832 the water was turned in — the canal was com- 
pleted. And the great era in the history of the town then dawned — the year 
1832. 

FIFTY- SIX YEARS AGO. 

Mr. John Frazer removed from Danville in 1831, and on the fiftieth anni- 
versary of his departiire for "my own, my native land," he jotted down his 
recollections, and the picture he recalls of the people of that distant day is 
very interesting. The following is the substance of his recollections: 

"The population of the village was then 740; the buildings numbered 
eighty; most of these were dwelling-houses on Water, Market and Mill Streets. 
They were bounded by the river. Church Street, Sechler's Run and Factory 
Street; these limits were very much less than the present area of the borough- 
They were chiefly frames, but many of the primitive log buildings yet re- 
mained- The brick buildings were the courthouse, Goodman's Tavern, Dr. 
Petrikin's and Mr. Frick's residences and Mr. Baldy's store. Subsequently 
many brick structures were erected, all, or nearly all of which remain. 

' ' The pursuits of the citizens were confined to the ordinary mechanical 
trades, the professions, and, for so small a population, a large amount of mer- 
chandising. There was scarcely a germ of the manufacturing interest which 
has grown to be of such vast importance since that day. About 1817, on Mar- 
ket Street, near Pine, William Mann manufactured nails in a primitive way by 
hand. The bars or hoops of nail iron were cut by a machine worked by a 
treadle with the foot, and by a second operation the heads of the nails were 
formed by a blow or two with a hammer; by unremitting industry, I suppose 
a workman could produce as many nails in a month as one can now, by the aid 
of machinery, in a single day. And this simple, modest manufacture was the 
precursor of the immense iron manufactures of the present time, which has 
earned for the place a high reputation excelled by few in that industrial pur- 
suit, and it has been the cause of the rapid increase of the population of the 
place, so that it now more than equals all the residue of the county. 

' ' The nucleus of the settlement, around which the accretion of population 
was subsequently gathered, was American, originating during the last two 
decades of the last century by emigi'ation from southeastern Pennsylvania, 
southern New Jersey, Sunbiuy and Northumberland. To these were added, 
from time to time, European emigrants — chiefly German, British, Irish and 
Swiss, a few French and Dutch, possibly some Danes and Swedes. Of British 

*In 1824 the " Codorus," a little steamboat, actually arrived at Danville on an experimental trip up the 
Susquehanna. The town rejoiced, and a great holiday was had; the officers were fed an^l toasted at the old 
Cross Keys Hotel that stood on the bank of the river. Everybody attended, everybody rejoiced — the long night 
had broken away. The l>oat proceeded on her way to Berwick, and there exploded her boilers, killing some of 
the crew. The boat and the bright visions of navigating the river were gone, never to return. 



86 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

emigrants up to that date I do not recollect a single Welshman, although they 
soon after became a most important element of population employed in the 
iron manufacture. These apparently discordant elements soon yielded to the 
potent attraction of association, so that early in the present century the homo- 
geneity of the young and vigorous community was assured. Seldom did any 
people enjoy a more happy harmony. This uniformity extended both to relig- 
ion and politics. They derived their revealed theology from the Bible, as 
expounded by the followers of Calvin and Knox; their moral theology from 
the Presbyterian pulpit, the Westminster catechism, and, to no inconsiderable 
extent, from Milton's ' Paradise Lost, ' which was received as a commentary 
by some, as a supplement by others. With what awe they read: 

Of Providence, foreknowledge, will, and fate; 
Fixed fate, free will, foreknowledge absolute. 

' ' * Bunyan' s Pilgrim' s Progress ' was also a work of great authority. The 
libraries were very limited; neither Aristotle, nor Pliny, nor Buffon were in 
demand; but '^sop's Fables,' 'Weem's Life of Washington,' 'Cook's 
Voyages, ' and ' Riley' s Narrative ' were among the most popular books for 
miscellaneous reading. ' Shakespeare' s Plays ' were placed on the index pur- 
gatorius by some, and few advocated their general use. The venerable Dr. 
Nott, who was president of Union College for the unprecedented term of 
sixty-two years, used to say to the students : ' If you want to get a knowledge 
of the world and human nature, read the Bible; but if you will read any other 
books, read Homer and Shakspeare. They come nearer Moses and Paul than 
any others I am acquainted with.' 'Fox's Book of Martyrs' was esteemed 
a much more suitable book for youthful readers than the great English bard; 
they were also allowed that most captivating of boys' books, ' Robinson 
Crusoe. ' 

" All were not Calvinists ; yet, under the wise and judicious pastorate of that 
good and faithful shepherd, Rev. John B. Patterson, ever honored for his 
blameless life and unostentatious piety, they were kept within one fold and 
one baptism until the close of his long ministry. He was occasionally aided 
by pastors from neighboring towns. I can now recall the names of Rev. 
Messrs. Dunham, William Smith, Nicholas Patterson, Isaac Grier, John Bry- 
son, and Hood. 

" The Rev. William B. Montgomery and his wife, nee Jane Robinson, of the 
Presbyterian Church, the devoted missionaries to the Osage Indians, had re- 
cently departed for Union Station, the scene of theii' labors, which then seemed 
to us tenfold more remote than Japan does now, and took a longer time in 
journeying thither. For more than thirty years they labored there, under 
great privations, until they both fell victims to epidemic cholera. 

" For a number of years the followers of Wesley increased in number, and 
through the zeal and labors of William Woods, William Hartman, William 
Whitaker, of the village. Judge Jacob Gearhart, of Rush Township, and oth- 
ers, a church was established about 1815. It was supplied by itinerant 
preachers. Of these, I can now only recall the name of Rev. George Dawson. 
There was a local preacher, Simons by name, who occasionally exhorted and 
preached at his own house, on Market near Church Street. I well remember 
the appearance of these devoted itinerant preachers in their journeys around 
the circuit, with their jaded horses, their portmanteau and umbrella tied on 
behind their saddle, and hat covered with oil cloth to protect it from the storms, 
and their extremely plain garb, such as I saw Lorenzo Dow wear at a subse- 
quent date. 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 87 

" The Catholics, now so numerous, were scarcely known as sectaries, Michael 
HafTerty and Francis Trainor being the only two I can recollect. The Rev. 
Mr. Kay, a Socinian or Unitarian, preached at times, but without making pros- 
«lyt.e8. The Rev. Mr. Shepherd, a Baptist of the Campbellite portion of that 
sect, preached occasionally. He was an eloquent and popular divine. There 
"ware a number of Lutherans, to whom Rev. Mr. Kesler, from the vicinity of 
Bloomsburg, preached at long intervals. The Episcopalians were not numer- 
ous, and it was suggested that they and the Lutherans unite and form a union 
church; but this was impracticable, and the former erected, own, and occupy 
the church edifice on Market Street, on ground included in what at an early 
<iay was called Rudy's woods. These sectaries were all destitute of church 
buildings except the Grove Church. This was the spacious log church, built 
more ti-an forty years before the time of which I write, in the form of a T, 
and was amply large for the congregation. Besides the sects named I can re- 
-call none others of that date. The old log church had recently been demol- 
ished and F. Birkenbine was building a brick church edifice under a contract 
with James Loualdson, Robert Curry, Robert C. Grier, Herman Sechler and 
John C. Boyd, the trustees, for the consideration of $1,775. 

" The social relations of the community were eminently pacific and cordial, 
doubtless promott^d hy the matrimonial unions between members of the several 
Tery large families ot Fome of the early emigrants. The Montgomerys, of 
whom there were two brothers — Daniel Montgomery the elder, and his brother. 
Gen. William Montgomery, wiiOcf> sons were Gen. Daniel, Col. John, and 
Alexander. The son of the senior Dauie] Mont?fomerv was Judge William 
Montgomery. The Woodside family was a large one, consistiag of Thomas, 
Archibald, John, James, Daniel, William aud Robert; of the Moores — Asa, 
John, Abner, Burrows, Samuel, Charles, Andrew Y. , Edward S. , and several 
daughters; of the Mauses — George, Elizabeth, Philip, Susan, Samuel, Lewis, 
Charles, Joseph and Jacob W. ; of the Sechlers, I recollect Rudolph, George, 
John, Jacob, Samuel and Harmon. At a later date came Mrs. Cornelison and 
her children: Joseph, William, Jacob, Isaac, Cornelius, James, Ann and 
Mercy; of the Whitakers — John, Thomas, William H., Irwin, Jane, Eliza- 
beth, Polly, Nancy, Fanny and Juliana; William Wilson, the long time justice 
of the peace, with a large family of eleven children and their descendants, 
now numbering about 100. There were also the Clarks, Gearharts, Gaskinses, 
Blues, Rishels, Phillipses, Diehls, Sanderses, Fousts, Frazers, Donaldsons, 
Willitses and Brewers. 

" Many of the pioneer customs still prevailed. Manufactures of the most 
pressing necessity were found in almost every household: the spinning-wheel 
for tow and flax; the big wheel, as it was called, for woolen yarn. These were 
woven in the place, and made into clothing at home, and most of the villagers 
and their children were clad in these domestic suits. The tailor and shoe- 
maker itinerated here and in the vicinity and ^ere almost constantly employed. 
A dwelling without a detached bake-oven would have been deemed incomplete; 
there were no bakers by profession, and of necessity each housewife was her 
own baker. The Franklin stove and the six-plate stove were still in use; the 
ten-plate stoves had recently been introduced and were a great improvement 
on the former, as much so as the palace cook and heater are upon the latter. 
Our stoves were then manufactured by Mr. Hauck, and bore the legend, 
John Hauck, Catawissa Furnace:, and it was one of the mysteries that 
troubled the brains of the boys, how it ever got there in iron letters, as much 
as did the efPect of the music of Orpheus, which ' drew iron tears down Pluto's 
cheek. ' 



88 HISTOKY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

" By industry and frugality the people lived in comparative comfort, paid 
their preacher and school-master promptly, and their printer as soon as con- 
venient, thereby preserving a good conscience and securing peace of mind. 

" The school-master was abroad. Thomas Grier taught a classical school and 
prepared boys for college. Stephen Halff also taught a private school, and 
Rev. Mr. Painter was principal of the Danville Academy, then a new 
institution. The predecessors of these were Master Gibson, who taught in the 
old log schoolhouse near the first edifice of the Grove Church; Messrs. Andrew 
Forsythe, John Moore, Thomas W. Bell, Don Carlos Barret, an eminent 
teacher; John Richards; Samuel Kirkham, the distinguished grammarian, and 
Ellis Hughes, a most competent and successful educator, favorably remembered 
by many of his pupils still living. 

" The houses were then chiefly__on Water, Mill and Market Streets, and, with 
scarcely an exception, had gardens attached to them, with a portion of each 
allotted to flowers. The damascene rose, guelder rose, flowering almond, 
peony, narcissus, lilac, lily, pink, and other familiar floral productions were 
wont to ornament it and make it ' unprofitably gay. ' The boys, after school 
hours, often reluctantly, tried their 'prentice hands at horti'-ulture, and the 
most onerous part of their labor was the removal of the water- worn stone, 
rounded by attrition in by-gone antediluvian ages, in ocea'.ic currents. They 
abounded on Market Street lots and other elevated portions of the village. 
Doubtless by this time a succession of youthful gardeners have removed them 
all and made horticultural pursuits less laborious. 

" Araongstother amusP'rieTits Lhe boys enjoyed skating, sledding, sleighing, 
nutting, trapping, fishing, playing ball, bathing in the river and in the 
Mahoning; in the latter, west of Factory Street, hard by a buttonwood or 
sycamore, was a famous bathing place. Flying kite and playing marbles in 
the spring, were not forgotten. All these afPorded them the needed recreation 
from study and labor. 

" But I must not omit the muster days of the military. The old Rifle Blues 
was one of the oldest, if not the oldest, volunteer military organization of the 
county. The Light Dragoons, Captain Clarke, were the admiration of all the 
boys of the place, and their parades were gala days. The Columbia Guards 
was a fine company of infantry, numbering over sixty, commanded by Captain 
James Carson. The train band. Captain Yorks, was also one of the institutions 
of that day. The regimental musters were generally held at Washingtonville, 
and drew together crowds of spectators to witness their grand maneuvers, 
discuss politics and tavern dinners. 

" The Watchman was then the only newspaper. George Sweeny, the veteran 
editor, was its proprietor. He had published the Columbian Gazette in 1813, 
which was succeeded by the Express, by Jonathan Lodge in 1815, and after- 
ward by Lodge & Caruthers. The Watchman was established in 1820. It 
was published on Market Street, east of Ferry, and had a sign in front of the 
ofiice, upon which was painted the head of Franklin with the legend from 
Milton, ' Where liberty dwells, there is my country. ' There were then few 
painted signs in the place, and this one was very conspicuous. Although the 
Watchman was not half the size of the American it was esteemed a grand 
journal, and had great influence in the politics of the county. It was made up 
chiefly by copy from other papers, and seldom contained editorial articles. 
Readers were not so exacting then as in these latter days. 

" The politics of the village like those of the county, were largely Democratic. 
What Democratic principles were I had no very definite idea, but had a vague 
impression that they were just the reverse of Federal principles, and I suppose 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 91 

that this negative definition quadrated with the ideas of the dominant party. 
State politics absorbed the attention of politicians and banished from their 
minds national politics to an extent that must have gladdened the hearts 
of those stolid politicians, the States' rights men. I remember how a 
villager pertinaciously urged the nomination of Gen. Jackson for governor, 
and he honestly believed that the gubernatorial honor was the highest that 
could be conferred upon the old hero. 

' ' The members of the bar were few in nvimber. Ebenezer Greenough had 
recently removed to Sunbury. Judge Grier, from his profound legal attain- 
ments and fine scholarship, stood at the head of his profession. Alem Marr, 
the pioneer lawyer, was a good classical scholar and a graduate of Princeton. 
He represented the district in Congress in 1829. LeGrand Bancroft was dis- 
trict attorney. The other members were George A. Frick, William G. Hurley, 
John Cooper, James Carson and Robert McP. McDowell. A short time 
subsequently John G. Montgomery, Paul Leidy and Joshua W. Comly were 
added to the number. All of them are deceased except the latter. 

' ' The medical men were not numerous. The first in the place was Dr. For- 
rest, the grandfather of Mrs. Valentine Best; his successor. Dr. Barrett; his, 
Drs. Petrikin and Daniels. At the period of which I write there were also 
Drs. McDowell and Magill. The latter was then a young practitioner in the 
beginning of his long and successful career, and now remains, beyond the age 
of four-score years, the honored head of the profession, which has increased 
fourfold since he became a member of it. And now Danville began to rear 
medical men of her own. Herman Gearhart and Alexander C. Donaldson were 
initiated into the profession under the tuition of Dr. Petrikin. At the same 
time Samuel Montgomery and Matthew Patterson were divinity students. John. 
Martin was a law student in Mr. Marr's office, and subsequently practiced in 
Clearfield County. 

' ' Gen. Daniel Montgomery was the first merchant, but, having acquired a 
fortune, was now residing on his fine farm a mile or two above town. His 
cousin, Judge William Montgomery, an old citizen, wjis now the oldest mer- 
chant, with his store corner of Mill and Market Streets and his residence on 
the opposite corner. He bore his full share in the burden of improving and 
bettering the condition of his fellow-men; was one of the pillars of the church 
and founder of the first Sunday-school when many others, if not opposed to 
it, aided it only in a perfunctory way, and he lived to see it permanently es- 
tablished. Peter Baldy, though still a young merchant, was engaged in an 
extensive business and dealt largely in grain. He commenced in the old log 
building which had been occupied by King & Hamilton; from thence, he re 
moved to his well known store on Mill Street where he continued his business 
for half a century, when he retired, having accumulated a fortune. The other 
merchants were John Moore, John Russell and William Colt, all old and es- 
teemed citizens; and W^illiam Bickley. Boyd & Montgomery, John C. & Michael 
C. Grier, and Michael Ephlin who had more recently engaged in business. 
Mr. Longhead had retired from business to devote his time to the post-office, 
and Jeremiah Evans had recently moved to Mercersburg. 

' ' The old Cross-Keys tavern, kept by Mrs. Jemima Donaldson, was the best, 
in the county and it is doubtful whether it has been surpassed to this day. Tha 
Union Hotel, the first three-story brick building and the best one in the place 
was built and kept by Philip Goodman. John Irwin kept a tavern corner of 
Market and Ferry Streets; and the most ancient hostelry of them all, 
the Rising Sun, the old red house at the foot of Mill Street with the 
walnut tree at the door, and its crowd of devotees of Bacchus who made 
it resound with 



■92 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

Midnight shout and revelry. 
Tipsy dance and jollity. 

' ' The Ferry tavern by George Barnhart, where I often hurried by, fearing 
the sound of the fiddle, judging that old Satan could not be far distant from 
the violin, thus condemning that first of musical instruments, from its associa- 
tion with much that is vile. Then there was the Jackson tavern, Mill Street 
near Mahoning, by William Clark, a soldier of the Revolution, with the likeness 
of Gen. Jackson painted on its sign, thus superseding that of Washington, 
as the latter in its day had replaced that of George III, tempori parendum. 
The taverns then had a monopoly of retailing intoxicating liquors, dealing 
them out by the gill ; and rye whisky was the chief liquor used, and doubtless 
was less hvu-tful than the villainous compound now sold under that name. 
Some who then indulged in ' potations pottle deep ' nevertheless attained a 
great age; when any one of them was warned against indulging too fi-eely in 
it, as it was a slow poison, he replied that he was aware of that for he had been 
using it sixty years and it must be very slow. The coffee-houses, now destitute 
of coffee, the saloons, groceries and other refined modern drinking places were 
then unknown. In addition to these taverns Mrs. Spence kept a boarding- 
house, and had for her guests some of the most respectable people of the place. 

' ' Amongst the active and industrious citizens were the blacksmiths. John 
Lunger was one of the earliest, and had a shop on Ferry Street. John Deen' s 
smithy was on Market near Ferry Street, where by many and well-directed 
blows he hammered out a fortune. Joseph Cornelison's was on Mahoning 
near Mill Street. 

* ' George McCulley was one of the pioneer carpenters and removed to Ohio, 
near Wooster, where some of his descendants still reside. Daniel Cameron, a 
worthy Scot and the great pedestrian who walked from Harrisburg to Danville 
in a day without deeming it any great exploit, was a skillful carpenter and 
builder. Adam Schuyler and George Lott were also engaged in that business. 

" The chairmakers were William Hartman who was also a wheelwright, and 
the brothers Kirk. William Mann was also engaged in that calling for a year 
or two. 

"Shoemakers — William Woods, Gideon Mellon, Henry Sanders, Thomas 
Wiley. 

" Tailors — William M. Wiley, who removed to Harrisburg; William Whita- 
ker, Amos E. Kitchen. William Ingold was a vagrant workman who plied his 
needle at the houses of his employers, and was noted for his quips and quirks 
and idle pranks, whereby he amused and often astonished the boys of the 
"village. 

' ' Honest John Reynolds, from Reading, was the veteran hatter, who for 
iong years supplied men and boys with hats. Martin McCollister was a more 
recent and very skillful workman. 

" Thomas Blackwell earned on the fulling-mill and saw-mill near what is 
now the junction of Mill and Bloom Streets. 

' ' The first brewer was Richard Matchin. The citizens of that day were not, 
as we now phrase it, educated up to a due appreciation of that beverage, con- 
sequently improved less profitable than brewing lager, weiss and buck beer 
at the present time. 

"George Wilson was the first cabinet-maker, and some of his substantial old- 
style furniture has survived to the present day. Burrows Moore was long en- 
gaged in the same biisiness. 

■ ' The Scotch weavers had been famous in the early days of the settlement. 
•Of those who were engaged in the business fifty years since I can now only 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 93 

Tecall the names of Christopher Smith and Peter Goodman. The latter was a 
most respectable and industrious German from the Fatherland. 

"Coppersmiths and tinners— Alexander Wilson, James Wilson, John C. 
Theil. 

" Watchmaker and jeweler, Samuel Maus. 

"There were several saddlers— Alexander Best, Hugh Flack, Daniel Hoff- 
man, and possibly others. 

' ' Rifles were in demand, and had always been much used by the pioneers. 
These were supplied by Samuel Baum and George Miller ; the son of the latter 
succeeded him and still continues the business. 

' ' Of public functionaries, we had but few, and their removals were few and 
far between. In the language of an eminent statesman it might then have 
been truly said: "Few die and none resign." Judge Seth Chapman was long 
the presiding judge of our courts. He was a man of moderate legal attain- 
ments, yet he made a good presiding officer. He was assisted by his associates, 
Judges Montgomery and Eupei-t. George A. Frick was prothonotary, having 
been appointed to that office by Gov. Snyder in 1813. 

"William Wilson, Rudolph Sechler and Joseph Prutzman were the justices 
•of the peace; Andrew McReynolds, sheriff; Daniel Cameron, constable. Mr. 
Sechler was also register and recorder. James Longhead, a dignified yet popu- 
lar gentleman of English origin, was postmaster, and held the office for the 
long term of fourteen years, twice as long as any other with one exception. 
The office was first established in 1806, Judge Montgomery being the first one 
appointed, and held his commission from President Jefferson, and filled the 
office for seven years. This just and pious man discharged this trust, as he 
did all others, to the entire satisfaction of the Government and the community. 
He was succeeded by that other faithful public servant, Rudolph Sechler, 
who held it for a like term of seven years, until Mr. Longhead's appointment. 
I never knew a more honest man than Mr. Sechler. With him it was in- 
nate. He could not be otherwise than honest. His countenance, his actions, 
his words, in short everything about him proclaimed his sterling integrity; 
and what gave a charm to it he was quite unconscious of his being more 
honest than other men. Of his large number of connections I never knew 
one whose integrity was called in question. It is highly gratifying to know 
that in the seventy years the office has been in existence, there has never been 
a defaulter to the National Government, and that all of the thirteen incum- 
bents of the office have diligently and faithfully discharged the trust reposed 
in them. 

"One of the eccentric characters of the vicinity was Mr. Finney, who died 
ten or twelve years subsequent to the period of which I write, almost a cen- 
tenarian. He was a man of gallantry, a kind of Beau Nash of more than 
eighty, with a peculiar child-like tenor voice, who delighted to play the gallant 
with the young ladies of the village, and drive them around the place and 
vicinity in his old-style chaise. Robin Finney, as he was always called, from 
his great age and attention to the fair sex, was a great favorite with them, and 
was well known to the people of that day. His chaise and one owned by 
Gen. D. Montgomery and one by Judge Montgomery were the oiUy pleasure 
carriages of that kind in the county. The old time carriage of Philip Maus, 
which attracted the attention and excited the wonder of the village urchins, 
and the more modern carriage of Gen. Montgomery were the only pleasure 
•carriages of that style. Traveling on horseback was then the proper thing for 
both sexes, old and young, gentle and simple, and its general disuse is to be 
regretted. 



9-4 HISTORY or MONTOUR COUNTY. 

' ' Abe Brown was an African, or an American of African descent, and the 
only one in the place. He had been a mariner, and after he came here, was a 
servant to Mr. Longhead. He immigrated to Mahoning County, Ohio, where 
by industry and frugality he acquired a competency and enjoys the respect of 
the community where he resides. Jack Harris was an octoroon, a fine looking 
lad, and so nearly white that he might pass for an Anglo-American. Though 
not darker than a brunette, the rude boys persisted in calling him Black Jack. 
These boys attended the schools and were treated with justice. 

"The great flood of 1817, usually called the August flood, surrounded the 
place so that, for the time, it became insular. The only approach was by 
boats. I saw the bridge over the brook on the road, then an extension of 
Church Street, float away with a man on it who secured it before it reached 
the river. 

"The inhabitants were supplied with flour from the mills of John and Alex- 
ander Montgomery and Joseph Maus, all propelled by the water of the Mahon- 
ing. Farmers in the vicinity took their grain in sacks to the mills; the miller 
ground it for a toll of one-tenth. Except for the Baltimore, Philadelphia, or 
Reading markets, it was seldom put up in barrels. Steam power had not 
been introduced in the place or neighborhood, except at Boyd's mill, which 
was then a new one on the left bank of the river above town. 

' ' Whisky was the Archimedean lever that moved the world. Contracts 
could not be made or performed without its potent aid. The merchant kept 
it on his counter, for his customers would not purchase goods without it. It 
was indispensable at musters and elections. The farmer's fields could not be 
cultivated without its use as a motor. Mr. Robinson, in the vicinity, offered 
the laborers who were employed in his harvest fields extra pay if they would 
dispense with it, but they refused. The temperance cause was advocated by 
its friends, but its opponents, numerous, defiant and violent, determined that 
their liberties should not be subverted by a few fanatics who were worse than 
the Federals. 

' ' The half century just closed has been an eventful, almost a marvelous one. 
In 1826 we had no railways, telegraphs, type-writers, gas, petroleum, no 
canals, iron furnaces, forges, rolling-mills; no bridge over the river, no tire 
engines of any kind, nor many other indispensable improvements, deprived of 
which we would speedily retrograde to what we were at that period. The popu- 
lation has increased more than tenfold, and Danville has kept pace with the 
rest of the world, and shown an energy and perseverance worthy of her, not- 
withstanding the many depressions and conflicts incident to her position as a. 
great manufacturing center. Her numerous sons, dispersed throughout the 
great West, and in other portions of our vast republic, now in exile from her 
borders, look with pride upon her onward course in material prosperity, and 
her commendable progress in religion, morals, and science, the social virtues 
and the amenities of life, which they trust may continue, and enable her, for 
all future time, to maintain her elevated position in the good old common- 
wealth. 

"There was an old tradition, or rather a prophecy, among the Indians that 
roamed about the Susquehanna, that great floods in this river occurred at regu- 
lar intervals of fourteen years. The first great flood of which we have any 
account was in 1744 ; the second in 1758 ; the third in 1772, and that which 
is known as the great ' pumpkin flood ' was in 1786 — there being just four- 
teea years between each of these floods. The ' pumpkin flood ' was in the 
month of October, and was so designated on account of the immense number 
of pumpkins that floated down the stream from the fields above. It began to- 



HISTOKY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 95 

rain on the 5tli of October, 1786, and rained incessantly for several days. The 
water rose rapidly and swept all before it. Several persons were drowned 
near the place now called Rupert, and at Sunbury houses were overflowed 
and many people were lost. Northumberland was also flooded and much dam- 
age was done. This flood was long remembered and known among the old 
settlers as 'the great pumpkin flood.' In the spring of 1800, just fourteen . 
years after the ' pumpkin flood, ' another great freshet occuiTed. It rained 
three days and three nights, carrying off a deep snow and doing much dam- 
age. In 1814 there was another destructive flood that caused much loss of 
life and property. Here the old Indian tradition that floods occuiTed every 
fourteen years failed ; for the next was in 1817, after an interval of only 
three years. The next flood of note was in 1847. If there were any from 
1817 to 1847 we have no record of them. Many will remember that of 1859, 
which also raised the water in the North Branch over eight feet above high 
water mark. Still more vividly do they remember the extraordinary flood of 
March, 1865. The exciting scenes in Danville on the 17th and 18th of 
that month will never be forgotten. The river began to rise on Friday, and 
on Saturday the water rose to four feet above the highest flood on record. A 
great portion of Danville was overflowed and many families were compelled to 
leave their homes in haste. Women and children were taken from their 
houses in boats. The whole district from Sageburg to Mill Street was covered 
with water reaching up Mulberry Street and to the scales in front of the Mont- 
gomery building. The low lands along the Mahoning were also under water. 
On Mulberry as well as on Mill Street boats and rafts were moving among the 
houses and gliding high over the gardens. The river bridge was much injured 
but withstood the onset. Many stables and other buildings floated about and 
found new and strange foundations as the water receded, witJiout any regard 
to the side that was up or down. Only one man, Peter Green, was drowned 
at this place. He fell into the Mahoning fi'om a small raft while attempting 
to supply his family with coal. His body was recovered and properly cared 
for. Another great flood in the North Branch in 1875 took the river bridge 
that had so long withstood the assaults of the angry torrent, but when the 
Catawissa bridge came down and struck it broadside it had to yield. It has 
since been rebuilt more substantially than before. There was another great 
freshet on the 12th of February, 1881." 

This account of fifty- six years ago rounds out the first half -century of 
Danville, completing the history to the second and important event in the 
town's history. The opening of the canal started the second era in the town's 
growth and its permanent and solid development. As soon as the building 
of a canal became an assured fact, men of enterprise and capital, anticipating 
the results to flow along with its completion, began to rapidly come to the 
place. Capital was attracted here, labor came where it was sure of ready 
eimployment at living wages. Iron ore was here in great abundance and the 
best quality, and the canal brought the coal fields almost to our door, and soon 
the movement was on foot that moved with mighty strides to the building of 
the great factories that have made the name of Danville familiar throughout 
the commercial world. 

INCORPORATION AS A BOROUGH. 

Danville became an incorporated borough in 1849. Its growth from its 
settlement until the building of the canal had been very slow, the improve- 
ments more than keeping pace with the additions to the population. In 1840 
the population was 1,100. In the next decade, however, it was increased over 
200 per cent and in the next half-decade, 1855, to 6,000 and in 1857 to 8,000. 



/ 



96 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

In that day this was unprecedented. The present stationary condition of the- 
town shows that the large part of this population was drawn here by the iron, 
manufactories. In 1849 it was reaching rapidly its importance and growth 
as a manufacturing town. In the establishment of its manufactories, the 
public and private buildings, and its commerce and increase of capital in 
every line of industry, were then widely known and began to give the place 
an enviable reputation throughout the country. 

When made a borough it was divided into two wards. Its official machin- 
ery was simple, economical and effective. The freshets in the river had sug- 
gested that the lower parts of the town must be raised to an established grade 
to prevent the injurious overflows. In 1852 Northumberland Street was filled 
up to grade. At different times fills had been made in the low parts of Mill 
and other streets in the near vicinity of the canal. The fills on these streets 
can be readily seen by their present elevation above the tow-path of the canal. 
This is not indicative of all the fill, because in deepening the canal, which was 
done at different times, this was effected by raising the sides or tow-path, and 
here there is nearly an average fill of three feet above the natural surface of 
the ground. 

In 1855 the borough limits were enlarged and for the first time accurately 
defined as they exist now. These limits contain 996 acres, lying in greatest 
length along the river and extending back to Montour' s Ridge. There were only 
two wards until 1867, when the divisions were made into four wards, and by 
this change twelve councilmen were provided for, or three from each ward. At 
the then following election three alderman were elected in each ward to serve re- 
spectively one, two and three years, and one to be elected at each succeeding 
annual election to serve three years. 

In common with the entire country the business of the place suffered a 
check from the financial panic of 1857. This was especially felt in its large- 
iron mills, but was only temporary. It had disappeared in 1859. In the latter 
part of 1860 the portentous war clouds were lowering upon the 'country, and 
in 1861 the storm broke and the Nation trembled in the throes of war. The 
inperative wants of the country had soon set to work the busy machinery of 
Danville, and again the tide ran high in all its lines of industry. The demand 
in the ranks of the army upon employers and laborers was great, but great as 
it was it was met with an enthusiastic rush, and in Danville as everywhere in 
all the land, men were going and coming, the prices of labor and commodities 
went up and up, wants increased, the flow of money from the government 
center was immense, which rapidly circulated among the people and they were 
exuberant and intoxicated with patriotism, and money getting, and this rapidly 
bred extravagant habits in the majority and colossal fortunes in the hards of 
many. The war over and people again settling down to the attempt to try the 
old fashioned anti-war simplicity and sobriety, that had unconsciously passed 
away and apparently never to return, and hence to many the times were out of 
joint, and others were at a loss to readjust themselves, or, to use the term that 
was then applied properly only to the revolted States, to put on and wear grace- 
fully the new habiliments of reconstruction. The war left the country flooded 
with cheap money and flush times. Men no longer hesitated to go in debt, 
to pay the heaviest discounts upon the glittering but deceptive future. The 
thinkers of pessimistic tendency argued that the war closed, the debris cleared 
away, that the reaction wpuld swiftly come that would engulf every daring 
adventurer. But the war closed in 1865, and a lustrum of years had come 
and gone and financial prosperity only swelled its daily great volume. The re- 
action had not come. The pessimist ceased to warn, the optimist confidently 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 97 

told himself that the resistless stream of prosperity could not be stopped or 
changed in its onrushing course. Had not the northern patriots put down at 
incalculable sacrifices the monster rebellion? The South was crushed, pauper- 
ized and millions of slaves were freed, and no longer did northern labor 
have to contend against the unpaid slave labor of the country. Was not Prov- 
idence justice? "Was it a farthing more, indeed, but a pitiful recompense for 
our great sacrifices that this stream of financial and industrial prosperity 
should flow on forever? 

To these golden dreams came the fatal year, 1873. The telegraph flashed 
the simple announcement, but really portentous news over the land, ' 'Jay Cook' s 
failure," and in a day the average business man of the country was in fact a 
bankrupt. The sad scenes around the bankrupt courts exceeded even those in 
England when the great South Sea Bubble burst. May a return of the like 
be ever spared our land! We had trampled upon every financial law of polit- 
ical economy, and we had to pay the most fearful penalties, compounding the 
interest to the most implacable Shy lock that ever demanded the pound of flesh 
from nearest the human heart. 

In this financial revolution, following upon the heels of the social and 
moral upheaval of the times, Danville, because of its distance from the great 
cities, probably suffered less severely than the majority of places of its size. 
But still it felt severely the shock. It to-day bears the marks of the wounds 
thus inflicted, although a decade of years have come and gone since the great 
panic passed away. The financial, commercial and industrial history of the 
town from the commencement of the war to the present is contained in the 
history of the country during that period — a history yet to be written, but a 
fruitful and instructive theme indeed, to the historian able to write it. 

INDUSTEIES. 

Some learned sociologist has concluded that the true measure of a people' s 
degree of civilization is the amount of soap they use. The correctness of this 
depends. In many a pioneer settlement of 100 years ago so pinched were 
the people for every necessity of life, that the wild " bee trees " were hunted 
and the only make-shift possible for soap was to use honey; and the advance 
along the line of washing, not barring the pig-tailed Mr. Washee, is the use 
of gasoline now-a-days in washing the belle's kid gloves or her floating cloud- 
like snowy white or delicately tinted party dress. This honey at one end of 
the line, then the thousand substitutes in the middle and gasoline at the other 
extremity — there is no fair standard here to measure either our beauty, cleanli- 
ness or civilization. Then, too, where this soap philosopher expounded his 
discovery, the world was jogging contentedly along in much simplicity and dirt, 
and in total ignorance of what the near future had in store for their children's 
delectation and advancement. The little rill that is now the great swollen 
stream had just then started on its course too insignificant then to attract at- 
tention, while now in the language of the western poet when he, like De Soto, 
first stood upon the bank of the Mississippi River, and his muse fired by the 
grandeur of the view exclaimed: " Great Father of Waters, so wide that you 
cannot hear its roar!" This poetical paradox well expresses the growth and 
extent of modern inventions and improvements in all the arts — especially in 
the manufacture of iron, that now has reached that degree of perfection and 
magnitude that the soap sociologist, were he alive, would revise his philosophy 
and say that the true gauge is iron. 

In Bucks County in this State those dear old Revolutionary fighting fathers 
got iron and made common balls to fire at the hated red coats. Perhaps just 



•98 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

s, little previously, some ingenious Yankee-Deutcher had succeeded in making a 
heating stove, or at least a kind of iron box to put fire in, perhaps the primitive 
idea of the old foot stove only a little changed and enlarged; and thus, making 
stoves to warm oiu'selves and cannon balls to warm the Hessians, commenced 
in this country the little rill that is now the stream "so great that you cannot 
hear its roar. ' ' The camping hunter bad not then discovered for us the fact 
that the ' ' black rock ' ' would burn, but the discovery of coal as a fiiel quickly 
followed the making of the first stove and the casting of those holy cannon 
balls, and at that very hour Fulton was brewing in his great brain the steamboat 
that in 1809 made its immortal trial trip on the Hudson. Then, too, Benjamin 
Franklin was flying his kites, himself, as he says, ' ' holding the end of one 
string and another goose holding by its neck the other string," when the 
lightning, realizing its great master had come, playfully and in "sportive 
twists ' ' ran down the wrong string and ' ' liked to have killed the wrong goose. ' ' 
Thus, link by link, the great chain was forged and welded from the outcrop- 
ping iron ore that has made this the age of iron, the era of civilization — wonder- 
ful, incomparable! These are the true children of immortality. The thoughts 
and inventions of genius alone are immortal, they endure forever. Like the 
laws of nature their work goes on perpetually, ever increasing, ever grow- 
ing, multiplying in compound ratio like the unseen drops of water and par- 
ticles of gases in the bowels of the earth that ignite and produce the earth- 
quake — self increasing, self perpetuating, casting their seeds in the minds of 
other men, encircling the globe, widening, deepening, strengthening forever. 
What are the stupid imaginings of the fabled gods ? What the world' s common 
accepted ideas of its great benefactors, great men, compared to these immor- 
tal inventors and thinkers ? Place the fame and glory of Napoleon by the side 
of that nameless hunter who discovered the use of coal, then think of the 
agony, destruction and woe that came into this world with the great warrior, 
and remember what has come of the results of the simple hunter's observations 
about his lonely camp fire — how mean and horrible the one, how grand and great 
and good the other. The one only destroyed, the other created — the one was 
only evil, and like all evil things has passed away in its effects; the other was 
only good, and like all good, lives and grows through all time. When our 
schools and churches have time to look about them, to behold this vast sweep 
of growth of this century, it is to be hoped they will begin to impress upon the 
young and growing minds the heaven sent truth that generally the world's 
heroes and great men are but unspeakable shams and frauds — -send them to 
the dust bins, spit upon them — the whole horde of humbugs and windbags! 
Away with them, with whips of scorpions pursue them and their miserable 
memories fi'om the world! 

The pioneer here in the production of iron was IVIi". Bird Patterson. He 
built a charcoal furnace in 1838. It stood near where the Catawissa railroad 
now passes, just beyond the Mahoning steam mill. With the introduction of 
anthracite coal as a fuel in iron manufacture it was abandoned and eventually 
fell into ruin. This, in order to designate the different furnaces, was called 
"No. 1." 

Montour Iron and Steel Works. — About 1840 Chambers & Biddle built 
Nos. 2 and 3 — the twin furnaces, and these were the first in the country that 
used anthracite coal. It is said that Benjamin Perry was the leading spirit in 
the production of anthracite iron. Furnace No. 4 was built in 1845. These were 
the Montour Iron Company' s works, for some time in their early history rep- 
resented by the firm of Murdock, Leavitt & Co. , the firm consisting of U. 
A. Murdock, Edward Leavitt, Jesse Oakley and David Wetmore. The superin- 




2^nn^^y^''S 




C 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 101 

iendent was Heniy Brevoort. The rolling-mill was built in 1844. (A. G. 
Toris was a general agent and builder, who was for many years connected with 
the works, as builder, purchasing material, selling iron and having renting 
of the dwellings in charge.) T. O. Van Allen built the storehouse, now known 
as the company store, in 1844, and conducted the store and the flouring-mill 
until about 1850 when he sold to Conely, Grove & Co. He was also resident 
agent for a time. The rolling-mill was completed in 1845 and here the first 
T rail was made. The U rail had been made before this date ; but to Danville 
belongs the honor of having on the 8th of October, 1845, produced the 
first T rail that was ever made in this country- — a rail that now connects the At- 
lantic and Pacific Oceans and checkers with iron roadways every civilized coun-" 
try in the world. In 1843 the furnaces were leased to Benjamin Perry Alex- 
ander Garretson, Cornelius Garretson and William Jennison. Their contract 
was for two years. Harris was the manager at the rolling-mill in its first 
operation and was succeeded by M. S. Kidgeway, the manager at the present 
time. The foundry and machine shop was established by Heyward & Snyder 
in 1839, but they were purchased by the company in 1852. From 1847 to 
1849 the rolling-mill was operated by Ridgeway, Van Allen, Heath and Stroh. 
The resident agent of the company at that time was Warren Murdock. He 
occupied the position until the Advent of the Grove Bros. , about 1850 or 
1851. Peter and John Grove managed the works until 1857. During their 
regime the new mill was built, adding much to its extent and capacity, which 
is now 45,000 tons of iron rails per annum. In 1857 the entire works passed 
into the hands of I. S. Waterman, Thomas Beaver, William Neal and Wash- 
ington Lee, as trustees for the creditors of the Montour Iron Company. They 
operated the works as trustees until 1859 when the entire interest in the whole 
.concern was purchased by Waterman & Beaver. They also purchased the real 
estate with all the franchises of the company, and changed the name to the 
Pennsylvania Iron works. They operated the works with great success and 
general satisfaction. In 1868 Thomas Beaver, Dan Morgan, C. Mulligan, 
George F. Geisinger and Dan Edwards operated and shared the profits of the 
works. This combination was successful and continued until 1874. In 1876 
Thomas Beaver sold his interest to I. S. Waterman, retaining by pui-chase the 
mansion house on the hill, with twenty acres of ground. 

In 1880 Mr. Waterman sold the plant to the Philadelphia &c Reading Rail- 
road Company. The name of the works was then changed to Montour 
Iron and Steel Works, with W. E. C. Cox, president; E. P. Howe, manager, 
and S. W. Ingesall, treasurer. As some evidence of what the little first old 
charcoal furnace had grown into, it may be stated that the railroad paid $450, 000 
in cash for the entire plant. In its line of manufacture this was the pioneer 
establishment east of the Alleghenies, producing a superior rail that supplied 
roads in all parts of the country, extending to the Pacific Ocean. The excel- 
lent quality of block iron mined here, from its hardness, made a top for the 
rail that was a valuable desideratum, and commanded sales of all the works 
could produce. The size of the main building, 343x290 feet ; northeast wing, 
116x89 feet; northwest wing, 116x60 feet; size of No. 2, 234x136 feet; wing, 
28x67 feet; blacksmith shop, 26x57 feet; brick-house, 39x31 feet; pump-house, 
20x15 feet: oil-house. 32x32 feet. This structiu'e contains 15 heating fur- 
naces, 27 single puddling furnaces, 1 16-inch train of rolls and 2 trains of 20 
inches. These rolls are driven by three large engines, combined, 700 horse- 
power. There is also a vertical engine which runs the squeezer, and one that 
runs the saws and machinery for punching and straightening the rails. A 



102 HISTORY or MONTOUR COUNTY. 

powerful vertical engine drives the fans for blasts for the heating furnaces, and 
pumps vrater; another supplies the blast for the puddling-mill, and pumps 
water for the boilers in the puddling furnaces, and this drives the machinery 
for cutting old rails for the heating furnaces preparatory to re-rolling. Pud- 
dling mill No. 2 is similarly constructed and contains 14 double puddling fur- 
naces, 2 squeezers, 1 rotary, 1 crocodile and 1 train of 20-inch rolls. The 
rolls are driven by a Corliss engine of 100 horse-power. There are other ap- 
pliances for the successful operation of the mills. M. S. Ridgeway is the sup- 
erintendent. These give employment to about 1,000 men when in full opera- 
tion, and can turn out 4,000 tons of rails, and have made as high as 200 tons 
of finished rails in a day. The blast furnaces have a capacity of 24,000 tons 
of pig iron per year. The blast is supplied by two engines of 400 horse-power 
each, and employ 600 men in full operation. These are superintended by Dan- 
iel Morgan. The foundry and machine shops are superintended by F. H. 
Varmen. They consist of a building 40x75 feet, two stories, the upper floor 
occupied for pattern rooms. These are filled with all the machinery for mak- 
ing steam-engines, locomotives, etc. , and give employment, when in full work, 
to seventy-five men. The foundry is 60x90 feet, and, provided with a cupola 
capable of making a casting weighing ten tons, also with air furnaces, core 
oven, cranes, etc. Here sixty-five men can be employed, and can turn out 
about 200 tons of castings per month. The boiler shop is 60x70 feet. 

These are of the iron works proper and rank among the largest iron works 
in the world owned by private capital. The company owns extensive ore 
mines, 2,000 acres of land which are connected with the furnaces by a narrow 
gauge railroad about seven miles in length, equipped with engines and rolling 
stock, with a branch road to their limestone quarry. In the mining of their 
ore and quarrying rock they give employment to 150 men. The company put 
up about 300 dwellings, a large grist-mill and a general store. At Kingston, 
on the L. & B. Railroad, sixty miles from Danville, the company purchased 
a valuable coal property. 

Grove's Furnace. — Among the best known of the furnaces in the State 
these have long ranked in the front. They are cold and idle now and have 
been for some years, standing there a mute monument to the skill and execu- 
tive ability of the Grove Brothers, as among the early and successful manu- 
facturers of pig-iron in Pennsylvania. These furnaces are on Mahoning Street, 
are solidly built and furnished with every modern appliance for the effect- 
ive fulfillment of the piirpose for which they were built. The first furnace 
was put up in 1840, and the additional stack was built in 1859-60. The blast 
for both furnaces is supplied by a 40()-horse power engine. They gave em- 
ployment to seventy-five men, and had a capacity of 12,000 tons per annum. 
The firm purchased coal mines above Pittston, on the Lackawanna & Baltimore- 
Railroad; also ore lands about Danville, and in Huntingdon, Berks and Lan- 
caster Counties in this State, and also in Virginia, Maryland and Canada. 

The original brothers who came here and built up this great industry have 
passed away, leaving a large fortune to their heirs. Among other of the 
evidences of their great wealth is the extensive Grove's residence, one of the 
most expensive private residences at the time of its building in the State. The 
present owners of the property are apparently content with what they have and 
are not anxious to add to their great worldly possessions. 

The Co operative Iron and Steel Works. — This is a joint stock company, 
chartered December 31, 1870, whose stockholders are largely interested as 
workmen in its mill. It is thus far a successful experiment in co-operative 
industry and is being watched with great interest throughout the country as. 



HISTOKY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 105 

an exponent of a principle somewhat novel, yet apparently founded on solid 
grounds of social economy. The company having purchased six acres of land 
adjoining the canal, and having $75,000 capital distributed among forty stock- 
holders, commenced the erection of their mill in April, 1871, and had it in- 
operation by November 13 of the same year. The mill is constructed after the 
most approved plans, and its internal arrangements are very complete. It is 
75x153 feet, and contains eight puddling furnaces — one train of eighteen inch 
rolls driven by an engine of 100 horse-power, one forty horse-power engine, 
' ' crocodile squeezer, ' ' etc. The company have a neat office building- 
adjoining the works. The present officers are Perry Deen, president; L. K. 
Rishel, secretary and treasurer, and John Grove, W. M. Gearhart, Samuel 
Mills, D. L. Secher, A. J. Amerman, L. K. Rishel, Perry Deen, J. C. 
Rhodes, P. Baldy, Jr., D. M. Reese and E. J. Curtis, directors. The com- 
pany at present manufacture pig iron into puddle bar at their own mill, and 
have it manufactured into rails from sixteen to fifty pounds per yard. The' 
erection of a rail-mill is contemplated. Value of product, per year, about 
1300,000. The company pay out as wages $4,000 per month, in cash, making- 
nearly $50,000 per year put in circulation among the business men of Danville- 
by their establishment alone. « 

Enterprise Foundry and Machine Works. — These works were established 
in 1873 by Messrs. Cruikshank, Moyer & Co. The firm is composed entirely 
of practical men, who give their personal attention to every branch of the 
business. The establishment consists of a machine-shop, 45x50 feet, stocked 
with lathes, planers, bolt-cutters, etc., of approved patterns; foundry, 45x50 
feet, containing a cupola of seven tons capacity, and a large crane capable of 
hoisting ten tons — this foundry can turn out castings of any desired weight 
or pattern; pattern-shop, 45x40 feet. The machine-shop is under the direct 
supervision of J. W. Moyer and Thomas Ctirry, both members of the firm and 
practical machinists. The foundry is in charge of James Cruikshank, a prac- 
tical molder, also one of the firm. The office and business department is pre- 
sided over by R. Moore, the remaining partner. The firm manufacture steam- 
engines, rolling-mill, blast furnace, saw and grist-mill machinery, railroad and. 
bridge iron work of all kinds. The works are located on Ferry Street, near- 
the L. & B. Railroad. 

Danville Iron Foundry. — The foundry was established in 1872. It is lo- 
cated in East Danville, and is 5(3x84 feet, solidly constructed, with slate roof. 
It contains a cupola capable of melting seven tons at one heat; core-oven, 
crane, etc. There is also a blacksmith-shop and pattern-shop attached, the- 
latter under the charge of E. E. Brown, an experienced pattern-maker. The 
foundry turns out stoves, plows, agricultural implements, corn- planters, etc. 
Daniel DeLong is the proprietor. 

National Iron Foundry. — This foundry, near the Columbia furnaces, was- 
originally built by Peter Baldy, Sr. , about 1839, and was first operated by 
Belson, Williams & Gardley. For some cause they failed and it passed into 
the hands of O'Connor & Rice. They also failed, and R. C. Russel tookcharge- 
of the work. After a brief period of time he sold to Hancock & CaiT, who soon 
transferred it to John Hibler. The several parties named conducted the estab- 
lishment for twenty-five years. In 1854 Samuel Huber, who had acted as> 
foreman in the Eagle Foundry for a number of years, leased the National Iron 
Foundry and operated it until 1859, when it was totally destroyed by fire. In- 
the spring of the same year he had taken Samuel Boudman into partnerhip, 
and who after the fire abandoned the enterpise. But Mr. S. Huber bought 
the ground of Mr. Baldy, rebuilt the foundry more complete than it had been 



104 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

before, and again embarked in the business, successfully conducting it alone, 
until the 1st of April, 1868, when his son, J. S. Huber, became a partner un- 
der the lirm of S. Huber & Son. They carried on the business with entire 
satisfaction until the 19th of January, 1877, when C. C. Huber, another son, 
was taken into the firm, and then it became S. Huber & Sons. Subsequently 
W. H. Huber, the third son, was also added to the firm, and so it remains to 
the present time. 

Some years ago Mr. S. Huber, the senior member of the firm, turned his 
attention to the construction of an improved plow, in which he was completely 
successful. His invention was patented and the Huber plow, made at this 
foundry, is now a popular favorite over a wide region of country. 

Glendoiver Iron Works occupies the ground of the old Rough and Ready 
Rolling-mill, and was originally built by Bird Patterson. In 1847 William 
Hancock and John Foley changed it into a rolling-mill for the manufactui'e of 
merchant-iron. In 1850 they converted it into a rail-mill, and then for the 
first time they met with great prosperity. After eight years of great success 
Mr. Foley retired, Mr. Hancock becoming sole proprietor in 1858. During 
the late war Mr. Foley re-entered the firm. In 1866 he again sold his interest 
to Mr. Hancock. 

The first of the Danville furnaces was built in 1870 by Hancock & Crevel- 
ing. The second and larger furnace was subsequently erected. These furnaces 
were superintended by George W. Miles. The capacity of the Danville 
furnaces is 15,000 tons per annum. 

In 1867 the National Iron Company was formed, superseding the Rough 
and Ready. Of this company William Hancock was president at first and 
afterward William Painter; P. C. Brink, was vice-president and Benjamin Gr. 
Welch was secretary, treasurer and general manager. 

This organization continued until 1871, when the Danville fiirnaces were 
purchased. The new rolling-mill had been erected in 1870. George W. Miles 
continued the superintendence of the furnaces under the National Iron Com- 
pany. John G. Hiler was manager at the new rolling-mill, and Joseph H. 
Springer at Ihe old Rough and Ready rail mill. In 1873, owing to large expendi- 
tures and heavy losses, the company was compelled to go into bankruptcy. 
After the works had lain idle some time they were purchased by the heirs of 
William Hancock, deceased, in 1874, under a mortgage sale; upon which the 
Hancock Iron & Steel Company was organized. Dr. J. D. Gosh was chosen 
president and B. G. Welch, secretary, treasurer and general manager. This 
company existed only about six months, when the works were again idle until 
1877, when they were leased by A. Creveling, whooperatedthemuntil June, 1879, 
when A. Creveling and George W. Miles purchased the works — the old Rough 
and Ready property — John Roach purchasing the part lying north of the canal. 
A. Creveling and George W. Miles then organized the Glendower Iron Works, 
with A. Creveling, president; H. Levis, treasurer, and George W. Miles, sec- 
retary and general manager. The capacity of the works is 20, 000 tons. 

The works were kept in successful operation, but quit making rails, and 
were devoted entirely to making what is called scalp iron. In the early part of 
September, 1886, the men organized a strike and the mills are now closed with 
no immediate prospects of opening again. 

The Atlas Manufacturing Comjjany was chartered in 1881, and commenced 
business in Epsy, Penn. The first ofiicers were James McCormick, president; 
W. J. McCormick, secretary and treasurer. In the spring of 1884 the works 
were brought to Danville, and the company leased Voris, Haigh & Gregg's 
planing-mill, going extensively into the manufacture of wood, household 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 105 

novelties and making a specialty of the "Atlas Step-ladder." The latter is 
now exported in quantities to Europe and Australia. We are told that this is 
the largest factory for making this specialty in the world. The present officers 
are William Angle, president and manager, and F. C. Angle, secretary and 
treasurer. 

Danville Nail and Manufacturing Company. — The works were erected and 
the machinery started in August, 1883. They are very complete in all their 
appointments for the purpose intended, namely the manufacture of muck bar 
nails and tack iron, with a capacity of 900 kegs of nails a day. When started 
there were fifteen nail machines; now there are eighty machines, run to their 
full capacity, and by January 1, 1887, they had 100 of these machines run- 
ning. The nail plates are heated by gas for making nails. The first electric 
light plant ever put up in Danville was used for lighting the Avorks in this 
mill, and was used for the first time on Saturday, November 6, 1886. The 
officers are D. M. Boyd, president; R. M. Grove, treasurer; W. C. Frick, 
secretary and manager. 

Chulasky Furnace. — These works are on the dividing line between North- 
umberland and Montour Counties. The offices and residences of T. J. Miles 
& Co., lessees, are all in Danville. These works were erected in 1846, by 
Samuel Wood. There is one stack 42x11, with a capacity of 6,500 tons 
net per annum. They make soft gray forge pig iron. The works were 
started up after being some time idle, in November, 1886. 

Danville Stove Works were chartered in 1882, and the works were in operation 
the same year. The organizers were the present officers: Henry Vincent, 
president; James Foster, secretary; W. J. Baldy, treasurer. At first the 
capacity of the works was eleven molders, and this was increased to a 
capacity of fifty-six molders. The company is now making preparations for 
a thirty-ton cupola and to double the present capacity. Forty- seven sizes 
and kinds of stoves are now made, and their trade is to all parts of the 
country. 

CHURCHES. 

Orove Presbyterian Church, once called the Mahoning Presbyterian 
Church, now the Grove Presbyterian Church, is the oldest religious organi 
zation in the county. It was built when this was called Mahoning settlement. 
The first preacher was Rev. John Bryson, preaching at first in the dwelling of 
Gen. Montgomery, and afterward, when the house was too small for the grow- 
ing congregation, in the General's barn. The first log house church was 
built in 1778 or 1779. The logs were scored and hewn by George Mans, 
Isaac Boudman and Thomas Hughes. This building was used in 1826, when 
a brick building of larger dimensions was erected. The congregation was or- 
ganized in 1785. The earliest church records are not now to be found, which 
is greatly to be regretted. But one single document has been preserved 
and that was a subscription paper; the names of the signers to this are 
given in Chapter II, this Part. In 1793 the salary of the preacher was 
fixed at £75, and the following parties signed a paper guaranteeing the 
sum to be paid. These names include the heads of certainly all the 
Presbyterians then here, and when we remember that at the first coming near- 
ly every-one was a Calvinist, it may be assured that it was very nearly all then 
here: Joseph Biggers, Hugh Caldwell, Thomas Gaskins, James Stephenson, 
William Donaldson, John Emmett, Sr. , Robert Donaldson, John Donaldson, 
Joseph Williams, John Woodside, George Caldwell, John Jones, William 
Colt, John Montgomery, Daniel Barton, Christian Campbell, Robert Williams, 
Alex. McMunigal, William Montgomery, Jr. , John Moore, Daniel Montgcm- 



106 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

ery, Robert Montgomery, John Carr, James Longhead, Robert Campbell, 
Thomas Best, James Consart, Gilbert Vorhees, James Curry, Peter Blue, 
Andrew Cochran, M. Gvilick, Richard Robinson, Jacob Gearhart, Jr. , Fred- 
erick Blue, John Emmett, Jr. , John Young, Elias Han'ison, Isaac Woodruff, 
Stephen Hunt, Albert Ammerman and Philip Young. This congregation, as 
stated, was organized in 1785. Gen. William Montgomery was chosen 
an elder at the same time, and continued an active and faithful officer until his 
death, which occun-ed in 1816. 

The brick church built in 1826 was a neat and plain structure, presenting 
quite a picturesque appearance, embowered as it was in a grove of forest trees. 
The new church is a massive and handsome structure of artistic stone- work in 
the Gothic order of architecture, and was dedicated in 1875. It occupies the 
site of the old brick church on the Knoll, suiTOunded by the remaining forest 
trees and a grove of beautiful young maples that were planted to take place of 
the ancient oaks that are rapidly passing away. The building of this magnif- 
icent temple was superintended by Joseph Diehl, a master mechanic and 
builder, whose handiwork is seen on many a public and private building in this 
region. As previously stated, Rev. Bryson was the first pastor of Mahoning, 
BOW the Grove Presbyterian, Church, and with the aid of the old pioneers he 
laid the foundation deep and strong for a lasting church, a religious home to 
bless the passing generations for centuries to come. Rev. Patterson was a 
worthy successor. His ministration was long and abundantly blessed. Rev. 
Dunlap succeeded him in the pastorate of Mahoning Church, and he was fol- 
lowed by Rev. Halliday. 

Then came Rev. Dr. Yeomans. He died in this place. During his pas- 
torate, about 1849 or 1850, the question of a new church edifice was agitated. 
There was some division of sentiment in reference to its location. A portion 
favored the erection of the new church on the south side of the canal, and others 
adhered to the old site in the grove, now rendered doubly dear as the place 
where their fathers and mothers had worshiped. The former succeeded. A 
new church was built on Mahoning Street, and Rev. Dr. Yeomans continued 
his ministry in the new church. The adherents to the Grove were without a 
regular pastor, as the organization, with the pastor, had gone with the new 
church. In 1855, however, presbytery organized a new congregation in the 
old church, and called it "Mahoning Presbyterian Church North." But this 
title was considered too cumbrous, and through the efforts of Rev. C. J. 
Collins and others it was changed to the more convenient and more euphonious 
name of " The Grove Presbyterian Congregation." Rev. C. J. Collins was 
the first pastor. He remained some ten years and resigned. He was succeed- 
ed by Rev. Dr. J. Gordon Carnachan. He left this place to take charge of a 
congregation in Meadville, where he still remains. He was followed in the 
pastorate of the Grove Church, by Rev. Reuben H. Van Pelt. Rev. W. A. 
McAtee was next called to the charge of the Grove Church. After his resig- 
nation Rev. John B. Grier became the pastor, the youngest son of M. C. 
Grier, who was long an elder in that church, and lately deceased. Among the 
families connected with the old church, and whose descendants still worship in 
the Grove, mention is made of the Montgomerys, Maus, Currys, Yorks, Diehls, 
Griers, McMahans, Magills, Waltzes, Catchcarts, Boudmans, Moores, Gear- 
harts, and Russels. The Grove Church contains a large organ. The present 
pastor is Rev. J. M. Simonton. 

The Mahoning Presbyterian Church was built in 1853, on Mahoning and 
Ferry Streets, the congregation, as before stated, retaining the name and the 
organization of the original church. The building: is handsome and well ar- 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 107 

Tanged. It is surmounted by a steeple containing a bell and a town clock. 
Some years ago a storm blew'down the spire, which was never replaced. There 
is a fine memorial window in the rear of the pulpit, placed there by E. B. 
Reynolds, in memory of his mother, who had been a member of the congre- 
gation for many years. Rev. Dr. Yeomans, who was the pastor in the old 
church, continued his ministrations in the new for a number of years, and died 
greatly lamented by the community, as well as the members of his own relig- 
ious household. His reputation extended all over the country and his ability 
was acknowledged by making him Moderator of the General Assembly. 

Rev. I jams succeeded to the pastorate of Mahoning Presbyterian Church 
after the death of Dr. Yeomans. He was eloquent, and, withal, rather dramat- 
ic. Rev. Ijams resigned, and Rev. A. B. Jack was called to the charge of Mahon- 
ing Presbyterian Church. After officiating for several years, he resigned. Rev. 
F. R. Beeber succeeded him. Rev. R. L. Stewart then entered upon his work 
in this place and is the present efficient pastor. 

Chrisfs Episcopal Church. — The corner-stone of the Protestant Episcopal 
Church was laid October 28, 1828. A few members of that church had held 
occasional meetings in their private dwellings, and then they worshiped a 
short time in the court-house, under the ministrations of Rev. James Depew, 
of Bloomsburg, who became their regular pastor as soon as the church was 
built. The lot on which the church and parsonage were built is on Market 
Street, now occupied by the present elegant stone edifice. This first building 
was of brick, 45x60 feet, and cost about $6,000. The following gentlemen com- 
posed the vestry at the period when the corner-stone was laid: Joseph Maus, 
John Reynolds, Jacob Swisher, Peter Baldy and Michael Sanders, George A. 
Frick and B. Appleman, not one of whom was a communicant of the Episcopal 
Church. Peter Baldy and Michael Sanders were members of the Evangelical 
Lutheran Church at that time. Mr. Sanders adhered to the Lutherans subse- 
quently, but Mr. Baldy became an Episcopalian. Some of the founders pro- 
posed to devote the new church building to the use of both the Lutherans and 
Episcopalians; but they soon discovered its impracticability, and all finally 
agreed that the church should be devoted to the exclusive use of the Protestant 
Episcopal service. On the 25th of October, 1829, just one year after the cor- 
ner-stone was laid, the first communicants of the church, ten in number, were 
confirmed by the Rt. Rev. Henry W. Onderdonk. Rev. James Depew labored 
faithfully among them, and under his pastoral charge the foundations of a 
permanent congregation were laid. He was last heard of in Nebraska. Rev. 
Mr. Drake, of Bloomsbui'g, supplied the pulpit occasionally after the depar- 
ture of Rev. Mr. Depew. Rev. A. Lauderback was the next rector. He 
remained for about five years. He at the same time had charge of the church 
at Sunbury. He removed to Iowa. The next in order was Rev. R. M. Mitchi- 
8on, who remained only about six months and was succeeded by Rev. Milton 
C. Lightner, who assumed the charge in 1842. He officiated in Christ's 
Church for about seven years. He removed to Manayunk, and Rev. Mr. Else- 
good, formerly a minister in the Methodist denomination, took his place in 
Danville. At the end of two years Rev. Mr. Elsegood removed to Easton, 
and was succeeded here by Rev. Mr. Page, of New York, who also remained 
two years. In February, 1855, Rev. Edwin N. Lightner, brother to Rev. Mil- 
ton C. Lightner, succeeded to the charge of Christ's Church, and continued 
its rector until May, 1870, when the loss of health compelled him to resign 
the charge. He ministered to the congregation about fifteen years. He re- 
sides in Riverside. In September, 1870, Rev. J. Milton Peck was called to 
the rectorship of Christ's Church. In 1845 some improvements were made in 



108 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

the cburcli buildings, and in 1856 the congregation spent nearly $3,000 in 
improving and beautifying both the interior and the exterior of the building. 
Rev. Mr. Peck remained in charge until 1882, when he resigned and removed 
to Maiden, Mass. His siiccessor was Rev. George Breed, who ministered to 
the flock one year. He was succeeded by Rev. George C. Hall, who remained 
in charge from March, 1884, to January, 1886, when the present minister in 
charge. Rev. James L. Maxwell, came and commenced his work April 2, 1886. 
The chief support of the church during all these years was Peter Baldy, Sr., 
one of the founders, who at the time of his death, in 1880, left to the congre- 
gation $50,000 to build a new church. The executor not only carried out the 
bequest, but gave such energy to the movement that the present splendid 
stone church was erected, costing about $100,000, and is much the costliest 
church edifice in Danville. Spacious and solid, it looms up grandly — its 
exterior showing outlines of graceful elegance, its interior richly and ornately 
finished. 

Shiloh German Reformed Church. — The German Reformed congregation was 
organized in 1858, under the pastoral charge of Rev. D. W. Wolf. Services 
had been held in the court-house for some time, and the young congregation, 
composed of twenty members, was organized. In 1859 a new church was 
built on Bloom Street, though it remained unfinished for some years and was 
not dedicated until December 20, 1862. Rev. D. W. Wolf resigned in 1861, 
and on the 1st of May, 1862, Rev. J. W. Steinmetz assumed the pastoral 
charge of the congregation. The church is of brick, 60x40 feet, with a pleas- 
ant basement. The congregation now numbers more than 200. Rev. J. W, 
Steinmetz resigned the charge. He was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Shaffer. The 
present pastor is Rev. J. A. Peters. 

*S^. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church. — The precise period when the first 
Methodist preacher an-ived at this place is not now known ; but they were the 
second religious body organized here. The first regular conference appointment 
for Danville was in 1791. This place was then included in Northumberland 
Circuit, which extended from Northumberland up the North Branch of the 
Susquehanna to Wyoming Valley, and up the West Branch to Great Island. 
The distance traveled by the circuit rider in making his round was 300 miles, 
which was accomplished in six weeks. This territory for many years was sup- 
plied by only two or three ministers, and it included present circuits and stations 
of Williamsport, Newbury, Muncy, Milton Circuit and Station, Northumber- 
land, Mifflinburg, Lewisburg, Catawissa, Bloomsburg, Berwick, Bloomingdale, 
Orangeville, Sunbury and parts of Bellefonte District. Previous to 1804^Danville 
and the circuit in which it was located belonged to the Philadelphia Conference. 
In that year it was transferred to the Baltimore Conference. In 1807 it was 
returned to the Philadelphia Conference. In 1810 it was included in the new 
Genessee Conference, and in 1820 it was re-assigned to the Baltimore Con- 
ference, of which it still continues to be an appointment. 

In 1791, of the first preachers to minister of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church in Danville were Revs. Richard Parrott and Lewis Browning. 

Berwick Circuit was formed in 1831, but Danville was still in the North- 
umberland Circuit. Danville Circuit was formed in 1836 and embraced 
Montour, Bloomsburg and Orangeville Circuits. 

In 1846 Danville was erected into a station, and then appointments were 
regularly made for this place as follows : 1846, John Guyer; 1847, Philip B. 
Reese; 1849, Thomas Mitchell; 1850, Joseph France; 1853, James Brads; 
1855, Thomas M. Reese; 1856, J. Wilson; 1857-58, William Harden; 
1859-60, B. B. Hamlin; 1861-63, J. H. C. Dosh; 1864-65, A. M. Barnitz; 




sZy^y^^^ ^-^^^^ 



t^^e^ ^^X^ ^ 



HISTOKY OF MONTOUK COUNTY. Ill 

1866-67, J. McK. Reiley; 1868-71, F. Hodgson; 1872-73, S. Creighton-, 
1874-75, F. B. Riddle; 1876-78, W. A. Hauck; 1879-80, J. Max Lantz. 
Rev. Richard Hinkle is the present pastor. 

Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church. — This church was built north of the 
canal to accommodate that portion of the congregation which was becoming too 
large for the one church building. A lot was purchased on Centre and Ferry- 
Streets, opposite the Catholic Church. Capt. Lovett and M. S. Ridgeway, 
though not members, were the most active and the largest contributors in 
erecting the building. Then Thomas Beaver contributed several thousand 
dollars. A building was put up costing about $30,000. It was so deeply in 
debt that it was sold at shei-iff 's sale, and Mr. Beaver became the purchaser 
for S8,000. Rev. I. H. Torrence purchased one-half of Thomas Beaver's 
interest for $4,000. Mr. Beaver then donated his other half to the church;, 
afterward it was sold again and Rev. Torrence, to protect himself, became the 
sole owner and continued to give the free use thereof to the congregation. 

Rev. McCord was the first minister; succeeded by Rev. Van Fossen, who 
afterward studied law and became a practicing lawyer in Colorado. Rev. J. 
P. Moore was then in charge; he was succeeded by Rev. Stephenson and he 
by Rev. Strawinski. Then Rev. King ministered to the congregation. The 
present pastor is Rev. James Hunter. 

Primitive Methodist Episcopal Church. — This is a substantial brick build- 
ing; was erected in 1848; no stationed pastor at the present time. 

Baptist Church. — The Baptist Church of Danville, was organized on the 
13th of November, 1842. The meetings were held in the court-house for about 
a year subsequent to the organization, during which period a frame church 
was built on Pine Street, not far from the river. It was dedicated on the 5th 
of January, 1844. In 1863 it was removed to give place to the new brick 
church, which is a large and elegant building. As near as can be ascertained, 
the pastors in their regular order of service, were Revs. J. S. Miller, W. 
T. Bunker, John H. Worrall, A. D. Nichols, Ira Foster, O. L. Hall, A. B. 
Still, T. Jones, G. W. Scott, I. C. Winn, John S. Miller (the second time), 

J. John Mostyn, J. E. Bradley, Sweet. The present pastor is Rev. 

Green Miles. 

Evangelical Lutheran Church. — Their present brick building was erected in 
1858, on Pine Street. 

The oldest Lutheran Church organization in this portion of the State was 
in Mahoning Township; its home in that day was in what was called Ridge- 
ville. A minister named Shellhart visited this place prior to 1800. The rec- 
ord of the organization is dated 1803 and the first regular pastor was Rev. 
Johann Paul Ferdinand Kramer. The record shows he was present two years. 
In 1810 Rev. J. F. Engel was in charge. He remained until April, 1816. 
Then there was no pastor until 1820. The next eight years Rev. Peter Kelser 
was in charge. The Lutherans joined with the Episcopalians in building a 
church, but this joint ownership soon ceased and the congregation returned to 
their worship in the court-house. About 1830 Rev. Jeremiah Shindel preached. 
He remained five or six years. They were without a pastor until 1843, when 
Rev. Elias Schwartz assiimed charge. At this time the membership was re- 
duced to twenty. Mr. Schwartz pushed the work so vigorously that at a 
meeting he received into the church between forty and fifty new members. 
Soon thereafter they commenced to build a chmch. The first was built 
and dedicated in June, 1845, but this involved them in debt and Rev. Schwartz, 
resigned. It was then attached to the Milton charge. Rev. M. J. Allen then 
became pastor and served until 1848; no pastor for the next two years, when 



112 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY, 

Kev. p. Willard, of Gettysburg, came. Number of members in 1850 was 142. 
A lot was this year purchased for a cemetery, and in 1853 a parsonage was 
purchased. In 1854 the church was too small and the subject of a new site 
roused up some warm contentions that ended by the German portion going to 
themselves, and Rev. P. Williard was dismissed. In 1856 Rev. J. M. Stover 
-came. He threw oil on the waters, it seems, and the new church was finally 
built as above stated. He was succeeded by Rev. E. Hubert; he by P. P. 
Lane, who remained two years, when Rev. E. A. Sharetts assumed charge. 
The Rev. George M. Rhoads came and remained four years, and was followed 
by Rev. N. Graves, who stayed two years, when Rev. M. L. Shindel, the 
present pastor, took charge. 

Trinity Lutheran Church was built in 1861, the congregation being formed 
from the old church. It is a large and elegant building, originally finished 
with a tall spire, which was blown down by a storm and never rebuilt. There 
are nearly 300 communicants. The first pastor was Rev. D. M. Henkel, suc- 
ceeded by Rev. M. C. Horine; present pastor is Rev. C. K. Drumheller. 

Congregation B' Nai Zion, was chartered November 1, 1854. Their frame 
building on Front Street is 30x60 feet, and was built in 1871. Jacob Loeb, 
president; H. L. Gross, secretary; trustees, Jacob Mayer, Moses Block, A. 
Wermser. They have no resident rabbi. 

Emanuel Evangelical Church. ~A mission was established in Danville in 
1860, by Rev. M. Stokes; he preached some time in Thompson's Hall. After- 
ward Rev. Davis succeeded to the charge. A congregation was organized and 
a frame church built in 1869. The two ministers succeeding Mr. Davis were 
Revs. Detwiler and Buck. Then came Rev. Radebaugh, then Rev. Orwig and 
again Mr. Radebaugh; then Rev. Hunter and finally Rev. Hornberger. The 
last named published the Temperance Star. 

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church is a German Lutheran Church on 
Market Street. It is a small brick structure, with a fair attendance of mem- 
bers, and a good Sunday-school. The present pastor is Rev. J. R. Groff. 

Welsh Churches. — Congregational Church, Chambers Street, is a brick edi- 
fice built in 1835. 

Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church, near Catawissa Railroad, was built in 
1845. 

Welsh Baptist Church, Spruce Street, was built in 1870; a frame building. 
None of these have a resident pastor. 

African Methodist Episcopal Church on York's Hill has no pastor. 

Roman Catholic Churches. — St. Joseph' s Roman Catholic Church is on corner 
of Centre and Ferry Streets. This church has sprung from a mission begun 
by the Rev. J. P. Hannigan, in 1847, when the frame church now used as a 
hall for church and church society meetings was built. In September, 1857, 
the lot upon which the present church is built was purchased, but the building 
was not commenced until 1866, and was finished in 1869. It is of brick, 
61x117 feet, with tower 170 feet high, surmounted by a cross. The style of 
architecture is Romanesque. The mimber of communicants is 2,200. There 
is a Sunday-school with 400 scholars, superintended by the pastor. The value 
of church property is $75,000. The pastors have been Revs. J. P. Hannigan, 
Joseph O'Keefe, Hugh P. Kenney, Michael Sheridan, Edward Murray, Arthur 
McGinnis (died while j)astor), and Thomas McGovern, the present pastor. 

St. Hubert's Catholic Church (German), Bloom Street, built in 1862, is a 
neat, brick edifice. Rev. F. X. Schmidt is the pastor; number of communi- 
cants, 700. The Sunday-school, superintended by the pastor, contains eighty 
scholars. Value of church property, 110,000. Revs. Froesch, Koch and 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 113 

Schmidt, the present pastor, constitute the pastoral succession of this church 
since its organization. 

SOCIETIES. 

Free and Accepted Masons. — Danville Lodge, No. 224, chartered in 1847. 
The officers are T. E. Ellis, W. M. ; Jared N. Diehl, S. W. ; Francis M. Got- 
wold, J. W. ; M. L. Fisher, Sec. ; David Kuckle, Treas. 

Mahoning Lodge, No. 516, chartered September, 1872. Officers : John W. 
Farnsworth, W. M. ; George Maiers, S. W. ; Samuel Kussell, J. W. ; N. 
Hofer, Treas. ; Alexander J. Frick, Sec. 

Danville Chapter, No. 239, R. A. M., organized in May, 1872. M. E. H. 
P., John W. Farnsworth; K. , A. Steinbrenner ; S., David Ruckel; Treas., 
David Clark; Sec, Alexander J. Frick. 

Cavalry Commandery, No. 37, K. T. : E. C, John W. Farnsworth; G., David 
H. Getz; C. G., Elliott R. Morgan; Treas., D. S. Bloom; Rec, A. J. Frick. 
The commandery was removed from Catawissa to Danville in 1874. 

Independent Order Red Men. — Mahoning Tribe, No. 77, was organized in 
1867, with thirty-seven charter members. Officers: Sachem, Charles Chalfant; 
Senior Sagamore, Henry Snyder; Jr. S., John F. Gulic; Prophet, C. C. Herr; 
C of R. , Reece Evans; Treas., S. G. Thompson. 

Knights of Pythias. — Blucher Lodge, No. 314, was organized September 
1, 1872. The officers are George Hartlein, C. C. ; A. Steinbrenner, K. of R. 
and S. ; John Jacobs, Treas. There are thirty-three members in the order. 
The first officers of the organization were Nicholas Hofer, C. C. ; A. Stein- 
brenner, K. of R. and S. ; John Jacobs, Treas. 

Beaver Lodge, No. 132, was organized in 1869. The officers are Charles 
J. Grove, P. C. ; Samuel T. Jackson, C. C. ; Evan Beaver, B. C. ; W. Williams, 
P. ; William Smith, M. at A. 

Independent Order of Odd Fellows. — Montour Lodge, No. 109, organized 
April, 1845. Number of present membership is eighty-five. The officers are 
D. M. Shultz, N. G.; Charles C. Ranch, V. G. ; J. Sweisfort, Sec; Philip 
Welliver, Asst. Sec ; W. H. Ammerman, Treas. 

Calumet Lodge, No. 279, number of members 106. E. Lewis, N. G. ; 
Andrew Heath, V. G. ; D. R. Williams, Sec. ; Abram Larew, Asst. Sec. ; 
Henry Earp, Treas. 

Danville Lodge: Charles Chalfant, N. G. ; Clarence Rank, V. G. ; Reece 
Evans, Sec. ; B. H. Harris, Asst. Sec. ; Henry Herring, Treas. 

Celestia Lodge, No. 67, D. of R. , chartered September 5, 1872, fifty mem- 
bers: Henry Earp, N. G. ; Mrs. Jacob Harris, V. G. ; J. Sweisfort, Sec; 
Mrs. Sarah Evans, Asst. Sec. ; Mrs. J. P. Bare, Treas. 

Myrtle Lodge, No. 858, Philip Smith, N. G. ; David Chesnut, V. G. ; M. 
W. Smith, Sep. ; Mr. Swank, Asst. Sec. ; George Miles, Treas. ; J. W. 
Sweisfort, Dist. Deputy. 

Menoloton Encampment, No. 40, chartered August 7, 1856, number of 
members thirty-seven. W. B. Baldy, C. P. ; Charles Chalfant, H. P. ; Angus 
Wright, S. W. ; John Bugler, J. W. ; J. A. Faux, S. ; S. M. Trumbower, 
Treas. 

[The I. O. O. F, Cemetery Company, of Danville, was chartered in 1873 
and fully organized in January, 1874, the grounds secured at a cost of 
$3,000 and at once put in good order. Nine trustees are elected every three 
years. Present ones are as follows: from Montour Lodge, D. L. Antrim, J. 
Sweisfort and S. M. Trumbower; from Calumet Lodge, Jacob Harris, George 
A. Brown and James Woodsides; from Danville Lodge, Reece Evans and J. 
P. Bare. The officers are President, G. A. Brown; V. P., J. P. Bare; Sec, J. 



114 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

W. Swiesfort; Treas. D. L. Antrim. The first interment in this cemetery was 
William -Tames, September 1, 1873. He was killed by an explosion in the 
Montour Iron Works.] 

Grand Army of the Republic. — Goodrich Post, No. 22, of Danville, named 
in honor of Lieut. M. B. Goodrich, who died of wounds received in the battle 
of the Wilderness. As early as 1867 the returned soldiers formed themselves 
into a brotherly band called the Boys in Blue. In June, 1870, this organization 
became the Danville Grand Army of the Republic. This organization was 
kept effective until June, 1873, when it was disbanded. April 22, 1879, it 
was reorganized and its charter bears that date. The following were the offi- 
cers elected at that time: Com., James M. Gibbs; Sr. V. C. , A. B. Pattonj, 
Jr. V. C, Joseph H. Johnson; Sergt., Charles Wood; Officer of the Day, 
Benton B. Brown; Officer of Guard, George S. Tillson; Chaplain, Robert Mil- 
ler; Q. M., W. C. Davis. Charter members: S. M. Wait, Samuel Herr, 
Robert G. Miller, Samuel R. Lunger, Joseph H. Johnson, Samuel C. Runyon, 
George Tillson, Alfred L. Gerrick, Jonas Foster, William Wyatt, J. M. 
Gibbs, A. B. Patton, A/. L. Jones, Alex J. Rainer, W. C. Davis, Levi M. Mil- 
ler, Lewis Byerly, W. H. Rook, P. H. Sheridan, Thomas M. Thomas, Peter 
Moyer, Jonathan Sweisfort, William Good, Alexander Wait, Joseph H. Ram- 
sey, John W. W. Klase, Robert Fields, James Jones, John McElrath, Michael . 
Shires, A. C. Angle, Benton B. Brown, H. C. Snyder, Jacob Slack, Thomas 
V. Pensyl, William Henry, John Moore, Samuel Thomas, Edward D. Smith, 
John A. Weimer, Michael Riley, John Riley, John Marshall, John Kime, Alex 
J. HofPner, Charles Spicer, Charles Woods, Arthur AV. Beaver, Samuel Bailey, 
H. F. Freeze, George C. Williams, William Earp, John Everett. Present offi- 
cers: A. B. Patton, Com.; George Gardner, V. C. ; R. W. Eggert, Jr. V. C. j 
Benton B. Brown, Adjt. ; AV. C. Davis, Q. M. ; Robert G. Miller, Sergt. ; 
Michael Shires, Chaplain; A. C. Angle, Officer of Day; F. E. Hilderbrandt, 
Officer of Guard; W. G. Kramer, Sergt. Maj. ; W. T. Wyatt, Outside Guard j 
Samuel Lunger, Inside Guard; Lyman Milroy, Ord. Sergt. Present member- 
ship, 164; society in every way prosperous. 

E'Nai Berilh. —Herman Lodge, No. 32, I. O. B. B. , organized in 1857 ; 
number of membership, twenty-nine. Gustavo Weil, Pres. ; Joseph Werm- 
ser, V. P. ; A. Lang, Sec. ; W. L. Gross, Treas. 

Young Men's Christian Association was organized in the Mahoning 
Presbyterian Church on the 21st of June, 1872. The officers elected were 
President, S. G. Butler; vice-president, John Sweisfort; secretary, John R. 
Rote, and librarian, H. H. Yorgy. The managers first chosen were James M. 
Coulter, William McCormick, C. F. Lloyd, J. Sweisfort and C. P. Bradway. 
The organization at present is as follows: President, James M. Coulter; vice- 
president, J. S. Huber; secretary, George Swartz; treasurer, George M. Gear- 
hart; general secretary, D. C. Hunt; financial secretary, H. H. Yorgy. The 
association numbers eighty- one members. 

FREE LIBRARY. 

Thomas Beaver Free Library, now (October, 1886) in the course of con- 
struction, is the contribution of its namesake, Thomas Beaver, and when com- 
pleted and furnished will be the most attractive public building in the county. 
Its fi'onting is 48 feet on Market Street and 78 feet on Ferry Street, standing 
back from either street 10 feet, for lawn. The front recedes 5 feet from each 
side of the main entrance, the first floor elevated 4 feet above the pavement. 
The massive base and broken outline give its three tall stories an imposing 
appearance. The whole is of light gray stone, with granite trimmings, and 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 115 

'Scotch granite columns. Stone newels and marble tiling flooring is an index 
of the inside finish. The internal arrangements and rooms are spacious and 
arranged in perfect order for the intended purposes. In the rear of this, as 
an annex, is that portion of the building donated to the Young Men's Chris- 
tian Association. This occupies 70 feet on Ferry Street ; the main building to 
!be 38 feet front on Ferry Street and 64 feet deep, all especially arranged and 
finished for the uses of this organization, the basement with bath rooms, 
lavatory, lockers, dressing rooms, boiler room and gymnasium. It has main 
entrance, vestibule hall, members' parlor, secretary and committee rooms, and 
instruction room and entrance to gymnasium, etc. The lecture room is to have 
a seating capacity of 400 ; the exterior to be the same stone and finish as the 
library. The total frontage on Ferry Street is 150 feet. 

Mr. Beaver provides for the completion of the entire building, and for 
the endowment of the library, and furnishes a library costing $10,000. 
The property is placed when completed in the hands of trustees, with per- 
petual succession, the first trustees, three of whom are named by Mr. Beaver 
and then one from each and every church organization (including the Syna- 
gogue) in Danville, to be selected and chosen by the different organizations. 

The entire amount of money it will require to complete the donation can 
not be exactly told now, but Mr. Beaver svipposes it will be about 1100,000. 

WATER WORKS. 

With the growth of the town and its factories came the important question 
•of a supply of good water. The subject received general consideration as 
early as 1867 and the more it was discussed the more determined became 
those citizens of spirit and enterprise to devise some way to meet the long felt 
wrant. The water in the town wells, found at a depth of twenty to twenty- 
five feet, or at the strata of rock forming the river bed, which was never first 
rate, was growing positively bad. In 1871 the Danville Water Company 
was formed, but it seems it ceased to live after its formal organization. A 
committee was appointed in 1872 consisting of George W. Reay, J. W. Sweis- 
fort, William Buckley, and M. D. L. Sechler, which visited several cities for 
the pui-pose of investigating fully the subject. Upon their recommendation 
the present place was adopted and the water works constructed, the Holly 
Company' s system being deemed the best and cheapest. The works are located 
on the bank of the river just below the bridge, a filter is constructed some 
distance in the river and the water forced by powerful engines through the 
pipes to all parts of the city, there being nearly twelve miles of water mains, 
■costing about $100,000 ; the engines and pumps costing $36,000. The works 
give entire satisfaction in their operation and such is their capacity and facil- 
ities that upon a few moments' notice they can increase the force of the water 
sufiiciently to drown almost any conflagration that might occur. 

POSTOFFICE. •». 

The Danville postoffice was established in 1806, about a quarter of a cen- 
tury after people had settled here, and who could during all that time, only send 
or receive letters from fi'iends or upon business as they were carried by the 
ohance traveler from place to place. To us now it seems a long time between 
mails — twenty-five years — but these good people struggled along well content 
if heaven only spared theii* lives. When in a long time the mail did come, the 
postage on a letter was 25 cents, and very aged people can tell you of instan- 
ces where a family would be notified there was a letter for them, and the post- 
age not being paid, they were sorely troubled for many days to raise the 
money to secure it. 



116 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

Gen. William Montgomery was the first postmaster in Danville. When 
he resigned, his son Daniel succeeded him. They together kept the office un- 
til 1813, when Kudolph Sechler was appointed April 3, of that year. The 
latter continued in office until James Longhead was appointed November 24, 
1820, who held the office fourteen years, when David Petrikin was appointed 
February 1, 1834. He was succeeded by John Best, March 21, 1837, whc 
served until the appointment of Sharpless Taylor March 25, 1841. The next 
was Alexander Best, appointed November 9, 1842. Gideon M. Shoop was 
appointed April 11, 1849, and served until November 26, 1852, when Thomas 
C. Ellis was appointed; he was succeeded September 1, 1853, by Thomas Chal- 
fant. During his term in 1856 the Danville postoffice became a presidential 
office, and Mr. Chalfant was reappointed, February 21, 1856, and served un- 
til May 28, 1861, and was succeeded by Andrew F. Russell; the latter was re- 
appointed July 14, 1865, and served until Ogden H. Ostrander was appointed 
April 16, 1867, who served two years. Charles W. Eckman was appointed 
April 5, 1869, and reappointed March 18, 1873, and again reappointed April 
7, 1877. Mr. Eckman continued in office until a Democratic president, 
Cleveland, was inaugurated, when he resigned the place he had filled so long- 
and so well and removed to Reading. He was succeeded by Thomas Chal- 
fant, who it seems had simply stepped down and out during the Democratic in- 
terregnum, but who returned to office with his party to power, and is now filling- 
the position to the entire satisfaction of the community. 

BOROUGH OFFICIALS. 

By an act of the Legislature Danville was organized as a borough on the 
7th of February, 1849. 

The first burgess was Dr. Wm. H. Magill. The first town council, com- 
posed of five members, as follows: George S. Sanders, George Bassett, Val- 
entine Best, Frank E. Rouch and E. H. Baldy. The first council meeting- 
was held in the office of E. H. Baldy, and the first business transacted was 
the election of him as clerk of the council. Edward Young was chosen 
street commissioner at a salary of $20 a year; Thomas Jameson, constable. 
On the 22d of May, in that year, the first dog tax was levied in the borough 
of Danville. The Friendship Fire Company represented to the council that the 
hose was old and rotten, and requested 700 feet of new hose, which was 
ordered. 

A contract was also made with James F. Deen for an engine capable of 
supplying the Friendship Hose Company. The price was to be $800. It was 
constructed and ordered to be given in charge of the company. At this period 
the fire apparatus came under the general direction of the borough. 

On the 24th of December, 1849, the council passed a resolution making- 
application to the State Legislature for the erection of a new county, to be 
called Montour, with the county seat at Danville. It was also resolved to 
furnish the new county with necessary buildings. 

On the 29th of March, 1850, a new council was organized. Dr. Wm. H. 
Magill was rechosen as burgess and Valentine Best as a member of the council. 
The new members were Dr. Isaac Hughes, George B. Brown, Thomas Woods 
and William Morgan. Valentine Best was chosen clerk, and M. C. Grier was 
elected treasurer. 

Edward Young was the tax collector for 1850. 

On the 4th of April, 1851, the council met for organization. At the pre- 
vious March election Thomas Chalfant had been chosen burgess, and the follow- 
ing returned and took their seats as members of the council : James F. Deen, 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY, 117 

John Rockafeller, J. C. Rhodes and A. F. Russel. William Clark was 
appointed high constable, and B. W. Wapples, street commissioner. 

In the spring of 1852 Thomas Jameson was elected burgess, with the fol- 
lowing council: George S. Sanders, John Deen, Jr., G. W. Boyer, and George 
W. Bryan. The latter was chosen clerk. In this year Sydney S. Easton filled 
up Northumberland Street. 

In 1853 Joseph D. Hahn was elected biu-gess: council, Daniel Ramsey, P. 
Hofer, David Jones and James Gaskins; William G. Gaskins, clerk. 

Robert Moore was chosen burgess in 1854; council, John Deen, Jr., John 
Turner, William Hancock, James G. Maxwell and Robert McCoy. 

In 1855 William Henrie, burgess; council, Smith B. Thompson, David 
Jones, Isaiah S. Thornton, Frank E. Rouch, Isaac Ammerman. A census 
was also ordered by the council, under which the inhabitants were enumerated, 
and the same was reported at the close of the year: Population, 5,427. 

1856 — David Clark, burgess; council, Jacob Sechler, John Best, John 
Arms, William Mowrer and Paul Leidy, Esq. 

1857 — Jacob Seidel was chosen burgess; council, Jacob Sechler, Charles 
Leighow, Joseph R. Philips, Samuel Hamor and John Patton. 

1858 — Dr. Clarence H. Frick, burgess; council, AVilliam Mowrer, David 
Jones, Gideon Boyer, George S. Sanders and Frederick Lammers. 

1859— Christian Laubach, burgess; council, D. N. Kownover, Joseph 
Diehl, B. K, Vastine, D. M. Boyd and William Cook. 

1860— J. C. Rhodes, burgess; council, William Cook, W. G. Patton, B. K. 
Vastine, Emanuel Houpt and Michael C. Grier. 

1861 — E. C. Voris, burgess; council, Reuben Voris, David James, Joseph 
Flanegan, William Morgan and D. M. Boyd. 

1862 — Isaac Rank, burgess; council, Jacob Aten, William Mowrer, Charles 
W. Childs, David Grove and James L. Riehl. 

1863 — B. K. Vastine, burgess; council, James L. Riehl, William Twist, 
William Lewis, John G. Hiler and John Rockafeller. 

1864 — E. W. Conkling, burgess; council, James L, Riehl, John G, Hiler, 
Joseph Diehl, C. Laubach and William Lewis. 

1865 — John G. Thompson, burgess; council, Henry Harris, Dan Morgan, 
D, DeLong, William Henrie and Jacob Aten. 

1866 — Dr. R. S. Simington, burgess; council, Dan Morgan, Francis Nay- 
lor, D. DeLong, William Henrie and Charles H. Waters. 

1867— George Bassett, burgess. [Previous to the election the borough had 
been divided into four wards, the First, Second, Third and Fourth. Before that 
time there had been two wards, the South and the North, with five members of 
council, each elected for one year. The change provided for four wards and 
twelve councilmen, three from each ward, one-third of them to serve one year, 
one-third two years and the other three years, and also providing for the 
election of one councilman each year from each ward]. Council, James Cor- 
nelison, John A. Winner, C. W. Childs, William Henrie, David Clark, James 
Kelly, Samuel Lewis, M. D. L. Sechler, Joseph Sechler, Thompson Foster, 
John G. Thompson and E. Thompson. 

1868 — Robert McCoy, burgess; new members of council, James L, Riehl, 
C. S. Books, George AV. Reay and David Grove, 

1869 — A. J. Ammerman, burgess; new members of council, William 
Henrie, J. S. Vastine, John R. Lunger and Franklin Boyer. 

1870 — D. S. Bloom, burgess; council, William Buckley, Hickman Frame, 
M. D. L. Sechler and Samuel Lewis. 

1871 — Thomas Maxwell, burgess; with new councilmen, H, M, Schoch, 
G. W, Miles, George Lovett and Jacob Sweisfort. 



118 HISTOEY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

1872 — Oscar Ephlin, burgess; new members of council, George W. Reay, 
Henry Vincent, Jacob Schuster and J. L. Riehl. 

1878 — Edward Young, burgess; councilmen, William Buckley, N. Hofer, 
Joseph W. Keely and Thomas Coxey. 

1874 — J. R. Philips, burgess; new councilmen, James Vandling, James 
Auld, W. D. Williams and David Clark. 

1875 — Charles Kaufman, burgess; new members of council, M. D. L. 
Sechler, William T. Ramsey, J. R. Philips and J. W. Von Nieda. 

1876 — Henry M. Schoch was elected burgess; new councilmen, J. D. 
Williams, David Ruckle, Wm. K. Holloway and William R. Williams. Isaac 
Ammerman was elected at a special election to fill the vacancy occasioned by 
the resignation of James Auld, who had been chosen county commissioner. 

1877 — William C. Walker, burgess; new councilmen, David Clark, C. A. 
Heath, A. B. Patton and John A. Wands. 

1878 — James Foster, burgess; new councilmen, J. W. Keely, Stephen 
Johnson, James Welsh and Thompson Foster. 

1879 — Jas. Foster, burgess; new councilmen, William Angle one year; P. 
Johnson three years, and S. Trumbower, Jacob Goldsmith, H. B. Strickland and 
Lewis Rodenhofer one year. 

1880 — Joseph Hunter, burgess; new councilmen, Wm. Angle, Wm. Kein- 
ev, Hugh Pursel, Nicholas Hofer. 

1881 — Joseph Hunter re-elected burgess; new councilmen, A. G. Voris, — 
P. Keefer, Henry L. Gross, Jas Welsh. William G. Gaskins was clerk to the 
council for twenty years and was succeeded by Capt. George Lovett in 1874. 
In 1879 J. Sweisfort was chosen clerk and he was succeeded by Charles M. 
Zuber. Among the street commissioners were Emanual Peters, Daniel Mc- 
Clow, William C. Walker, Oliver Lenhart and Mr. Faux. The street commis- 
sioner is also ex officio collector of the market tax, and presumedly a sort of 
inspector of that institution. 

1882 — Joseph Hunter, burgess; new councilmen, B. R. Gearhart, I. A. 
Yorks, D. B. Fetterman, F. C. Derr. 

1883 — S. G. Thompson, burgess; councilmen, J. K. Geringer, Hugh Pur- 
sel, Henry Divel, David Grove. 

1884 — S. G. Thompson, burgess; councilmen, H. M. Trumbower* J. H. 
Montague, W. K, Holloway, H. A. Kneibler. 

1885 — Joseph Hunter, bui-gess, councilmen, Jacob Moyer, George Edmon- 
son, George Maiers, Edward Hofer. 

1886 — Joseph Hunter, burgess; councilmen, John W. Sheriflp, W. C. 
Walker, Henry L. Gross, S. A. Yorks. 

Clerk of the town council, Adolf Steinbrenner ; attorney, James Scarlet; 
treasurer, Geo. P. Brown; surveyor, Geo. W. West; high constable, Dan 
Low; street commissioner, J. R. Philips; chief of fire department, W. W. 
Davis; chief police, W. S. Baker. 

Oflicers of the water department are Swartz Miller, superintendent; re- 
ceiver of rents, Adolf Steinbrenner; water commissioners, James Cruikshank, 
Joseph H. Barry, John W. Farnsworth. 




/>v^ J./'^^-'O:'^^^ 



HISTORY or MONTOUR COUNTY, 121 

CHAPTER XIII. 

TOWNSHIPS. 

Mahoning — Anthony— Derry— Limestone— Liberty— Valley— Ma yberry— 
Cooper— West Hemlock. 

ABKIEF record account of the townships of Montour County — that is, 
their origin, first names, and the changes and subdivisions, bringing 
them to the present time — is given here in this part of the chapter as a mat- 
ter of economy in space and convenience in aiding the reader in tracing the 
account, without having to refer to the separate township headings. 

All this part of the State, including what is now Montour and Columbia 
Counties, was erected in 1772 into Augusta and Wyoming Townships, 
this immediate portion of the State, that portion east of Fishing creek 
was Augusta Township. In 1784 what is now Montour County was made 
Turbut Township ; in 1786 Derry and Mahoning were erected, and these in- 
cluded not only all of what is now Montour County but extended into the ter- 
ritory of Columbia and Northumberland Counties. What is now Liberty and 
parts of Valley and Limestone Townships were made Madison Township in 
the latter part of the last century. 

The name Turbut comes from Turbut Francis, who according to the earliest 
records seems to have been the first party to piu'chase lands in what is now 
Montour County. He was a large land speculator and never lived in this 
part of the State. 

All the townships now in the county were carved ultimately from Ma- 
honing and Derry Townships. When the county was organized, in 1850, it 
contained Franklin, Mahoning, Valley, Liberty, Limestone, Derry, Anthony, 
Roaringcreek and a part of Montour, Hemlock and Madison. All that part 
of Madison in the new county was made a new township and called Madison, 
and that part of Hemlock and Montour was made Cooper Township. In 1853 
the line of division of Montour and Columbia Cou.nties was changed, and Roar- 
ingcreek, Franklin, Madison and Hemlock were transferred back to Colum- 
bia County ; and the new township in Montour County became West Hemlock, 
taken from Hemlock Township, and that portion taken fi'om Montour was 
made Cooper Township, and the part taken from Franklin became Maybeny 
Township. In other words, the final adjustment as we now have them, was 
fixed in 1853. 

January 25, 1839, the people of Mahoning and Derry Townships prayed 
the county commissioners to lay off a new township, and on September 25 of 
that year Ezra Hayhurst, Benjamin Beaver, George Willet and Stephen Baldy 
were appointed to lay off a new township. Accordingly they proceeded to 
erect a new one and called it Baldy Township, now Valley Township, the 
name given it by the commissioners being retained only about eight years. 

MAHONING. * 

An old document, dated June, 1798, was made by Philip Maus, collector 
of the township, and contains a list of taxables in the township for that year. 

*For Borough of Danville, see page 75. 

7A 



122 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

It is only a majority of them who were residents of what is now Mahoning 
Township, for the reason that now its territorial limits are much smaller than 
they were then. The list includes probably about all who were then residents of 
the entire county, and part of Columbia County, and is as follows : Paul Adam, 
James Burk, Robert Biggers, John Bugart, Daniel Barton, Elisha Barton, 
Cornelius Bogart, Abraham Bogart, Stephen Brown, Peter, Frederick and 
Michael Blue, Thomas Boyer, John Clark, James Conifran, Isaac Calden, 
Duncan Cameron, Widow Curry, Geo. Caldwell, John Caldwell, John and 
William Cox, W^illiam Cornelius, W^idow Cameron (grandmother of Hon. Simon 
Cameron), Andrew Coughran, John and Thomas Davis, Samuel Erwin, John 
Enrit, Sr. and Jr., John and Daniel Frazer, Michael Hille, Hugh and Thomas 
Hughes, David Inawalt, James Getplin, James Kermer, David Kerr, John 
Moore, Philip Maus, John Miller, William Montgomery, Alex. McMillen, 
Benjamin Martin, William Martin, Aaron and Daniel Pew, Daniel Phillips, 

Robinson, Leonard Rupert, James Rabe, John Stewart, James Sample, 

John Seigler, Michael Sundes, Jacob Vanderbilt, Gilbert Vorhigh, John Wood- 
ward, John Wilson, Joseph Williams, Thomas Willetts, John Young, Alex- 
ander Seliman, Harman Zulic. The list separates the young men from the 
married men, and the list of the young men is as follows: Geo. Maus, Isaac 
Budwan, Mike Saunders, John Cook, Samuel Enrit, Jacob Sechler, Alex- 
ander McGee, William Richard, David Steele, Jacob Groff, Widow Camp- 
bell (a young widow, it is supposed), Jonathan D. Sargeant, Michael 
Bright, William Clark, Widow Duncan, Daniel Heisher, Abel and Daniel 
Reese, Aaron Long^T^eo. Miller, Evan Owen, David Phillips, Widow Zimes, 
Thomas Robinson, Alexander Berryhill, William Ross, Abner Wickersham, 
Dennis Leary, James Hunter, George Fant, John Buel, Cadwallader Zowns, 
Samuel Pleasants. 

The Danville Insane Asylum is located in Mahoning Township; a full ac- 
count will be found in Chapter III. The Danville and Mahoning Almshouse 
is also in this township. It is in the east part of the township, two miles from 
Danville — the Catawissa Railroad passing through a portion of the land. The 
land was purchased in October, 1854, of John Hartzell and wife, consideration 
$7,000, and comprises 116 acres. It was built for the purpose of caring for 
the paupers of Danville and Mahoning Township, and is under the control of 
three directors. The present ones are Elijah C. Voris, John C. Roberts and 
James Woodsides; clerk, W'illiam M. Russell. At the present there are 
twenty-five inmates, eighteen males and seven females, all under the care of 
Elijah Sechler, steward, appointed annually by the directors. 



This was formed in 1S49 and named in honor of Judge Anthony, who was 
at that time president judge of the courts in the district. Prior to this it was 
a part of Derry Township. It is connected with the earliest history of Mon- 
tour County chiefly through the fact that the old Derry Church, in the division 
of that old township, fell to the territory of Anthony, and is now within its 
territorial limits. The first church meetings held here in the past century 
were under two white oak trees, and which are still standing, and in some 
respects are now associated in the minds of the descendants of these 
pioneer Christian men and women, after the manner of the Charter Oak tree of 
this State. For some years church meetings were held under the spreading 
branches of these two oak trees. In 1802 a little log church was put up a 
short distance below the site of the present church building. It had only a 
dirt floor, was covered with branches of trees and grass and leaves, and on the 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 123 

gi'ound in the center of the structure was built a fire in extreme weather. This 
log house had a gallery (evidently a space- saving device) and the rough 
stairway to this was on the outside of the building. A high pulpit was on one 
side, and just below and in front of this was a boarded up box for the choir. 
Everything about it was of the olden time that has passed away. Its attend- 
ants were scattered over a wide extent of country. They came from not only 
the present county boundary limits, but from what is now Columbia County, 
and from Northumberland, Lvizerne and Lycoming Counties. 

Among the prominent organizers of this first church were William McVickar 
and Thomas Adams ; both were the first elders. The first Presbyterian minister 
who preached under the trees was Father Dunham, as he was universally called. 
The first regular pastor was Rev. John B. Patterson, who filled the place of 
pastor, father and friend to the little flock for forty-one years. He died in 
1843 and was buried in the Derry Cemetery. He was followed by Eev. Joha 
H. Rittenhouse, who came from his native county, near Milton, to take charge. 
He, soon after being installed, commenced the agitation of the subject of a new 
building. The building was erected to the great joy of the minister and peo- 
ple. In 1852 he dropped dead while standing in front of a new church that 
the people were then assembling to hear him dedicate in Washingtonville. He 
was succeeded in the pastorate by Rev. John Thomas, and he in turn by Rev. 
John Johnson, and he by the present pastor, Rev. G. A. Marr, who resides in 
Northumberland County. These were all the regular pastors of this church, 
but there were a number of supplies, some of whom filled the pulpit for long 
periods. The present elders are Andrew Brittain, W. S. Pollock, J. W. Low- 
rey and W. C. McVickar; the trustees: D. M. Sheep, James Russell, A. C. 
Dildine. Present membership, seventy-five. W. C. McVickar is superinten- 
dent of the Sunday-school. The old historic church was torn down (which 
is now to be regretted) to be replaced by the present building, which was 
erected and dedicated in 1846. 

Col. Robert Clark, the eminent patriot and soldier of the Revolutionary 
war, came to what is now this township and settled in 1792. He won and 
wore his eagles in the front ranks in the war for independence. He was born 
in Dauphin County and there grew to manhood. He was present at the sign- 
ing of the Declaration of Independence. He pui'chased about 600 acres of 
land which is now the property of Charles Mowrey, just west of the McVickar 
farm. Col. Clark's wife was Sallie Hutchinson. They both lie buried in 
the Derry graveyard. Their children, of whom there were seven, are all dead. 
Their son Robert came to what is now Montour County, with his parents, when 
but fourteen years old, in the year 1778. He married Jane Wilson, born in 
1780. They had eight children. He died in June, 1868, and she died in 
August, 1863. They were also buried in Derry Cemetery. 

White Hall. —The first settler here was John Fruit. He settled here in the 
latter part of the last century — some believe that it was in the year 1800. He 
was a native of Ireland. He opened a store-room in his dwelling soon after 
he came, and afterward put up a store room; this he built on property 
now belonging to Henry C. Monroe. It was a small frame structure, and in 
it he kept the usual variety to be found in a country store. He sold the store 
in 1810 to John Frederick Derr who carried it on alone until 1841, when he 
sold an interest to William McBride. Mr. Derr died in 1853, when Mr. Mc- 
Bride continued to conduct the establishment until 1866, assisted by his son, J> 
S. McBride, now the proprietor. The stock was removed to the present brick 
structiire in 1864. Ely & Moyer were merchants in this place at an early day. 
In 1841 Neal McCoy started a store which he carried on about six years.- 



124 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

The place was called at that day " Friiitstown. " The mail was carried by a cir- 
cuitous route from Catawissa to this place. It was a pony mail, and the first 
mail boy on the route was Jacob Dyer. This postofiice was established in 
1820. The postmaster succeeding Mr. Biddle was John F. DeiT. He remained 
iu the office until 1855, when William McBride became postmaster. The lat 
ter remained until 1862, and then John Crawford was installed. He was suc- 
ceeded by his son, G. W. Crawford, and in turn he was succeeded by the 
present postmaster, J. S. McBride. 

Daniel Dildine, an Irishman, opened the first blacksmith shop. He was 
one of the early settlers of the place. The first hotel or ' ' entertainment for 
man and beast, ' ' was the Red House Hotel, by Andrew Schooley. It occupied 
the ground and house where the present brick store stands. The hotel was 
torn down to make room for the store building. David Ely succeeded Mr. 
Schooley in the hotel. The latter was succeeded by Ferdinand Bitter, a na- 
tive of JBerks County. Mi*. Bitter built the present White Hall Hotel in 1818. 
It was rebuilt in 1849-50. 

The White Hall Baptist Church was erected in 1858 at a cost of about 
$1,500. The most active parties in raising the money for the church were 
William McBride, Effie DeiT and A. Holden. But they were liberally aided 
by all the residents in that vicinity. Andi-ew F. Shanafelt was the first 
preacher. He made his residence in this vicinity. He removed fi'om here 
to Old Chester where he died. The first officers of the church were William 
McBride and George W. Suplee, deacons, and Aid Holden and William Mc- 
Bride, trustees. The present officers are John Creamer and William McBride. 
The Sunday-school superintendent is John Creamei-, and the attendance about 

fifty. 

The first school here was taught in 1818 by John Rea in a fi-ame building 
on the site of the present schoolhouse. The building was torn down in 1841. 
The present one is a brick building. 

The old historic Derry Presbyterian Church is situated about one mile 
from White Hall. The first church building was of nicely hewn pine logs. It 
was torn down late in " the forties " and the present frame structure was put up. 

There is a Baptist Church in the place. A frame building near the village 
is also the Primitive Methodist Episcopal Church. 

■ Among the old families of this village are the Careys. John Carey, now 
residing there, was born in the place. He is over seventy-five years of age. 

Exchange. — St. James Episcopal Church is located here. The first regular 
pastor was Rev. Milton Lightner. At first services were held in what was 
known as the Baptist schoolhouse. Mr. Lightner' s first visit to the place was to 
preach at the funeral of Stephen Ellis — the first of that name to settle here and 
■one of the early settlers in this township. The regular services began in 1843, 
and were held regularly. When Stephen Ellis died he left a verbal will 
giving $200 toward the building of the church, " should there ever be a 
disposition to erect such a building. ' ' The erection of the chiu'ch was com- 
menced in 1848 on land piu'chased for that purpose. The corner-stone was 
laid by Bishop Alonzo Potter, and that year it was completed and dedicated 
by the same bishop, assisted by Rev. Milton Lightner and others. The prom- 
inent contributors were the estate of Stephen Ellis, William Ellis, Stephen 
Ellis (son of Stephen Ellis, deceased, and who now resides in Exchange), 
Catharine Ellis and Jane, William, Isabella, Ellen and John C. Ellis, and 
Milton Lightner and Amos Heacock. 

Rev. Milton Lightner served the congregation about ten years, and was suc- 
ceeded by Rev. Edwin Lightner, who served the congregation from Danville. 



HISTORY OF MONTOUE COUNTY. 125 

He was succeeded by Rev. Elsegood, and the ministers in charge in the order 
following were Revs. Fury, William Page, Albra Wadleigh, Rollin H. 
Brown, Abram P. Brush, Baldy Lightner (son of the first of that name)^ 
Frank Duncan Jadow, Frank Canfield, William Johnson, David L. Fleming, 
the present pastor, who is located in Muncy. The cost of the church building 
was over $1,300. The first officers were William Ellis, Stephen Ellis, John 
C. Ellis and Amos Heacock, vestrj-men; William Ellis and Amos Heacock, 
wardens. The present officers are Charles Reeder, William Ellis, John Cald- 
well, John D. Ellis, Robt. Caldwell and Stephen C. Ellis, vestrymen, and 
Charles Reeder, senior warden, and S. C. Ellis, junior. 

The present Exchange Hall and school was built in 1874, and opened t» 
the public and as a school that year. It was erected at a cost of $1,300. The 
building committee was Stephen C. Ellis, Patrick Dennin and Dr. Mc- 
Henry. The first school-teacher in the building was Augustus Truckmiller. 
This hall is occupied by the Odd Fellows and by the Patrons of Husbandry. 
The building is the property of twenty-eight stockholders, who joined together 
in its construction. The first school in Church Hill District, No. 6, was built 
in 1819. That building was torn down and the present house erected in 1870, 
in which Miss Stine is the teacher. 

W^ alter Johnston, father of W^illiam C. Johnston, the clerk and recorder 
of the county, was the first hotel-keeper in Exchange — about 1839. He left 
there in 1840 and went to Jerseytown. Among the early settlers in this 
place was William Craig. The families of John and Alexander Craig are still 
in the place. James McKee was another early settler. John Bull kept a 
hotel on the top of the hill, but his family are gone years ago. The house 
where he kept his hotel is still standing, though it has been closed as a place 
of entertainment for years. One of the old families living above the hill was that 
of Patrick Montague. David Wilson is now a man over eighty years of age; 
was among the early settlers. Charles Clark (now a very old man) and 
family lived north of Exchange. His wife was a Derr. He opened the first 
store in Exchange, built his storeroom in 1838 and for a time boarded at 
Johnston's Hotel. 

Exchange Lodge, No. 898, I. O. O. F. , has a membership of thirty-eight. 
Exchange was named about 1840. The Crownover mill and a few cluster- 
ing houses were then there. There was an ancient log schoolhouse across the' 
creek from the place. The first brick house in the place, now owned by 
Patrick Dinnen, was built by John Caldwell. It is now a very old house. 
John Caldwell married a daughter of James Pollock, another family of the 
earliest settlers. The first postmaster in the village was Gersham Biddle. 

DERRY TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH OF WASHINGTONVILLE. 

This is one of the oldest townships and settlements in the county. The 
earliest settler in what is now the teiTitory of this township was a Mr. Brittain. 
One of his sons is Nathaniel Brittain, now aged eighty years, and is still living 
on the old family place. He has in his possession title papers and other evi- 
dences that establish this fact. Among other very early settlers was Jacob 
Shultz, who settled in what is noAv Limestoneville in 1790; after staying there 
one year he removed to Derry Township and settled on the place now occupied 
by his grandson, J. K. Shultz, where he died in 1804; he was buried in the 
Derry Church graveyard. In the year mentioned an epidemic of typhoid fever 
prevailed extensively and carried off a number of the people. Brady's Fort 
(generally printed in the State histories as "Boyle's Fort ") was erected toward 
the latter part of the Revolutionary war. It was named after the two brothers 



12G HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

Col. Sam. and Hugh Brady, who were prominent soldiers in the war for inde- 
pendence. Mathew Calvin was an early settler in Washingtonville. The fam- 
ily and descendants are now gone. He built the old frame mill in the town. 
It was twice burned down and as often rebuilt and the last building is still 
standing. Joseph Hutchinson settled near Washingtonville at an early day. 

William McCormick, father of Hon. James McCormick of Danville, and 
William Shaw and family were early settlers in Derry. Hon. James McCor- 
mick was born there in 1818. He married Margaret Shaw, daughter of the 
above named William Shaw. 

John Steinman built a saw-mill in 1812, about half a mile above Mr. Bill- 
jneyer's. A turning-lathe is now on the property occupied by the mill. 

John Auten built a saw-mill in 1812 and in 1814 he built a grist-mill and 
house. The grist-mill has long since been entirely gone — the saw-mill is 
still on the same spot. One of the earliest settlers near Mr. Billmeyer's was 
John Wilson. He was a prosperous farmer and died on the place where he 
had made his improvement. Stephen Ellis and his wife Mary (Cunningham) 
Ellis of Donegal, Ireland, were of the early settlers in this township. Their 
:son Stephen was born in this county May 15, 1807. 

Of the earliest ministers of the church was the famous pioneer preacher, 
JRev. J. B. Patterson of the Presbyterian Church. He was stationed at Wash- 
ingtonville and had charge of the DeiTy Church and the Washingtonville 
■Church, the latter being both the first log schoolhouse and church combined 
in this part of the county. Mr. Patterson died in W^ashingtonville, and so 
deeply had he impressed the purity and excellence of his character upon the 
people, that his memory now is warmly cherished and is yet " a name to con- 
jure by" among the descendants of his old-time parishioners. His descend- 
ants are a son and daughter now living in the township where he died. The 
pi'esent Presbyterian brick church in Washingtonville is a modern building 
erected about twenty years ago, and is the successor in regular line of the primi- 
tive little log church, as that first building had succeeded the inviting wide- 
spread branches of ' ' God' s first temples. ' ' 

Washingtonville and Danville constitute the two boroughs of Montour Coun- 
ty, and they also mark the two oldest settlements in it. It was only incorpo- 
rated into a borough April 28, 1870, the first officers being H. C. Snyder, 
burgess, and Joseph B. Seidel, Andrew C. Ellis, James A. Miller, councilmen. 
The present officers are Charles Mowery, burgess ; Charles Shires, clerk ; John 
Andy, A. C. Coursou and J. B. Seidel, councilmen ; J. D. Geiger, postmaster. 

A settlement was made here just prior to the breaking out of the war for 
, independence. The Bosley water grist and saw-mill had been built prior to 
1788. It stood just opposite where the present mill stands. It was burned 
down in 1826. It was the circumstance of this mill and a few settlements 
about it, that created Brady's fort, or block-house with port holes and for a 
while a small howitzer cannon mounted on it, where the people fled at 
times from the threatened approach of roving savage bands. In the his- 
tories of the State this is spoken of as "Boyle's Fort." This is an evi- 
dent mistake as it was built and named for the two Revolutionary heroes, 
Hugh and Sam. Brady, brothers. In 1788, as mentioned elsewhere, great 
suffering threatened the people in the way of famine. Philip Maus bought 
a quantity of grain at the time, of John Montgomery, of Paradise farm and 
delivered it at the mill. At this early day the place was called Washington. 
From old papers in the possession of Philip F. Maus, we learn that in 1788 
Samuel Smith, Adam Hempleman, and Robert Rogers were some of the par- 
ties then living in the vicinity of the place, and that they got some of the 



HISTOEY OF MONTOUK COUNTY. 127 

wheat he had bought from Paradise farm. Samuel Hutchinson purchased the 
mill of Bosley. He was a leading man of the early times, and was principal 
owner of the village. He was succeeded in the mill by his son-in-law, Mathew 
Calvin. He ran the mill successfully for a number of years, and at the same 
time owned and managed a large farm in the immediate vicinity. He was a 
strong, intelligent and well educated man ; a fi'ee and independent thinker on 
all subjects, but more especially on religion. He donated, howerer, the ground 
for the frame Presbyterian Church built in 1832. His son Samuel taught 
school in Washingtonville at an early day ; he removed to Huntington County, 
became a lawyer and was elected to Congress. Before going to Congress he 
had been elected and served as judge. Mathew Calvin was the first post- 
master in Washingtonville. Dr. Newcombe was the first physician to locate 
in the village. Just before the Revolutionary war Mr. Allen had built and 
opened the first hotel in the place. Mr. Allen' s successor in the hotel was 
Thomas Buskii'k. The first blacksmith was Robert Walker. He was a good 
workman. He invented and made the once clebrated Walker plow. He was 
full of industry and enterprise and built finally a factory and foundry. In 
his old age he removed to Lancaster where he died. 

Three churches were built in Washingtonville — the Presbyterian, Lutheran 
and Methodist. For many years the people worshiped at the old Derry 
Church, four and a half miles northeast of Washingtonville, where the cele- 
brated Rev. John B. Patterson ministered for a long time, the particulars 
of whom are fully given elsewhere. He went from Danville to Washington- 
ville in 1798, purchased and settled upon the old homestead farm about a 
mile east of the village where his son and daughter now reside. The early 
members of this the oldest church in this part of the county were James 
Biggins, Col. Robert Clark, the eminent Revolutionary soldier, William Mc- 
Cormick, James Barber, Thomas Barber, Andrevp Sheep, Samuel Brittain, 
Joseph Henderson, James Lowrie, Joseph Hendershot, Gersham Biddle, 
James Pollock, Thomas Morehead, John CaiT, John Allen, James C. Sproul, 
Thomas Adam, James McVickar, John Russell, John Craig, William Pegg, 
-^Samuel Hutchinson, Charles McKee, James Simington, Robert Shearer, 
Thomas Foster, Thomas Robinson, John Blee, and Mr. McHord. These all 
worshiped at the old Derry Church until 1832, when a building was put up 
in Washingtonville. 

The first store in the place was kept by Nathaniel Spence. His successor 
was William McCormick. Jhe latter was one of the prominent men of his 
day, a native of Ireland. 

There is some dispute now as to where the old fort or block-house stood. 
Some think it stood in the valley just across the creek from the borough, 
while others contend it stood just back of Front Street, between Church and 
Water Streets. 

The first schoolhouse was built in the last century soon after the close of 
the war. It was a square pen of unhewn logs of uneven length, a log taken 
out of three sides for windows. It stood on the street opposite to where John 
Hedden resides. Early in this century Washingtonville was quite an import- 
ant place ; it was on the mail stage route through the county. In 1838 it had 
as many as four hotels and four stores. The leading business men at that time 
were James and David McCormick, sons of William McCormick; Neal McCoy, 
son of Robert, and the firm of Grim, Derr & Dye. Aaron Moser now keeps 
the hotel that is among the old improvements of the place. 

Derry Lodge, No. 759, I. O. O. F., has a membership of twenty-eight. 



128 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

LIMESTONE. 

This was one of the townships struck off from Derry in the latter part of 
" the forties. " It is in the heart of the rich agricultiiral portion of the county. 
The oldest living resident of this township is Joseph Gibson; he is the great 
grandson of the noted early settler and surveyor, Henry Gibson. His father, 
Henry Gibson, died in November, I860, aged eighty-two years and eight 
months. Through the three generations born and reared in this county, they 
have been of the most prominent people in this part of the State. The Valiet 
family can trace their lineage back to the Crusaders of the tenth century. The first 
immigrants to come to this country arrived in Allentown in 1749. The present 
representative of this family in Limestone Township is Stephen Valiet. Prob- 
ably the next oldest families to come to this country were the Davises, now rep- 
resented by Joshua Davis. They came to the country in 1754. Of the early 
settlers were the Gouger family. John William Gouger was long a represent- 
ative pioneer settler and the family were among the most prominent and in- 
fluential people in the county. Jacob Gouger came with his parents when a 
child. Jacob Shultz was a pioneer to this part of the State and a soldier in the 
war of 1812. He lived in the township until he died. James Shell married 
a daughter of his and is now residing on the Shultz farm. The Fulmers were 
early comers and a people much respected. One of them served some time a& 
associate judge in this county. 

Limestoneville was founded by Daniel Smack in 1835. He had settled here, 
and about that time erected dwelling and store, making a large establishment for 
that day, and one of the finest store-rooms in the county. He determined to 
make a town of the place and he allowed full swing to his spirit of enterprise. 
He built a blacksmith" shop and secured a smithy to run it; then a tailor and 
fixed him up in a shop, and then a shoemaker. But he did not stop with the 
temporal comforts and affairs of the people, but pushing ahead he built a 
Methodist Church and called able and earnest flock tenders to wend their way 
to his moral green pastures. The church building is a frame, and is supplied 
regularly from Milton. A very nice brick schoolhouse was put up. Indeed 
Mr. Smack's ambition was fully consummated — a town had been built up, and 
the outlook was flattering for its continued prosperity. A hotel had been 
opened by a German. Balliet & McCormick had opened a store, and they 
bought out Smack' s store and its belongings, which included the town itself, and 
they became not only the store-keepers but the town proprietors. They con- 
ducted the mercantile business with success until 1848, when they sold to Jacob 
Widenhower. There are now two stores in the place, many comfortable resi- 
dences and the general surroundings that are important to the people in a 
small village. It is one of the nine places in the county that has a postoffice. 
Near Mr. Gouger' s residence in this township is a place called California. It 
is merely a cluster of farm houses adjacent to each other, and in the settlement 
is a schoolhouse. 

LIBEKTY. 

Col. Thomas Strawbridge, of Chester County, Penn., was probably among- 
the very first in what is now Liberty Township. He was a conspicuous Rev- 
olutionary soldier; a man of eminent patriotism as a citizen, ancl a Rupert in 
war. His coming to this part of the State was cotemporary with that of Gen. 
William Montgomery, whose sister, Margaret, he had man-ied in Philadelphia. 
Col. Thomas Strawbridge and wife, Margaret, had four children. Their soa 
James married Mary Dale, and of the issue of this marriage is Dr. James Dale 
Strawbridge, of Danville. For a full genealogy of this family see the biogra- 
phy of Dr. Strawbridge in this book. Col. Thomas Strawbridge and his 




SS^i>^'^"'-\^ ^NS>"\v^-^ 



/T-zi^y^-^' 



'rry^^i 




HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 131 

brother-in-law, Gen. William Montgomery, were among the early ^ftlers in 
th?s portion of the State and prominent and central figures. They established 
almost all the first commercial and manufacttormg enterprises ; they filled the 
pi^minent public offices, and yet were not politicians nor place seekers. If 
the necessit^s of their home people required their presence, they were ever 
readrrrlvnlLandcomeL^ as did Gen. Montgomery when m Con^ 
gresi Col. ^Thomas Strawbridge was judge of the courts of Northumberland 
Coiinty in 1795. He established a tannery in Liberty Township, the first 
ih\n<y of the kind in this part of the State. ,,, , . , x • 

The McWilliamses were among the earliest families who f t ^^d .n what is 
Liberty Township-Robert McWilliams his three sons Hugh, Jo^^^' f o*^^*' 
and daughter, Jane, who had married Robert Curry m Ire and. The Mc- 
wflliamsl bought land in 1771, which was the ^^-^1^ . ^^^^^ !^/',j^^^J^ 
Mooresburg. At the time they came there there was a family named Moore 
Hving whefe Mooresburg now stands. The Bixthgeneration of the first Robert 
McWilliams who came here is now represented m the ^^^^^^^^^ „^^j,^"^f -^f, 
Simineton of Danville, traced as follows: The eldest son of Robert Mc- 
WnHams Sr was Hugh, whose son was Robert No. 2, and his son was Hugh 
No 2 aid the last named was the father of Mrs. Dr Robert S. Symington 
• and hence her childi-en: Gertrude, born November 13, 18o5 ^n^ married 
Calvin Leinbach. January 15, 1885; Harriet Elizabeth, born October 11, 18o7 
and Anna Jean, born June 30, 1867, are the living sixth generation from the 
Sst Robert McWilliams. The wife of Robert McWilliams was Jean Orr. 
Siey wte married in Scotland and removed to the North of Ireland prior to 
coJng to this country. They stopped at first in Chester bounty, and the 
wife died a short time before they moved to this p ace. Hugh was killed hj 
the Indians in 1775. His only son, named Robert, was six months old at his 
father's death. He was born in July, 1775. , . n -^a 

Robert McWilliams' mother was Rebecca Dunwoody, who had married 
Hugh about the year 1774. Robert married his relative, Jane Curry, i^ May 
1798 She was a daughter of the Robert Curry who was massacred by the 
Indians Her mother Sas Jean McWilliams Curry. Some of the children of 
Lfs marriag: were Hugh, born April 18, 1799, died in 1877, John Mary and 
Jean This Hugh McWilliams married Rebecca Lemon April .3, 18dU fene 
was the daughtef of James and Rachel Lemon^ born in Point Township North- 
umberland County. Their children were Harriet, born January 2b 1831, 
married to Gilbert Voris March 14, 1854; Regma Jane, born July 3, 183^, 
maS ed Dr. Robert S. Simington December 28, 1854, both of Liberty Township, 
Td Anna Rebecca who marrted January 23, 1861, F.K. Ham, f-ral mana- 
ger of the New York elevated railroads. Thus both sides of the house, the Mc- 
Williamses and Currys,had been ^^^^^rers^ from the miu-derous^M^^^^^ 
Jane Curry, who was born February 8 1773 was the first white child ^^^^^^ 
in this section of the country, between the north and west forks of the Susque- 

^'Tm^g'tbe eartiest records pertaining to this township is the deed from the 
Penns in 1795 of 329^ acres of land. Thomas J. Clark now resides on this 
land, northwest of Mooresburg. The title to this property remained m the 
chui^ih until 1806 and was then sold to Robert Finney, where he made his 
improvement and resided until his death in 1839. Finney was ^nh.sdaj. 
no ed character and contributed his full quota to the people's ^J^^^^ [^^^^^^^ 
many eccentricities. He was a harmless old bachelor who lived by himself 
after the death of his mother and sisters, noted for his hard work, yeai m and 
year out, and his pinching economy. He was odd m everythmg, dress, man- 



132 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

ners and habits. He purchased the farm and paid for it in threshing wheat 
with the old flail — a long hickory pole, cut and bent, with the heavy end so as 
to pound the sheaf of wheat and thus thresh it out. He lived in the old out- 
building on the place, and in the severest winter weather would take what little 
stock he had into the building with himself, and often in the dead of winter has 
he carried straw from Danville to his place to feed his kine. 

Among the early settlers are the present descendants of the Billmeyers. This 
was a large and influential family noted for their frugality, prosperity and 
enterprise as farmers. John Steinman built a saw-mill about half a mile above 
Billmeyers, in 1812. There is now a turning-lathe on the old mill property. 
John Auten built a saw-mill also in 1812, and in 1814 he added to his saw-mill 
a grist-mill. The lumber for his house and grist-mill was cut at his own saw- 
mill, and these buildings were erected as soon as he could thus secure the 
lumber. The grist-mill was worn out and torn down. The saw-mill still stands 
in the shape of a modern built mill as a successor to the first one. These two 
saw-mills and the grist-mill were the only ones in this part of the county at 
that time, and here for many years the people in the vicinity had their grain 
ground and their lumber cut. 

John Wilson purchased land adjoining the Billmeyer place. He improved 
about 175 acres and on this farm made his residence until he died. In the 
olden time every neighborhood imperatively needed a weaver to weave the 
•cloth from wool and flax for wearing apparel for the people — the hatter, the 
weaver and the itinerant shoemaker were the only sources of supply for 
the average person's clothes of that day of rural simplicity and frugality. 
The entire scheme of social economy is now wholly changed — a change wrought 
mostly by the wonderful mechanical inventions and appliances of the 
American people. There are but few of the industries now carried on in which 
machinery has not been introduced whereby one man can do the work of from 
seven to ten men, and in no occupation has greater improvement been made 
than in that of weaving, and yet we note the singular fact that wearing apparel 
is much more expensive now than it was three-quarters of a century ago. 
The spinning jenny and the cotton-gins have taken away much the larger pro- 
portion of the time and toil upon each yard of cloth, as compared with half a 
century ago. These remarks are parenthetical to the fact that in the early 
times George Wagner, a weaver, located in the township. After working here 
some years he removed to Limestone, and stopping there some time he again 
removed, this time to Washingtonville, where he remained until he died 
about 1862. Of this family there were a number of children. James and 
John McMahan were of the first settlers. These two brothers were noted 
Revolutionary soldiers, as were the two Billmeyer brothers, Cxeorge and 
Martin. The McMahans settled just west of Mooresbm-g. Another family 
that to this day are closely allied with the history of this part of the county, 
the Simingtons, sent John and Peter to the war of 1812-15. This particular 
family of the Billmeyers settled in the Chillisquaque. One of that name 
is now living in the house built by his great-grandfather. 

The oldest church in the northwest part of the county is the Chillisquaque 
Church. It is still a church regularly offering its ministrations to the living 
and its hopes and consolations for the dead. Their present building was 
erected in the early " fifties." The minister in attendance is Rev. H. G. Finney, 
who also serves at Mooresburg. The church at the latter place was erected 
about forty years ago. 

Mooresburg was laid out in 1806 by Stephen Moore, one of a noted family 
who came to Pennsylvania that year. The town plat originally embraced thir- 



HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 



133 



teen acres of ground, and the first house was erected as a residence by Mr. 
Moore. John, Joseph and Andrew Moore were three brothers who came to 
this county in the ship " Welcome" in company with William Penn m 1582. 
They were members of the society of Friends. Stephen Moore was a grand- 
son of the John Moore mentioned above, whose family had settled near Penn- 
ington N J. Stephen was born in 1759 and died in Mooresburg, January 20, 
1813 ' He had married Parthenia, daughter of Andrew Young. She was born 
in 1760 and died in 1830. Their issue were ten children, namely: Lydia Ab- 
ner, Asa, Samuel, John, Hannah, Burrows, Charles M Andrew and Edward 
S The brothers of Stephen Moore were Samuel and Edward, and his sister s 
name was Hannah. John Moore married Elizabeth Donaldson of Danville 
The only descendants of Stephen Moore now here are Mrs. Anna A. (Moore) 
Biddle, the daughter of John Moore and granddaughter of Stephen, and the 
children of William Biddle, deceased. William Biddle and Miss Anna 
A Moore were married December 6, 1860. Messrs. Moore and Biddle 
lived in Danville and started the first foundry in the town. This they carried 
on successfully for many years. Mr. Biddle was a re ative of Nicholas Biddle 
on one side, and was told he was one of the heirs of the great Jenmngs estate 
that attracted such wide attention for many years. . . t 

The Catawissa Railroad passes directly by the village and has a depot tor 
the convenience of the people. 

VALLEY. 

The first permanent settlement made in what is now Valley Township, it is sup- 
posed was by Phillip (or Philip) Maus, the founder in this country of that large 
family in each generation of which there has been a prominent one of that name. 
An extended sketch of Phillip Maus, the first, is given in the chapter entitled 
' ' Early Settlers, ' ' to which the attention of the reader is refeiTcd. It is there told 
that he purchased his land on the Mahoning Creek in May, 1769, as soon as it 
was possible to obtain title in the new Indian purchase, including all this por- 
tion of the State. As soon as the Revolutionary war was drawing to an end, 
he came with his son and two carpenters to build his house m the wilderness. 
He first visited his purchase in 1782; reported the little settlement at Danville 
had iust been founded by the brothers Daniel and W^illiam Montgomery and 
there were there "half a dozen families from the southeastern part of the State 
and fi'om New Jersey." His recollection, which is the correct one, is that the 
Montgomerys had pui'chased the place of John Simpson, and also "pur- 
chased Simpson's saw and flouring mill." So it appears that the " saw and 
flouring mill" had really been built by Simpson. W^ith the carpenters ^Ir 
Maus brought with him, his own and his son's help, he erected the first 
cabin in Valley Township. Its site was a short distance from the right bank 
of the stream, nearly half a mile from the present stone mill. He contracted 
for clearing a small tract of land, but the Indians grew so threatening that he 
buried all the tools and other chattels he could, in order to keep them from the 
savacres From his recollections, as written by John Frazer, we extract the 
following account of the killing of Robert Curry. Of the many conflicting ac- 
counts this is probably the most reliable: 

" Two years previously, in May, 1780, Robert Curry and his wife, travel- 
ino- on horseback from Northumberland, on the way to their little farni on the 
Mahoning when about midway between the two places, were attacked by the 
savao-es He was killed and scalped and his skull broken to fragments with 
thei "tomahawks. She was taken prisoner. Her hair was long and jet black, 
which they greatly admired. They told her she was ' a much pretty squaw, 



134 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

and would not hurt her. They traveled until night when they encamped. They 
then tied her hands and feet with hickory bark. Soon they were in a pro- 
found sleep, when she cut the bark from her wrists and ankles. She had con- 
cealed a pair of scissors about her person which, fortunately for her, escaped 
their vigilant search when she was first made captive. She fled from their 
camp as fast as possible, but they soon missed her and, lighting torches, pur- 
sued her in all directions. She concealed herself in the top of a fallen tree. 
They passed over the trunk of the tree and, as they did so, cried out: ' Come 
out, squaw, we see you. Come out, pretty squaw, we see you.' After some 
time spent in fruitless search they abandoned it, broke up their camp before 
daylight and pursued their journey. She then returned to the remains of her 
murdered husband and gathering up the pieces of his skull in her apron, took 
them to her house which she reached the next day. The agony and deep dis- 
tress of this poor woman may be conceived, but the pen utterly fails to describe 
them." 

A fragment of a letter from Mrs. Maus dated ' ' Northumberland, 1783, ' ' 
is so full of interest that we give all that part of it contained in the torn por- 
tion of the original letter, as follows: 

********* 

Your brother George likes this place very well. When you come, do not fail to bring 
100 White Chapel needles and two or three ounces of thread suitable for sewing calico and 
home-spun linen. Give my love to your grandpa and grandma, and tell her I wish her to 
come will) you and see us; we will arrange for her journey to Lebanon and back. Yous 
will see Rev. Stoy's palace. Tell her the Peninton's house up Race Street is nothing to 
compare to it and Dr. Stoy lives only seventy-five miles from us. * * * Tell the girl& 
that Susyand the young girls here take a canoe and go into the river fishing by themselves;. 
the river is as clear as a spring and not half a yard deep. This is a most beautiful and pic- 
turesque place. We have the wild deer not half a mile from us, skipping about the hills 
where the boys go to fetch the cows. 

(Signed.) Your loving mother, 

Frances Maus. 

Philip Maus biiilt his mill in 1793, and here was cut the lumber for nearly 
every building erected for years in the surrounding country. The limestone 
found here was a valuable material in building what we may term the second 
crop of settlers' hoiTses. It eventually became the great source of supply to 
the Danville iron furnaces. In the year 1800 he erected his flouring-mill. It 
was an imposing stone building for that day, and still is standing, as sound 
and durable, apparently, as when first built. His experience in digging his 
mill-race was varied, one portion being dug by the Catholics and the other by 
Protestants ; and several times Mr. Maus had to take possession of the clubs and 
shillalahs of both parties to prevent their being worn out over bloody heads. 
This was called their amusement, and by way of explanation of these theo- 
logical discussions it may be stated that these men consumed eleven barrels of 
whisky while at the work and play of digging the mill-race. 

The experiences of the Maus family are a graphic illustration of what were 
the sources of past time and work of a respectable, intelligent and well reared 
people. How completely were they thrown upon their own resources. Only 
when they had raised their sheep could they clothe themselves in woolen 
goods in the winter. For summer they made linen goods of the flax they 
raised. Woolen or linen, the men wore "hunting shirts" much after the 
style to be seen in the pictures of Daniel Boone. The Maus family cultivated, 
early, two acres of flax. There was a Scotch family in the settlement that did 
the most of the weaving. Before the era of wool and flax they dressed deer 
skins and the hides of other wild animals, and of these made clothing. 
Rabbit-skin caps were quite an elegant luxury at ene time. A young maa 



HISTOKY OF MONTOUE COUNTY. 



135 



-when he reached this high-water mark in dress was ready to go "sparking" 
;at the bower of the belle of all the land. We are told that in the Maus home 
during the long winter evenings, by the light of lard oil iron lamps they 
read books of devotion. "Cook's Voyages," Weem's "Life of Washington," 
and then, oh, rare treat ! they sometimes took turns and read Goldsmith s 
' ' Deserted Village, " " Vicar of Wakefield, ' ' and even ' ' Don Quixote. ' ' These 
-were read aloud, and sometimes Mr. Maus would contribute immeasurably to 
the enjoyment by appropriating the dramatis personcB amongst them. 

When the family reached the possession of an ample fortune a family 
carriage was purchased; it was of the style of Louis XIV. Nothing ever 
created a greater sensation in the valley than the arrival of this family carriage. 
It is said to be the first in what is now Montour County. The two Mont- 
gomerys had a gig each, and these three were the only pleasui-e carriages in 
the country for many miles around. 

Samuel Music was one of the Maus family's early neighbors. Samuel was 
noted as a good man and excellent neighbor, but also for his moods of humor, 
and sometimes when in low spirits his gruffness was amusing. By those who 
knew him best he was best understood, and when in his grimmest moods his 
roughest speeches were only the sources of smiles among his friends. 

The township poor farm is situated near the residence of Judge John 
Benfield. It was established about four years after the one of Danville and 
Mahoning. It was made almost compulsory in the township in self protection, 
after the one had been established, to establish the other. 

Peter Blue, Fredrick Blue and James Stutfelt leased for a time the Maus 
farm, agreeing to take possession as soon as it would be possible from the 
Indian trouble's. They came on according to contract and went vigorously to 
work. The arrangements for them to come here had been made in North- 
umberlan;d, at the fort probably. 

There are three churches in Valley Township. The Lutheran Church, a 
Torick building in Frosty Valley, is the representative of the earliest church in 
the township. We found the oldest inhabitants unable to give us the date of 
its founding, but it was sometime in the latter part of the last century. It is 
.served fi'om Danville. The Hendricks Methodist Episcopal Church is at a 
place known as Cambellton Hill and the Mausdale Church. 

In addition to the Maus stone mill. Judge John Benfield has a mill on his 
place that is a valuable addition to that part of the county. 

Mausdale is a small village not quite two miles fi'om Danville. It was 
originally a mere cluster of settlers who were attracted there by the rich and 
beautiful valley and the Maus mill and improvements. 



MAYBERRY. 



This is one of the youngest townships in the county. It is cut off from the 
main body of the county by the Susquehanna Kiver, including the only portion 
of the county's territoiy that runs across the river to the south. The river 
forms its north boundary line; the east line is the county line, and the south 
and west line is the dividing line between it and Northumberland County. 
The township was formed in 1850 of territory taken fi-om Franklin Town- 
ship in Columbia County, and was named "Mayberry" in honor of May- 
berry Gearhart, a descendant of William Gearhart, one of the earliest set 
tiers in this part of the county— then Northumberland. 

It is broken and hilly, the level or valley land along the course of the 
streams being generally narrow. Mountainous elevations rise but a short dis- 



136 HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 

tance from the Susquehanna River and extend south nearly the length of the 
township. What is called the Sharp Ridge rises on the eastern side of the 
township and passes southwesterly and south through nearly the center of 
its territory; the ascent of this ridge is gradual and the top is comparatively 
level and therefore along this ridge is the main road that in going from Dan- 
ville passes across the north end along the river to Mr. Gearhart's place on 
Roaring creek, and then turns south and passes out at the southwest corner of 
the township. Another road that joins this at the Methodist Episcopal Church 
turns south at the North schoolhouse and goes directly south. This is a short- 
er route to the Lutheran Church and school, but the abruptness of the hills 
over which it 'passes makes it more difficult to travel. When the high plane 
is reached there is frequently level land and from this the timber has been 
cleared away and farms made. The productive qualities of these uplands are 
fair, but the natural washing of the soil requires careful and faithful husbandry. 
The streams all run north and to the northeast and northwest, the two Roar- 
ing creeks forming the east and west boundary lines and emptying into the 
Susquehanna. Then near the center between these two streams there is a 
stream heading up near the Sharp Ridge and passing north to the Susquehanna. 
The tributaries of Roaring creek are two, heading at Sharp Ridge and running 
northeast to the main stream. The tributaries of Little Roaring creek rise on 
the opposite side of the Sharp Ridge and run in a northwesterly direction. 

The first settlements in this portion of what was then Northumberland 
County were made by Germans, and were on the east side of Roaring creek, 
opposite William Gearhart's first place of settlement, now owned and occu- 
pied by his son Mayberry. The moving spirit of this first German colony was 
John Mensch. Charles Boone, of Berks County, made the original improve- 
ment that is now the Mayberry Gearhart place. He lived here some years and 
then returned to his old home. Dr. William Boone lived half a mile up the 
creek. He lived here some years ; then went to Ohio, where he was killed. 
The Voughts were of the first to locate in the township. J. Vought' s improve- 
ment was about a mile still further up the creek. Among others to come at 
an early day was Peter Osman. He lived near the Methodist Episcopal 
Church in the north part of the township. The exact date when the Voughts 
came and made what it is now supposed was the first settlement in this town- 
ship is not known. It is supposed it was about the end of the last century or 
the beginning of this. It was about 1820 when the Boones came, and it is 
now fifty-four years since William Gearhart made his settlement. The acces- 
sions to the first cluster of improvements along the Susquehanna River were 
slow in coming. There was then no bridge at Danville and but few and 
rough roads that furnished outlets to other points to the south. The census 
of 1880 showed a population in the township of only 230 souls. The town- 
ship is divided into two school districts, the River District and the Centre 
District. The first schoolhouse, built many years ago, and used for church 
purposes also, stands near the road where it turns south, about half way be- 
tween M. Shultz's and D. Shultz's farms. About three-quarters of a mile 
south of the schoolhouse is the first church, the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
built in the township, and here was the first cemetery. Then about the same 
distance south of this and on the same road is the Lutheran Church, school 
and cemetery. These were built about 1856. The churches now are and 
have been supplied from other points, holding meetings at stated times. 

There is no village or town in its confines. A flag station is on the rail- 
road near Roaring creek. The people are agricultural in their habits, con- 
tented as a rule to plod peacefully along in the footsteps of their ancestors. 



HISTOKY OF MONTOUR COUNTY. 137 

The younger generation, not infrequently going out to larger plf c^« ^o/^*^";.*^ 
school catch fhe infection of the rushing, ambitious outside world and forsake 
the quiet rural scenes of childhood, and take up their habitations m distant 
villages, towns and cities of the country. 

COOPER. 

This is one of the small townships of the county. Its south base rests on 
the river and its east line to its north limit follows up the line dividing the 
counST^of Montour and Columbia. The entire township is rough and hilly, 
and but sparse agricultural spots in it. There are very few even naiTOW val- 
leys and ?et thefe is some very good agricultural land. Its most valuable part 
is^t; mineral deposits. Here is much valuable iron ore yet to be dug and its 
limestone is valuable. Just north of Grovania are the limestone kilns, staite^d 
ome years ago, and promised at one time to become extensive and valuable 
buUhe stoppage of the Grove iron-mills at Danville caused a cessation of the 
HmekHns and they have lain idle awaiting the reviva of the iron manufac^ 
to"y, whei they wiU become of great value and here will some time again be 
much activity. Two railroads pass from east to west through this township- 

'^^ ^o7alTi!'ol?j\'iltJor poTtoffice in the township-the village here 
consTstirTg of ihe name,'the st^ore aid residence^ The place was -de a s ^tion 
on the railroad soon after its completion, and designated as a postoffice^ It 
was named in honor of the Grove Bros., of Danville Near it is a Lutheran 
Church-St. James-and a cemetery. The church is sometimes suppied 
from Catawisaand s6metimes from Danville. St. Peter's Union Church is 
on ^e opposite sid. of the township. This is also a Lutheran Church, and is sup^ 
pbed in the same manner as is St. James, named above. The place where 
tMs latter chiirch is located is known as Ridgeville, situated on the old stage 
road but whose hopes departed when the railroad was built south o it and 
superseded the old coach. It once had a tavern with ' ' accommodations for man 
and beast.- Our information is that the earliest settlers m what is now 
Cooper Township, were the Krums. There is yet a number of the descend- 
ants of this family still in the township. Some suppose, on what is apparently 
Sod authority, too, that the Fousts were the earlier comers o this par of the 
bounty Here agai^ we find the Cromleys, whose descendants are still living 
in the neighborhood, where they first settled. 

WEST HEMLOCK. 

New Columbia was once a pretentious village, or rather one that looked for- 
ward to some future expectations. It was on the Bloomsburg stage route and 
at one time no doubt, promised itself to have some day a postoffice. But 
Relentless fke built the Catawissa Kailroad, the stage and stage horn no more 
were on the road and the promised growth of the place departed -moved 
down, it is supposed, to Grovania. But St. Pe er's Church and Cemetery, 
with L few residences, remain to the place yet. Its name is about all that is 
left except the few comfortable residences belonging to sun-ounding farmers. 
TheTurface of the township is hilly and parts mountainous The a,gricult_ 
lu-al lands are limited, being confined to the few narrow valleys. The east 
branch of Mahoning creek passes through the north part ot It. 

Of the early settlers in this township was George CiWey and family. 
Their settlement was made about a mile south of where New Caledonia now is. 



138 



HISTOKY OF MONTOUE COUNTY. 



The descendants of this old family have now all left the neighborhood. The 
next family probably in the order of coming was that of Michael Sandel. 
This was a large family. There are now in the township Peter, Jacob and 
Nathan— the latter was never married; the others have families. Burtis 
Arnwine settled in the southern part of the township. This was at one time a 
numerous family, but now they are all gone from this part of the county. 
Daniel Cromley was one of the numerous Cromley family whose descendants are 
yet to be found scattered over the eastern part of the county. Daniel 
among the early settlers in what is now West Hemlock. Two of the sons 
still residing there; one is on the old homestead. 



was 
are 



Biographical Sketches, 



CHAPTER XIV. 
DANVILLE. 

ROBERT ADAMS, of the firm of Conkling & Co., dealers in all kinds of books and 
stationery, and agents for the Adams Express Company, Danville, was born in Farrands- 
ville, Penn., May 22, 1838, a son of Robert and Hester (Jodon) Adams. His parents 
were natives of Pennsylvania and of Irish origin. The father was a boot and shoe man- 
ufacturer. Robert is the youngest in a family of five children, and grew to manhood in 
Danville; was educated at the Danville Academy and graduated in 1856. Except the 
time spent in school he has been with Mr. Conkling since he was eleven years of age, 
first being employed with him as a boy in the store, then as clerk, and later bought a par- 
tial interest in the business. In 1866 Mr. Conkling took him in as full partner, and their 
relationship has since existed without a word of discord. Mr. Adams has been connected 
with the Adams Express Company at Danville since 1854. The firm own their store room, 
and have fitted it up especially for their business, and also own the room for the express 
office. Mr. Adams is a Republican. 

WILLIAM AMESBURY,coal merchant. Church Street, Danville.was born in England 
November 26, 1825, a son of Richard and Harriet (Pernell) Amesbury. He is the second 
in a family of seven children, and at the age of eight years ran away from home rather 
than attend school. He first obtained employment where a railroad was being built, mak- 
ing himself useful by carrying tools, etc., and was soon the pet of the workmen. He 
earned twenty-five cents a day, which gave him an ample supply of money for his wants, 
and thus employed remained until he was twelve 3'ears old. He then went to Scotland 
and worked with railroad men two years, at the end of which time he returned to England 
and began to work in the mines at Yorkshire. There he remained until the age of 
twent3'-two, when he came to America; remained a short time in New York, and then 
came to Danville, where he was employed in the iron mines one year. He then went to 
St. Louis, Mo., where he engaged with a company to travel in search of lead and copper 
mines, which he made his employment for some time, and during which period made sev- 
eral important discoveries. He traveled extensively in that business,has been in all the States 
and Territories in South America, Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and has 
crossed the ocean from America to England three times. He carried on mining, employing 
from forty to fifty men, and, although his education is limited, he was his own book- 
keeper and kept all his accounts. He married, in 1854, Miss Maria, daughter of Richard 
Cook and of English origin. Five children blessed their union: William, Mary (wife of 
Thomas Cromwell), Adaline, Jennie and Arthur. Mr. and Mrs. Amesbury are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politicall}' he is independent. 

W. H. AMMERMAN, insurance agent, Danville, was born in Northumberland 
€ounty, Penn., November 19, 1834, a son of Robert S. (a farmer) and Margaret (Johnson) 
Ammerman, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch descent, who had a family of seven 
children, W. H. being second. Our subject received his education in his native county, 
chose farming as his occupation, and followed it until the age of twenty-three. He 
then obtained a certificate, and taught school several years, after which he accepted a 
position as agent for The Farmer's Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Middle Pennsyl- 
vania, and was sent to Lycoming Counly, Penn., where he carried on the business for 
twelve years, and still represents it at Danville. The available collateral assets of this 
company, July 15, 1886, were $269,128.48. and the company is now in a flourishing condi- 
tion. During that time he had his home at Danville, and when, in 1871, the Danville Mu- 
tual Fire Insurance Company was organized, he was elected its secretary, which position 
he still holds. In 1867 he formed a partnership with Patterson Johnson, and the firm did 

8A 



142 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

a general insurance business for eighteen years, until the death of Mr. Johnson in 1883. 
The latter had been secretary of the Farmers Mutual Insurance Company of Middle 
Pennsylvania, and, upon his death, that company prevailed upon our subject to take the 
position and look after their interests until the election. When they met they elected Mr. 
Ammerman secretary, and he has since increased the capital stock of the company. He 
is also connected with the firm of W. H. Ammerman & Co., with which his eldest son 
was actively engaged for a time, and is associated with David R. Williams, of Dan 
ville, in the general fire insurance business. These gentlemen are careful business men 
and represent none but first-class companies, such as the following: JEtna of Hartford, 
Conn.; Fire Association of Philadelphia; Germania. of New York City; Girard, of Phila- 
delphia; Imperial, of London, England; Lancashire, of Manchester, England; Phoenix, 
of Hartford, Conn.; Royal, of Lirarpool, England. Mr. Ammerman has had a long ex- 
perience in the insurance business, for which his qualifications eminently fit him, and to 
which the high rank he now occupies among leading msurance men is due. He has been twice 
married; first, November 26, 1864, to Mary J. Rogers, who bore him six children and died 
in 1875. She was a member of the Episcopal Church, and of English origin. His second 
marriage took place February 6, 1879, with Wilhamina Morgan. Mr. Ammerman has 
served as a member of the school board of Danville, is a member of the I. O. O. F., and 
also of the Masonic fraternity. 

CALEB APPLEMAN, retired farmer, Danville, was born in Columbia County, Penn., 
April 12, 1812, a son of Boltis and Mary Melick Appleman, natives of Pennsylvania and 
of German and Dutch descent. He is the sixth in a family of eight children and was 
educated in Bloomsburg. He came to Montour County in 1832, where he followed farm- 
ing which he made financially successful, and retired in 1885, making his residence in 
Danville. His grandfather, Peter Melick, was a soldier in the Revolution and his father 
was a soldier in the war of 1812. In 1831 Caleb married Mary M., a daughter of Henry 
Rishel, of German origin, and ten children were born to them, viz. : Elmira, deceased wife of 
John Carr; Sally Ann, wife of Charles A. Rentz; Agnes, wife of James M. Van Devender; 
Mary E., wife of John C. Patterson, of Danville; Margaret J., wife of Hon. Jesse C. 
Amerman, a prominent farmer; Amos B.; Harriet, wife of Peter E. Rentz; Eli, a farmer; 
Caroline, wife of George Gilmore, and Franklin Pierce. Mrs. Appleman united with the 
Lutheran Church at Milton when she was about nineteen years old. Mr. Appleman is a 
member of the Episcopal Church. He was a member of the building committee when 
the Methodist Church in Valley Township, Montour County, was erected and was Sab- 
bath-school superintendent there for ten years. He was school director for six years. 
He is a Democrat and served twenty-seven years as constable. His son Amos was in the 
civil war, a member of the One Hundred and Thirty-second Pennsylvania Volunteer In- 
fantry. 

GEORGE W. ASKINS, merchant, Danville, was born in Landisburg, Perry County, 
Penn., April 14. 1829, to Samuel (a shoemaker) and Susannah (Fitzcharles) Askins, natives 
also of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch-Irish descent, the former of whom died in Union 
County, Penn. Their family consisted of nine children, four of whom grew to adult age. 
Our subject, the eldest child, was reared and educated in his native county until sixteen 
years of age. He then went to Harrisburg where he learned the tinner's trade, serving a 
regular apprenticeship, and after completing his apprenticeship he obtained a situation 
atSelin's Grove, Snyder Co., Penn. There he worked at his trade and subsequently 
clerked in a general store until 1877, when he came Danville and superintended a stove 
and tinware store for the firm of Waterman & Beaver, where he was employed for seven 
years. At the expiration of that time he bought out the firm, and has since continued 
the business with marked success. He is nowlhe owner of the store and business room, 
and also of a neat and substantial residence. He married in 1853, Elizabeth Monbeck, a 
lady of German origin, daughter of David Monbeck, a farmer of Union County, Penn. 
Mrs. Askins is the mother of seven children: Mary, wife of R. Pierce; William, in busi- 
ness with his father; Emma, at home; Charles; Harry, a tinner; Florence and Jessie. 
Mr. Askins is one of the commissioners of Montour County. He enlisted in the Eighty- 
fourth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, served one year and was discharged at the 
close of the war. He is a member of the G. A. R. of Danville; in politics a Republican. 
Mrs. Askins is a member of the Lutheran Church. 

WILLIAM B. BALDY, editor of the Montour American, Danville, was born in that 
place, August 5, 1853, a son of Charles C. and Mercy Jane (Brothwell) Baldy, whose 
ancestors were among the early German and Scotch settlers of Pennsylvania. His parents 
were born in that State, and his father was a carriage manufacturer in Danville in the 
early part of his life, but later carried on a hardware store in the same place. He was twice 
married and his family consisted of ten children, five of whom are now living. Our sub- 
ject is the fifth child by the first wife. He attended the schools of Danville and Andalusia 
College, in Bucks County, Penn., and also Lehigh University, where he graduated in 
civil engineering, class of 1876. He then commenced to learn the printer's art in the otfice 
of the Montour American, and two years later bouglit one-half interest in the paper, the 
firm being Bradley & Baldy until April 1, 1883. Since that time Mr. Baldy has been 



DANVILLE. 143 

editor aud proprietor of the Montour American, which is Republican in political sentiment, 
and has a good circulation. He is chairman of the Rei)ublican county committee; is an 
active member of Friendsliip Fire Company of Danville, and has been its secretary for 
eight years; is a menber of the R. A. of Danville, aud is its Regent; is Past 
Noble Grand of the I. O. O. F., and also a member of the encampment; and captain of 
Company F, Twelfth Regiment Pennsylvania National Guards. In 1881 ]\Ir. Baldy mar- 
ried Ida B., daughterof William Waters, and a native of Pennsylvania of German origin. 
They have one child, Isabella May. He and his wife are members of the Protestant 
Episcopal Church, of which he is a vestryman and treasurer of the board, also Sunday- 
school superintendent. 

JONATHAN P. BARE, justice of the peace, Danville, was born in Montgomery 
County, Septembers, 1841, a son of Frederick and Susan (Place) Bare, natives of Penn- 
sylvania and of German aud French origin, respectively. In early life the father was a 
shoemaker, later a farmer, and died in 1849. Jonathan P. is the eldest son^in a family of 
five children, and was reared by A. Hendricks on a farm in Montgomery" County until 
1857, when he came to Montour County, which has since been his home, except the time 
he spent in the service of his country, 'fie enlisted in 1861 in the artillery. One Hundred 
and Twelfth Regiment of the line, and was elected orderly sergeant of Company F, served 
three years and was in several battles. In 1864 he returned home and worked on the 
Catawissa Railroad, and subsequently farmed for a time. He again worked on the railroad 
as a bridge-builder until September 24, 18T0, when he met with a sad accident which de- 
prived him of both feet. Politically he is a Republican, and in 1879 was elected justice of 
the peace, which office he still holds, and is also treasurer of the board of directors of the 
poor of Danville and Mahoning Township, He is a member of the G. A. R. and of the 
I. O. O. F. also of the I. O. O. P. Encampment. His first wife died in 1867, and in 1870 he 
married his second wife, a lady of German origin, who has borne him three children: Will- 
iam A., Harry Clayton and Sarah Gertrude. Mr. and Mrs. Bare are members of the Ger- 
man Reformed Church. 

JESSE BEAVER, retired merchant, Danville, was born in Lebanon County, Peun., 
March 8, 1811, a son of Peter (a tanner and Methodist minister) and Elizabeth (Gilbert) 
Beaver, whose ancestors were among the early settlers of Pennsylvania. (For further 
ancestral history see sketch of Thomas Beaver.) They were the parents of twelve chil- 
dren, ten of whom attained adult age. Jesse, who is the fifth child, received his educa- 
tion in a log schoolhouse in Perry County, Penn. Early in life he learned the printers' 
trade, but never worked at it after completing his apprenticeship. He clerked two years 
in a store in Union County, where his father had moved in 1828, and then returned to 
Perry County, and engaged in keeping a general store until 1857. He then sold out and 
bought a store in Union County, where he continued the business until 1863. In that 
year he came to Danville and engaged for some years in the coal trade, after which he 
retired. In 1833 he married Mary Ann, daughter of Dr. Christian Swartz, a native of 
Pennsylvania and of Pennsylvania-Dutch descent. Their union was blessed with live 
sons and five daughters, all of whom are living and married, except one. Mr. and Mrs. 
Beaver are members of the Methodist Church, of which he has been steward, trustee and 
class-leader. He has been a constant reader, and devotes much time to the study of the 
Scriptures, ancient and modern history, etc.- In politics he was a Democrat until 1856, 
when he affiUated with the Republican party, to which he still adheres. He held several 
offices while a resident of Perry and Union Counties, such as school director and mem- 
ber of the town council, and served one term as auditor of Perry County. He was post- 
master at Millerstowu, and was appointed collector of toll for the Pennsylvania Canal 
Company, but on finding that he was usurping another man's place he refused to accept 
the position. Mr. Beaver then purchased a store, which he conducted until coming to 
Danville in 1863. He was elected associate judge of Perry County in 1851. and served 
five years; also served one term as representative. In 1862 he was appointed United 
States revenue collector of Union County, serving until he came to Danville, when he re- 
signed and embarked in the coal aud lumber business. 

THOMAS BEAVER came to Danville for his permanent home in 1857. To his 
hands, among others, had been entrusted the affairs of the Montour Iron and Steel Works, 
that had just previously suffered from the financial panic that at that time was passing 
over our country. Mr. Waterman, as co-trustee with Mr. Beaver, retained his residence 
in Philadelphia, hence the immediate responsibility rested mostly on Mr. Beaver. He soon 
had the entire works in successful operation, and in 1860 Messrs. Waterman and Beaver 
purchased the entire concern, which soon became one of the most extensive iron manu- 
facturing plants in the country. In another chapter, to which the reader is referred, is 
given in full detail the history of this important enterprise. The account of it is' to 
some extent the account of Mr. Beaver's enterprise and business sagacity. Thomas 
Beaver was born November 16. 1814. in Pfouty's Valley (now in Perry County). Penn.. a 
son of Rev. Peter and Elizabeth (Gilbert) Beaver. His ancestors on the paternal side 
emigrated from Germany about the beginning of 1741, and settled in Chester County, Penn. 
The family name of his grandmother Beaver was Keifer, of whom there are now residents 



144 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

in Franklin County, this State. Tliis family immigrated to this country in 1755, and first 
settled in Lebanon County. The father of our subject, Rev. Peter Beaver, born December 
25, 1783, in Franklin County, Fenn., was ordained in 1809 at Elkton, Md., by Bishop 
Asbury, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was actively engaged in the ministry 
many years; he died in August, 1849. Thomas' mother died in 1818; she was Elizabeth 
(Gilbert) Beaver, the daughter of grandfather Gilbert, who was born in Germany, but 
was of English descent, his father having been a English soldier and one of Marlborough's 
men in the battle of Blenheim, and from that country immigrated to America. The Gil- 
berts located in Lebanon County, where they resided many years, but later moved to 
Dauphin County. They are a large family and are farmers. The issue of the marriage 
of Rev. Peter aiid Elizabeth (Gilbert) Beaver is as follows: George, who married Catharine 
Long; Samuel, who married Maria Leman; Jacob, who married Ann Eliza Addams (one of 
whose children is a favorite son of Pennsylvania, Gen. James Addams Beaver, of Centre 
County, a gallant soldier and Christian gentleman); Jesse, who married Mary Ann 
Schwartz; Thomas, whose name heads this sketch; Peter, who married Eliza G. Siminton; 
Sarah, who married Aaron Ncvius; Eliza; Catharine, who married Archibald Greenlee, and 
Mary, who married Henr}' Miller, now of Lewisburg. Thomas Beaver's educational ad- 
vantages were rather meagre. He never attended school after his thirteenth year, but as 
he possessed an indomitable will and innate intellectual force, his after success was none 
the less positive because of the lack of scholastic education in early youth. In April, 1827, 
he left the parental roof in search of his fortune, and for a number of months worked on 
a farm at $2.50 per month, and in the winter of that year entered the store of Beaver & 
Black (his brother Samuel and Judge Black), at Milford. The following spring the bu.si- 
ness was removed to Newport, Perry County, and there he continued one year. His 
father having in the meantime opened a store at New Berlin, Union County, Thomas put 
in a year's work there, and then returned to Newport to take charge of the business of 
Judge Black, who was a prominent politician and spent most of his time outside. Close 
application to business brought its frequent attendant, and illness compelled a climatic 
change, so through the friendly aid of Gen. Mitchell, chief of construction of the Penn- 
sylvania Canal, on November 1, 1831, he went to Williamsport to fill an engagement in 
the general store of Rev. Jasper Bennett. His knowledge of goods and force of character 
were demonstrated at that early day, he being sent, when but eighteen years of age, to 
Philadelphia to purchase a stock of goods, making the tedious journey by stage-coach. 
In 1833 he formed a connection with Peter Nevius in general merchandising at Lewisburg, 
and remained until 1835, when he sold out his interest and assumed his brother Samuel's 
place at Millerstown, the firm then becoming J. & T. Beaver. Feeling a strong desire to 
learn of wider fields, he told his brother he would go to Phdadelphia for such purpose, and 
carrying out such project in an intelligent manner, wrote to three of the largest firms 
there for their views and advice. Reed & Son, one of those selected, responded, attempt- 
ing to dissuade the seeker after knowledge, while Bray & Barcroft wrote ttiey would be 
glad to meet him and make his stay pleasant. Mr. Beaver accordingly went to Philadel- 
phia in March. 1837, and made good use of his time, so that when he proposed to return 
he was met by Mr. Barcroft with "Thomas, you had better stay where you are;" and an- 
swered. '■ I cannot give up a business worth $3,000 or $4,000 per year for the sake of liv- 
ing in Pliiladelphia." Mr. Barcroft then said, "It does not suit us to make any change 
in our business until 1840. At that time we will give you an equal interest with our- 
selves in the business." Recognizing the value of such proposition from so strong a 
house, he acted upon it and returned to Philadelphia. An opportunity being offered 
to take hold of the affairs of the Montour Iron Company at this place, he came here in 
1857. Not to particularize too closely, among his gifts to religious and educational causes 
may be mentioned $30,000 to Dickinson College, Penn., and his recent most generous 
gift of $100,000 to the Danville Public Library, \january 23, 1838, Mr. Beaver was united 
to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Robert B. and Cassandra (Berry hill) ^Wilkins, of Harris- 
burg, Penn., who was born April 20. 1817. As a result of this alliance there were born 
seven children, two of whom died in infancy: Emily, born October 4, 1840, married Will- 
iam H. Chamberlin, of Lewisburg (since deceased), and bore him Jesse, William, Thomas, 
John, Elizabeth, Mary, Emily and Laura; Arthur, born September 17, 1842, married Alice 
Diehl (no issue); Alice, born Oct. 12, 1844, married William H. Browne, of Philadelphia, 
and has borne him Elizabeth, Charles and Thomas (twins); Laura, born Jan. 18, 1846, mar- 
ried Rev. John De Witt, professor of church history in Lane Seminary, Cincinnati (no issue); 
Elizabetli Stewart, born February 9, 1853, married Lemuel E. Wells, of New York, and 
has borne him Thomas, Christian and Lemuel Stewart. Into this happj^ home came the 
fell destroyer death at an all too early day. calling hence the faithful wife, tender mother 
and affectionate friend on December 27, 1884. 

WILLIAM BIDDLE (deceased), for many years a prominent merchant and manufact- 
urer, of Danville, was a man of more than ordinary intelligence and executive ability. He 
was born at White Hall, then in Columbia County, now in Montour, April 18, 1812. His 
parents, Gershom and Marj^ (Jennings) Biddle, had a famil}'^ of six sons and four daugh- 
ters, he being the youngest. They were charter members of the Old Derry Presbyterian 



DANVILLE. 



145 



Church that was organized in 1798. Gershom Biddle was a prominent man of Derry 
Township, of Scotch-Irish descent; his ancestors were anione: the early pioneers of Penn- 
sylvania, settling on a tract of land near Fishing creek, Northumberland County, sur- 
veyed on application to the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and purchased April 3, 1769. 
Mary (.Jenninsis) Biddle, wife of Gershom, was a daughter of Hugh Jennings, who served 
in the Revolutionary war; he was of English descent; his ancestors settled in New Jersey 
near Morristown. William Biddle at the age of thirteen came to Danville, was employed 
as clerk by the late John Moore, merchant; subsequently became a partner; a few years 
later engaged with him and others in the foundry business. After many changes among 
the partners he became the owner of the Eagle Works, on Ferry Street, which for a num- 
ber of years was one of the leading industries of Danville, and gave employment to over 
100 men. Mr. Biddle always took an active interest in the welfare of those in his employ, 
and bv his kindness and generosity gained their confidence and respect— a truly honest 
man. ' He was married twice; his first wife was Mary Jane Moore, daughter of John and 
Elizabeth (Donaldson) Moore; she died December 12, 1854, and was the mother of seven 
sons and two daughters, two sons living, viz. : Edward Moore Biddle, residing in Dan- 
ville, and Walter Sterling Biddle, in Wilkesbarre, both married, each having one son, 
Edward Percy and Charles Hamrick. His second wife, Anne Alward Moore (sister of his 
former wife), he married December 6, 1860. The fruit of this union was three children: 
Grace Hunter, Harry Otis and Horace Moore, bookkeeper in the First National Bank, 
Danville. William Biddle was identified with Danville for sixty years, and died Febru- 
ary 3, 1885, being one of the oldest citizens of Danville, and respected by all who knew 
him. 

HORACE C. BLUE, dealer in groceries, tobaccos, cigars, flour and feed, Danville, 
was born in that place October 13, 1857, a son of Samuel (a painter) and Abigail (HuUi- 
ghen) Blue, natives of Peunsyvania and of Scotch and Irish origin. They had a family of 
six children, five of whom grew to adult age. Our subject, the youngest of the family, 
was educated in the schools of his native town. At the age of twelve he began clerking 
in a store, and at seventeen embarked in business for himself, keeping a flour and feed 
store. He has been very successful and is now one of the representative business men of 
Danville, having become such by his own exertions. He is a Democrat, and takes a lively 
interest in polittcs. In 1884 he married Miss Stella Scott Beaver, daughter of Thomas W. 
Beaver, and of English origin. They have one child, Isabel. Mrs. Blue is a member of 
the Presbvterian Church of Danville. 

DANIEL MONTGOMERY BOYD was born in Rush Township, Northumberland 
Co., Penn., within two miles of Danville on the "homestead farm." He is the son of John 

C. and Hannah M. Boyd. The former was a native of Chester County, Penn., and a son 
of Gen. John Boyd. He was a large owner of real estate, a prominent and active busi- 
ness m in, and foremost in all the public enterprises of his day. His mother was a native 
of Danville, and daughter of Gen. Daniel Montgomery; both parents were of Scotch-Irish 
descent. Daniel Montgomery is the second in a family of eight children, seven of whom 
grew to maturity and attained prominence in business and social life of their native place. 

D. Montgomery Boyd acquired his education principally at the " Danville Academy," an in- 
stitution founded and sustained largely by the liberality of Gen. William Montgomery (one 
of his ancestors) and which held a prominent position in the educational institutions of its 
day, being thoroughly equipped and conducted by the best teachers. After completing 
his education and spending a year or two at his home in the country, he went with his 
father and family toPottsville, Penn.. where he, for ashorttime. engaged in tlie purchase 
and sale of coal. Soon after he became identified with the development of the Shamokin 
coal basin, in opening mines and building railroads. Becoming interested personally in 
coal lands, he with a partner opened one of the finest veins of coal and built one of the 
first improved coal breakers in that country; afterward became interested in mining and 
selling the same. In 1863 he was induced to go to Havre-de-Grace, Md., for the purpose 
of selling and shipping coal by vessel south, but later extended his operations with others 
to shipment of coal to points south and west. He remained here until 1881, when ill 
health forced him to retire from active business. He returned to Danville, where he be- 
came interested in the leading enterprises of the place, being president of the First 
National Bank, Danville, Penn., president of the board of trustees of the State Insane 
Hospital, president of the Nail Manufacturing Company, and other interests. He has al- 
ways been willing to assist with his labor, influence and money, every public enterprise 
of Danville, and is one of the few who enjoy the fruits of his labor. He married in 1869, 
Miss Caroline A. Bockins, of Germanlown, Penn., who died in 1876. His second marriage 
took place in 1878, with Miss Ida Cottrell. of Columbia, Penn., who has borne him two 
children: Daniel Montgomery (deceased) and Elsie M. Mr. Boyd and family are mem- 
bers of the Presbvterian Church, of which he is a trustee. His politics arc Republican. 

HON. DENNIS BRIGHT was born at the homestead in Valley Township, 
Montour (then Columbia) Co., Penn., March 23, 1839, the third child of Peter and Mary 
Bright that grew to the age of maturity. His father, Peter Bright, was born in Read 
inginlSOl; his father, David Bright, was born in Reading in 1771; his father Michae 



140 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Bright.was boru in Lebanon County.and his grandfather, Michael Bright immigrated to tliis 
country from the Palatinate in 1756, being of French or German origin. At that time there 
were but three counties in the province of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, Bucks and Ches- 
ter. Schaefferstown was in Chester County, and one of the oldest towns in ihe State, and 
the elder Bright settled there when but twenty years of age. Our subject received an ac- 
ademic education, graduating from Pittsburgh Commercial College in 1836 ; he worked 
on his father's farm until Ihe spring of 1861. He was in Indiana at the breaking out of 
the Rebellion, and on April 30, 1861, enlisted under the call for three months men ; many 
more enlisted, however, than were needed to till the Indiana ((uota, and his regiment was 
one of the number left out ; they were, however, held in Indianapolis by Gov. Morton, 
in expectation of another call, and when the call for three years' men came, he was mus- 
tered into the United States service June 14, 1861, as first sergeant of Company A, Fif- 
teenth Regiment Indiana Volunteers. The regiment, being already equipped and drilled, 
was immediately sent to the front, and took part in one of the first engagements of tlie 
war, fougiit at Rich Mountain, W. Va. After the retreat of the rebels the regiment was 
ordered in pursuit, and at a stand made by them at Elk Water, he was wounded l)y a 
musket-ball passing through his ankle, this preventing his doing active dutj' until the 
following spring, when he was ordered to join his command, with rank of captain, to 
serve on staff of Brig.-Gen. George D. Wagner, having been successively promoted 
from first sergeant. His brigade had been, transferred from Virginia to Kentucky to join 
the army of Gen. Buell. for the investment of Fort Henry and Fort Douelson. After 
participating in the capture of tliese forts the brigade joined the army of Gen. Grant, 
in Tennessee, and at the battle of Pittslmrg Landing, Mr. Bright received injuries to his 
wounded ankle which incapacitated him from further active service ; he was detailed on 
garrison and provost duty, and after having served for two j^ears, was discliarged. After 
his return from the army he was appointed by the Government an assessor of internal rev- 
enue, and by Gov. Geary was appointed lieutenant-colonel Eiglith Division National 
Guard of Pennsylvania. He has resided in Danville since the war. engaged in various 
vocations and is now in the hardware trade. In 1873 he represented this count}^ in the 
State Legislature, being the first Republican holding that office from Montour County. He 
was married in 1873 to Lucy M. Reay. She was a native of England and a resident of 
San Francisco, to which place she removed with her relatives in childhocxl. Mr. Bright's 
maternal ancestors were of Welsh origin, and settlers in Chester County, Penn., in 1730. 
Mr. and Mrs. Bright have no children. 

G. B. BROWN, merchant, Danville, was born in Columbia (now Montour) County, 
Penn., September 13. 1816, a sou of Samuel and Dorothy (Neice) Brown, natives, respect- 
ively of England and Holland. The father was brought to America when a small child, 
by his parents, who settled in Columbia (now Montour) County in 1736. Subject's 
father and grandfather were both farmers, and both died in Columbia County, Penn. 
The grandparent was a prominent man. and served as magistrate many years, and in 
those earl_y times a magistrate was a man of no small amount of authority. George B. is 
the eighth of nine children (all of whom grew to maturity), and was nine years of age 
when his father died. He remained with bis mother on the farm until he was fourteen, 
meanwhile attending tlie district school, and then worked out on the farm until he was 
seventeen years old. He then clerked in a store in Mifflinville. Columbia Ccmnty, until 
.1834. In that year he came to Danville and clerked for two years in a dry goods store, 
and later purchased the store of S. M. Bowman & Co., and conducted it four years, when 
he was sold out by the slieriff. His failure seems to have given him renewed energy, for 
he embarivcd in everything in which he could see an honest dollar, and at one time was 
operating nine different enterprises in Danville. In this way he paid off all back debts. 
The man who, in order to show a clear record and enjoy a peaceful conscience, will 
honor claims for which he is no longer legally responsible, must surely be an "honest 
man." He first opened a boarding-house, to which he later added livery business; then 
studied dentistry, opened an office and practiced with success, and was among the most 
active business men of Danville. In 1856 he established his present business, dealing 
in books, stationery, artists' supplies, etc., and to him belongs the honor of circulating 
the first dail}^ newspaper in Danville, a branch of his business whicli has steadily ex- 
panded. In 1837 he married Sarah A., daughter of John Gearhart. and of German 
origin. Four children have been born to them: Benton, Melissa D., John G. and Will G. 
Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the jMethodist Episcopal Church, of the building com- 
mittee, of which he was a member. He is Republican in politics; has served twent}^-one 
years as treasurer of the school board of Danville, and has been a member of the town 
council and burgess one term. 

HON. THOMAS CHALFANT is descended on the paternal side from Robert 
Chalfant, a member of the Society of Friends, who emigrated with William Penn from 
Stoke Pogis, England, and settled on a patent of land at Doe Run, Chester Co., Penn., 
which land is still in the family name. On the maternal side his ancestor is John Peden, 
a Scotch-Irish Covenanter, who immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1733, and was one of the 
first to found a Covenanter Church in Philadelphia, on Spruce Street, above Third. The 



\/ 



DANVILLE. 147 

subject of this sketch was born in Philadelphia, in the year 1819, and was brought up in 
that city. He learned the carpentering and pattern-making trades and worked thereat for 
some years. In 1847 he removed to Geor^^ia, and was there engaged in the erection of 
sugar-mills,cotton-raills, and structures ot a similar character. Subsequently he returned 
to the North and located at Danville, Penn., where he entered into partnership with his 
brother-in-law. Dr. Isaac Hughes, in the drug business. October 1, 18.j3, he was commis- 
sioned postmaster at Danville. He held this position until July 15, 1861, when he assumed 
charge of the Danville Intelligencer, which he has conducted from that time to the 
present. June 28, 1863,Mr. Chalfant entered the military service of the United States, and 
was commissioned captain of Company D, Fifty-third Regiment Pennsylvania Volun- 
teers. He was mustered out on August 19, 1863. October 8, 1866, Mr. Chalfant was 
elected a member of the State Legislature, as representative from the counties of Co- 
lumbia and Montour. He was re-elected in 1867. During his incumbency of that office he 
was an active and highly esteemed member of of the General Assembly, and was largely 
instrumental in the passage of a bill appointing commissioners to select a site for and 
erect a State hospital for the insane. The selection of Danville as the site for the hos 
pital was also largely due to his efforts. In 1883 Mr. Chalfant was appointed one of the 
trustees of the Danville Hospital, a position he yet holds through two subsequent re- 
appointments. In 1870 he was again chosen to represent Columbia and Montour Counties 
as State representative. In 1872 he was chosen State senator, representing the counties 
of Columbia, Montour, Lycoming and Sullivan in the State senate, and served three 
years in that capacity. In 1842 IMr. Chalfant was united in marriage with Eliza Y. 
Hughes, daughter of Ellis Hughes, Esq., of Danville. The offspring of this marriage were 
two sons and two daughters, of whom none survive but the younger son, Charles, pub- 
lisher of the Danville Daihi Sun. In 1881 Mr. Chalfant was elected president of the Penn- 
sylvania State Editorial Association. He is at present postmaster at Danville, a posi- 
tion to which he was commissioned by President Cleveland in 1885. 

B. A. CHILDS, merchant, Danville, was born in Valley Township, Montour (then 
Columbia) County, Penn., November 21, 1829, a son of James and Rachel (Appleman) 
Childs, of German and Irish origin, respectively, whose ancestors were among the early 
settlers of Pennsylvania; the father, a farraei", was twice married. Our subject, the 
third of six children born to the first wife, was reared on the farm and attended school in 
his native township, and from his youth up was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 
1854. He then moved to Danville, and was employed in the rolling-mills until 1880, when 
he obtained work in a stove and tinware store, and was employed in the mechanical 
department until 1885, when he embarked in business of a similar character for himself, 
and has met with success. He married, in Montour County, in 1853, Sarah, daughter of 
Robert Richart, whose parents were natives, respectively, of Pennsylvania and New Jer- 
sey, and of English origin. Mr. and Mrs. Childs are the parents of two children: J. R. 
and Emily. Mr. and Mrs. Childs are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of 
Danville. 

DAVID CLARK, cashier of the Danville National Bank, was born in Pennsylvania, 
January 31, 1814, a son of John and Jane (Clark) Clark (no relation). Both his paternal 
and maternal ancestors were early settlers of Pennsylvania. His father was a saddler by 
trade, and his family consisted of seven children, of whom David is the youngest and the 
only one now living. He received his education in the common schools, and began life 
for himself by clerking in a store for a few years. He then embarked in the mercantile 
trade, keeping a general store until 1845, when he was elected justice of the peace. In 
1850 he came to Danville, and clerked in the Danville bank, which institution he has 
served as cashier since 1864. He has been burgess of Danville; is a director of the nail 
works; politically he is a Republican. He has two children now living: Cordelia (wife of 
George M. Gearliart) and Mary (wife of William C. Frick). 

' JOSHUA WRIGHT COMLY, attorney at law, Danville, was born at Philadelphia, 
Penn., November 16, 1810, a son of Charles and Sarah (Wright) Comly. The father was 
a native of Pennsylvania, died January 9. 1840; the mother was born in New Jersey, and 
died March 4, 1879. They were married February 19, 1807, and eight children were born 
to them, six of whom arrived at maturity, but all are now deceased, except our subject 
and his brother. Joshua W. was reared in the Quaker faith, attended the schools of his 
neighborhood, and also Princeton College. In 1827 he began the study of law at Milton, 
Northumberland Co., Penn., in the office of Samuel Hepburn, Esq., and three years later, 
November 17, 1830, was admitted to the court of common pleas of Northumberland County. 
In 1833 he was admitted to the supreme court of Pennsylvania, and has made law the bus- 
iness of his life. He practiced in three counties for many years, traveled and did a large 
practice in several other counties. In 1851 he was the Whig candidate for judge of the 
supreme court, and in May, 1882, retired. He is a descendant of Henry and Joan Comly, 
who with their son, Henry, came to America with William Penn. They were members 
of the Society of Friends. Henry, was a weaver by trade, settled in Bucks County, 
Penn. Charles Comly (subject's father) is the son of Ezra Comly, formerly of Philadel- 
phia, and Hannah Iredel, his wife. Ezra was a son of Robert Comh^ late of Byberry, 



148 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Philadelphia, and Sarah Jones, his wife. Robert Comly was the son of Robert Comly, 
Sr., and Jane Cadwallader, his wife. Robert Comly, Sr., was the second son of Henry 
Comly of Bucks County, Penn., and Agnes Heston, his wife. Henry Comly was the son 
of Henry Comly, Sr.,and Jane his wife, who came from England to Pennsylvania in 1682. 

E. W. CONKLING, senior member of the firm of Conkling & Co., Danville, was 
born in New Jersey, August 2, 1819, a son of Isaac and Sarah (Hall) Conkling, natives of 
New Jersey and of English descent. The father was a manufacturer, and his family 
consisted of four children, three of whom grew to maturity. E. W., the eldest child, 
at the age of sixteen entered Princeton College, from which he graduated in 1838. His 
first business was teaching, which he followed for seven years mostly in Danville Acad- 
emy. He then went to New Jersey and taught school for two years, and, subsequently 
returning to Danville, was appointed county superintendent of public schools of Montour 
County, which position he held until 1849. He then embarked in the book and station- 
ery business, which he has since continued. Mr. Conkling has also been agent of the 
Howard Express and the Adams Express, the successor of the Howard, since 1843 con- 
tinuously. Mr. Conkling married in 1843 Margaret E. Hibler, daughter of Jacob Hibler, 
and of German descent. Mr. and Mrs. Conkling are members of the Presbyterian Church. 
He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, politically a Republican. 

HON. JAMES CRUIK8HANK. of the firm of Cruikshank & Co., Danville, was born 
in Berks County, Penn., September 18, 1830, a son of James and Margaret (McFarland) 
Cruikshank, natives of Scotland. His father was an iron molder and came from Scotland 
to Philadelphia in 1830, where he worked at his trade for a time. Our subject is the 
eldest of five children, and received his education in the common schools. In 1837 he was 
brought by his parents to Poltsville, where he was reared. In early life he learned the 
trade of iron molder, at which he worked until coming to Danville in 1873, and soon after 
embarked in his present business. The firm is among the most flourishing in Danville and 
its members are all energetic and enterprising. They divide the business and each is em- 
inently fitted for the department under his care. Mr. Cruikshank may usually be found 
in the shop, where from forty to sixty men are employed. Politically Mr. Cruikshank is a., 
Republican, and in 1875 and 1876 represented Montour County in the State Legislature; 
is now a member of the water committee of the borough of Danville. He is a mem- 
ber of the Masonic fraternity and of the I. O. O. F. Encampment, also K. of P., 
and has served as Past Master in three secret societies. In 1856 he married Sarah J., 
daughter of Joseph Walton. She is of English descent; has borne her husband five chil- 
dren: IdaM., v.'ife of John F. Miller; William; John C. ; JEmma F. and Charles W. 

ROBERT CURRY (deceased) is numbered among the earliest settlers of this part of 
Penn.sylvania. He was born in the North of Ireland, June 9, 1741; educated in the schools 
of his native country, where his father was a well-to-do linen manufacturer. He immi- 
grated to America in 17v'2. settling on Mahoning Creek, in what is now Valley Township, 
Montour Co., Penn., and there followed farming. He was killed and scalped by the 
Indians June 9, 1780. He was a Presbyterian in religious belief and was one of the first 
to give his money and influence toward the propagation of the gospel in these parts, and 
was also trustee of his church. He married Miss Jane Mc Williams in Belfast, Ii-eland, and 
four children were bora to them: James, who was born in Ireland, grew to manhood and 
settled in Ohio; Robert, who settled on the north branch of the Susquehanna River; Will- 
iam, who settled on the home place in Valley Township, Columbia Co., Penn.. and Jane, 
the first white child born between the north and west branches of the Susquehanna River, 
married to Robert Mc Williams. The sons were well-to-do farmers, noted for their honesty 
and integrity. 

Thomas C. Cdrry. of Cruikshank, Mayer & Co.. owners and proprietors of the 
Enterprise Foundry and Machine Shops, Ferry Street, Danville, is a grandson of Robert 
Curry, whose sketch appears above. He and two sisters reside in Danville, Robert in an 
adjoining county, Hugh in Michigan, William in Kentucky. 

JAMES F. DEEN, Danville, is a native of that place, born September 1, 1816, a son 
of John and Susan (McBride) Deen, natives of Pennsylvania. His father came to Dan- 
ville in 1790, and was one of the first blacksmiths of the place. James F. is the fourth of 
eight children, was reared and educated in Danville, followed the blacksmith's trade 
with his father, and worked at the trade altogether for fifty-three years. April 3, 1839, he 
commenced the business of blacksmithing for himself, and on the 8th of August following 
moved to North Danville, occupying as a residence the first house built on the new town 
plat which he purchased of A. Montgomer}^ its builder, and on the same lot our subject 
erected a blacksmith shop in which he began work January 2, 1840. In the fall of 1846 
he purchased and built on ground, adjoining, a machine shop and foundry witli other nec- 
essary buildings, in which he operated until 1847, when he moved to East Boston, Mass., 
where lie remained until January, 1849, doing all of the wrought iron work for a large 
rolling-mill. He then returned to his old business at Danville, and in May, 1856, moved 
to Selin's Grove, where he built a foundry, machine shop, etc., and followed the business 
until 1858, when he moved to Sunbury, and there for five years did the repairing for the 
North Central Railroad. In 1863 he returned to his native place, which has since been his 




■•■^■•'-=J5i^ssi(3ws®i5W«««i^:-: 






^rxT^Ai c:^^i-<- 



DANVILLE. 151 



home, being occupied at the smith business until 1886, since which time he has 
been engaged in farming. During his long and active business career Mr Deen 
did much work in his line^ To him is given the credit of doing the iron work in the first 
steam grist-mill built in Danville in 1839; did the srnith work tor large ^ast furnaces and 
much of the work for the large rolling-mill of the Montour Company. .He own. valuable 
town property and a farm in Montour County, also a farm of loO acres in Maury Countj 
Tenn He married, February 21, 1839, Margaret, daughter of Henry Saunder. a shoe- 
maker by trade. Mrs. Deen was born July 31, 1820. is of German origin and the mother 
S eight children: John Henry, born January 2, 1840 (deceased); Martha Jane born No- 
vemtfer 8. 1842 (deceased); Mary D., born November 9, 1844 John S ^o™.,"^"^ November 
1847- Alvaretta F. born March 23, 1850; Laura V., born July 81. 1853; Margaret E., born 
April 13, S Elmer, born November 23,1861, died September 26,1863. Mr. and Mrs. Deen 
SS members of the pi-csbj terian Church. Politically he is a Republican. He is a member 
of the I. O. O. F. and of the Masonic fraternity, and served seven years as a member ot a 
rifle company in the militia at Danville. , • t^ -n T>„„r, t,,i,. or 

PERRY DEEN, dealer in iron, P. O. Danville, was born in Danville, Penn Julj _2b, 
1826, son of John and Mary (Flack) Deen, who were natives of Pennsylvania. His father 
was of Scotch and his mother of Irish origin. John Deen >vas among the ef^^liest black- 
smiths of Danville, but in later life was a farmer. His family consisted of eight chiMien. 
seven of whom lived to be grown. Our subject was the seventh in the family, a^d f arned 
the tanners trade early in life, which he followed for thirteen years, "^^^'^^^J^f^^^'f}^^ 
to deal in scrap iron. In 1871 at the time when the co-operative I^'^^ Ro^^^^^S ^.^.^^^ ^,°^- 
pany was organized he was elected its president, and as such served three y«ai.. be tben 
engaged in the lumber business for a time, also dealt in scrap }i-on.iQ/;li'fiJ latter busi- 
ness he has ever since continued. He has been twice married, first to Miss Jlaiy J., 
daughter of Robert Richard; her parents were born in New Jersej- ^^^J^l^ «/^ Xd'ln 
oriein The children born to this union were John R. and Harriet Mrs. Deen died in 
1860, and March 28, 1865, Mr. Deen married Mary J., daugliter of George and Elizabeth 
Fullmer; she is of German descent. Their children are Helen E., Mary, Sarah W. and 
Thomas E. The family are members of the Episcopal Church. In politics Mr. Deen is a 

epu g''^°j^^^j^^ merchant, Danville, was born in Moreland, Lycoming Co., Penn., July 
29 1836. His parents, Christopher and Mary (Opp) Derr, were natives of the Keystone State 
and descendants of English and German ancestors. Mr. Derr is the nmthin a family of ten 
children. He spent his boyhood on a farm with his parents and, in common with coun- 
try boys of the time, his early educational advantages were imit^ed to the district school 
At the age of ei-hteen he entered the academy at McEwensville, Northumberland County. 
Later he became a student at Bucknell University, Lewisburg. He eft this iQsl'tvition 
in his sophomore year and entered the University of Rochester, N. \ wheie he giadu- 
ated in 1860. In an academy near his alma mater, Mr. Derr entered upon his chosen 
nrofession In 1862 he returned to his native State and accepted the position of the prin- 
cipal of the Danville High School. At the head of this institution he remained for 
twenty-one years. He soon popularized himself by elevating the high school to a de- 
gree of excellence seldom attained to in a country town Possessing, m addition to a vast 
store of knowledge, the faculty of bringing himself into a happy fellowship with the 
vounf in their aims and aspirations, he at once endeared himself to his pupils and im- 
pressed them with his rare ability as a teacher. Mr. Derr now finds himself surrounded 
in ail circles by those who were his pupils at one time or anotlier during his long career 
as a teacher It would be difficult, indeed, to limit the extent to which Danville is in- 
debted to him for its mental culture. In 1881 he received the appointment as school 
superintendent of Montour County. His term of office was marked by a gradual improve- 
ment in the schools under his charge, besides the unusually pleasant relations existing 
between the teachers and superintendent. In 1882 he went into the boot and shoe busi- 
ness in Danville, taking as a partner William Lunger. The confidence reposed in hiin 
as a teacher was now transferred to him as a merchant and at no time was^ he nrm ot 
Derr & Lunger without a liberal portion of the town s patronage. In 188 < he and Mr. 
Lunger dissolved partnership, Mr. Derr assuming the whole business and continuing on 
at the old stand. In 1872 he married Martha B. Bowyer, daughter of John Bowyer of 
Danville. This union has been blessed with one child a son. named Clarence F. Mr 
Derr is Knight Templar, a member of the Danville Lodge; ^o. 224, F. & A. M., and ot 
the Holy Royal Arch Chapter. No. 239. He is a Republican in politics n^nvillP 

ALEXANDER M DIEHL, grocer, Danville, was born December 11, 1848, in Uanvilie, 
Penn. a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Voris) Diehl, natives of Pennsylvania. His pater- 
nal and maternal ancestors were among the earliest settlers of Pennsylvania and were- 
of Scotch-Irish and German origin. His parents were among the early residents of Dan- 
ville and his father, who was a contractor and builder, was superintendent of the erection 
of tiie Grove Presbyterian Church. Alexander M. is the only son m a family of six chil- 
dren five of whom grew to maturity. He was reared in Danville and educated at the 
Academy at that place. He first clerked in the ofllce of Waterman & Beaver, extensive 



152 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

iron manufacturers, with whom he remained eleven years. He then traveled two years 
for a grocery house in Philadelphia. In 1879 he established the New York Tea Store in 
Danville and subsequently added oroceries to his stock. He is a liberal advertiser and 
has met with success in his enterprise. He acquired his business education at the Quaker 
City College, where he graduated in 1865. Maj' 23, 1871, he married Jessie Krothe, of 
German origin, and a daughter of Querin and Susan (Latimer) Krothe. This union has 
been blessed with two children, Ralph Beaver and Estella B. (deceased). Mrs. Diehl is a 
member of the Episcopal Church. Mr. Diehl is a member of the 1. O. O. F. and of the 
K. of P., in which he has been District Deputy. He does not affiliate with any political 
party. 

HENRY EARP, coal dealer, Danville, was born in England, September 25, 1838, a 
son of William and Ann (Tandy) Earp, also natives of England, where the father was 
engaged in a rolling-mill for many years; later he immigrated to America, and in 1845 
settled in Danville, where he commenced working at the same business, and helped to 
make the first railroad iron in Danville. He was born in 1806, and died at the age of 
seventy-two, in Danville, the father of six children. Our subject is the eldest son, and 
was reared in Danville, where he commenced work in the rolling-mills when quite young. 
He worked on contract, and by economy saved enough to enable him to embark in the 
coal business in 1882. He does a general retail business, bringing most of the coal b}"- 
way of the canal, buying so as to sell at the lowest possible price. His gentlemanly de- 
portment and accommodating disposition have brought him many customers, and he is 
meeting with success. He also, in connection with his coal business, represents the 
Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company. He married, in 1861, Anna, daughter of Ben- 
jamin Alward. She is of Englisii origin, and her grandfather, one of the early set- 
tlers in this county, was its first sheriff, and for years justice of the peace. Politically 
he was a Democrat, until the breaking out of the war. Mr. and Mrs. Earp are members 
of the Episcopal Church, in which he is warden and also choir master. He is a Repub- 
lican in politics, has served as member of the election board, is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity, of the I. O. O. F., Calumet Lodge, No. 279, and also of the K. of L., of Dan- 
ville. 

RICHARD W. EGGERT, editor and proprietor of the Gem, was born in Danville, 
Penn., November 2, 1839, a son of Xavier and Mary Anna (Smith) Eggert. His father 
was born in Baden-Baden, Germany, and his mother in Ithaca, N. Y., of French, English 
and German origin. The former was a watchmaker, and also dealt, for many years in 
Danville, in watches and jewelry. Richard W. is ,the second of seven children; he was 
educated in Danville, and in early life learned the printer's trade, which he has made the 
business of his life. He learned the printing business in the office of the Hon. V. Best, 
who was United States senator, and has filled all the different positions from apprentice 
to editor and proprietor of a paper. He has published several papers in Danville, espe- 
cially valuable for their local department, and is an excellent compositor. His latest 
journalistic venture, the Oem, has a larger circulation in Danville than any other paper 
published in Montour County. In 18G3 he enlisted in Battery F, Second Pennsylvania 
Heavy Artillery, or the One Hundred and Twelfth Regiment of Infantry, and served with 
honor until tlie close of the war. He is a member ol the G. A. R., K. of P. and the M. 
B. of B. Politically he is independent. 

JOSEPH FLANAGAN, Ijrickmaker, Danville, was born in Snyder County, Penn., 
October 14, 1819. a son of James and Nancy (Srontz) Flanagan, of German and Irish 
origin, respectively. The fatlier was also a brickmaker by occupation, and died in 1831. 
Joseph, the eldest of five children, was reared on the farm in Northumberland County, 
and learned his trade with his father. He opened a brickyard in Northumberland County 
over fort}' years ago, and has since made the manufacture of brick his main business, and 
followed it in Danville for over thirty years, meeting with success. He also dealt in mer- 
chandise, and owned a general store in Danville. In 1842 he married Catherine, daughter 
of Charles White. The latter was also a brickmaker, and of Irish origin. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Flanagan five children were born, two of whom are now living(three having died in 
infancy): Laura, wife of I. T. Patton, a merchant of Danville, who was born in that place 
June 5, 1843, to John and Nancy (Bassett) Patton, of English and Scotch origin. Mr. 
Patton enlisted, in 1864, in Company C, One Hundred and! Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania 
Volunteer Infantry, and participated in several hard fought battles. He is a graduate of 
the commercial college of Philadelphia, of the class of 1856. Mr. and Mrs. Patton have 
five children: Joseph F., Harry B., John, Florence. May and Maggie. Mr. and Mrs. 
Flanagan's second child is Gertrude, now the wife of Thomas Ellis, agent for the Cata- 
wissa Railroad at this place. Mr. Flanagan is a Republican; has been as-^essor. school 
director and member of the town council of Danville. He is Past Grand in the I. O. O. F. 

JAMES FOSTER, secretary of the Danville Stove Works, was born in the North of 
Ireland, March, 18, 1842. His father, Thompson Foster, who was a blacksmith, emigrated 
from Ireland to America in 1847, settling first in Pittsburgh, Penn., subsequently moving 
to Danville, where he resided about thirty years, and is now a resident of Philadelphia. 
James, the third of seven children, spent most of his life in Danville, where he received 



DANVILLE. 153 



his education and learned the blacksmith's trade with his father. Later he commenced 
woik in tirroUng mills, which was his chief employment tor about twenty years. When 
the Danv lie S tovt^ Works were ori^anized, the company elected him its secretary and 
treasi.reJ nd as such he still serves In 1863 he enlisted in Company A. One Hundred 
SS^-second Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was wounded in his fii'st ba le 
irintet mi He remained with the regiment, however, and participated in the battles 
S ChSlorsville and Fredericksburg, and at the expiration of his terra ot service re- 
^nlStXhlrtii;'in't^ie6n"Hundred(ndNinety-io^ 

and was elected tirst lieutenant, served his term, hundred days, and was aiscnargea in 
?865 In Sci'he enlisted in the Two Hundred and Fourteenth P«"^fyl^-"^f. .^o j^nteer 
Infantry, which was the last regiment discharged from P^^^^^^l^'^.^f ; ^P« ^f^^^. ^^^^^^^ 
Foster is a Ileiniblican, and has served as chairman of the water-vvorks, and chiet buigess 
SSaniille Inl864he marrhd Mary Gulick, a native "^ I>-"^^ ^,^^ ^J, |jf f ^^^JS 
and their children are John. Elizabeth, Jennie and Alexander. Mi. and Mi ^ J^oster are 
membe'" o S Paul Methodist Church, of which denomination he has been trustee. He 
E^se^ved four years as District Deputy of the I. O. O. F Montour County Lodge, No. 
1iT9, and one term as commander of the G. A. K. Post at Uanviiie. 

JAMES O. FRAZIER. sheriff. Danville, was born in Danville, ^Io°tour Co.. Penn 
Decemb ^9, 1845 ; a son of Daniel Frazier, a farmer, who was elected sheriff in IboO and 
was the first to be elected to that office in this county ; he and his J^' fe^eie natives, re^ 
spectively. of Montour and Schuylkill Counties, Penn., and of_ ^j^^tdi'Ir .h and G^^^ 
orioin. Thev weve the parents of seven children, four now living They moved to VV ash 
rulnonvilk this countv in 1858, where the father died in 1879. Our subject was reared at 
WaSdn-ionv 1 le auen^^^ the Schools of Danville, and in early life fo lowed farming un- 
t 1 he wa non imUed on the Republican ticket and elected sheriff of Montour County in 
the fall of 1885, the only Republican ever elected to the office in Montour County He 
marred n 1874, Mary,\laughter of Jacob Martz. and of German origm^ She is the mother 
of Jhe following named children: Alice E.. Daniel, Clarence W. and James O. Mis. 
Frazier is a member of the Lutheran Church. -r. <^ t,- • i kt ^r.tu,-.rry 

WILLIAM F GEARHART. real estate agent and farmer. P. O. Riverside, Northum- 
berland Co Penn. was born August 17.1824, to Herman and Abigal (Baylor) Gearhart,na- 
tfves of Pennsylvania and early settlers of Rush Township. The grandf^ither, Jacob G.. 
wis a captain in Uie Revolutionary war and participated in the battle of Monmouth, where 
he was wounded; soon after that struggle became to NorthumbeiM and en. 

tered land where the borough of Riverside is now located and where William f • /esi^f^. 
Herman Gearhart was a blacksmith and his brother, Jacob, was associate judge of North- 
umbSnd County. William F. is one of a family of twelve children, al of whom grew 
loSSy and acquired his education in Danville and in early he clerked in a store in 
tha?place,^andla?e?wentto California (in 1853). where he remained four years I'ltbe 
mnino- country. In the fall of 1856 he returned to Pennsylvania, spent the waiter in Dan- 
?^ne and in the spring returned to the West, traveling through Utah Oregon, W a h^ 
rngton Idaho, Californhi and Wyoming. In 1869 he returned to .pa^r^lll^..^^^^ has sinc^ 
divided most of the old farm, on the Susquehanna River ^PPP^'teDanv lie into tow^^ 
lots which will in all probability be the residence part ot Daaville for the ^^^'^.'^li^er 
clas's The lands lie hi-h f rom the river, with an easy elevation, and command a fine view of 
Sanvile Ml- Gearhart also offers good inducements to a manufacturing company 
who will start a manufactory on that side of the river. He was a member of the 1. O. O. 

^■' S'i^S^^S'^ii^onrFiS National Bank. Danville, was bo,;n in North- 
umbei-land County Penn., August 30, 1843. a son of B. R. and Elizabeth (Boyd) Gear- 
hSrni;^t^ves J&sylvania, the latter of Irish origin. The father, who was of German 
descent was a physician, and for many years successfully practiced his profession in 
Danv IcT^iere^ie'^died al the age of forVtw^' ^^e father of nine ^l^l^^J.';"- ^'-^ «f ^'^'^^^ 
are livino- Our subject received a limited education in the common schooU and at the 
tg'e of ten years went to York County Penn where he c eri.ed in a s or«3 at ^ l^^ J tie^'. 
for four years. He was then sent to learn the carpenter s rade, }'"t ^hnik ng hat teleg 
raphv would be more congenial to his tastes, he commenced the ^t^'Jj "f^.^^j'\ttei ^^^.^ 
detennination to succeed, and soon became a proficient operator. He ^oi ked at t ha ta t 
live vears in Danville dividing his time between the Lackawanna and Catawissa Compa- 
sses, Ind earned su^ a reputatTon for industry and P--Pt-ssthat the c.rponiti^^^^^ 
Firs National Bank of Danville were induced to elect him teller 1 1 If 6 That po.i on 
he held until 1870 when he was promoted cashier, which office he stillfills. He maiuea 
in 1873 Lo lise dav^hter of Samuel York, and of English origin. Two children have 
been born o them: Anna and Robert. Mr. and Mrs. Gearhart are members of Grove 
Sinedan Chinch, of which he is a trustee, and has served as treasurer of the building 
commUtee He is a Republican; has been a member of the town couucmI of Danville. He 
?sTKnight Templar. He enlisted in 1863 in Company D, under Col. Ramsey, and served 

^'' wlEsON m'^'gEARHART. pnothonotary and clerk of courts, P O Danville, was 
born in Northumberland County. Penn.. January 33, 1846, a son of John (a farmer) and 



1^^ BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

subsequently atteuded the Dauville Institute; also Dickinsoi^ Smu ua rv a° Will aZno?t 
gears' ^„"„f ?rom 'lS68°.o'',''sSi''r "' '=™r ",' '«f ' , ?= ""=" enl^ged as'^a SerTo?two 
S^ nt^^^fci^rclV'anierrS^^^^^^^ 

SfSe^j^i,i?iS-"^p^™;,r.^^^ 

S^K^i ff i;"o\s,xt.f;-ra.^irti. -ei„^ Sr;^;£ i&3 

wSed^fn^'SfwSh'n'r '»'"«?'" «"« l™'li"S secret societies and 1 as p omlnenl"y 

Z^f n ,^^^^/^^^ ougm. Their children are J. Beaver, Lois M Emeline S Mr anr^ 
Mrs_ Gearhart are members of the Methodist Churcli. He has bee'astXard trusTee and 
Se of'trStaTe'o?Pennr^ '^.P^^.-<lf ^ «f the Chautauqua LiteraT'ancf Scientific 
meeting AssocLrinn J^h i^ m°'''' '' ^^f vice-president of the Mountain Grove Camp- 
HfenHsted in theijni'on A.nw •• "l^ "^"TqS '^'^'^'^ ?^ ^^^ ^^"'''"^^^ ^'^^es for the meeting. 
S ment ^WaYlW^^^^ ^^^-'^^ was assigned to duty in the provost marshal'^ 

^SwARD SAY^P nT?v the same year to complete his studies. 

T»T 7^ :, .^ bAYKJi, GEARHART, attorney, Danville is a son of Mnvhon-v anri 
Mary Catharme Gearhart, the former of Quaker! and the letter of PuiiafdesSnt He 
W Eckrn'r'nf'R ^'^^?^' ^t,^«"«^«^ ^Villiafn G. (deceased); SopiieR w fe of Col Charfe? 
M iSle; Es^fiV'^Lntm-^ Clarence F.. of Cresswell. Neb.; Minnie, wiVe of Henry 
of'CatiwisS Penn T^p^^" \^''.°f,--' ^r''^' "^'^^ °^ ^iUUim Vastine, and George S.. 
born rRoarinT^r^^^^^^^^ Mnn.n ^"^ n °^ o"' ^^"'^?!'' ^'''^ ^^^'^^ ^o the youngest of the sons, was 
w-kino^nhisf-?re^.f^^^^^^^^ Penn., March 38, 1856. He liv" d at Roaringcreek. 

tTe winter until hpw.^^^^^^^^^^ the summer and atteading-lTTe neighboring public school in 
the Na" onal Imn Pomn^nv' "■^r'^'' ^'?'' ""^ ''■^'T' '''^""^ ^'^ ^^«^^t to Danville and entered 
Setint Ws fu ? tSm ?.f L '"=^f.^'"« .«1^"P« ^^ that place as an apprentice. After com- 
Wyomint Semina ; at WZT'''^^^ "' ''^ machinist, in the fall of 1875 he entered 
inrve I- In the fnl nf m-« i ^*'''?-' ^s a student, and graduated the follow- 
ed, ,^<.„t r , ta I of 18 < 6 he entered Pr nceton Colle-i-e New Jersev is a 

pan h ' t^e f om;c?'o/"t/^t t^^ '' 'T 'V''' ■' ''^''^''^' at PHnceton he to^ifa'n active 
Eublicmtckff nnHn t, ^/ ^"^*^ and made political speeches in behalf of the Re- 
John F Ha 'emanmTst^r IT'J''''' °^^'' collegiate course he read law with the Hon. 
uaUon he ^etnrn^rl^f n ^'^.^^'^^Hfcery for the State of New Jersey. After his grad- 
Tiless^i Gvier & H^n^^^^^^^ ^^^^^'^ as a student of law in the office 

tL Sdenti^^^^^^ '^^.' admitted to the Montour County bar in 1881. In 

he Sst M^^first liSZi.i J^^^ ^'"^ j^V^Ped a portion of the State for Garfield, for whom 
emo He was a dew^t^r^^^^^^ j" 18S2 for the regular Republican nominee forgov- 

Penn' if 188^f \riv "^o i%^ , Repubhcan State Convention which met at Harrisburg. 
thesaineoSion fL^,;. f^^^^^^ ^^^. memorial oration at Gettysburg, and on 

was also the m .fn, n/f/ 1 "'''7°# delivered the oration of the dav at Antietam. He 
Tnd has deWrefl n n,w Sf '^""^ '". Washington, D. C. at the memodal services in 1885, 
iW intion of h^ ?.^I o her orations of various kinds on numerous occasions. At the 
A fc m ?e was a S,^^^^^ campaign of 1884. at the personal request of Gen. John 
Commit eean^nmwTt^r ^,?'^tional Republican orator by the Republican National 
Ob.™dIndinl nnl^^ •'' ^anvassed Several States, principal of which were 

anVpubL office and nn^.n«^^^ '? Philadelphia, He has never sought nor held 

and Steel Works' at Ha,^ ^ , V^ ^''^''^f K''^' '.^^*^Pt as president of the Lochiel Iron 
incoi, oratioS %1L?1,; ^ ^' •^''''"•' ^^'""^ position he has held from the time of its 
h^p 4ctSe of hSnrnW^-f •"'•'''/ •'' *'' ^^' ^^^' ^" ^^^'^' ^« '^'^^ «l«^ely applied himself ta 
he 5 h of Mav 1 Ss^fi h! " '•''i"?T'?'^''JJ?^ ^ ^''^"O"^ others counties of the State. On 
4ner;invina^;r^f^^^^^^^ '^^"il^"^5; Creveling, daughter of Alfred Creveling, 

GEO RPF^F rillj^n^^^ A''"' * ^teel Works at Harrisburg. Penn. ^ 

ComimX? ofvM pl^^?^^^^ (deceased) was born in Massachusetts in 1821, a son of 
BaUimore to^aki n^Unn']^'''-- ^^ ^^^ ^^" ?! ''-'teen years he left school in Boston for 
to L MediterJanenn Vn %"/'' '", mercantile house there. He accompanied his father 
South Am,ST w^fp". f ^^^'^ • °^. returned to Baltimore in 1846. In 1847 he went to 
ioined his t'a ^eVYn PhihYT"? •'''''^ !'?'" '^t^' ^^^"-^^ ^^ ^^"t to California. In 1851 he 
iava asvhm Hp n^^^^^^ 1854 was his secretary at the 

Groves & Bo ifon mannfo?/''''''"' '" /"''f • ^^■'^•^- ^'^d ^^^ employed as bookkeeper for 
Tl^ltBe.vovT''rTl,^^^^^ occupied the same position with 

the firm whfphw' ""^'^ engaged in the iron business. Later he took an interest in 
wen?y5ourvears HpT^^ successful, and was bookkeeper in their office in all over 
iwenty tour years. He made his own way in the world, and by energy and perseverance 



DANYILLE. 



155 



succeeded in amassini? a competency. His life is an illustration of what a man may ac- 
comSiiaTew years. In 1866 he married Abi^^al A. Cornehson who survives him. 
Ml SeisiSer died ^in 1883, a member of the Mahoning Presbyterian Church of which he 
was trustee^ and of which 1 is widow is still a member. Politically he was a Republican. 

ioHN'K GERINGER, proprietor of the City Hotel Danvie, was born in Mon- 
tour County Penn , August 2. 1853, a son of Adam and Angeline (Smith) Geringer 
nau'ves of PennsjTvania, ^former (a miller by trade) of English origm, and latter of 
Germ'4 Adam GeHnger commenced the hotel business in IS.IS, and m 18o5 opened a 
hntP^tnMausdaleths county which he conducted until 1870. He then came to Danville, 
L°igVt^h^mt'Swan'«^^ and in 1872 moved it to the rear and erected the cnm^ 
dious brick structure now known as the City Hotel. This build ng is 4lx»u reel, inree 
stoHes S and contains a large number of sleeping chambers, nicely furnished.and well 
ventilated Thedini^ng-room is eighty feet in length, with every modern_conven,ence for 
Thfac^ommolatloTof ''alarge nufber'of gues^^ 

that time the hotel has been conducted by his son, John K. The subject ot ims ''Keren is 
the tS of seven children; was reared and educated in his native county, and spent the 
most oShi's life in hotels. October 24, 1874, he ^^^^^ied, in Montour (^oantjs^W 
dau>^hter of John Dildine, of Montour County, and three children lifve been 
born to their union: Laura K., William and Nellie. Mrs. Geringer is a member of the 
Sesbyterhxn Chmch. Mr. Geringer is a Democrat, and has been a delegate to the county 
aid Sta?e conventions of his party; also served as a member of council of Danville. He 
?s a Si Knight Templar. The ''City Hotel" is in the central part of the town, in the 
bustnesspSn, an J presents many Attractions to the public. It is well known and lib- 
erally patronized ; . ^ ^ t|^3 l^icrh school, Danville, was born in Lansing, Tomp- 
kins Co NY Jul?"?. 836, a son ot^Villiam and Margaret (Minier) Gibbs natives of 
New York and of Scotch-Irish and German origin. When S. M., the elder of two chil- 
dren was twelve years old his father moved to Cameron, Steuben Co N. Y. Our sub- 
ject was educatedlt the Wesleyan Seminary, Lima. N. Y., and at A/^ed Umversit^ in t^e 
iame State. He commenced teaching at fourteen years of age, which has ^e^n his P^n^ 
cipal occupation since, eight years of which tinie he taught at Danville. He ^^s taugM 
in several high schools and seminaries in New lork and Pennsylvania. He enlisted in 
Iheslrvke during the war, but was granted a special discharge on furnishing a substitute 
lo complete his re'rm of enlistment. ''He has a wife, Mary T. Gibbs, and tour children. 
He and his wife are members of the Episcopal Church. j „„f f„^ 

JOHN H. GOESER, wholesale dealer in cigars, tobacco and vinegar, and agent for 
ocean Seainship lines, Danville, was born in that place June 1 1852, a son of Anthony 
aS CatherTne Shumkcher) Goeser, natives of Prussia. His father ^^^ ^^i^^^tkeXr. 
but spent the most of his life in America, crossing the ocean five imes. In 1842 ^e settled 
in Danville, where he followed hotel-keeping for many years and died in 1880 John H. 
is thfonly son, and was reared in Danville, where he was educated. In eax^l if e he em- 
barked in the tobacco business, which has since grown to be quite e^/ensive. In 18 -§ ^^ mar^ 
ried Miss Theresa, daughter of Joseph Liebner of Po"svi le. Mr and Mrs. G«eser are 
members of the Catholic Church and the parents of one child, Coletta Emma. Politically 

^'- GEOr'gE^^gTIuEL, M. D., Danville, was born in Fulda, Germany, May 26, 1825, 
came to America in 1853, and located in Danville m 1862 ^^^^^, . <,« .oo. „ „„„ ^f 
I X GRIER attorney, Danville, was born m that place Decembei 27, 183.3, a son oE 
Michael and Isabella (Mo/tgomery) Grier, the latter a daughter of ^ examlerMontgomer^^ 
and granddaughter of Gen. William Montgomery, the founder of Danyi le. Michael 
Grie/was a merchant in early life; later superintended the erection of telegraph lines 
and died December 25, 1879. His family consisted of five childre^n, who grew to adult 
age; W aX a resident of Brooklyn! N. Y.; Rev^John B^. ^^^^^^^^ Mw'S C^ 
H J the wife of John C Youngman, a banker in Kansas; Mary G. wife of Edwin C^ 
Ely of Peor a 111., and I. X. Our subject was educated in the schools of Danville and 
also at Laf avette Colle-e from which he graduated in 1858. Prior to entering college and 
Serti^duating he waf connected with the Susquehanna River Telegraph Company and 
at the time of its construction, opened a number of offices and instructed operato at the 
respective places. He later served as secretary and treasurer of the ^omp^'^^^'^til i was 
merged into the Western Union. He read law m the office of E. H. Baldy, Esq., anrl \\ as 
Sitted to the bar in 1861. practiced in the courts of Montour and adjoining counties 
tnd in the United Sates courts until 1884, when failing health obliged him to relinquish 
hSlabors He was notary public from 1862 until 1880 and was ^ ,^ember of he firm of 
Markle, Grier & Co., who for about two years conducted I'-^'i'^-'^f^^Z^'J^nffhoXn^^^ 
Mr Gr er is at present a director of the First National Bank of Danville, of the JNorth 
Sranch Steel Company, of the Danville Brid^ Company and of t^*^ Mahoning Roling 
Mill Company. He married in 1865 Emma W., daughter of Hon. Jf^^s M. Portei of 
Easton, Penn. and two children have been born to them; J- ^I- P«^^,^J^f ^,J,^^,^,'^^^^^ 
Hon. Mr. Porter was at one time Secretary of War; was president judge of Noithampton 
County, and an eminent attorney. 



156 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

R. M. GROVE, manufacturer. DanTille, was born in Lebanon County, Penn., October 
28, 1S4T, a son of Michael J. and Catherine (Houtz) Grove, natives of Pennsylvania, whose 
ancestors were among the early German settlers of the State. His father was an iron 
manufacturer, dealt largely in iron ore lands, and was among the first to foresee the 
possibilities of the iron industry at Danville. Here, for many years, he and his brother 
were extensive manufacturers and amassed a laree fortune, consisting of iron and iron ore 
lands located in several States and Canada. They built a large furnace in Danville, and 
erected a mansion at a cost of $200,000. which is siill occupied by the family. Michael J. 
died in lb", in Danville, where he had resided since 1851. His family consisted of two 
sons: John H.. the elder, is a resident of Danville, and devotes his timeto scientific inves- 
tigations. Our subject, the youngest son. was reared in Danville, where he received his 
early education: later he entered Yale College, Xew Haven. Conn., from which he gradu- 
ated in 1867. He then returned to Danville and entered the otfice of his father anduncle 
to learn the iron business, which at the death of his father was left to our subject and his 
brother. John H., who have since conducted it. Mr. Grove is a director of the First 
National Bank of Danville, and is also a director and treasurer of the Danville Xail ifc 
Manufacturing Company. In 1877 he married Margaret, daughter of Samuel Torks. and 
two children have blessed their union: Mary Catherine and Margaret Louise. Mrs. Grove 
is a member of the Presbyterian Church. 

CHARLES P. HANCOCK, merchant, Danville, of whicb place lie is a native, was 
born February 5. 1860, a son of William and Mary (Reay) Hancock, former a native of 
England, latter of Maryland, both of English descent. Their family consisted of three 
chirdren, of whom our subject is the eldest. His father was employed in iron works in 
his native country, and after his arrival in America engaged first in the Montour Iron 
Works. In 1874 he formed a partnership with John Foley, and established the 'Rough 
and Ready Rolling Mill," and afterward became its owner. Subsequently a stock com- 
pany was" formed, and the name of the business was changed to the "National Iron 
Works," and Mr. Hancock was chosen president of the company. He was a successful 
business man. very popular with all those with whom he associated. He died in Dan- 
ville, and will long be remembered by those who shared his friendship and enjoyed his 
favor. Our subject was reared in Danville, where he received his education, and where 
in early life he engaged for three years in the dry goods business as salesman. Later he 
was employed in a similar capacity at Scranton. and in this capacity has few equals in 
middle Pennsylvania. He inherits his father's gentlemanly demeanor and upright busi- 
ness habits, which naturally bring him a liberal patronage. His dry goods store, which 
is the largest in that line in Danville, is conducted on first-class principles, and affords 
employment to sis clerks. Mr. Hancock opened his establishment in 1884. and has since 
built up a large trade. He is yet unmarried, is a member of the Heptasophs Society, 
and secretary of the Merchants Protective Society of Danville. Politically he is a 
Republican. ^^ 

FREDERICK HELD, boot and shoe dealer, Danville, was born in Germany June 
12, 1840. son of Peter and Catherine (Kopp) Held, natives of Germany, where the father 
was a laborer. Frederick is the eldest of four children and was rear*! by his parents ia 
Germany, where he acquired his education. In 1864 he came to America and in 1865 to 
Danville, where he worked at boot and shoe-making which he still follows, having learned 
the trade in Germany. By economy and good management he has succeeded in acquiring 
a competency, owning two houses and lots and the storeroom in which he carries on his 
business. In 1863 he married 3iliss Minnie (daughter of John Adam LuckhardtX who bore 
him one son, Jacob, and who died in 1867. He married as his second wife Christina 
Kugler, of German origin, who has borne him the following named children: Amelia, 
Elizabeth. Anna and Peter Frederick. Mr. and Mrs. Held are consistent members of the 
Lutheran Church, in which he is elder. 

WILLIA3I HEXRIE (deceased) was a native of New Jersey, bom in 1799, of English 
origin. He grew to manhood in his native State where he received his education in the 
common schools, and afterward followed the milling business for several years. His 
family consisted of eight children, five of whom are now living. Mr. Henrie came to Dan- 
ville. Penn.. about 1833. and kept hotel until his death in 1876. He was a Democrat until 
1856, after which he voted with the Republican party: served as a member of the town 
council, and also as burgess of Danville. Two of his daughters are now residents of Dan- 
ville: one is the wife of J. C. Rhodes, and the other the wife of R. H. Woolley. a success- 
ful coal dealer. 

H. M. HINCKLEY, attorney, Danville, was bom in Harrisburg. Penn.. June 2, 1850 ; 
a son of Joel and Theodosia (Graydon) Hinckley. His mother was also a native of the 
same State and of Scotch-Irish origin ; his father, born in Vermont, of English origin, 
was a hardware merchant, engaged in mercantile business all his life. His family consist- 
ed of eight children, three of whom grew to maturity. Our subject, who is the only one 
now surviving, received the rudiments of his education in his native town, and subse- 
quently attended Princeton College, where he graduated in the regular course in the class 
of 1874, and during his last years in college had found time to study law and also keep up 



DANVILLE. 157 

with his classes. la the year 1873 he took up the study of law in the office of his after 
partner in business, I. X. Grier, of Danville, and was admitted to practice in the courts 
of Montour County in 1875, and to the supreme court in 1878. He has since met with 
marked success and is numbered among the leading men of his profession in Montour 
County. He was united in marriage, in 1874, with^iss Amelia^ daughter of Mayberry_ 
Gearheart. Her parents were members of the Society of Friends and of German descent. 
'The children of Mr. and Mrs. Hinckley are Sarah G., John M., Eleanor G. and Edna. The 
parents are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Hinckley is elder and 
trustee, taking au active interest in the [Sabbath-school, in which he has been super- 
intendent for several years. He is a Republican, but takes no very active part in politics, 
preferring to devote his time to his profession. 

NICHOLAS HOFER, retired carpenter, contractor, lumber dealer, etc., Danville, 
was born September 14. 1823, in Baden, Germany, where he received his education. He 
is the eldest of five children, and early in life served a regular apprenticeship at the car- 
penter's trade, which he followed in his native country until 1853. He then took passage 
for America to seek his fortune, landing in New York City, where he worked for four 
weeks. Thence he went to Newark, N. J., where he first worked for 75 cents a day, then 
$1 and later $1.50. It was there he met Miss Clara Witz, whom he married in 1854, and 
who was also born in Baden, Germany. In 1855 they came to Danville, Penn., and on 
arriving, found their funds exhausted, and were .|5 in debt besides. Mr. Hofer soon found 
work a\ his trade, his diligence, industry and knowledge of his business soon bringing 
him custom. He first worked by the day; then contracted, erecting many of the residences 
of Danville, and carried on business successfully and extensively for years, and finally added 
the lumber trade. His only child, Edward, is at present a carpenter and contractor, having 
learned the trade with his father, and also owns and operates the lumber yard at Dan- 
ville. Mr. Hofer has retired from active duties, having accumulated a goodly share of 
this world's goods, and whatever efforts he now makes are for the benefit of his only son, 
who resides near his parents and is doing well. Mr. Hofer is a Democrat, and has been 
a member of the town council of Danville; is a member of the K. of P. and I. O. O. F. 
societies, both of the encampment and subordinate lodges, and is a member also of the 
Masonic fraternity. 

W K. HOLLOW AY, superintendent of the store of the Montour Iron & Steel Company, 
Danville, was born in Berks County, Penn., January 1, 1835, a son of Samuel (a farmer) 
and Sarah (Kerling) Holloway, natives of Berks County, Penn., and of English origin. 
Our subject was reared on the farm, and attended the common schools of his native 
county. Not liking farming, he obtained, in his thirteenth year, a position as clerk in a 
store in Reading, Penn., where he remained one year; was then employed at other work 
until coming to Danville, in 1856, when he clerked another year, and was then promoted 
to time-keeper and superintendent of accounts. He was next promoted to cashier, which 
responsible position he filled for twelve years, and in 1878 was made general superintend- 
ent of the store. The importance of this trust can be better realized when it is consid- 
ered that the annual sales of this business run as high as $500,000, and its success is very 
largely due to Mr. Holloway' s complete system and exact business management, he hav- 
ing been engaged in almost all the departments of the store for over thirty j'ears. He 
married, in 1859, Ruth, daughter of Jacob Yeager, of Columbia County, Penn., and they 
have five children: Sally, Lizzie, William, Thomas Beaver and Mary. Mrs. Holloway 
and eldest daughter are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Holloway is a Repub- 
lican, a member of the town council of Danville, and chairman of the water committee. 
F. P. HOWE, president of the North Branch Steel Works, Danville, was born in 
Philadelphia, Penn., September 19, 1853, a son of Bishop Mark Anthony De Wolfe Howe 
and Elizabeth (Marshall) Howe, the former a native of Rhode Island, and the latter of 
Virginia, both of English origin. The father is the Episcopal bishop of the diocese of 
central Pennsylvania. F. P. is the fourth in a family of six children. Our subject 
attended school in his native city of Philadelphia until fifteen years of age, when he 
entered Brown University, Providence, R. I., where he graduated in the regular classical 
course with the degree of A. M. He was then engaged in the office of the rolling-mills 
of the Philadelphia & Readmg Railroad Company for three years, and at the expiration 
of that time entered Lehigh University, and took a full course in mining engineering, 
graduating in 1878. He was again employed by the Rolling Mill Company for a year, 
when he accepted a position as chemist for the Keystone Furnace Company, which he 
filled until 1880. In that year he came to Danville, and, on the organization of the Mon- 
tour Iron & Steel Company, was made general superintendent, and operated the works 
for five 5^ears. He then resigned his position, having purchased a rolling-mill at Phillips- 
burg, N. J., but had hardly got it in operation before he was called to his present position. 
He married, in 1881, Katherine. daughter of W. J. Woodward, of Berks County, Penn. 
Her parents were of English descent, and her father, a Democrat, was elected supreme 
judge of Pennsylvania in 1874. serving with honor until his death. 

DAVID C. HUNT, manufacturer of light wagons and carriages. Danville, was born 
in Bedford County, Penn., May 8, 1843, a son of G. W. and Hannah (Smith) Hunt, the 



158 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

latter a Quaker of English origin. David C. is the eighth in a family of nine sons and 
three daughters, ten of whom grew to maturity. He was reared in Bedford County, and 
at the age of twelve years went to Urbana, Ohio, to learn the carriage-maker's trade 
(which was also his father's business), where he remained five years. In 1860 he came to 
Danville and, in partnership with his brothers, George E. and John H., embarked in tlie 
business of manufacturing and repairing carriages. The firm continued thus until 1865, 
when the partnership was dissolved, and the business continued until 1876 by G. E. Hunt. 
Since then David C. has conducted the business alone, and has been very successful. 
His experience, mechanical skill and attention to business have eminently fitted him for 
his vocation. In 1865 he married Kate Gulick, a daughter of Isaac Gulick. Her parents 
were among the early settlers of Montour County, and of German origin. Mrs. Hunt 
bore her husband two children, Horace and Edward, and died in 1873, a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1876 Mr. Hunt married Kale, daughter of William Rich- 
ard, of English origin, and three children have been born to the union: Montgomery, 
William and Ralph. Mr. Hunt served in the quartermaster's department of the Union 
army in 1864, and was stationed at Little Rock, Ark. Politically, he is a Democrat. 

JOSEPH HUNTER, collector of bridge toll, Danville, was born in Montour (then 
Columbia) County, Penn., November 15, 1823, a son of Joseph and Martha (Hunter) 
Hunter, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Pennsylvania, of Irish origin. 
The father came to America before he attained his majority, and was employed on pub- 
lic works in Pennsylvania, and also took contracts and built canals and railroads. His 
early life was passed as a school-teacher; later as a contractor, but finally in the lumber 
business. His family consisted of ten children, Joseph being the fourth. Our subject 
was born in this county, but at the age of six years removed to Milton, where he re- 
ceived his education and served an apprenticeship at shoemaking. In 1844 he came to 
Danville and engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes until 1851, .since which time 
he has occupied his present position. Politically, he is a Democrat; he has served six 
terms as burgess of Danville, being elected the first time in 1879. In 1846 he married 
Mehetabel A. Campbell, a native of Pennsylvania and of Scotch descent. Their chil- 
dren are Henrietta M., Joseph C, James K. and William E., the last named deceased. 
Mrs. Hunter died in 1859, and in 1861 our subject married Miss Elizabeth H., daughter of 
John W. Miles. Mrs. Hunter is an active worker in the Sabbath-schools of Danville, 
and she and her husband are members of the First Baptist Church, with which he has 
been connected since 1845, and in which he has served as deacon for over thirty years. 
He has also taken an interest in the Odd Fellows and Masonic societies of Danville. 

JAMES M. IRELAND, of McMahan & Ireland, leading photographers, Danville, 
was born on the old homestead farm in Turbot Township, Northumberland County, Sep- 
tember 23, 1847. He is a son of John M. and Amanda M. (McMahan) Ireland, former 
of Northumberland County, latter of Montour, both members of the Presbyterian Church. 
Their ancestors, paternal and maternal, were Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, aud among the 
earliest settlers of Pennsylvania. John and Amanda Ireland had a family of two sons 
and two daughters, James M. being the eldest. Our subject worked on thefarm, attend- 
ing school until in August, 1864, when he enlisted in Company E, Ninth Pennsylvania 
Volunteer Cavalry, and served until the close of the war. He was captured at Woodbury, 
Tenn., and paroled some three weeks later. At the close of the war he returned to Dan- 
ville, where he has since resided. He married Miss Lucy F. Maxwell, of Carbondale, 
Lackawanna Co., Penn., daughter of Robert and Jean (Douglas) Maxwell, former a mer- 
chant at Carbondale. Mr. and Mrs. Ireland have four children living: Grace L., Robert 
D., Thomas C. and Helen C. Mr. Ireland is a member of the G. A. R., Goodrich Post, 
No. 22. In politics he is a Republican. 

JOHN JACOBS, baker, and wholesale and retail dealer in confectibnery. Mill Street, 
Danville, was born in Germany, September, 19, 1836, a son of Henry and Elizabeth 
(Weber) Jacobs, who were also natives of Germany, where the father was a farmer. John 
is the sixth of eight children, was reared on the farm with his parents and was educated in 
the schools of his native country until his seventeenth year. In 1854 he came to America, 
first settling at Pottsville, Penn., where he learned to manufacture all kinds of candy, aud 
worked at that business until 1859, when he came to Danville. In 1860 he established his 
present business, and has succeeded in building up a good trade. He married December 
1, 1859, Charlotte, daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth (Dietrick) Frisch. natives of Ger- 
many. Mr. Frisch was a pattern-maker by trade, and worked at it in Danville for several 
years. Eight children were born 'to Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs: Frederick, Charles. George, 
Clara, Alfred, Maggie, John and Mary. The parents are members of the Lutheran 
Church, of which Mr. Jacobs vi^as treasurer of the board of trustees for many years. Polit- 
ically he is a Democrat, and j has been assessor of Danville; is a member of the I. O. O. 
F., also of the K. of P., a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity and a Sir Knight 
Templar, 

U. Y. JAMES, dealer in groceries, flour and feed, Danville, was born on Ferry Street 
of that city, June 3, 1858, a son of Josiah and Jane (Meredith) James, natives of Pennsyl- 
vania and of English origin. His father came to Danville in 1849, and worked in the ore- 




f f 



/^ 




'^' 



DANVILLE. 161 

mines, but subsequently followed the mercantile trade, and now leads a retired life in 
Danville. Our subject is the youngest of two children, and was reared in Danville, where 
he attended the public schools. Early in life he commenced to work in his father's store, 
and finding the mercantile trade congenial to his taste, embarked in the present business 
on Market Street in 1881, and has since been very successful. He is obliging to all, keeps 
a delivery wagon and attends closely to business. In 1882 he married Minerva, a native 
of Pennsylvania, of German origin, and the daughter of William Johnston. Mr. and Mrs. 
James have one child, May; they attend the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. James is a 
Republican, an active member of the K. of L. and of the I. O. O. F. 

CAPT. JOSEPH H. JOHNSON, merchant, Danville, was born in Pottsville, Penn., 
March 18, 1840, the only child of Joseph and Nancy (Gedling) Johnson, natives of 
Durham, England. The parents were married in their native country in 1839, and on 
coming to America soon after, settled in Pottsville, Schuylkill County, where the father 
worked in mines. Subsequently he moved to Philadelphia where he died in 1843. Our 
subject attended school but nine months in all, and has passed the most of his life in 
Danville. He commenced to work in the " Rough and Ready Rolling Mill " at Danville, 
when only ten years old, and followed that business for twenty-four years, filling many 
positions from boy to superintendent. April 27, 1861, he enlisted in the service of his 
adopted country, in Company C, Fourteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, for three 
months; served his term of enlistment, and the same year re-enlisted, this time in Com- 
pany H, Ninety-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, and participated in the following battles: 
Chantilly, Antietam, Mays Heights, Fredericksburg, Salem Heights, Gettysburg, Rappa- 
hannock, Mud Run, Williamsburg, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, first battle in front of 
Petersburg, Fort Stephens and Charleston, Va. He was in twenty-four engagements and 
was present at the surrender of Gen. Lee. He entered as private and returned home as 
captain, having acted as such the last year of the war. In 1875 he established Johnson's 
green grocery, at which business he is still actively engaged. He is a member of the G. 
A. R., and of the I. O. O. F., of which he is now Noble Grand, of Calumet Lodge, No. 
379, of Danville. In politics he is a Republican. Capt. Johnson married in 1886, Eliza- 
beth C, daughter of Urias Tillson, a native of Massachusetts, of English descent, and 
by trade a molder. 

WILLIAM C. JOHNSTON, register and recorder, Danville, was born in Columbia 
County. Penn. (in what is now Derry Township, Montour County) February 14, 1818, a 
son of Walter (a farmer) and Elizabeth (Craig) Johnston, natives of Lancaster County, 
Penn., and of Scotch-Irish origin, and whose family consisted of four children, of whom 
William C. is the eldest. Our subject was reared on the farm and attended the common 
schools of Derry Township, and Danville, also those of Milton and Lewisburg. At the 
age of sixteen he obtained a certificate to teach school, and followed the profession for 
twelve years, a part of the time in Danville. He was elected register and recorder of 
Montour County in 1850, being the first to occupy that position in this county, and has 
held it ever since. He has also read law, but prefers his present business. He married, 
October 13, 1857, Amanda Blue, a daughter of Isaiah Blue, a farmer. She was of Scotch- 
Irish descent, died in Danville, April 13, 1886, and is buried in the new Presbyterian 
burying-ground, loved and respected by all who knew her. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnston 
were born the following named children: Agnes B., Elizabeth A., Sally C, Samuel and 
Mary Amanda. The family attend the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Johnston is a Demo- 
crat in politics, and served several terms as school director. He was formerly a prominent 
member of the I. O. O. F., and was Noble Grand of the subordinate lodge. He was 
among the first members of the Masonic fraternity of the first lodge organized in Dan- 
ville 

HENRY KEARNS, tobacco and cigar dealer, Danville, was born in Manchester, Eng- 
land. July 23, 1828, a son of Henry and Sarah (Ward) Kearns, natives respectively of Ireland 
and England. The father was an overseer in a woolen factory for many years, but resigned 
his position, in 1862, to come to America. He settled in Philadelphia, where he died in 1864, 
at the age of seventy-five years. Henry was reared in England, where he was also edu- 
cated, and in early life learned the trade of gas-fitting. In 1854 he came to America and 
worked in Philadelphia at the gas-fitting business for Morrs & Decker, which he has 
followed in this county for thirty-two years. He has also traveled and worked to a con- 
siderable extent in large cities. In 1861 he enlisted at Chicago, 111., in Battery D, of the 
First Artillery, and participated in several battles, including Atlanta, where the concus- 
sion of the guns caused him to lose his hearing. He served until the close of the war, 
and, in 1865, returned to Philadelphia. He then went to Ohio, where he engaged in the 
plumbing business for three years, when he returned to Philadelphia and served for a 
time as engineer at the Girard House. In 1874 he came to Danville and took charge of the 
machinery and gas-fitting in the asylum, and remained in charge until 1886, when he 
resigned. Since then he has been engaged in his present business. He married at Balti- 
more, Md.,Miss Margaret Alice, daughter of John Smith, a mill owner, of English descent. 
One child, James W., blessed the union. Mr. Kearns is a member of the I. O. O. F., of 

9A 



162 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

the K. of P., and also of the G. A. R. Mrs. Kearns is a member of the German Reformed 
Church. 

SIMON KREBS, senior member of the firm of Krebs & Co., dealers in wines and 
liquors, Danville, is a native of Germany, born April 10, 1839, to John and Catherine 
(Scheids) Krebs, also natives of Germany. The fatlier was a farmer, kept a vineyard and 
manufactured wine; immigrated to America in 1855, settling in Schuylkill County, Penn., 
where he spent the remainder of his life. He was born in 1809 and died in his seventy- 
third year. Simon is the youngest of three sons and two daughters, and was reared with 
his parents on the farm in Germany until he was fifteen years old. He came with his 
family to America, learned the carpenter's trade, and at the age of nineteen went to Cali- 
fornia, where he worked at his trade two years. In 1864 he returned to Pennsylvania, 
and in 1868 came to Danville. He took the contract and built the water-works at Dan- 
ville in 1872 and 1873 at a cost of $165,000, and it is often said to Mr; Krebs' credit, that 
the works are first-class in every respect. He is a member of the Democratic party, and' 
takes a lively interest in politics, but has never held office, though frequently a delegate 
to the county conventions. In 1865 he married Harriet, daughter of Jacob Swartz, a prom- 
inent merchant at Tamaqua, and of German descent. To the union the following children 
have been born : Aada L., George J., Clara, Lewis J. and Leah. Mr. and Mrs. Krebs are 
members of the German Reformed Church. Mr. Krebs is the owner of iron mines in Sny- 
der County, Penn., which he has been working since 1874, and each year has shipped on 
an average 4,000 tons of ore, which is known as the bird eye ore. Thirty-six men are em- 
ployed in his mines. 

CHRISTIAN LAUBACH, merchant, Danville, was born in Sugarloaf Township, Co- 
lumbia Co., Penn.. February 22, 1816 ; a son of Christian (a farmer) and Mary (Frutchy) 
Laubach, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German descent, former of whom died in Co- 
lumbia County in 1825. Our subject, the youngest of eleven children, was only nine years 
of age when his parents died, and he then went to live with his brother. He acquired 
his education at the old log schoolhouse of his township, and when seventeen years of 
age resolved to enter mercantile business. He obtained a position as clerk in a general 
store in Orangeville, Columbia Co., Penn., and in 1845 went into business in Danville, hav- 
ing removed thither in 1837, he having been engaged as clerk during the intervening peri- 
od. During that time he had saved enough, together with $410 received from his father's 
estate, to enable him to open a mercantile establishment, and since then he has done a 
successful trade. He has increased his business from time to time and now also operates 
in separate stores, groceries and dry goods. By prudent management he has acquired a 
handsome fortune, and is now one of the oldest merchants in the place. He married, in 
1842, Hannah, daughter of Jacob Hefler and of German descent. Six children were born 
to their union : Martha B., wife of S. T. Lees ; Emma A., wife of Lewis E. Woods ; Mary 
Ellen,, widow of William Root ; Sally ; George, a salesman in the store, and Elizabeth. 
Mr and Mrs. Laubach are members of the Methodist Church, of Avhich he has been trus- 
tee and steward. He is treasurer of the Danville Mutual Insurance Company, a member 
of the board of trustees of the First National Bank, and also served three years as presi- 
dent of the First National Bank of Danville. In politics he is a Republican. 

VICTOR A. LOTIER, editor and proprietor of the Daily and Weekly Record, Dan- 
ville, was born in the citj' of New York, December 15, 1843, a son of Benjamin and Anna 
(Ronk) Lotier; former, who died at the age of sixty-nine years, was a native of this coun- 
try and of French origin; latter a native of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and of Dutch origin. 
Our subject received his early education in Philadelphia, where he remained until four- 
teen years old. He then came to Danville and worked in the rolling-mill until 1858 when 
he went to Rhode Island, and in 1862 enlisted in Company E, Third Regiment Rhode 
Island Cavalr}'. He was elected commissary sergeant, subsequently promoted to orderly 
sergeant and vvas honorably discharged in 1865 at New Orleans. He then went west, 
where he remained about a year, and, returning to Danville, again worked in the rolling- 
mills until 1871. At that time he purchased an interest in the Danville Marble Works, was 
a stockholder in the Record Publishing Company, and subsequently purchased the paper 
(the Danville Record), which he has since published. This paper is a daily and weekly, 
and, like its editor, independent in politics. In 1869 Mr. Lotier married Fannie Hughes, 
who has borne him two children: Homer H. and Walter M. Mrs. Lotier and her son, 
Walter M., are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She is a daughter of Peter 
Hughes, who was at one time associate judge of Montour County, and who established 
the Danville Marble Works and conducted the marble and stone cutting business in this 
place for many years. He died in October, 1872. 

CAPT. GEORGE LOVETT, Danville, was born in Ireland July 28, 1838, to William 
and Jane (Johnson) Lovett, natives of Ireland where the father died. Their family con- 
sisted of eight children, and in 1852 the widow and four children immigrated to America, 
settling in Danville, our subject at that time being fourteen years old. He was educated 
in his native country and in America. He first worked in the rolling-mills at Danville, 
where he remained several years and served for a time as assistant superintendent. In. 
1862 he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred Thirty-second Pennsylvania Volunteer In- 



DANVILLE. 163 

fantry, was made quartermaster sersjeaut, and took part in the engagements at South 
Mountain. Antietam and Frederickst)urg. He was wounded at Antieiam. but served his 
full term of enlistment and was discharged in 1868. One month after his return home, 
he enlisted in the First Battalion, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, was elected captain 
of Compau}' D, and when the regiment was consolidated into the One Hundred and 
Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania Infantry, he was made captain of Company K, and entered 
the Army of the Potomac at Bowling Green. He was in the battle of Cold Harbor, the 
first engagement in front of Petersburg, and led his company when they charged on Fort 
Hell, where eight of his men were killed and many others wounded. In the next en- 
gagement, while on a skirmish line, he was severely wounded in the arm, and returning 
home on a furlough remained three months. At the end of that time he again joined his 
regiment and was discharged in I860. After his return from the service he was employed 
in the rolling-mills, but since the organization of the Danville Stove Works, he has been 
engaged with that company. He has served two terms as a member of the school board, 
six years a member of the town council and four years as clerk of that body. Mr. Lovett 
is a member of the I. O. R. M., and has passed all the chairs; is also a menaber of the G. 
A. R. and has several times been a delegate to the county and State conventions of the 
Republican party. He married in 1878, Miss Kate Herr, a native of this county, and two 
children have been born to them: "Walter Scott and Mary Jane. Mr. and Mrs. Lovett 
are members of the Methodist Trinit.y Church of Danville. 

COL. JAMES McCORMICK. retired, Danville, owner and controller of the 'busline, 
was born in Montour County. Penn.. June 26, 1818, a son of William A. and Margaret 
(Shaw) McCormick. His father was born in Ireland of Scotch parents; his mother was a 
native of Dauphin County, Penn., and of Scotch-Irish origin, and both were Presbyte- 
rians. The father came to Pennsylvania when a mere lad, entered a store as clerk 
and very naturally took up the business of merchandising. He moved to Columbia 
County at an early day and settled at Washingtonville. He and his wife were the parents 
of three sons and one daughter: William A., a physician now in Virginia; second and third 
were twins; our subject and David M., who died in Harrisburg, Penn., in 1873, a successful 
business man, being worth about $100,000. Our subject was reared in Montour County, 
Penn., receiving his education in the common schools of the county. In early life he 
clerked in various stores at Milton and Danville, and after a few years drifted into busi- 
ness himself. He opened a general store at Washingtonville, where, in company with his 
brother, he did a successful business. Later they sold out and bought a store at Lime- 
stoneville, this county, and engaged in business for four j^ears, whenthey again sold out 
and moved to Schuylkill County. There they followed mining and shipping anthra- 
cite coal, which business they also sold. Our subject then came to Danville and embarked 
in mercantile business, also running the stage lines from Danville until the railroad 
was built. Since then he has conducted a 'bus line and has retired from all other busi- 
ness. He married in 1848, Agnes M., daughter of John Franciscus, and of German and 
French origin. They have three children: William J., a manufacturer in Philadelphia; 
Maggie and Katie. Mrs. McCormick and daughter are members of the Presbyterian 
Church. Col. McCormick is a Democrat and has served two terms in the Legislature, 
1877-78 and 1883-84. He serv2d as colonel of militia, from which he gets the title. Col! 
McCormick was collector on the North Branch Canal at Beach Haven, the last person so 
appointed by the State. At the last senatorial conference (1886), for the Twenty-fourth 
District, he was the nominee from the county convention of this county. 

T. F. McGINNES, general superintendent of the Montour Iron and Steel Works, 
Danville, was born in the city of Pottsville, Scuylkill Co., Penn., March 2, 1842, a son of 
E. W. and Eliza (Patton) McGinnes, natives of Pennsylvania and of Scotch origin. In 
early life the father was engaged in manufacturing, but later in the coal trade in which 
he dealt largely. Our subject is the fourth of eight children, and grew to manhood in 
his native city, where he attended the graded schools and also clerked for his father. 
With the latter he then engaged in the same business, which they conducted successfully 
for a time, when our subject abandoned the business to accept a clerkship in one of the 
large manufacturing establishments of the place. There he remained ten years, when he 
was appointed superintendent of an iron manufactory in Schuylkill County, where he 
served until 1880. He then came to Danville and was employed in the Montour Iron and 
Steel Works as inspector of iron rails until 1882, when he was appointed superintendent. 
In 1885 he was made treasurer and in 1886 general superintendent of the works. This 
extensive company often employ as many as 2,700 men; so that the position of general 
superintendent is one of great responsibility. Mr. McGinnes was married in 1863, to Kate, 
Berryman, a lady of English origin, daughter of Dr. Cecil Berryman, a prominent physi- 
cian of Pottsville, Penn. She is the mother of one child, Jennie. Mr. and Mrs. McGinnes 
are members of the Episcopal Church, in which he takes a deep interest; has served as 
member of the vestrj', and is now superintendent of the Mission Sunday-school in Dan- 
ville. Politically he is a Republican, but has never held office. 

THOMAS M. McMAHAN, photographer, Danville, was born in Montour County 
March 19, 1829, a son of James and Margaret (Murry) McMahan, natives of Pennsylvania 



164 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

and of Scotch-Irish origin, the former a farmer. Thomas M. is the fourth in a family of 
five children, was reared on the farm in Liberty Township, educated in the common 
schools, and for several years followed agricultural pursuits. In 1853 he began to learn 
the art of photography, which has since occupied his attention. He worked at different 
places until 1865, when he settled in Danville, and since 1871 has been associated iu the 
business with Mr. Ireland, under the firm name of McMahau & Ireland, and the success of 
the business is largely due to his exertions. In 1854 he married Caroline Reed, of Scotch- 
Irish origin, and two children have blessed the union: Clarence and Lillian E. Mr. and 
Mrs. McMahan are members of the Presbyterian Church, and politically he is a Dem- 
ocrat. 

WILLIAM H. MAGILL, retired physician and surgeon, of Danville, is the oldest 
physician in this part of the State. He was born in Montgomery County, Penn., March 
24, 1795, son of William and Mary (Dunlap) Magill. Their ancestors were among the 
early settlers of Pennsylvania. William Magill, Sr., father of our subject, was a tanner, 
and became a land owner and farmer; he was a Quaker, as was his wife, and his ancestors 
were Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. William and Mary Magill had six children; William H., 
our subject, was the third child. At the age of twelve years he entered the Doylestown 
Academy, in Bucks County, Penn., from there he went to Baltimore, Md., and read medi- 
cine with James);Smith, M. D., four years, and graduated from the Medical University of 
Baltimore, in 1817. He then attended lectures at Jefferson Medical College of Philadel- 
phia until the spring of 1818, when he began the practice of medicine in Danville, open- 
ing an office in the same house where he now resides. This house is of brick, erected by 
his mother in 1814, the family having moved here in the spring of that year. When Dr. 
Magill began the practice of medicine Danville was a small place, and houses in this vicin- 
ity were few and far between. Dr. Magill was a man of more than ordinary ability and 
skill, and possessed wonderful powers of endurance. He rode on horseback over a large 
scope of country, day and night, enduring hardships, and surmounting difficulties that 
the doctors of this day know nothing of. He married. May 1, 1838, Miss Mary, daughter 
of Gen. Daniel Montgomery. This union has been blessed with eight children, viz.: 
Daniel, Elizabeth, William H., Hannah L., Robert D., Christiana M., Mary D. and James 
D., six of whom lived to be grown. Mrs. Magill died in 1882; she was an earnest Christian 
and a member of the Presbyterian Church; Dr. Magill is also a member of this church. 
He was the first burgess of Danville; in politics he was a Whig, but since the organi- 
zation of the Republican party he has been one of its strong supporters. His name will be 
revered not only for his professional skill and honor, but for his deeds of charity and 
Christian example. 

WILSON METTLER, retired farmer, Danville, was born in Rush Township, North- 
umberland Co., Penn., May 10, 1813, a son of Philip and Susanna (Carter) Mettler. His 
parents were natives of New Jersey, of English and German origin respectively. The 
father was a farmer, and died in Northumberland County in 1856. His family consisted 
of nine children, of whom Wilson was the fifth. He was reared on the farm and educated 
at the schools of Rush Township. From his youth until 1868 he had been engaged in 
agricultural pursuits, but at the last named date retired, and has since resided in Dan- 
ville, but still owns the farm, which is .well improved. He married, in 1834, Miss Ann, 
daughter of John Gearhart, of New Jersey and of German origin. This union^has been 
blessed with four children: Sarah E., wife of E. G. Huffman; Susan, wife of Hugh 
Vastine; Spencer C. (deceased) and Anna. Mr. and Mrs. Mettler are members of the 
Presbyterian Church, in which he has been elder. Politically he is a Democrat and has 
served in the capacity of school director of Rush Township. 

JAMES N. MILLER, liveryman, Danville, was born in Columbia County, Penn., 
September 6, 1824, a son of Philip (a farmer) and Frances (Ready) Miller, natives of 
Pennsylvania and of German descent, former of whom died in Columbia County, where 
he had resided manj'- years and reared a family of seven children. Our subject was reared 
on the farm, attended the schools of his native place and early in life learned the tan- 
ner's trade, which he followed eight years. He then established himself in a general 
store at Jersey town, was moderately successlul and continued that business eleven years, 
having previously been engaged in the hotel business at Lewisburg and Jerseytown. In 
1876 he was nominated and elected sheriff of Montour County on the Democratic ticket. 
He then moved to Danville where he has since resided, and, at the close of his term as 
sheriff, embarked in the livery business. Mr. Miller is a Democrat and always takes an 
active interest in everything pertaining to that party iu Montour County. He has been 
twice married; first to Susannah, daughter of John Rishel. She was of German origin 
and died in 1852, the mother of one child, John, who is now married and a farmer. In 
1855 our subject married Isabella, daughter of Samuel Hiltert, also of German descent, 
and a member of the Presbyterian Church. This union was blessed with one child, Sue 
F., who, since her mother's death, in 1873, has kept house for her father. 

HENRY MOYER. dealer in clothing and gents' furnishing goods, was born in Ger- 
many, February 1, 1827, a gon of Harmon and Barbara (Levi) Moyer, natives of Germany. 
The "father was a drover and dealt extensively in stock in his native country, where he 



DANVILLE. 165 

spent his life. Henry is the ninth of twelve children, and was reared in Baden, where he 
received his education. In early life he learned the trade of a butcher, which he followed 
as a business until coming to America in 1852. He settled in Danville, Penn., and spent 
two years and a half in peddling and making himself familiar with the laws and customs 
of his adopted country. By close application he was able to start a general store in Dan- 
ville in 1854, but in 1855 sold out and opened a butcher shop, and did a successful business 
for nine years. In 1864 he established his present business, at which he has been very suc- 
cessful. He married, in 1853, Sophia Myer, a native of Germany and who bore him three 
children: Fannie, Sarah and Harry, and died in 1860. Mr. Moyer then married Sarah 
Gross, a native of Germany, who bore him seven children: Miles, Barbara, Rebecca, Bessie, 
Maurice, Lewis and Julius. Mr. and Mrs. Moyer are of the Jewish faith. 

JACOB W. MOYER, of thetirm of Cruikshank, Moj^er & Co., Danville,was born in 
Montour County, October 13, 1838, a son of Daniel and Susan (Cortner) Moyer, natives of 
Northumberland (now Montour) County, and whose ancestors were among the early 
German settlers of Pennsylvania. Hq is the eldest in a family of eight children and grew 
to manhood in his native county, coming to Danville with his parents, in 1844. Here he 
attended the common schools and in early life learned the machinist trade, at which he 
worked for a time, subsequently embarking in his present business. The firm do an ex- 
tensive trade in their foundry and machine shops, Mr. Moyer doing the drafting, also 
the buying and selling. In 1862 he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Thirty- 
second Pennsylvania volunteer Infantry, and served ninemonths. In 1864 he enlisted in 
the One Hundred and Eighty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served on de- 
tached duty, being detailed to work on the calcium light, which was erected on the 
breastworks so as to throw the light on the enemy's camp, at least one-half mile distant, 
and, being a skillful mechanic, Mr. Moyer was of great use in putting up the lights, and 
■was thus employed until the war closed. He participated in several engagements, among 
them Antietam, Chancellorsville and Fredericksburg. He is a member of the council of 
Danville, and has been school director. In 1864 he married Clara, daughter of John Doty, 
a native of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Moyer are the parents of six children: Cora, 
Maggie, Virgie, Horace, Ella and Walter. The parents are members of the Lutheran 
Church. Mr. Moyer is a member of the I. O. O. F. and G. A. R., and in politics is Demo- 
cratic. 

HON. PHILIP C. NEWBAKER, physician and surgeon, Danville, is a great-grand- 
son of Martin Newbaker, who emigrated from Germany before the Revolution and settled 
at Powell's Creek, on the Susquehanna River, eighteen miles above Harrisburg. Martin 
Newbaker served as a soldier in the war for independence, and some of his descendants 
still reside near the old homestead where Dr. Newbaker was born, and from where his 
father and family removed to Northumberland County. He is a son of John B. and 
Caroline Elizabeth (Maize) Newbaker, who were natives of Dauphin County, Penn., of 
mixed German and English descent, and are still living. The former, John B. Newbaker, 
_is a physician, and is practicing his profession at Trevorton, Northumberland Co., Penn. 
'His family consisted of five children. Philip C, our subject, is the eldest; he was born 
August 13, 1843, near Halifax, Dauphin Co., Penn. He received a good academic edu- 
cation at the West Branch High School and the literary department of the Missionary 
Institute, Selin's Grove, Penn. He taught school a few years, and on the breaking out of 
the late civil war, enlisted as a private in Company F, Eleventh Pennsylvania Volun- 
teers, and served the full term of three months. He was at the battle of Hoke's Run or 
Falling Waters, in northern Virginia, one of the first engagements of the war. In August, 
1862. he again enlisted in Company K, Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, at Philadelphia, 
for three years, which regiment was assigned to duty under Gen. Rosecrans in Tennes- 
see, where from hardships and exposure in service, he contracted diseases which confined 
him to the hospital for several months. After partial recovery he was transferred to the 
Invalid or Veteran Reserve Corps and continued in it to the close of the war. He was honor- 
ably discharged from service July 5, 1865. From this it will be seen that he served in the 
army the greater part of the war. He then began the study of medicine with his father, and 
entered Jefferson Medical College. Philadelphia, where he graduated in the spring of 
1869, and subsequently settled at Washingtonville,- Montour County, where by skill in his 
profession, and integrity as a citizen, he gained a deserved popularity. On September 
24, 1867, he married Miss Amelia A. Koons, of Weissport, Carbon Co., Penn. Dr. Newbaker 
and wife have five children: Winifred M., Charles A., Bertha A., Edward J. and Francis 
W. In politics the Doctor is a Democrat, and in 1878 was nominated and subsequently 
elected to represent Montour County in the State Legislature, and was re-elected in 1880. 
He is a member of the State and county medical societies, and of the American Medical 
Association and is secretary of the Board of United States Examining Surgeons at Dan- 
ville. He is also a member of Goodrich Post, No. 22, G. A. R., of Danville. In the 
spring of 1886 Dr. Newbaker purchased the property in which he now resides, at No. 24, 
Mahoning Street, Danville, and has already acquired considerable practice. 

JOHN C. PATTERSON, retired farmer, Danville, was born in Columbia County, 
Penn., in September, 1836, a son of John and Anna (Mather) Patterson, natives of 



166 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Columbia County, and whose ancestors were among the early Scotch-Irish settlers of 
that section. John C. is the youngest of a family of five children, four of whom grew 
to maturitJ^ He was reared on the farm, educated at the district school, and followed 
farming until coming to Danville in 1866. 8eplember 3, 1864. he enlisted in the Two 
Hundred and Tenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the 
war. January 1. 1866, he married Miss Mary E., daughter of Caleb Appleman, and 
their union has been blessed with two children, Ella and Mary V. Mrs. Patterson and 
children are members of the Presbyterian Church. She is engaged in the millinery 
business, at which she is very successful. Mr. Patterson is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity. 

EMANUEL PETERS, wholesale dealer in ice and oysters, Danville, was born in 
Union County. Penn., March 3, 1826, a son of Michael and Martha (Miller) Peters, na- 
tives of Pennsylvania, of German origin, the former a tailor by trade. Emanuel was 
their only child, and was educated at the subscription schools of Union County. He 
came to Danville when seventeen years old, and has since made it his home, and in 1854 
embarked in his present business, at which he has been successful. In 1854 he married 
Elizabeth, daughter of Gideon Mellon, and of English origin. Their children are Arthur 
M., who is with his father; Anna Mary, wife of S. W. Fis'her; Clara M.; F. G.; Lucy M. ; 
Saddle M. and Elmer E. Neail}^ all the family are members of the Methodist Church. 
Mr. Peters was a member of the One Hundred and Seventy-eighth Pennsylvania Volun- 
teer Infantry during the civil war, having enlisted in 1863. He is independent in politics; 
a member of the I.'O. O. F. and the I. O. of R. M. 

J. R. PHILIPS. United States ganger, Danville, was born in Columbia County, 
Penn., August 24, 1828, a son of George W. and Rhoda Ann (Reese) Philips, natives of 
Pennsylvania, and of German and Welsh origin. The father was a chainmaker by trade, 
but made farming the occupation of his life, and now resides on a farm in Sullivan County, 
Penn.. whither he removed in 1843. Our subject is tiie ehlest in a family of eight sons 
and four daughters, all of whom grew to maturity, and was reared on the farm in Hem- 
lock Townsjhip, Columbia County, receiving a common-school education. In early life he 
worked in the iron-ore mines, and in 1849 came to Danville and learned the puddler's 
trade in the iron works, serving a three years' apprenticeship, and when just completing 
his trade was appointed foreman in the Montour Iron & Rolling-mill Works, which 
position he occupied for twenty years. He served as justice of the peace for a like 
period and resigned in 1886. Since 1888 Mr. Philips has been tax collector, and also 
United States ganger and market master of Danville. He is secretary of the school 
board and a member of the I. O. O. F., both of the encampment and subordinate lodge. 
In politics he is a Democrat. In 1850 he married Mary, daughter of David AUegar, of 
German origin, and tlieir children are George W., deceased; Amelia; Joseph W., a 
druggist, of Danville; Matilda. Margaret and Kate. Mrs. Philips is a member of the 
Presbyterian Church of Danville. 

ISAAC RANCK was for more than half a century identified with the growth and 
development of Columbia and Montour Counties. He was much above the average of all 
that goes to make up a noble manhood, habits which bring uo reproach and a character 
which shone brightly in the every day duties and vocations of life. His birth occurred May 
19, 1811, in White Deer, Union Co., Penn. His parents, Isaac and Rebecca Ranck, were from 
Lancaster County, Penn., and were among the first settlers of Union County. He was 
the seventh in a family of thirteen children— ten sons and three daughters — all but one of 
whoiu arrived to the; age of maturity. Seven survive the subject of this sketch in the 
full vigor of life. At the age of seventeen he was apprenticed to Messrs. Curr & Co., car- 
riage builders of Milton, Penn., and, after serving four years, he moved, in the early 
spring of 1832, to the village of Danville, Columbia County, and established himself in 
business as a smith and carriage manufacturer, at the corner of Mill and Mahoning 
Streets, opposite the present opera house. He also engaged in the lumber and boating 
business but soon abandoned all but his sliops. About lo34 he married Miss Catharine 
Heller, and three children blessed their union: Norman Leslie, Ellis Hughes, Mary Eliza- 
beth, all living. In 1842 he became widower, and in 1844 he married Elizabeth Heller, who 
bore him four children: Anna Rebecca, David Hays, Catharine Frances and Henry Clay 
(the last two dying in infancy). David H. is the publisher of the Millstoiie and Corn 
Miller, Indianapolis, Ind., a representative monthly publication devoted to milling and 
mechanical interests. In 1872 death again entered his home and took away his wife. For 
eleven years he made his home with his son and daughter in Danville. On the 8th of 
March, 1883, Mr. Ranck passed away, dying in the faith of Christianity. All his life he 
adorned our common humanity with a character pure as light, with a reputation untar- 
nished by worldly associations, by daily walk and conversation worthy of emulation, a 
legacy to his children more lasting than money. Mr. Ranck witnessed the growth of Dan- 
ville from a small village of less than a thousand population to a city of 10,000 in- 
habitants. He was chief burgess of the city in 1860, and afterward served as councilman. 
He was also elected and served many years as justice of the peace. Columbia and Mon- 
tour Counties can feel an honest pride in having had for more than fifty years a citizen who 



DANVILLE. 167 

•embodied so much that was good and noble. In personal appearance Mr. Ranck was com- 
manding, above average height and of rotundity of build, weighing over 200 pounds. 
Honesty, justice and truth were woven into the woof of his being. Strictly temperate in 
all his habits, he lived to be three score and twelve years and passed to his reward. He 
was interred March 11, 1883, in Mount Vernon Cemetery, Northumberland County. Penn. 
His family, consisting of five children, all of whom except David H., were born-in Dan- 
ville and vicinity, have all maintained the high integrity and honor of his name. Nor- 
man was born August 2, 1835; Ellis H., born August 10, 1837; Mary E., born June 21, 
1841; Anna R.. born February 23, 1844, and David H., born February 5, 1847. 

FREDERICK REAM, teacher in and superintendent of the public schools of Mon- 
tour County, Danville, was born in Lancaster County, Penn., July 20, 1851, a son of John 
and Anna (Westley) Ream, natives of Pennsylvania and of German origin, and whose 
ancestors were among the early residents of Pennsylvania. The father by trade is a 
coach-maker; also for a time followed farming, and now resides in Washingtonville, Mon- 
tour County. Frederick is the fifth in a family of five sons and three daughters, and was 
reared in Montour County, where his parents have resided since 1860. He received his 
early education in the public schools of Montour County, and was also a student at the 
Bloomsburg Normal School and at academies at other places. At the age of fifteen he 
commenced teaching, which he followed for sixteen years, pursuing through this period 
a well directed course of self-education. During 1870-73 he was engaged in mercantile busi- 
ness at Washingtonville, and since 1873 has followed teaching. He taught in Schuylkill 
County and at Freesburg Academy for two years, and in the Danville High School three 
years, and was elected county superintendent of public schools in 1884. Since then he 
has been engaged in that capacity. He is a Past Grand of the I. O. O. F. and trustee of 
the I. O. O. F. cemetery at Danville. Mr. Ream married in 1873, Mary C, daughter of 
William Seidel and of German origin. Their children are Bertha A., Vinnie Olive and 
Carrie S. Mr. and Mrs. Ream are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Ream is polit- 
ically a Democrat. 

S. Y. RICHARDS, photographer and owner and proprietor of the Danville art gal- 
lery, was born three and a half miles south of Danville, August 31, 1836 ; a son of John 
and Rebecca (Clark) Richards, who were among the early German settlers of Pennsylvania. 
His grandfather kept a hotel in Danville in the early pioneer days ; his father followed 
farming all his life and died in Lycoming County on the farm where he had resided since 
our subject was four years old. He had been twice married, and by his first marriage had 
seven children, of whom our subject is the youngest; he grew up on the farm, also 
helped in the saw-mill and was an expert at running a circular saw. When he reached 
his majority he commenced to learn the carpenter's trade, and worked at it for ten years; 
later, studied the art of photography, in 1866, in Danville; but being desirous of obtain- 
ing the best knowledge of that business he went to New York, where he remained under 
the instruction of Prof. Hugh O'Niel, and obtained a thorough knowledge of the business. 
He then resided in Carbondale, Penn., for seven years, moving thence to Piltston, where 
he remained for seven years, and from 1884 to 1886 resided in Towanda. He then came 
to Danville and opened a large and well furnished art gallery, and is well worthy of the 
patronage he has received. June 7, 1861, he married Matilda A., daughter of David Kine, 
a native of Berks County, Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Richards are the parents of the following 
named children : Ella, wife of Charles C. Colburn ; Hallie, deceased ; Lizzie, wife of 
Walter Smith, and Mamie. The parents are members of the Methodist Church. While 
a resident of Towanda, Mr. Richards was a member of the board of stewards of the 
church. He is now a member of Saint Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church of Danville. 
Politically he is a Republican. 

M. S. RIDGWAY, superintendent of the Montour Iron and Steel Works and Roll- 
ing Mills, Danville, was born at Milford Village, Pike Co., Penn., March 12, 1820, a son 
of Matthew and Elizabeth (Ludlow) Ridgway. The former was born on Long Island, 
N. Y., and was of English origin; the latter was born in New Jersey, and was of French 
descent; they were the parents of seven children. The father was an influential man, 
and at the time of his death, in 1820, was high sheriff of Pike County, N. Y. ; he was a 
brave and successful officer. A prisoner in his charge, who was convicted of murder in 
1814, escaped from jail and fled to Canada. Mr. Ridgway followed, and with the assist- 
ance of some Indians succeeded in locating the murderer, but while negotiating with parties 
to get the criminal across the line to the United States, was himself arrested by the En- 
glish authorities as a spy. He was a Quaker, and having an uncle in Canada, he "succeeded 
in obtaining his liberty and returned home through the wilderness to Pike County, and 
his prisoner with him. Mr. Ridgway was a Mason, a man of more than ordinary 
intelligence and will power. He was a son of Jacob Ridgway, also a Quaker. M. S. 
Ridgway, our subject, is the youngest of the family, and was born the j'ear of his father's 
death. He attended the common schools until the age of eleven years, when he chose a 
guardian. At sixteen he began to learn the trade of a blacksmith, and served a regular 
apprenticeship; then worked as a journeyman four years, and in 1844 came to Danville 
to superintend the blacksmithing in the erection of the Montour Iron and Steel Works. 



168 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

These works were completed in 1845, and shortly afterward Mr. Ridgway was appointed 
manager of the works, and has since remained in charge for a period of forty-three years. 
He has remained with the works through its adversity and prosperity, and although the 
business has changed hands six times, Mr. Ridgway has always been retained as the right 
man in the right place. He assisted in making the first "T" rail made in the United States. 
It was made by Murdock Levitt & Co., in Danville, Penn. This firm was succeeded by the 
Montour Iron Company. Mr. Ridgway married in 1840, in Norristown, N. J., Miss Rachel 
Whitehead. Her parents were English, but of German descent. Mr. and Mrs. Ridgway 
have five children: Edwin O., married, and employed in the rolling-mills of Pueblo, 10ol.; 
Stephen, employed as shipping-clerk for a large manufactory in Ohio; Warren; Laura E. 
and Grant. In politics Mr. Ridgway is a Republican; he is a Knight Templar and has 
been a member of the Masonic order since 1846. Mrs. Ridgway is a member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church. 

DANIEL J. ROTE, retired cattle drover, Danville, was born in Northampton 
County, Penn., October 16, 1812, a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Larch) Rote, natives of 
Pennsylvania. The father was a farmer all his life, and his ancestors were among the 
early German settlers of Pennsylvania. David J. is one of a family of twelve children, 
eight of whom grew to maturity, and was reared in Northampton County, where he was 
also educated in the early German schools. His English education has been acquired by 
his own efforts. He chose farming as his occupation, but prior to that had been engaged 
in the blacksmithing trade. Later he engaged in the cattle droving business, which has 
mainly occupied his attention, and at which he has been very successful. He has been 
twice married; by his first wife, Rebecca Weaver, he had seven children. She died in 
1845, and had been married in 1836. Twelve years after the death of his first wife he 
married Lucy A. Crosby, who bore him one child, and died February 25, 1881. Mr. Rote 
has retired from active business, and now resides in Danville. He is a member of the 
Lutheran Church, in which he has been a deacon, and takes an active interest in that 
denomination. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the I. O. O. F. ; polit- 
ically he is a Republican. 

Wellington Rote, cattle dealer, Danville, was born in Northumberland County, 
Penn., a son of DanielJ. and Anna Rebecca (Weaver) Rote. He is the fourth child in 
order of birth, and was reared on the farm, attended the common schools, and also Dick- 
inson Seminary, at Williamsport. He first clerked in the general store of Lewis Rote, at 
Mausdale, where he remained two years. In 1870 he embarked in general mercantile 
business at Mausdale, and also dealt in coal; he then sold out and taught school eight or 
ten terms, in which vocation he was successful. Since 1876 he has been engaged in the 
stock business. Politically he is a Republican, a member of the I. O. O. F.. and of the 
Masonic fraternity. 

DAVID RUCKEL, agent for the P. R. R. & W. S. Express Company, Danville, 
was born in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, November 21, 1841, a son of Joseph and 
Margaret (Whelmore) Ruckel, natives of Columbia County, this State, and of German de- 
scent. The father followed agricultural pursuits all his life. David is the youngest in a 
family of four sons and three daughters, and was reared on the farm, receiving his educa- 
tion in the common schools, never attending more than six months in his life, and is 
therefore self-educated. He remained with his parents on the farm until he was twenty 
years of age, when he went to Berwick, Columbia County, and learned the shoemaker's 
trade. In 1862 he enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Thirty-second Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteer Infantry, and served nine months, the term for which he enlisted. He 
next enlisted in the One Hundred and Twelfth, Second Artillery, was promoted ser- 
geant, and June 30, 1864, was taken prisoner in front of Petersburg. He was removed to 
Danville, Va., where he was kept a prisoner of war for eight months and nineteen days. 
He was then exchanged and, after the war, returned to the farm, where he remained until 
1867, when he moved to Danville and worked in the rolling-mill until 1873. He was 
next employed with the raiload and express companies, and in 1882 was ap- 
pointed to his present position. In 1867 he married Miss Lucinda Nuss, of German de- 
scent. Two children were born to them: Charles E., who is in the office with his father, 
and Ella L., deceased. Mrs. Ruckel is a member of the German Reformed Church, and 
her son of the Episcopal. Mr. Ruckel is a member of the Masonic fraternity, politically 
a Republican. 

JAMES SCARLET, of the firm of Scarlet & Angle, attorneys, Danville, was born in 
Elizabeth, N. J., December 31, 1848, a son of George and Mary Scarlet. The former was 
of English origin, and for many years a sea captain; the latter was of Scotch-Irish descent. 
James is the eldest of a family of three sons and grew to manhood in Danville, attending 
the schools of-that place, where he also learned the blacksmith's trade. He subsequently 
entered Princeton College and graduated in the regular classical course in 1874. He 
studied law in Danville in the office of Thomas Galbrith, Esq., was admitted to practice 
in the courts of Montour County in 1877, and in 1875 was admitted to the supreme court, 
and also the United States courts. He was elected to the office of district attorney for 
Montour County in 1882, and after serving his term was nominated by the Republican 
party for the Legislature in 1885, but was defeated with James G. Blaine. 



DANVILLE, 169 

THOMAS A. SCHOTT, coal merchant, Danville, was born in Rockland Township, 
Berks Co., Penn., October 7, 1836. a son of Anthony and Harriet (Roarback) Schott, 
natives of Pennsylvania and of German origin. In early life his father was a charcoal 
burner, later a furnace blower, which occupation he followed until his death in 187L His 
family consisted of five children, four of whom grew to maturity. Thomas A. is the second 
child; he received his education in the common schools, and later learned the cigar- 
maker's trade, which lie followed five years. Later he learned the painter and carpenter 
trades, the latter of which he followed eleven years. He then engaged in teaming, also 
sold sewing machines, and then traveled and sold reapers for three years. In 1879 he em- 
barked in the coal business on a limited scale, which enterprise has proved a success. He 
now owns an acre of land on which he has a coal yard, and has built a railroad which, 
runs into the yard, where the coal is dumped from the coal cars. He also owns his neat 
and substantial residence, and his financial success is due largely to his own exertions. 
Mr. Schott was married, November 29, 1862, to Elizabeth Hartman, a native of Germany, 
and to this union one child was born, Joseph A. Mrs. Schott died in 1869, and in 1872 
our subject married Mollie Hartman, a sister of his first wife. Their children are George 
W., Mary E., Anthony W., Gi'ace E., Harry A. and Thomas A. Mr. and Mrs. Schott are 
members of the German Catholic Church. Politically he is a Republican. 

S. S. SCHULTZ, M. D., a native of Berks County, Penn., was born July 5, 1831, 
youngest son and child of Jeremiah and Mary Shultz, both of whom were natives of 
Berks County. The paternal ancestor who first came to this county was Christopher 
Schultz, the great-grandfather of our subject, who landed in the New World, September 
22, 1734, then sixteen years old and a fugitive from religious persecution in Silesia. 
Young as he was, he was a fine scholar and became subsequently an able theologian, 
leader and organizer of men. Certainly, in all history there cannot be found an instance 
more completely verifying the phrase "born to command." He was the organizer and 
leader of the religious body to which he belonged, and that came to this country. He 
wrote a catechism, a constitution, a large compendium of their religious doctrines, and 
made the collection for their hymn-book used by the fugitives in the desert and the wilds. 
The theological works of this divine and temporal leader are yet, in much of their 
entirety, incorporated in the church formulas of his denomination to-day. On the mater- 
nal side the first immigrant to come to this country was George Schultz, the great-great- 
grandfather of our subject, who came to America in 1734, in the twenty-fourth year of 
his age. The parentsof our subject were Jeremiah and Mary Schultz. The father was born 
June 7, 1797, and died Februarys, 1874. The mother was born September 5. 1798, and 
died February 2, 1873. Their children, all living, are Henry, born June 16, 1821; Edward, 
born June 20, 1824; John, born September 6, 1828, and our subject. Dr. Schultz was 
reared and educated in his native county until he was fourteen years old, when he attended 
school at Washington Hall, Montgomery County. From there he went to school at the 
academy in Allentown, Penn., which fhas since become Muehlenburg College, where he 
remained one year; then a short time at Freeland Seminary, Montgomery County, and 
then entered Princeton College, New Jersey, where he graduated in 1852. After graduat- 
ing he taught school for a short time, and then commenced the study of medicine with 
Dr. Daniel D. Detwiler, of Montgomery County. After a careful preparation he entered 
the University of Pennsyh^ania, where he graduated in 1856. Immediately after leaving 
the university he opened an oflSce for the practice of medicine in Allentown, where he 
met with flattering success. But soon an opportunity offered for him to pursue the nat- 
ural bent of his mind, and he accepted a position in the State lunatic hospital at Harris- 
burg, as assistant physician. He remained here until 1861. He then made the tour of 
Europe, where he spent one year studying the hospitals and public institutions of Ger- 
many, England and France. In the meantime war was raging in his native land, and he 
hastened his return and entered the army as acting assistant surgeon, and as assistant 
surgeon and surgeon of Pennsj'lvania Volunteers, and assistant surgeon and surgeon of 
United States Volunteers; remained in service to the close of the war. He served with 
the Seventy-fifth and Twenty-third Pennsylvania Regiments, and as executive officer and 
surgeon in charge, successively, ingeneral hospitals at Harrisburg, Penn., Covington, Ky., 
Madison, Ind., and Columbus, Ohio. Here he resigned as superintendent of hospitals at 
the close of the war in 1865. He then returned to Harrisburg, and was in active practice 
from 1865 to 1868 when he was appointed by the commissioners of the hospital to come to 
Danville and take control of the construction and the superintendency of the Danville Hos- 
pital, and from the commencement of the work on the building to the present time he has 
been its efl[icient and able superintendent, to the great advantage of the State in its vast ex- 
penditures here, and to the blessing of the poor unfortunates who have been dwellers in this 
benevolent home. The real professional career of Dr. Schultz commenced with his con- 
nection with his present office, and the history of the institution and the history of the 
Doctor, in his care of the insane, are practically one and the same, and the reader is 
referred to an account of the Danville A.sylum in another column. Dr. Schultz and Miss 
Hannah L. Magill were married September 23, 1872; she is a daughter of William H. 
Magill and Mary (Montgomery) Magill, and a granddaughter of Gen. Daniel Montgomery. 



170 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Mrs. Magill was born May 6, 1805, and died January 7, 1882. Their issue are Edward 
Magill Schultz, l)orn July 23, 1873, and William Magill Scliultz, born February 15, 1878. 

H. B. D. SECHLER, retired painter, Danville, was born on River Street, Danville, 
January 26, 1808, a son of Rudolph and Susanna (Douty) Sechler, natives of Pennsyl- 
vania. His parental and maternal ancestors were among the early German settlers of the 
State. His father was a blacksmith in early and middle life, later was register and 
recorder of Columbia County, serving several years. In 1831 he was appointed justice of 
the peace and served until 1845, when he retired, and died in 1857, at the age of eighty- 
five years. He reared a family of six children, all of whom became good citizens and 
four of whom still survive. Our subject is the eldest of the survivors, was reared in Dan- 
ville and educated at the subscription schools. He learned the cabinet-maker's trade 
and lollowed it for many years, but since 1840 he has been engaged in house and orna- 
mental sign painting. In 1830 he married Miss Jane Jamison of MifHin County, 
Penn., who died in 1831. In 1835 he was married to Sarah, daughter of John Gearhart, 
and six children blessed their union, two of whom are living: Harriet, wife of Jonathan 
Waters, and Emma, wife of John Yorgy. Mr. and Mrs. Sechler are members of the 
Presbyterian Church, in which he has been an elder, and'also teacher and superintendent 
of the Sabbath-school. He takes an interest in all that pertains to the good of the com- 
munity. Politically he is a Republican, formerly a Whig, was appointed justice of the 
peace in 1845, and served five years. 

ABRAHAM SECHLER, musician, Danville, was born in that place April 18, 1814, 
a son of Jacob and Barbara (Reice) Sechler, the latter a native of Switzerland, born in 
1790. The Sechler family came to Pennsylvania about 1775, four brothers settling on the 
site of Danville, about the close of the Revolution. They were farmers and took up about 
500 acres of land, then a wilderness, a part of which is now the Thomas Beaver farm, near 
the State asylum at Dauville. Jacob Sechler was the first male child born in Danville in 
1790. The family were usually farmers. Abraham is the eldest son in a family of nine 
children, and is a natural musician. He organized the first band in Danville and as soon 
as his brothers became old enough they joined the band, and for several years six of them 
played in it. Abraham received but a limited education in the subscription schools of 
Danville, but has been a student all bis life, and can now read and write English, French 
and German with ease. His first occupation was farming, which engaged his attention 
until he was nineteen years of age. He then operated a stationary engine for over forty 
years, and by economy and judicious investments has made money. During the war he 
invested his money in Government bonds, and now has a fine property where he resides 
and devotes his time to music, which he fuUj^ enjoys. In 1835 he married Lavinia, daugh- 
ter of Asa Pancost, and of English descent. Of their five children three are now living: 
Mary Alice, wife of Henry Schick; Sarah Jane, wife of John Kenvin, and W. W., in 
Philadelphia. Mrs. Sechler died in 1864, and in 1869 our subject married Harriet, daugh- 
ter of John Wurtmau, and of English descent. Their only child is Martha, wife of 
Charles Robson. Mrs. Sechler is a member of the Lutheran Church, and Mr. Sechler of 
the Episcopal. He is a Democrat in politics, and has served as tax collector. 

F. R. SECHLER, liveryman, Danville, was born in Mahoning Township, Montour 
County, March 23, 1836, a son of Jacob and Barbara Ann (Reise) Sechler. His father 
was a soldier in the war of 1813, and his grandfather, John Sechler, a soldier in the 
Revolution and one of the early settlers of" Danville; both were farmers. F. R. is the 
seventh in a family of nine children, and was reared to agricultural pursuits, which he 
has followed most of his life, but now resides in Danville engaged in the livery business. 
He married, in 1850, Abigail, daughter of Herbert Best, a prominent farmer of English 
origin, and one of the early settlers of Danville, where he died in 1831. Mr. and Mrs. 
Sechler have two cl ildren now living: C. R. and Barbara Ann. Mr. Sechler is a member 
of the K. of P., politically an Indenendent, with Democratic proclivities. • 

JACOB SHELHARt, retired,*ex-sheriff of Montour County, Penn., was born in that 
county, August 14, 1835, a son of Jacob and Christine (Everett) Shelhart, natives of 
Lehigh County, Penn., both of German origin. His paternal and maternal ancestors were 
among the early German settlers of the State. His father was an early settler of Dan- 
ville, lived to be eighty years old, and spent over seventy years of his life in this part of 
Pennsylvania. He grew to manhood in Cooper Township, now, Montour County, and in 
early life made farming his business, Imt later devoted his time to the manufacture of 
wood( n plows, which he carried on for a time, also manufacturing wagons and wheel- 
barrows, when the canal was being made through Danville. Jacob is the sixth of eleven 
children, and his schooling was limited to about two months in a rude schoolhouse. He 
followed farming as a business until 1865, with success, and though not a believer in luck, 
does believe in pluck. Politically he is a Democrat, and in 1865 was elected sheriff of 
Montour County, serving three yeavs. In 1879 he was again elected sheriff, and served 
three years; then spent some time traveling over the United States and Canada. He has 
been twice married; first to Maria, daughter of Joseph Foust, and of English and German 
'Origin. Mr. Shelhart has two children now living: Mary, wife of J. Andrew, and Hattie. 
Mr. Shelhart is a member of the Lutheran Church; has been a member of the school 



DANVILLE. 171 

board and overseer of tlie poor. He is at present making valuable improvements in Dan- 
ville. 

DAVID SHELHART, merchant tailor, Danville, was born in Franklin Tovpnship, 
Columbia Co., Penn., May 9, 1833, a sou of Jacob and Cliristiauna (Evert) Shelbart, 
natives of Penns3dvania and of German origin. His father was a farmer. David is the 
youngest of eleven children, and was reared on the farm until he was seventeen years old, 
receiving his education in the schools of Columbia County. He first clerked in the store 
of Christian Laubach, of Danville, where he remained six years, from 1850 to 1856. He 
' then embarked in his present bu.siness, merchant tailor and dealer in gents' furnishing 
^oods, and employs the best skilled workmen and cutter. In 1857 he married Malinda 
A., a daughter of Richard Demott. She is of German origin, and has borne her husband 
four children: Emma, wife of Warren McHeury; Kate D., wife of Harry Rhodes; Frank 
and Charles Richard. The family are all members of the Presbyterian Church, in which 
Mr. Shelbart has been treasurer and superintendent of the Sabbath-school for fourteen 
consecutive years. He is a prominent member.of the I. O. O. F., and has been connected 
with the lodge twenty-one years, and has passed all the chairs. Politically he is a 
Republican. 

JOHN W. SHERIFF, bookkeeper, Danville, was born in Erie County, Penn., 
September 12, 1822, a son of William and Margaret (Colt) Sheriff, natives of Ireland, but 
who came to this country in childhood. Our subject is the youngest of six children; was 
reared in;Waterford, Erie County, where be received his education at the common schools 
and at the academy. In 1842 he came to Danville where he has since remained. On first 
coming here he clerked in a general store for fourteen years, and later ran a stage line 
from Danville to Pottsville, Northumberland to Wilkesbarre, and Danville to Williams- 
port and Blossburg, taking in all the villages on the route, carrying passengers and the 
United States mail. He had a partner in the business, and for several years they ran a 
packet boat on the canal until 1857, when the railroad was built. In 1860 he embarked 
in mercantile business which he continued with success until 1873, when he sold out 
and has since been employed as bookkeeper in the coal office of R. H. Woolley, sole 
agent for Conyngham & Co., of Danville. In 1849 Mr. Sheriff married Miss Martha Waters, 
of German origin, and five children were born to the union: Margaret, wife of A. G. Marr; 
William; Mary (deceased); Matilda, wife of H. J. Rupert, and Anna. Mr. Sheriff is a 
Democrat and has served as member of the town council of Danville. 

GIDEON M. SHOOP, lumberman, P. O. Danville, was born in Northumberland 
County, Penn., June 23, 1821, a son of George and Elizabeth (Cockley) Shoop, 
natives respectively of Cumberland and Dauphin Counties, Penn. Our subject is 
the youngest of a family of seven children, and attended the common schools 
of his native county until he was thirteen years old. He then went to Frank- 
lin County and learned the art of manufacturing French buhr mill stones, at which be 
worked for two years. He then went to Cumberland County, where he carried on the 
same business. He continued to carry on his trade until he came to Danville, in 1841, as 
collecting agent for several stage lines, and also embarked in the lumber business, dealing 
in and manufacturing lumber quite extensively, and owning several saw-mills. In 1846 
he rented the "Brady Hotel," repaired and improved it; added another story; changed 
the name to that of "Montour House," and conducted it for eighteen months. (The house 
is still the leading hotel in Danville.) Mr. Shoop'smain business, however, is the lumber 
trade. He purchases large tracts of land in the south and elsewhere, from which he cuts 
the limber and manufactures it into lumber. His residence, among the most beautiful 
and attractive in Montour County, was erected at a cost of about $24,000; he also owns 
four farms in Montour County, the half of one in Virginia, consisting of 367 acres, and 
half of one in Northumberland County of 180 acres. Mr. Shoop married December 2, 
1846, Amelia D., daughter of William Gearhart. She is of English and German origin 
and the motlier of four children, all deceased except one, William G., who is now engaged 
with bis father in the lumber business. Mr. Shoop is a member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church; is president of the board of trustees, a steward and a teacher in the Sabbath- 
school. In 1880 he was elected a lay delegate to the Central Pennsylvania Conference, and 
elected by that body a lay delegate to the general conference, which met in Cincinnati, 
Ohio, in May, 1880. Politically he is a Republican; is at present a member of the 
board of trustees of the Danville Insane Asylum; one of the directors of the Nail & 
Manufacturing Company; a director of the Bridge Company, and a director in the Danville 
National Bank, having served in that capacity longer than any other director, with a sin- 
gle exception. 

B. F. SHULTZ. M. D., Danville, was born in Columbia County, Penn., March 19, 
1828, a son of Peter and Sarah (Bobbins) Shultz, former of New Jersey, of German origin, 
and latter a native of Pennsylvania, of Scotch origin. They resided in Pennsylvania for 
many years, where they kept hotel, but in later life retired to the seclusion of farm life. 
They reared a family of nine children— eight sons and one daughter— and all maintained 
the honor of the family name. Our subject, the seventh in the family, obtained his early 
education in his native county, and subsequently attended the university at Philadelphia 



172 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

for a time. He afterward took up the study of medicine in Danville, in the office of Dr. 
Strawbrid^e (the latter one of the leadini? surgeons in this part of the State), and also 
studied with Dr. Pancost, of Philadelphia. He then entered Jefferson Medical College at 
the latter city, where he graduated with the degree of M. D. Subsequently he commenced 
the practice of his profession at Danville, where he has since been actively engaged, and 
has secured for himself a well acknowledged prominence in his profession. Dr. Shultz. 
has been twice married; first, in 1857, to Elizabeth, daughter of John Mowrer, and of Ger- 
man origin; she died in 1861, the mother of two children: Clarence (deceased) and Dora. 
Dr. ShuUz's second marriage took place in 1870, with Mary, daughter of John Heckard, 
and also of German origin; she has borne her husband four children: William C, Florence, 
Debora and Arminta. Politically the Doctor is a Republican. After the battle of Gettys- 
burg he went to that place and volunteered his services as medical attendant. Mrs. Shultz 
was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Her death occurred December 19, 1886, in the 
fortv-seventh year of her age. 

ROBERT S. SIMINGTON, M. D., of Danville, was born and reared on a backwoods 
farm in Lycoming County, Penn., when deer and wolves were numerous. He attended the 
usual log-cabin school common to a new country, to which he walked two miles. The school, 
hov^ever,had excellent teachers.and young Simington began the study of mathematics and 
Latin before entering the academy. He assisted his father in opening up farms, making 
brick and lumbering, rafting logs down the river to Marietta, Harrisburg and Columbia, 
his father being an active business man and owning large tracts of land. Our subject con- 
tinued his education at the academy at Milton, at McEwensville Academy, and at Lewisburg- 
University, then studied medicine with Dr. James Dougal at Milton, Penn., and graduated 
at the University of Pennsylvania in 1854 He at once began the practice of medicine in 
Danville. In the spring of 1861 he went into the army as surgeon of the Fourteenth P. V. I., 
and later was with the Ninety-third P. V. S. ; he was principally with the Army of the Poto- 
mac; was wounded at Malvern Hill, and resigned in Aug., 1862, returned home and has since 
been actively engaged in the practice of his profession. In 1873 he was elected associate 
judge for five years ; was re-elected in 1878 and in 1883, and is still serving ; was at one 
time elected burgess of Danville. December 28, 1854, Dr. Simington was married to Miss 
Regina Jane, a daughter of Hugh and Rebecca (Lemon) McWilliams, who were born near 
Mooresburg, Liberty Township'; Montour County. Hugh McWilliams was a large land 
owner and a prominent citizen ; served as treasurer of Columbia (now Montour) County, 
and was also postmaster. He was the eldest son of Robert and Jane (Curry). McWilliams 
of the vicinity of Mooresburg, Penn. She was the first white child born (1773) in the 
forks of the Susquehanna. She and her husband had three sons and two daughters r 
Hugh, Robert, John, Mary and Jane. Robert McWilliams, their father, was a son of 
Lieut. Hugh McWilliams and Rebecca (Dunwoody) McWilliams, who were Scotch- 
Irish Presbyterians, and emigrated from County Armagh, Ireland, settling in Northumber- 
land County, Penn., four miles below Danville. He was a lieutenant in the French and 
Indian war, and was killed by Indians in December, 1775. He and wife had one son, Robert, 
born in July, 1775, in Northumberland County ; he married Jane Curry, and they settled 
in Liberty Township. His father, Hugh McWilliams. was a son of Robert and Jane (Orr> 
McWilliams, natives of Scotlaml, who emigrated to the North of Ireland, then to Montour 
County. They had three sons and one daughter: Hugh, who married Rebecca Dunwoody; 
John, died a bachelor; Robert, married Ellen Johnson, and Jane, married Robert Curry, 
who was killed by the Indians June 9, 1780, near Danville. Robert was in the war of the 
Revolution, and was killed at Valley Forge, December 25, 1777. Dr. and Mrs. Simington 
are members of the Mahoning Presbyterian Church, and have had three daughters : Ger- 
trude, deceased wife of Calvin K. Leinbach; Miss Harriet Elizabeth, and Annie Jean. Dr. 
Simington is the eldest son of Benjamin and Ann (Irland) Simington; the former was 
born in Liberty Township, Montour Co., Penn., in 1805, a son of Robert Simington, a na- 
tive of Scotland, who immigrated to America in 1776, immediately joined the "Jersey 
BluesV and served with them through the war of the Revolution. He married Elizabeth 
Jacoby, of Northampton County, and'came at once to Montour County, took up land, and 
died here at the ripe old age of eighty-four years. His children are John, Peter, Robert, 
Benjamin, James, Mary, Elizabeth, Margaret and Sarah, all born near Mooresburg, Penn. 
Dr. Simington's mother was a daughter of John Irland, -who was born near Milton in 1773;, 
his father, David Irland, came from Scotland in 1772, settling near Milton. David Irlaud's 
children were Robert, David, John, William, Elizabetli and Anna. David Irland died in 1827, 
aged ninety years; his sons, Robert.David and John, settled on farms adjoining the old 
homestead, and died of old age. William removed to New York and settled on a farm; he 
was in the war of 1813. Elizabeth'married William Sanderson, of Milton, where she died; she 
reared a large family. Anna, unmarried, died of old age on the home farm. John married 
Margaret Latemer, of Northumberland County, and their issue were Ellen, born in 1801; 
James, born in 1803. Anna (the mother of Dr. Simington), born in 1805; Mary Ann, born in 
1807; John, born in 1809; William, born in 1811; Thomas, born in 1813, and Margaret, born 
in 1815. Benjamin and Ann (Irland) Simington were married January 28, 1829. Their chil- 
dren were Robert S., born May 10, 1831; Margaret Latemer, born May 16, 1836; Elizabeth 



DANVILLE. 173' 

Ellen, born May 32, 1843, died March 25, 1875 (she married Rev. James W. Boal, leaving 
one child); Anna, born August 16, 1850. Margaret Latemer Simington married Ellis 
Gundy, of Union County, Penn. 

ADOLF STEINBRENNER, insurance agent, Danville, was born in Germany, Janu- 
ary 2, 1834, a son of Michael Steinbrenner, who was a school-teacher in Germany, where 
he spent his life. Adolf is the fourth in a family of six children, and was reared in Ger- 
many, where he received his education, graduating from the university at Heidelberg, in 
1856. He obtained a position as bookkeeper and followed that vocation until coming to 
America in 1866. Arriving in this country he settled at Wilkesbarre, Penn., where he 
was employed as a bookkeeper for two years and a half, and subsequently came to Dan- 
ville, where he embarked in the insurance business, which he still follows, representing 
the following companies: Liverpool, London and Globe, Commercial Union of London, 
Phoenix of London and many others, and is well fitted for the business. Politically 
he is a Republican, was a notary public from 1882 to 1885, and is now clerk of the town 
council. He is a member of the Episcopal Church in which he is organist, and a member 
of the various Masonic fraternities, the L O. O. F. and the K. of P. 

REV. A. B. STILL, Danville, was born October 15, 1823, near Chester Springs, 
Chester Co., Penn., to Charles and Catharine (Sheldrich) Still, natives of Pennsylvania 
and of hardy German ancestry, and both lived to obtain over four-score years. Rev. A. 
B. is the eleventh of twelve children (all of whom grew to maturity), and was reared on 
the farm, the pursuits of which his father followed. At the age of sixteen he was con- 
verted and united with the Vincent Baptist Church, of which his parents, brothers and 
sisters were members. At the age of seventeen he began to learn the miller's trade, hav- 
ing spent the previous years working on the farm in summer and attending the public 
schools in the winter seasons. After spending six years at the milling business he became 
fully convinced that it was his duty to become a preacher, and in October, 1846, left home 
to prepare himself for his life work. He entered the academic department of the Madison 
University of New York State, and there completed his academic studies; thence, in the 
fall of 1848, he went to the university at Lewisburg, Penn., entered the collegiate depart- 
ment, and graduated in 1853 with the second honors of his class. Soon after he took 
charge of the Logan Valley Baptist Church, in Blair County, Penn., where he had an 
opportunity to study theology, having the use of the library of the Rev. A. K. Bell. 
August 15, 1854, he married Miss Hannah, daughter of John Deen, Sr., of Danville, and 
shortly after accepted a call to the Huntingdon Baptist Church, and entered upon his 
labors in the autumn. There his duties were arduous, preaching three times on Sunday, 
and also through the week, and spent the greater part of the winter in laboring in pro- 
tracted meetings in his own field, and assisting at meetings in neighboring churches. His 
labors were greatly blessed, and large numbers were converted and added to the church. 
He remained pastor for over four years, during which time he was instrumental in organ- 
izing the Spruce Creek Baptist Church. In the fall of 1858, at the earnest desire of the 
Centre Baptist Association, he entered upon the work of missionary, and spent over a 
year in earnest and self-denying labor with the feeble destitute churches and in destitute 
places. The calls for his labors were numerous and pressing, and were abundantly blessed 
in the salvation of many souls. He next accepted a call to the First Baptist Church at 
Danville, and entered upon his duties as pastor April 1, i860. Here he remained for two 
years, amid ihe excitement of tlie civil war. He then became pastor of the Lawrence- 
ville Baptist Church, in Chester County, in April, 1862, where he had a field of labor which 
taxed all his energies, and, at that time, though he never entered the army, took a deep 
interest in supporting the Government. Having spent two years there he accepted a call 
to the Pitt's Grove Baptist Church, Salem County, N. J., in the spring of 1864, where he 
reaped abundant harvests in the building up of the church and the salvation of sinners. 
In the spring of 1867 he returned to Danville that he might give some attention to his 
wife's estate, and spent the greater part of the following seven years in preaching for the 
destitute churches in the Northumberland association. During that time he was instru- 
mental in reorganizing the Sunbury Baptist Church, and also of organizing the First 
Baptist Church of Shamokin Town. In the spring of 1874 he accepted a call, and became 
pastor of the Marlton Baptist Church, New Jersey, where he remained about four years, 
and in April, 1878, entered on his labors as pastor of the Bethlehem Baptist Church, 
Hunterdon County, N. J., where he continued for eight years. During that period he 
gave much time to Sunday-school and prohibition work. In the fall of 1885 he was 
chosen moderator of the Central New Jersey Baptist Association, at Baptist Town, and 
in the spring of 1886 closed his labors with the Bethlehem Church and returned to Dan- 
ville. Here he now resides and intends to spend his time in missionary work in the 
country around. He had two sons. The elder is living and deeply interested in religious 
work, having been converted at the age of ten j'ears. 

JAMES D. STRAWBRIDGE, A. M., M. D., ex-member of Congress, Danville, a 
native of Montour County, Penn., born on the homestead farm of his father in Liberty 
Township, April 7, 1834, is the son of James and Mary Dale Strawbridge, the former born in 
Chester County and the latter in Union County. James Strawbridge came with his parents 



174 BIOGRArHICAL SKETCHES: 

when a child to Montour County just before the close of the Revolutionary war, and settled 
in what was then called Mahonins; Township, Northumberland County, now Liberty 
Township, Montour County, where he married. A farmer and by trade a tanner, he 
owned and carried on for many years the lirst tannery between Harrisburg and the lakes. 
This tannery was built bj' his father, Col. Thomas 8trawbridge, who was also born in 
Chester Countj% Penn, where he was reared. He was an ardent supporter of the struggle 
by tlie colonies for independence; was commissioned a captain by the committee of 
safety in May, 1776, and in September, 1776, was a member of the first constitutional con- 
vention; later became lieutenant-colonel, and subsequently colonel, and was detailed to 
procure and superintend the manufacture of arms during the later years of the war. Shortly 
before its close he moved to Northumberland County. In 1784 and 1785 he was judge of 
the courts, and was also a member of the first Legislature of Pennsylvania. He was mar- 
ried in Philadelphia to Margaret Montgomery, a sister of Gen. William Montgomery, of 
Danville. Col. Thomas Strawbridge and wife were among the original members and aided 
in organizing the old Chillisquaque Presbyterian Church. He died about 1814; his widow 
survived him a number of years, and died at the ripe old age of ninety-nine years and ten 
months, having never suffered a day's sickness from the time of her marriage to that of 
her death. 

Col. Thomas Strawbridge had four children who lived to mature age: Christianna, 
who married Gen. Daniel Montgomery; Mary, married to Gen. Giffin; Alexander, 
who never married, and James (father of the subject of our sketch), who married Mary 
Dale, and had seven children, five of whom lived to maturity: Margaret M., married to 
James McCreight, of Union County; Ann D., married first to Sanxuel Shannon, of North- 
umberland, and afterward to William C. Lawson, of Milton, Penn. ; Thomas, who married 
Mrs. Elizabeth Dale, nee Miss Bossier, and now resides at Lewisburg. Penn. ; James D., 
the subject of this sketch, who married, in 18J51, Emily F. (daughter of the late William 
Agnew, of Philadelphia), and she dying in 1853, he married, in 1872, Ellen V., daughter 
of Stuben Butler, of Wilkesbarre, Penn., and granddaughter of Col. Zebulon Butler, of 
the Continental army, who commanded the Wyoming settlers and troops at the massacre 
of Wyoming; and Samuel D., colonel of the Second Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery during 
the war of the Rebellion, and who now resides in Philadelphia. 

Dr. Strawbridge received his preparatory education at the Danville 'Academy; entered 
Princeton College in 1841, and graduated in 1844. He commenced the study of medicine in 
Danville, with Dr. William H. Magill; afterward studied with Dr. Wm. Pepper, of Phila- 
delphia, and entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania in the fall 
of the same year, graduating in the spring of 1847, when he at once commenced the prac- 
tice of medicine in Danville, continuing in the same until 1860. In 1861 he entered the 
army as brigade surgeon, being first assigned to duty with the division of Gen. Joseph 
J. Reynolds, at Cheat Mountain in western Virginia. After the resignation of Gen. 
Reynolds he was for a short time at Wheeling with Gen. Rosecrans, and was there 
transferred by Gen. McClellan to the West. At St. Louis he was ordered by Gen. Halleck 
to join the army of the southwest as medical director on the staff of Gen. Curtis, and 
reached Cassville just after the battle of Pea Ridge. Here he concentrated all the sick 
and wounded, transporting them as rapidly as they became able to be moved to St. Louis. 
After completing the removal of over 3,500 sick and wounded a distance of over 300 miles, 
he reported to Gen. Halleck's adjutant-general in St. Louis, and was then ordered to join 
a portion of the army of the southwest then on the way to Corinth. Reaching the camp 
of the Army of the Mississippi at noon of the day on which the rebels evacuated Corinth, 
he reported first to Gen. Jefferson C. Davis, and was a few days later transferred to the 
staff of Gen. Rosecrans. In consequence of continued ill health, he tendered his resigna- 
tion, which both Rosecrans and Halleck declined to approve; but to retain his services in 
the army an arrangement was made with Dr. Chas. McDougal, medical director on Gen. 
Halleck's staff, by which he was assigned to the organization of general hospitals at 
Jackson, Tenn. Under certain exceptional provisions, Dr. Strawbridge consented not to 
press his resignation, and August 1, 1863, entered upon his duties at Jackson, Tenn., under 
instructions to have nothing further to do with the district commander, Gen. John A. Mc- 
Clernand, than to report his orders and make requisitions on him for supplies, which ar- 
rangement soon after culminated in the removal of the latter from his command of the 
district. Notwithstanding the many difficulties in the way of the hospitals at Jackson, 
the Doctor took care of nearly all the sick and wounded from the battles of Hatche, 
Bolivar, luka and Corinth. When the army began its movement toward Vicksburg, Dr. 
Strawbridge was instructed to procure trains and remove the patients to Columbus as fast 
as the hospital boats could transport them north, and while on this duty he was directed 
to look after the construction of the hospital boat "Nashville," then being rebuilt 
at Columbus for a receiving hospital, and was afterward assigned to the comple- 
tion of the "Nashville," with directions to push the work as rapidly as pos- 
sible and take the vessel down to Vicksburg. On the 1st of March he reached 
Young's Point, and on the 3d patients were received on board. By the 6th he 
had received and taken care of 1,900 sick men. A large convalescent hospital was 



DANVILLE. 175 

established at Milliken's Bend, to which a considerable portion of these men were trans- 
ferred, and the "Nashville" moved up to that point. Here, the "Nashville," which had 
been designed only for a receiving hospital, became, against the protest of Dr. Straw- 
bridge, a permanent general hospital and for three months contained an average of about 
1,000 patients, most of them the most sick of the army. The assistant surgeon-general, 
Dr. R. C. Wood, on the hospital steamer, "City of Memphis, " on his return from an in- 
spection in the field, where he had gathered some 200 of all classes of patients, ordered 250 
sick to be transferred from the "Nashville" to the " City of Memphis, " and that none 
were to be sent who were likely to die on the passage. Dr. Strawbridge remonstrated 
against this, and urged the removal of the very sick. Eighteen deaths occurred on the 
passage up to Memphis, whether from those gathered up from the field or from those 
sent from the "Nashville, "was not known, but for this Dr. Strawbridge received a severe 
reprimand together with a charge of having disobeyd orders. In answer to this the 
Doctor immediately sent in his resignation with a letter of reply. Dr. Mills and Gen. 
Grant on receiving the resignation determined to sustain Dr. Strawbridge against the 
assistant surgeon-general. Dr. Charles Sutherland, now senior surgeon on the active list 
of the United States Army, then assistant medical director, was sent to Dr. Strawbridge 
with a request from Gen. Grant that he would withdraw his resignation as a personal 
favor to himself, if not permanentl3% at least until after, the termination of the siege of 
Vicksburg. This Dr. Strawbridge declined to do, and assured Gen. Grant that he did not 
desire to leave the service, but that he could, under no circumstances, serve longer under 
the assistant surgeon-general. The resignation was forwarded endorsed: 

"Respectfully disapproved, as Surgeon Strawbridge's services cannot be spared from 
this army. 

"Mad: Mills, Medical Director. 

"By order of U. S. Grant, major-general commanding." 

As soon as this could be returned from the war department. Dr. Strawbridge was re- 
lieved from charge of the "Nashville," and ordered to report in person to U. S. Grant. 
While making up his accounts for transfer of property, etc., to his successor, Dr. Straw- 
bridge was prostrated with congestive chills, and for a time his life was despaired of, but 
he finally rallied, and, as soon as able to travel, reported to Dr. Mills at Gen. Grant's head- 
quarters. Still being too feeble for duty, however, he was directed to return to the river 
till convalescent. On Julj^ 7, Dr. Strawbridge was sent for by Gen. Grant, and assigned 
to examination of soldiers in hospitals, etc., for the purpose of discharge assignment 
to the invalid corps under the following order and verbal instructions: 

" Surgeon Strawbridge is herebj^ directed to visit Young's Point, Millikensbend and 
elsewhere and discharge all such soldiers as in his judgment he may see fit." 

The Doctor's health having again thoroughly broken down, Dr. Ormsby, with whom 
he had his quarters in Vicksburg, seeing that if he remained longer in Vicksburg, he 
could not recover, went to Gen. Grant on August 14, and obtained an order directing him 
to go on board the hospital steamer "R. C. Wood," which left Vicksburg that night, and 
report by letter to the war department from his home. This was very much against his 
own wishes; he had been offered the medical directorship on the dividing up of the army 
at Vicksburg. of any part he might desire. In October, he was ordered before a military 
commission in Washington, which recommended a longer furlough. In November he 
was sent before a military board at Annapolis, who disaproved his request to be ordered 
to duty and recommended his being sent to hospital for treatment. He then asked to be 
mustered out of the service; this was also disapproved by the board, and light duty recom- 
mended. He was then assigned to duty in the provost-marshal-general department, and 
sent by Gen. Frey to Philadelphia, and afterward to Harrisburg, to superintend the ex- 
amination of recruits. In May, 1864, finding his health nearly restored, he again asked 
for duty in the field, and on the 18th of May, was ordered to report for duty to Gen. B. 
F. Butler, at Bermuda Hundred. Immediately after his arrival he was directed to fol- 
low up the Eighteenth Army Corps, then on the way up York River, to join the army 
under Grant, near White House. On his arrival at that place the battle of Cold Harbor 
had just been fought, in which the Eighteenth Army Corps bore the principal part and 
lost nearly 5,000 men. The base hospital for the corps was being organized, and, finding 
his services likely to be of more value there than at the front, remained there on duty as 
an operating surgeon for five days, during which time he was continuously employed 
from daylight until dark, performing man}' of the most important operations. On June 
8, he reported to Gen. Baldy Smith, and was temporarily assigned to the second division 
under Gen. Martindale. The Eighteenth Corps was at that time withdrawing from the 
trenches, and, in the night following, marched back to White House, and were from there 
transferred by boats to the Appomattox River. Immediately after their arrival, the 
Eighteenth Corps commenced its advance on Petersburg. Dr. Strawbridge was here trans- 
ferred to the medical directorship of the corps, relieving Dr. Suckley, \\ ho was trans- 
ferred to the medical inspectorship of the Army of the James. Here Dr. Strawbridge re- 
organized the medical department and ambulance corps, and brought them into a thorough 
state of efficiency. 



176 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

October 27, 1864, while the Eighteenth Corps was making a movement on the extreme 
right of the line in front of Richmond, Dr. Strawbridge was captured by rebel scouts, 
while on the flanks of the corps looking for a road by which he expected to send back 
his ambulance trains. He was retained a prisoner in Libby until paroled January 30, 
1865. Returning to report at Annapolis, at the termination of his parole furlough, he 
was subpoenaed by the United States District Court, and had to return to Philadelphia, 
where he was temporarily assigned to duty as president of a medical examining board. 
Dr. John Campbel, medical director of the department of Pennsylvania, made applica- 
tion to the war department to have his assignment made permanent, but this was refused 
on the ground that application had previously been made by Gen. John Gibbon to have 
Dr. Strawbridge assigned to his staff, as medical director of the Eighteenth Army Corps, 
and by Gen. E. O. C. Ord, as medical director of the Army of the James. Dr. Strawbridge 
remained on duty in Philadelphia, on the board until his services were no longer required 
in that capacity; was breveted for meritorious services, and, September 4, was mustered 
out of the service of the United States. 

In the fall of 1867 our subject again commenced the practice of medicine in Danville. 
In 1873 he was elected to the XLIII Congress of the United States, and on the day 
following the election he was married to Ellen V. Butler. After one term of Congress, 
the Doctor resumed his practice (which is almost exclusively confined to surgery) in Dan- 
ville. The Doctor is a member of the State Medical Society, member of the American 
Medical Association, American Academy of Medicine, and of the section on Military Sur- 
gery of the International Medical Congress. 

DAVID F. STROH, carpenter and millwright, was born in Livingston County, N. 
Y., March 1, 1830, a son of Jonathan (a farmer) and Elizabeth (Oberdorf) Stroh, natives 
of Pennsylvania, and of German origin, former of whom died in 1838. Our subject, the 
youngest of the family, was reared on the farm in Northumberland County, where he 
attended school. Later he began to learn the millwright's trade, a vocation he has fol- 
lowed in connection with carpenter work, which he has continued since 1847. meeting 
with success. He married, in 1850, Miss C. A. Voris, sister of E. C. Voris, and three chil- 
dren have blessed their union: Edwin, Charles and Rebecca. Mr. and Mrs. Stroh are 
members of the Lutheran Church at Danville, of which he is a trustee. Politically he is 
a Republican, and has served as judge of election. He is Past Grand of the I. O. O. F. 

J. SWEISFORT, D. D. S., Danville, was born in Berks County, Penn., December 
19, 1839, a son of Jonas and Maria (Whitman) Sweisfort, natives also of Pennsylvania and 
of German origin. The father was a hotel-keeper in early life, later a lumber dealer, 
was three times married, rearing four children. Our subject is the third child and grew 
to manhood in his native county where he received his education. Early in life he chose 
dentistry as his profession, but when the war broke out he enlisted in the Third Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteer Cavalry in Company C, and served as duty sergeant. He was a faithful 
soldier, and on his return home studied dentistry in the Pennsylvania Dental College at 
Philadelphia, where he graduated in 1866. The same year he came to Danville, where he 
has since been actively engaged in the practice of his profession. He is a Democrat 
politically, a member of I. O. O. F., both of the subordinate lodge and the Encampment; 
is also a member of the G. A. R., and since 1879 has been a member of the National 
Guards. In that year he was elected first lieutenant of that body; in 1880 was elected 
captain; September 24, 1886, he was elected major and is still serving as such. In 1867 he 
married Haanah, daughter of John Everett, a native of Pennsylvania and of German 
origin. They have two children: Lucy E. and Gussie May. The Doctor and Mrs. Sweis- 
fort are members of the Reformed Church, in which he has served as elder and deacon, 
also superintendent of the Sunday-school for three years. 

WILLIAM TWIST (deceased) -vas born at Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, Eng- 
land, August 18, 1813, to Laurence (a farmer) and Elizabeth (Redell) Twist, natives 
also of England, former of whom died in England; their family consisted of seven 
children, six of whom grew to maturity. Our subject, the eldest son, was reared on a 
farm and attended the common schools of his native place. In 1845 he immigrated to 
America to engage in the rolling-mill business, at which he had worked in England, 
being a proficient workman. While still in his native country he was prevailed upon to 
come to Danville, Penn., and on his arrival at the latter place immediately commenced 
work, and helped to make the first "T" railroad iron in the United States, a rail that now 
connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Danville sometimes claims the honor of 
making the first railroad iron in the United States; however Mr. Twist made the first "T" 
railroad iron in this country, and has been engaged in the rolling-mill business for over half 
a centufy. He was superintendent of the old "Rough and Ready" Iron Works for seven 
years; also superintendent for a like period of the works which subsequently merged into 
the North Branch Steel Works, in which he was a stockholder, but after the failure of 
Mr. Peter Baldy,our subject was not connected with the firm in any way, save as inspector 
of railroad iron from the railroad companies. Mr. Twist married in 1849 Susan A. 
Gunton (a native of England, and a member of the Episcopal Church), by whom he had 
four children, all of whom survive him. Mr. Twist was a strict Republican politically, 



DANVILLE. 177 

and has served as a member of the town council: was also a member of the I. O. O. F., 
and a man of unimpeachable character. 

T. O. VAN ALEN is one of the leadins: businessmen and manufacturers of Danville. 
He was born in Chatham Centre, Cokimbia Co., N. Y., August 19, 1819. His pa- 
ternal great-grandfather emigrated from Holland to New York. His son, Gilbert 
Van Alen, was born in Golumbia County, N. Y., and followed farming; married Miss 
Annis Moore, of Columbia County, and to them were born two children: Reuben and 
Catharine. Catharine married Mr. John J. Van Volkenburg, a farmer and merchant of 
Columbia County, N. Y. Reuben married Miss Mary, a daughter of Timothy and Sallie 
Oakley, and pursued farming and merchandising at Chatham Centre. They had three 
sons and one daughter: Gilbert R., Timothy O., Sallie O. and Lewis O. The daughter 
died aged thirteen years. Our subject, T. O. Van Alen, was eight years old when his 
parents moved to Salisbury Mills, Orange Co., N. Y. He attended the common schools 
until ten years old, when his father employed a private teacher. At twelve years of age 
Mr. Van Alen entered the academy at Kinderhook, Columbia Co., N. Y., remaining there 
two years, during which time he resided with the family of Dr. Henry Van Dyke. Sub- 
sequently he returned to Orange County and attended the school of Nathaniel Stark, at 
Goshen, one year. At fifteen he went to New York City and served an apprenticeship in 
a hardware store until 1839, when he returned home and engaged in the manufacture of 
paper and agricultural implements, and merchandising with his father, until 1844, when 
he came to Danville to represent the interests of Murdock, Leavitt & Co. in the Montour 
Iron Works, and act as the resident agent of the company. During this time he built what 
was known as the Company Store and in 1846 engaged in merchandising, associated with 
individual stockholders of the company under the firm name of T. O. Van Alen & Co. In 
1866, in connection with Geo. M. Leslie and A. H. Voris, he built a nail factory in North- 
umberland, Northumberland County, and is,with his sons, still engaged in the manufacture 
of iron and nails. Mr. Van Alen has always taken an active interest in Danville, and 
ranks among her leading manufacturers. It is a fact worthy of me.ntion that he has kept 
his mills running through all depressions. He gives steady employment to about 300 men. 
He was married in 1846 to Miss Ann Catharine, daughter of Cornelius Gari'etson, iron 
master. Mr. and Mrs. Van Alen are members of the Presbyterian Church, and he was 
president of the board of trustees for a number of years, and for many years a trustee of 
the Danville State Hospital for the insane, and director of First National Bank. They 
have had eight children, five living, viz.: Cornelius G., Gilbert R., A. Oakley, Edmond 
G. and George L., all active business men except George L., a Presbyterian clergyman. 
Mr. Van Alen's father came to Danville after retiring from business, and resided with his 
son, T. O. Van Alen, until his death, a man of more than ordinary ability and intelligence. 

HENRY VINCENT, president of the Danville stove manufactory, was born in Eng- 
land, December 25, 1844, a son of Job and Lydia (Roberts) Vincent, natives of England. 
The father was a mason by trade; immigrated with his family to America in 1852;landed in 
the city of New York, and soon after settled in Montour County, Penn. Our subject is 
the eldest of seven children, and received a limited education in the common schools of 
his district. At the age of ten years he commenced work in the rolling-mills, which he 
followed as his principal business until he was thirty-two years of age. He worked on 
contract for several years, and during that time also found opportunity to study law, and 
took a course at Columbia College, New York, where he graduated in 1878. He was 
admitted to the bar of New York, and the same year to that of Montour County, Penn. 
Subsequently he commenced the practice of his profession at Danville in 1879, and entered 
into partnership with James Scarlet, which continued for two years. Mr. Vincent then 
conceived the idea of establishing the Danville stove manufactory, and on the organiza- 
tion of a stock company, was elected its president. This business has proved a success, 
for which it is largely indebted to the energy and determination of Mr. Vincent. In 1863 
he married Sarah, daughter of William Taylor, She is also a native of England, born 
near the birthplace of her husband; is three months his junior; came to America the 
same year as Mr. Vincent, and both located at Danville the same year, where they met for 
the first time, and were afterward married. Eight children were born to their union, 
seven of whom now survive: Elizabeth, Thaddeus, Henry, Thomas, Victor, Robert and 
Walter. Mrs. Vincent is a member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Vincent has served as 
a member of the council of Danville. In 1862 he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred 
and Thirty-Second Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and participated in several battles, 
among which were Antietam, South Mountain, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. He 
was never wounded or taken prisoner, but had many narrow escapes, five balls entering 
his clothing; at the battle of Antietam his coat sleeve was completely shot off, but his per- 
son was uninjured. 

E. C. VORIS (not in business at present). Danville, was born in what is now Liberty 
Township, Montour (then Columbia) County, January 4, 1826, a son of James and Anna 
{Gray) Voris, the latter a native of Ireland and of Scotch-Irish origin. James Voris, a 
native of Pennsylvania-and of Holland descent, was a carpenter and contractor, and car- 
ried on business in Liberty Township, this county, until fifty years of age, when he re- 

lOA 



178 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

moved to Danville and retired from active labor. Our subject is the eleventh in a family 
of fourteen children; vras reared on the farm, and;|at the age of sixteen commenced to learn 
the carpenter's trade with Mr. Joseph Diehl, serving a regular apprenticeship, and con- 
tinued with Mr. Diehl until engaging with the Montour Iron Company. Here he was 
employed in the Montour Iron Works for thirty-seven years, twelve years of which time 
he was superintendent of the machine shops. He superintended the erection of the ma- 
chinery of the Danville Manufactory & Nail Works, of Danville, and is one of the stock- 
holders of that company. He has been an active business man nearly all his life, but 
since 1884 has led a retired life. He married in 1855 Juiia, daughter of Benjamin Troxell. 
of Northumberland County, Penn., a farmer and of German origin. Mr. and Mrs. Voris 
are the parents of the following named children: Charles E., a salesman in New York 
City; William A., a machinist in the employ of the Danville nail-mills; Frank L., a clerk 
in a store at Danville, and James H., attending school. Mr. and Mrs. Voris are members 
of the Presbyterian Church, of the board of trustees of which he is president. Mr. Voris 
was chief burgess of Danville in 1861, has served several years as member of the school 
board of Danville, and is overseer of the poor of Mahoning Township. He is a Democrat. 

W. H. N. WALKER, general merchant, Danville, was born in that place. October 17, 
1854, a son of William C. and Christianna (Hileman) Walker, the latter a native of Penn- 
sylvania and of German origin. The father was born in Ireland, came to America 
when eighteen years old, and has since lived at Danville, where he now resides at 
the advanced age of seventy-six years. Our subject is the second child and oldest son, 
and grew to manhood in Danville, where he was also educated. For a time he fol- 
lowed farming, which did not prove congenial, and then he engaged in work in a brick- 
yard for four years, and subsequently clerked for Mr. A. J. Ammerman in the same store 
which he (subject) at present occupies. There he remained four years, and in 1883 bought 
out the business and has since managed it. He employs two clerks, runs a delivery wagon, 
and does a thriving business. In 1876 he married Jennie, daughter of William S. Toland, 
and the children born to the union are Eva I., Frank J., Arthur P. and Harry T. Mrs. 
Walker is a member of the Lutheran Church at Danville. Politically Mr. Walker is a 
Democrat; is a member of the school board, a member of the K. of L. and of the Masonic 
fraternity. 

W. R. WELLIVER, merchant, Danville, was born February 3, 1834, in Jerseytown, 
Columbia Co., Penn., to Abraham and Martha (Winder) Welliver, natives of Pennsylvania. 
His grandfather, a farmer, was an early settler of Columbia County, where his son (subject's 
father) was born, and where he followed shoemaking in early life, but later farming. Our 
subject, the eldest of nine children, was reared on the farm and attended the district 
school, and also the academy at Millville, Columbia County. He was a diligent student 
and early began to teach, which profession he followed in the winter, and farmed in the 
summer for eight years, mostly in the country, but also several terms in Washingtonville. 
In 1863 he carne to Danville and commenced business as a dealer in books and stationery, 
and so continued until 1867. In that year he began his present business (general merchan- 
dising), in which he has a good patronage, and keeps a large supply of goods. Mr. Welliver 
has been twice married; first in 1858 to Miss Sue. daughter of Peter Wagner, and of Ger- 
man origin. She died in 1873, the mother of the following children: Lloyd, married and 
a merchant in Exchange, Penn.; Hal C, also married, and a merchant in Mooresburg, 
Penn.; Stewart, a clerk in his father's store, and Charles, at school. In 1878 Mr. Welliver 
married Adelaide Condon, a native of Philadelphia, Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Welliver are 
members of the Baptist Church. He is a Democrat, but votes the Independent ticket. 

S. J. WELLIVER, of the firm of Welliver <k Cole, wholesale and retail hardware 
dealers, Danville, Penn., and East Main Street, Nanticoke, Penn., was born in Montour 
County, February 3, 1841. His parents, Abraham and Martha (Winder) Welliver, were 
natives of Pennsylvania, whose ancestors were among the early settlers of the State. His 
father, a shoemaker by trade, followed farming all liis life, and reared a family of nine 
children, of whom S. J. is the sixth. Our subject attended the common schools and 
also Greenwood Seminary at Millville, Penn. His first occupation was teaching school, 
which profession he followed for six years. He then came to Danville and, in company 
with his brother, established a book and stationery store, and two years later merged 
their business into a general store. They carried on a successful general mercantile trade 
for several years, when Mr. Welliver sold his interest to his brother, and subsequently took 
charge of the hardware store of Charles H. Waters, until the latter's death. He then 
clerked in a hardware store one year when he embarked in business on his own account, 
and a year later formed a partnership with James McCormick, which continued for five 
years, when our subject bought out Mr. McCormick's interest. In 188S, the present firm 
of Welliver & Cole was established. Mr. Welliver married, in 1866, Elizabeth, daughter 
of Simeon Best, and of English origin. Mrs. Welliver has borne her husband eight 
children, seven of whom survive: Warren W. has charge of the branch store at Nanticoke; 
Mary Martha Carrie, Bertha, Clarence, Lulu, Harry, Jessie J. (deceased), and Frances. 
Mrs. Welliver is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mr. Welliver of the Bap- 
tist. In 1865 he enlisted in the One Hundred and Fourth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infan- 



DANVILLE. 179 

try, and served until the close of the war. He is a member of the I. 0.0. F., of Danville. 
In politic s be is a Democrat. 

GEORGE W. WEST, surveyor and civil engineer, Danville, was burn in Delaware 
County, N. Y., September 80, 1818, a son of William and Eliza (Ko^ers) West. His 
mother was a native of the same county, a daughter of Hobert Rogers, who was for many 
years a sea captain. William Wei^t was born in Schoharie County, N. Y., of English 
descent, a blacksmith by trade, and was twice married, having two' children by his first 
■wife. George W. is a child of the first w ife and was educated m the common schools and 
seminary of his native county; subsequently attended Wyoming Seminary, being one of 
the first students at that institution, and while there studied surveying. His first employ- 
ment was school-teaching, at which he remsiiued six years. In 1845 he came to Montour 
County (then Columbia), and when Columbia County was organized he was appointed 
county surveyor. Since then he has served in that capacity and has been largely engaged 
in looking up original lines. He has been employed as surveyor in fifteen or twenty 
counties of Pennsylvania, and has run a great many lines in the coal regions to settle 
disputes. He served twenty-four years as clerk of tlie countv commissioners, since he has 
been surveyor of Montour County. In 1854 he married Catherine Ann, daughter of John 
Ease, of German origin. To Mr. and Mrs. West eight children have been born, six of 
whom are now living: Charles, a resident of Chicago, 111. ; Nellie E., wife of OliverDeihl; 
William K., attorney, Danville; Louise; George M."; assistant city engineer at Chicago 111.' 
and Isaac Dewitt, a school-teacher. Mr. and Mrs. West are membpVs of the Presbyterian 
Church. Politically he is a Democrat, and has been city engineer for Danville since 1851 

W. C. WILLIAMS, proprietor of the White Horse Hotel, Danville, was there borii 
July 11, 1856, a son of William and Martha (Philips) Williams, who were natives of Eng- 
land, and who settled in Danville in 1847. Mrs. Williams' father served in the battle of 
Trafalgar, under the command of Admiral Nelson, and lost a limb in that famous engage- 
ment; he and his wife were born the same year, lived tobe ninety-nine yearsold, and died 
■within a few months of each other. Our subject's father was a farmer in early life, 
but later kept a hotel in Danville, and at the time of his deaih, in 1882, was the oldest 
hotel- keeper in the place. He was attentive to business and succeeded in acquiring a 
goodly share of this world's goods. His widow and two children survive him. Of the 
latter W. C. is the younger and grew to manhood in Danville, where lie was educated 
and very naturally drifted inio tLie hotel business, and, since the death of his father, has 
conducted the " White Horse." In 1877 he married Clara, daughter of Joseph Sh'ultz 
who was born in Pennsylvania of German origin. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have one chili 
William J. Politically Mr. Williams is a Republican. 

LEWIS E. WOODS, dealer in boots and shoes, Danville, was born in Northumber- 
land County, Penn., August 27, 1844, to J. M. and Mary (Evans) Woods, natives of Penn- 
sylvania, the latter of Welsh origin. The father, who was of Irish origin, ■was a dealer 
in boots and shoes, which business appears to have been followed by the family for many 
generations back. He embarked in business in 1857, at Danville, where he died Novem- 
ber 30, 1878. He and his wife had a family of five sons and five daughters, and five chil- 
dren still survive. Our subject was educated in the common schools, and at the age of 
thirteen entered his father's store as clerk, where he remained until attaining his major- 
ity. He then went west and engaged as clerk in a dry goods store, until he succeeded in 
saving about $200, when he returned to Danville and embarked in his present business, in 
which he has been very successful, being a first-class salesman. He has occupied the 
same store since 1869. February 23, 1869, he married Emma, daughter of Christian Lau- 
bach, one of the oldest and most prominent merchants of Danville. Their children are 
Nelson, Mattie, Howard and Clarence. Mr. and Mrs. Woods are members of the Method- 
ist Church, of which he is a trustee, and is also a member of the K. of P. In politics he 
is a Republican. Mr. Woods regards the year 1869 as the eventful one of his life; in Feb- 
ruary of that year he was married; in March he embarked in his present business, and in 
December his first child was born. 

S. AUGUSTUS YORKS, assistant cashier of the First National Bank, Danville, was 
born in this place February 10, 1853, a son of Samuel and Mary Ann (West) Yorks, na- 
tives of Pennsylvania and of English origin. The grandfather," also named Samuel,' was 
an early settler in this part of Pennsylvania and an ofiicer in the war of 1812. Our sub- 
ject's father was a prominent man, first a Whig and later a Republican, and the leadmg 
spirit in establishing the First National Bank of Danville. When the bank was organ- 
ized he was elected a director and also president, which position he occupied until his 
death in 1878. Our subject is the fourth of five ciiildren; was reared in Danville, where 
he ■was educated in the public schools and the academy, and since he was seventeen years 
of age has been employed m the First National Bank. He is now assistant cashier. In 
December, 1875, he married Cornelia Page Hancock, damihter of William Hancock and 
of English origin. She has borne her husband two children: Samuel and Mary. Mr. 
Yorks is a member of the Presbyterian Church and secretary of the Sabbath school. He 
is a Republican, has served six years as a member of the town council of Danville and i* 
treasurer of the R. A. in that place. Mrs. Yorks is a member of the Epitcjpal Cliu:ch. 



180 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



CHAPTER XV. 
ANTHONY TOWNSHIP. 

B. F. ADAMS, fanner, P. O, Exchange, was born April 14, 1842, sou of Thomas and 
Mary (McGonigle) Adams, both now deceased. Thomas Adams, the paternal grandfather 
of our subject, came to this countj^ early, and settled near Danville. Thomas Adams, 
father of our subject, came to this county with his parents, and after marriage removed 
to where B. F. now lives. His father owned a large tract of land containing between 300 
and 400 acres, and he divided that among his three sons, Thomas, William and John, 
Thomas getting the farm where our subject now lives. Thomas and Mary Adams were the 
parents of eleven children: Margaret J., Hannah N., Samuel and B. F. in Anthony Town- 
ship, Montour County; Mary E. Meyer, in Kylertown; John (deceased), Houtzdale, Clear- 
field County; Sarah Soserman (deceased). White Deer Mills, Union Co.; Capt W. Y., at 
Lock Haven, Centre County; Susan A. Brittain, in Muncy, Lycoming County; Thomas and 
Daniel, in Mercer County, 111. The father died November 36, 1846, and his widow survived 
him until June 18, 1874. They are buried in the old Derry Church graveyard. Our sub- 
ject came into possession of his farm of 163 acres in 1875. He was married in 1868 to 
Miss Elizabeth Caroline, daughter of Barnard and Catharine (Focht) Renn, and a native 
of Lycoming County; her mother died July 10, 1883. When Mr. Adams was married he 
lived one year at his father-in-law's, teaching school one term at Vandine and one term 
at Ball's schoolhouse, and then removed to beyond Hughsville, Penn., where he lived one 
year, railroading on the P. & E. From there he removed to the other side of Hughsville, 
and there resided three years, farming for Peter Reader, and then removed to his present 
location. Mr. and Mrs. Adams are the parents of seven children: Ulysses Renn, John 
Brittain, Mary Catharine, Timothy Oliver, Daniel McGonigle, Estella Blanche and Ora 
Mabel. ' Mr. Adams and wife are members of Moreland Grange, No. 775, P. of H. He has 
held the position of tax collector for Anthony Township since the spring of 1886. In 
politics he is a Democrat. 

JACOB ALBECK, farmer, P. O. Muncy, was born in the kingdom of Wurtemburg 
(now the empire of Germany), August 4,1823, son of Michael and Rosanna(Hoss) Albeck, 
former of whom was a farmer in the old country. In 1830 they came to America in a 
sailing vessel, and after a voyage of forty-two days, lauded at New York. They re- 
mained there long enough to buy a horse, and, with a wagon brought over from the old 
country, they started by wagon road, and eventually landed on the Muncy Hills, with 
their eight children. " Tlie names of these children are Gottlieb, in Anthony Town- 
ship, this county: Michael, in Lycoming County, Penn.; George (deceased); John, in Dan- 
ville, this county; Jacob; Rosanna (deceased); Catharine (deceased); Christianna, wifeof 
Isaac Kisner. in Clarkestown, Lycoming Co., Penn. The father settled where Jacob now 
resides, and here lived until his death, which occurred December 23, 1862; his widow 
died November 11,1866; they bought sixty-twoacresof land when they came, and Jacob has 
since added to it until he has pow 143 acres. There were five acres cleared when they 
came. Our subject was married in this county September 11, 1851, to Miss Mary Andy, a 
daughter of Daniel and Christiann (Carmlich) Andy, both of whom are deceased. Mr. 
and Mrs. Albeck are the parents of six children, of whom five are living: William Henry; 
Daniel; Sarah, wife of Jacob Waller, in Anthony Township; Emma and Ellen. Chris- 
tiana is deceased. Mr. Albeck and family are members of the Lutheran Church at 
Clarkestown, Lycoming County. He was tax collector for five years for Anthony Town- 
ship, this county. 

JACKSON BIDDLE, farmer, P. O. White Hall, was born April 15, 1829, son of 
Jacob and Esther (Ritter) Biddle. Gershom Biddle, grandfather of our subject, came' to 
this county from New Jersey, probably about 1780, and located near White Hall. He was 
the father of five children: Gershom, William, John, Jacob, and Jane, all of whom are 
dead. William, who was uncle of our subject, was an eminent citizen of Danville, and 
is mentioned elsewhere in this book. The family records show that several of the ances- 
tors of this family took a prominent part during the Revolutionary war and war of 1812. 
Jacob Biddle, father of our subject, owned five large farms in this section, and was noted 
for his benevolence and public spirit, being greatly instrumental in the building of the 
Derry Presbyterian Church, the first church built in this part of the country. He mar- 
ried Esther Ritter, and they were the parents of fifteen children, seven of whom are liv- 
ing: Jackson; Henry, in White Hall, this county; Amos, in Kansas; Jacob, in California; 



ANTHONY TOWNSHIP. 181 

James, in Anthony Township, this county; John, also in Anthony Township, and Mary, 
wife of Firman Farnsworth. Jackson Biddle, subject of this sketch, was reared on the 
farm where he now lives, and owns the old homestead of 125 acres, all under cultivation. 
This land was first improved by Israel Biddle, an uncle of his father. The homestead, 
where Jackson now resides, and the adjoining land owned bj' his brother James have been 
in the hands of the Biddle family since the earliest date of which there is any record. 
Our subject was first married March 22, 1860, lo Miss Susan McKee, daughter of Robert 
McKee, one of the early settlers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Biddle became the parents 
of three children: CorR, Jacob and Ella. Mr. Biddle married, the second time, September 
18, 1886, Jane Smith, daughter of John Smith, of Columbia County, and niece of Creveling 
Smith, deceased, who was formerly a member of the State Legislature of Pennsylvania. Mr. 
Biddle has been connected with the schools of Anthony Tbwnship as director for twelve 
years. In politics he is a Democrat. The Biddle family were originally of Scotch descent 
on the father's side, but the mother of our subject came from Berks County, Penn., and 
her family were originally German. James Biddle, who in company with Amos Johnson 
owns a prosperous establishment for raising chickens adjoining our subject's land, has 
been nne of the greatest travelers of the county, having visited Canada Mexico, Central 
America, Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska and California; spent three years in the last named 
Sjtate. 

CYRENUS BOMBOY, veterinary surgeon, P. O. Comly, was born in Rockland 
Township, Berks Co., Penn., January 21, 1817, son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Price) Bom- 
boy, former of whom died in Berks County, and the latter in Newcastle, Penn. Our 
subject was married in Berks County, and there remained until 1837, when he came to 
Northumberland County, and after a residence of twenty years there, came to what is 
now Anthony Township, this county, and located where Jesse Hartman now resides, and 
in 1868 located where he now resides, purchasing at that time 226 acres of land. Here he 
has made his home since that time. He was married in September, 1837, to Miss Naomi 
Folk, a native of Berks County, Penn., daughter of Lewis and Elizabeth (Bomboy) Folk. 
Mr. and Mrs. Bomboy were the parents of several children, of whom nine are living: 
Mary Ann., wife of Simon Roan, in Northumberland County, Penn.; Daniel, married to 
Isabella Ellis, in Anthony Township, this county; Elizabeth, wife of John France, ia 
Susquehanna County, Penn.; Eliza Ann, wife of George F. Varner, in Anthony Town- 
ship, this county; Charles F., married to Dessie Sailor, also in Anthony Township; Le- 
vina, wife of Daniel Frye, in Lycoming County, Penn.; Katharine, wife of A. J. Runyou, 
in Northumberland County, Penn.; John, married to Ellen Robbins, in Anthony Town- 
ship, this county; Susan Matilda, at home; Franklin, Benjamin. Emma and an infant 
are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Bomboy are members of the German Reformed Church at 
Turbotville, Northumberland Co., Penn. Mr. Bombo3' has been a member of the Re- 
formed Church for over half a century, and he was one of the leaders in building the 
Turbotville Church, was one of its first deacons, and is now a trustee of the church. He 
has held the office of constable for twenty-two years in Anthony Township. Mr. Bomboy 
has been for forty-nine years a veterinary surgeon, operating in Columbia, Northumber- 
land, Lycoming and Montour Counties, and is often called to remote distances in diflEerent 
cases. Mr. Bomboy has altogether 282 acres of land. In politics he has been a Democrat 
all his life. 

DANIEL BOMBOY, farmer, P. O. Exchange, was born in Delaware Township, North- 
umberland Co., Penn., October 21, 1840; son of Cyrenus and Emma (Pulk) Bomboy. Our 
subject removed with his parents to Montour County in I860, and located near Exchange, 
Anthony Township, and has since resided here, with exception of the time he was in the 
army. He, being drafted, entered into the service of the Union army October, 1862, being 
mustered into the service at Danville in Company G, One Hundred and Seventy-eighth 
Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was assigned to the Fourth Army Corps. He was in 
engagements at Williamsburg, White House Landing and Richmond. He returned home 
from the service in 1868. He was married in Lycoming County, September 29, 1864, to Mias 
Isabella, daughter of Stephen Ellis, Sr., and Sarah ffeull) Ellis, former of whom resides at 
Exchange. Isabella was born February 15, 1841. Her father was born in this State May 
1, 1807 ; her mother was born July 12, 1816, this State, and her grandfather, Stephen Ellis, 
was born in Ireland, and from there came to America, locating in Montour County, and 
lived here until his death, which occurred in 1845. His wife's maiden name was Eleanor 
Cunningham ; they are buried at Exchange in the Episcopal graveyard. His father was a 
sea captain, and when he retired from sea life took up land near Baltimore,and finally went 
back to Donegal, Ireland, and there died. John Bull was born February 2, 1770 ; came 
from Derbyshire, England; died in 1855. His wife, Eleanor, came from Norfolk, England, 
to America, when she was twelve years of age ; she died in 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Bomboy 
are the parents of one child. Sarali Catherine. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Bom- 
boy resided in Exchange two years, and then removed to the saw-mill one year, and then 
removed to Exchange, where they resided until 1880, since which time he has resided 
on his present farm, where he now has sixty-seven acres. He was in the tannery at 
Exchange for fourteen years. Mrs. Borabov is a member of the Protestant Episcopal 
denomination, Mr. Bombay of the German R-'formed. In politics he is a Democrat. 



182 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

JAMES BRANNEN, farmer, P. O. Exchange, was born in County Meath, Ireland, ia 
1803, son of John and Julia (McGuire) Brannen, both of whom died in that country. On 
arriving at tiie age of eighteen years, our subject tooli a sailing vessel from Liverpool for 
New York, where he arrived after a passage of eight weeks and three days. He had $7.50 
when he landed, and not a friend, relative or acquaintance on the continent. He came 
directly to Pennsylvania, and obtained employment on the canal at Nanticoke Falls, for 
the firm of Barnum & Brown, by which he was employed one j'ear. From Nanticoke he 
went to Pottsville, and was employed on the construction of the Schuylkill Railroad. He 
was at Port Clinton when the engine used in the construction of this road arrived there, 
hauled by six horses from Philadelphia, and he was put on to fire this engine, thus has the 
honor of having been the first fireman on the first engine used in Pennsylvania. He was 
thus employed ouc year, and then went to wt)rk on the repairs of the railroad as section 
boss on three miles of the road. He next bought a canal boat and was for two years eii- 
gaged in the coal-carrying trade from Port Clinton to Philadelphia, his boat being hired 
out, and he himself employed by -the company. After two years he ran his own boat for 
two years more, and then bought another boat, and for twenty-one years he was in the car- 
rying trade with them on the canal, he being one of the first to take a boat to New York. 
After leaving the canal he came to Anthony Township, this county, and bought 368 acres 
of land from the Glen property. To this he has added from time to time until he now 
has four farms,comprising about 700 acres, besides other property.and is the largest land- 
holding farmer in this township. His sous fire farming his property for him. Our 
subject was married at Port Carbon in 1834, to Miss Hanorah Meehan, a native of Tipper- 
ary, Ireland, born December 25, 1808, and daughter of Patrick Meehan. She died October 
4, 1807, and is buried in the Catholic cemetery at Danville. Mr. and Mrs. Brannen were 
the parents of eight children; Judith (deceased); Mary (deceased); Catharine (deceased); 
John, who farms one of his father's places; William, who also farms one of his father's 
places; Hannah; James L., and Patrick Francis. Mr. Brannen and family are members 
of the Catholic Church. Mr. Brannen has held the otSce of overseer of the poor for eight 
years. In politics he is a Democrat. 

JAMES L. BRANNEN, late country treasurer. Exchange, was born in Anthony Town- 
ship, Montour Co., Penn., July 22, 1855. son of James and Hanorah Brannen, and was 
reared to the age of twenty-three years on the farm. He married, at Milton, Penn., 
March 25, 1879, Miss Hatmah M. Smith, daughter of Jonas and Mary (Bitler) Smith; she 
was born in Anthony Township, this county, and her parents are now residents of 
Hazleton, Barber Co., Kas.. where her father is a cattle dealer and farmer. Mr. 
Brannen commenced his education in the common schools of the township, and from 
there went to the academy at Turbotville, Penn., and from that institution progressed to 
the State normal at Bloomsburg, where he attended thirty-two weeks. After tliat he 
taught in the public schools of Anthony Township two terms, and from there went to 
Binghamton, N. Y., to attend Lowell Business College, from which institution he 
graduated May 23, 1878. While tiiere he studied telegraphy and took a complete com- 
mercial course. He then returned to Montour County, and going to Danville in 1879 
commenced hotel-keeping, conducting the "Hudson River House" for four j^ears. 
While there, in 1882, he was appointed chairman of the Democratic committee and held 
that position one year. In 1883 he came before the people as a candidate for the nomina- 
tion for couutj' treasurer, and at the convention received eveiy vote cast. At the election 
he received a majority of 777, he and Dr. Simonson receiving the largest majorities at 
that election. He commenced hotel-keeping at Exchange in February, 1886. This hotel 
first opened as the " Cohimbia Exchange," by Joseph Levers, and he conducted it some- 
thing over a year. It was never conducted as a hotel until it was again re-opened by 
Mr. Brannen. 

JOHN C. CALDWELL (deceased). The Caldwell ancestors originally immigrated 
from the North of Ireland immediately after the close of the Revolution, arriving here 
about tlie year 1785. There were four brothers, all married, and wiio left a large circle of 
descendants. John, the father of John C. Caldwell, was married to Martha Calhoun about 
the year 1787, and settled on the farm near Exchange, by which marriage he had eight 
children consisting of five sons and three daughters. John C. Caldwell, the youngest of 
the family, married in 1852, Miss Elizabeth J. PoUok, and left one daughter, Miss Martha 
J., wlio resides on the homestead. Mr. Caldwell followed farming until he became too fee- 
ble. The farm upon which John C. was born remained in the hands of the heirs until 
1866, when he moved to a farm adjoining, where he resided at the time of his death, and 
is still retained by his daughter, Martha J. John C. Caldwell died September 2, 1883, and 
Mrs. Caldwell died January 24, 1885. Both are interred in the Derry Church graveyard. 
Mrs. Caldwell was a member of Derry church. Mrs. John C. Caldwell was a daughter of 
James and Elizaheth PoUok, who came of the early Scotch-Irish element, who established 
a character of purity and uprightness, and the influence of which has its hold upon the 
descendants. 

JAMES CAREY, retired. P. O. White Hall, was born August 1, 1832, in Anthony 
Township, Montour County, Penn., about one and a quarter miles from White Hall, son 



ANTHONY TOWNSHIP. ' 183 

of John and Hannah (Saylor) Carey, former of whom came to this countr}' from Ireland 
and settled at Norristown where he was married, from there removing to the vicinity of 
Exchange, and from there to the place where our subject was born. Here he died, De- 
cember 5, 1851, at the age of eighty years; his widow died March 27, 1857, aged seventy- 
six years. They are buried at the Derry Presbyterian Church. They were the parents of 
sixteen children, of whom eleven were reared, seven now living. James Carey, subject 
of this sketch, was reared in this county, and has spent his life in Anthony Township with 
the exception of from 1852 to 1867, when he was in Lycoming County, Penn. He was mar- 
ried in Montour County, May 7, 1847, to Rachel, daughter of Michael and Martha 
(Cornelius) Hendershott, former of whom died in 1870; latter is still living. After their 
marriage they lived in Danville one year, and then came to Anthony Township, this 
county, and after two years to the Muncy Hills; and then after fifteen years to his present 
location. He bought the White Hall Hotel in 1867 and has since made some improve- 
ments. Mr. and Mrs. Carey were the parents of nine children: Charles, born August 11, 
1847, died May 4, 1850: Henry Clarence, born February 11, 1849, residing in Madison 
Township, Columbia County, Penn.; Anna Eliza, born February 8, 1851, wife of Henry 
Moser at Turbotville; Charles, born April 14, 1853, lives near Jerseytown in Madison 
Township; John Green, born November 27, 1855, now in Michigan; George, born Janu- 
ary 27, 1858, at home; William Lloyd, born March 10, 1860, now in California; Emma 
Elizabeth, born April 10, 1862, and Thomas Benton, born April 29, 1864. Mr. Carey com- 
menced to learn the trade of wagon-maker at the age of sixteen years with William Hen- 
dershott with whom he worked two years, aad he followed that until 1861 when* he 
commenced wheelwrighting. In fifteen years he accumulated $6,000 by hard labor. In 
1884 he retired from active labor, and now only attends to his property. He owns the 
White Hall Hotel property and has 113 acres of land in Anthony Township, this county. 
He has held the office of supervisor of the township, and while in Lycoming County he 
held the offices of tax collector, supervisor and other local offices. 

OSCAR CRAIG, farmer, P. O. Washingtonville, Columbia County, was born in 
what is now Anthony Township, this county, near Exchange, July 19, 1829, son of 
Alexander and Elizabeth (Hendershott) Craig. John Craig, grandfather of our subject, 
■was born in Lancaster County, but his parents came to this country from Scotland. 
When he came to what is now Montour County, John Craig located near Exchange, and 
there lived until he died. He and his wife are buried in the Derry graveyard. They 
were the parents of four children, all deceased: John J., Alexander, Jane and Margaret. 
Alexander Craig, father of our subject, was reared in this township, and bought 100 
acres, or half of the old homestead. He was married to Elizabeth Hendershott, and they 
were the parents of seven children: Isaac, in La Grange County, Ind.; John, a Method- 
ist minister in Webster County, Mo., died October 30, 1886; Robert, in this township; 
Oscar; Margaret Jane, deceased wife of John B. Levan; Oliver B., in Waldo, Webster 
Co., Mo.; and Samantha, who died at the age of three years. Oscar Craig, subject of 
this sketch, was married in Limestone Township, this county, December 8, 1853, to Miss 
Margaret J., daughter of Charles and Mary (Follmer) Levan, the former of whom is de- 
ceased, and after their marriage they lived with his parents for one year, and the succeed- 
ing sixteen years in Limestone Township, this county. Mr. Craig removed to his present 
location in 1871, and by different purchases has accumulated 134 acres of land. He built 
his present handsome barn in 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Craig were the parents of seven chil- 
dren, of whom four are living: Elizabeth, wife of W. L. Raup, in Milton, Penn. (she was 
educated at Wiliiamsport Seminary); J,)hn E., who attended Bloomsburg Normal, several 
terms; Jennie S., who attended Wiliiamsport Seminary; and Anna Margaret. Torrence 
0., Charles A. and William W. are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Craig attend the Method- 
ist Church. He has held the position of auditor of Anthony Township; is a member of 
the I. O. O. F., Washingtonville Lodge, No. 759, and of Exchange Grange, No. 65. P. of H. 
Solomon Levan, grandfather of Mrs. Craig, was descendant of one of five brothers who came 
from France to America and located in Northampton Co. There all remained with the 
exception of Mrs. Craig's grandfather, who came to what is now Montour County,Penn.,and 
here lived until he died near Limestoneville. He died in 1828. His wife's maiden name was 
Mary Balliet and she died about 1868. They are buried in the Paradise Church grave- 
yard, Northumberland County, Penn. Charles Levan, father of Mrs. Craig, the oldest of 
his parents' sons, was bora in 18%), in Northampton County, Penn.,and from there removed 
to this county, where he married Mary Follmer. Thev were the parents of eight children, 
four now living: John, in Shelbyvilie, Shelby Co., Mo.; Margaret, wifeof Oscar Craig; 
Daniel, residing below Limestoneville; and Susan, wifeof Morgan Mourey. in Watson- 
town, Penn. Jacob is deceased; Catharine is the deceased wife of George Price; Eliza- 
beth, wife of Benjamin Hansel, died in Vicksburg while visiting her husband, who was 
serving in the Union army at that place. Henry died at the age of one year. Charles 
Levan, father of the above, died February 13, 1881, and is buried in the Paradise Church 
Cemeterv. His widow resides at Watsontown, Penn., with her daughter. Mrs. Mourey. 

PATRICK DINENN, farmer. P. O. Exchange, was born in County Meath, Ireland, 
in 1824, son of Sylvester and Catharine Diuenn, former of whom was a farmer in Ireland. 



184 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

When our subject reached the age of twenty-six years he emigrated to America, leaving 
Liverpool April 1, 1847, and arriving at New York on May 14, following. He remained 
on Long Island six months with a man named Benjamin Bent, an iron merchant of New 
York. He next lived about six months with Tiffany, Young & Ellis, of New York;, 
thence came to Pennsylvania and worked six weeks in the mines at Pottsville. From 
there he went to the Central Railroad, and after six weeks came to Danville, and having 
quite a lot of horses took contracts for hauling ore from the mines, etc., being thus en- 
gaged about ten years, from October. 1848 to 1858. He then bought the old Glen farm of 
112 acres in Anthony Township, this county, to which he has added from time to time, until 
he now has three fine farms, aggregating about 500 acres with homesteads and improve- 
ments. His home residence is supplied with all good, substantial and new improvements, 
made by Mr. Dinenn himself. To show the progress Mr. Dinennhas made, it may be said 
that when he came to Long Island he had two old country sovereigns, and when he came 
to Danville he worked for two years for 75 cents a day, and paid his own board. He was 
married in Danville, May 27, 1852 (Father Michael Sheridan performing the ceremony) to 
Miss Jane Lafferty, whose father, a native of County Antrim, Ireland, died in 1847. Mr. 
and Mrs. Dinenn were the parents of the following named children: Sylvester (deceased), 
Kate (deceased), Bryan, John, Mary, Ann, Sadie, Patrick, William, Sylvester, Thomas 
(deceased), and Annie (deceased). Mr. and Mrs. Dinenn are members of the Catholic 
Church. Mr. Dinenn has been connected with the schools of the township as director 
for six years. 

WfLLIAM ELLIS, farmer, P. O. Exchange, was born and reared in Anthony Town- 
ship, and has always made it his home; he is the son of Stephen and Sarah Ellis. His 
grandfather, Stephen Ellis, was born in Ireland, and from there came to America, locating 
at first permanently in Anthony Township, this county. His father was a sea captain, and 
when he retired from sea life took up land near Baltimore, and finally went back to 
Donegal, Ireland, and there died. Stephen Ellis, Sr., assisted his cousin at Juniata, Penn., 
in surveying, before coming to this county. He followed farming after coming here and 
lived here until his death, which occurred in 1845 at the age of eighty-two years. 
His widow, whose maiden name was Eleanor Cunningham, survived him a few years; they 
are buried at Exchange, in the Episcopal graveyard, they having been members of that 
church. John Bull, father of Sarah Ellis, was born in Derbyshire, England, on the 2d of 
February, 1770. He came to America in 1801. and located in Elkland Township, 
Lycoming County; he was married there, and moved to Anthony Town.ship, Montour 
County, where he died on the 5th of November, 1855. His wife, Eleanor Bird, was 
born in Norfolk, England; she came to America Jwith her parents when she was 
about twelve years of age. She died on the 13th of April, 1862. Stephen Ellis, 
father of William, John and James Ellis, was born in Anthony Township, Montour 
County, on the 1st of May, 1807, and lived here all his life, following farming which 
he carried on until about 1876, since which time he has lived retired from active labor, 
and now resides at Exchange. WilliamEUis, subject of this sketch was married in Lycoming 
County, September 12, 1880, to Miss Annie Shetler, a native of Columbia County, Penn., 
and daughter of John Shetler; her father row resides in Madison Township, Columbia 
Co., Penn. ; her mother died in May, 1883. William and Annie Ellis are the parents of four 
children: Stephen, William, John and James. Mr. and Mrs. Ellis are both members of 
the Episcopal Church at Exchange. In politics he is a Democrat. 

MAHLAN HAGERMAN, farmer, P. O. Comly, was born in Northampton County, 
May 22, 1813, son of Joshua and Susannah (Diltz) Hagerman, former of whom with two 
brothers came to Northampton County, Penn., from New Jersey. Joshua was the father 
of five children, of whom Mahlan is the fourth. Our subject was reared in Northampton 
County, Penn., and in 1841 removed to what is now Anthony Township, this county, and 
located where his son Joshua now resides; he has resided here ever since, and now, has 
over 140 acres of land, and put up all his present improvements. He was married in 
Northampton County, October 22, 1838, to Miss Catharine, daughter of John and Hannah 
Weidman. former o? whom died in 1840, latter about 1870, and they are buried in North- 
ampton County. They were the parents of six children, five now living: Sarah Ann,, 
wife of Charles Smith, in Limestone Township; Joshua, married to Sarah Albeck, in An- 
thony Township, this county; John.married to Amanda Snyder,in Northumberland County, 
Penn.; Susan Ellen, wife of William Weir, in Ohio: Harriet Catharine, wife of S. Ford, 
in Hancock County, Ohio; Jacob is deceased. Mr. Hagerman has been suprirvisor three 
terms, and overseer of the poor eight terms. He has altogether 364 acres of land. 

B. F. JOHNSTON, farmer, P! O. White Hall, was born in Madison Township, Colum- 
bia Co.. Penn., November 11, 1835, son of Jonathan and Charity Yeager Johnston, former 
of whom was born December 9, 1809, died April 1, 1880, and latter born February 7, 1811, 
died February 9, 1885. They are buried at Jerseytown, Penn. Robert Johnston, great- 
grandfather of our subject, came to Columbia County from New Jersey about 1796. His 
parents were of Scotch birth. He bought land in Madison Township, Columbia Co.. 
and there he lived until his death. He had about 100 acres of land. His wife's 
maiden name was Kitchen. They are both buried in the Jerseytown Cemetery. John 



ANTHONY TOWNSHIP. 185 

Johnston, grandfather of B. F., was born in New Jersey and came to Columbia County 
with his parents. He was married to Mary Robbins. Tney both lived in Madison Town- 
ship, Columbia County, until their death, and are buried at Jerseytown. They had seven 
children: Wesley, Jonathan, Robert, William, Eliza, Sarah and Nancy, all deceased 
except William who lives in Jerseytown. Jonathan Johnston, father of B. F., was born 
at Millville, Penn., and resided in Madison Township, Columbia County, all his life. He 
was married to Charity Yeager, and they were the'parents of Henry James, B. F., Harriet, 
Robert, Eliza, Amos, Catharine, William, Sarah Florence, and one deceased named John, 
The subject of this sketch was reared in Columbia County, and educated in the common 
schools of his township at Millville, and at the State normal at Millersburg, and came to 
his present location in 1870, where he has 200 acres of land. He was married January 
31, 1868, to Miss Susan J. Fruit, and they are the parents of four children: Nellie C, Liz- 
zie R., Horace J. and George F. Mr. Johnston is a director of the schools of this town- 
ship. He enlisted August 24, 1863, in Company E., One Hundred and Thirty-second 
Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, serving in the Second Army Corps, and was in engage- 
ments at Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville. He served ten months, was dis- 
charged and returned home. He again enlisted March 20, 1865, and served at Camp Cad- 
wallader until tlie close of the war. In politics he is a Republican. 

JOHN KREAMER, farmer, P. O. White Hall, was born in Philadelphia, Penn., June 
27, 1829, son of Conrad and Catharine (Bowman) Kreamer. Our subject was reared in 
Philadelphia to the age of four years, when his parents removed to the vicinity of White 
Hall, this county, but in Madison Township, Columbia County, and there and in Mon-^ 
tour County he has spent the remainder of his lifetime, with the exception of two years in, 
Illinois, He worked in the dam at Towanda two years, and lumbered in Centre County, 
Penn., one winter,which he also followed eight years while living in Madison Township^ 
lumbering over the mountains from the North Mountain to Pottsville, Schuylkill County. 
During those eight years he only laid by one day on account of stormy weather. He was 
married March 5, 1857, to Martha J., a daughter of John Derr. She died in October, 
1859, and is buried at West Paw Paw Grove, Lee Co.. 111., leaving one child; Effie Cath- 
arine, wife of David Cox, in Madison Township, Columbia Co., Penn., on the old home- 
stead. Mr. Kreamer was next married in December, 1862, to Jane D., a daughter of 
Christopher and Mary (Upp) Derr, and by her has two children; Mary Margaret and 
Annie Phoebe. Mr. Kreamer bought his present farm in 1874, and moved to it in March, 
1875. It consisted of eighty-three acres when he bought it, but he now has 105 acres. 
He has one of the finest farms in the township. Mr. and Mrs. Kreamer are members of 
the White Hall Baptist Church, as are also all the family. Mr. Kreamer is at present 
overseer of the poor, which office he previously held one term of four years. 

JACOB KREAMER, farmer, P. O. White Hall, was born in Madison Township, Co- 
lumbiaCo., Penn., January 16, 1839, son of Conrad and Catharine (Bowman) Kreamer; the 
former, born in Germany in 1800, came to America and first settled at Philadelphia. Our- 
subject spent his early life in Columbia County, Penn., and in 1850 went to Lock Haven, 
Penn.. where he commenced lumbering. In 1865 he came to his present location in An- 
thony Township, bought 148 acres of land from George W. Suplee, now of Bloomsburg, 
Penn., and made all the improvements except building the house. He was married July 4, 
1865, at Muncy, Penn., to Miss Mary McBride, daughter of William McBride, and they 
have seven children; William S., Thomas C, Charles, Frank L., Clyde, Roy and Clara._ 
Mrs. Kreamer and eldest child are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Kreamer is now 
connected with the lumber business, and has a saw-mill in Madison Township, Columbia 
County, in pa tnership with his brother-in-law, William Moore. They have 100 acres of 
timber land in'^Madison Township, Columbia County, and twenty-one" in this township. 
In politics Mr. Kreamer is a Democrat. 

WILLIAM McBRIDE, farmer, P. O. White Hall, was born in Derry Township, 
Montour Co., Penn., February 5, 1812, a son of James and Mary (Derr) McBride, 
James McBride was a young man when he came to Montour County. He was a carpen- 
ter, and when he arrived in the county, located at Fruitstown (now known as White Hall), 
and followed that trade here until his death. He was married in this county to Miss Mary 
Derr, a native of Montour County, and a member of an old settler's family. Mr. and 
Mrs. James McBride were the parents of seven children, of whom three are living: Eliza, 
widow of Thomas Chamberlain, in Lafayette County, Wis.; Margaret, widow of Evan 
Hendershott, in Lenawee County, Mich., and William. Mollie, Frederick, Hugh and Jane are- 
deceased. The father died February 13, 1813; the mother survived him until 1849. They 
are buried in the Derry Presbyterian graveyard. William McBride, subject of this sketch, 
has resided all his life at the place of his birth. When he was fourteen years of age ho 
commenced to clerk in the store of his uncle. John F. Derr, and remained with him in 
that capacity until 1841. He then entered into partnership with his uncle, and this busi' 
ness relationship continued until 1855, when, his uncle dying, Mr. McBride became ex- 
clusive proprietor of the store, and so remained about eleven years, when he took in hia 
son, J. S., as partner. The firm was so continued until 1884, when the father retired 
from his interest in the store, and since that time the son has conducted tlie business. 



186 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

alone. Mr. McBride married, in Lycoming County, Penn., April 1, 1841, Miss Mary Ann 
Smith, a native of Lycoming County, and daugiiter of Jonathan and Anna Smith. She died 
June 29, 1885, and is buried in the White Hall graveyard. By this marriage there were 
seven children, of whom six are living: J. S., married to Miss Abbie Carnahan, at White 
Hall; Mary, wife of Jacob Kreamer, in Anthony Township, this county; Sarah Ann, wife 
of William Moore, also in Anthony Township; Maggie; Emma, wife of David Harman, 
in Hazleton, Luzerne Co., Penn., and William. An infant unnamed i^ deceased. Mr. Mc- 
Bride is a member of the Baptist Church, as was also his wife. 

Jonathan S. McBride was born July 2, 1842, in the village of White Hall, this 
county, son of William and Mary Ann (Smith) McBride. He has always lived in White 
Hall, and since a boy has been in the store of his father. In the spring of 1866 he formed 
a co-partnership with his father which continued until 1884, when he conducted the whole 
business and owns the stock himself. The store is the only one in White Hall at present. 
Mr. McBride married, December 6, 1864, Miss Abbie Carnahan, daughter of A. J. and 
Elizabeth Carnahan, now in Illinois, and they have four children: Elmer, Lizzie, Mary 
B. and Harry C. Mr. McBride is a member of the I. O. O. F., and is postmaster in White 
Hall. In politics he is a Democrat. 

DR. MONTRAVILLE McHENRY,Exchange,wasbornnear Rohrsburg, Columbia Co., 
Penn., January 13, 1836. He is the eldest son of Benjamin and Lavina (Coner) McHenry. 
The former resides in Benton, Columbia Co., Penn., and is of Irish descent; the latter 
died in 1884, and is buried in the Benton Cemetery. They were the parents of seven sons 
and two daughters. One daughter and six sons are living, prosperous and respected 
citizens of the communities in which they live. Our subject spent his early life on the 
farm, attending school during the winters, until he was twenty years of age. He after- 
ward attended the Millville Seminary, and the academy at New Columbus several sum- 
mers, teaching school during the winters. In 1864 he commenced the study of medicine 
With Dr. Barrett, of Cambra, Luzerne Co., Penn. He took his first course of lectures 
at the Medical College of Burlington, Vt., a second at Ann Arbor University, Mich., 
and a part of a third at Burlington, where he graduated. He was soon afterward 
married to Mrs. Dorcas Freece Lyons, nee Fowler, of Pine Summit, Columbia Co., Penn. 
Dr. McHenry commenced the practice of medicine in Exchange, Montour County, in 1868. 
Not finding a house to rent and wishing to enjoy the comforts of a home, he immediately 
purchased two acres of land adjoining the village, and erected a good two-story house. He 
also built a barn and planted fruit and ornamental trees, making a pleasant and comfort- 
able home. He attended closely to business and soon had plenty of patients. He was 
seldom absent more than a day at a time until 1876, when, with his wife, daughter and 
step-son he spent twc weeks at the Centennial Exposition, at Philadelphia, In the spring 
of 1878, accompanied by his wife and daughter, Birdie, he started on a tour through the 
Eastern and Middle States, stopping at all the principal cities and summer resorts. They 
first went to Philadelphia, Long Branch and New York; thence up the Hudson to Troy; 
thence to Rutland and Burlington, Vt., where they remained several weeks, enjoying the 
beautiful scenery. The Doctor also attended lectures while in Burlington. They visited 
the White Mountains, Old Orchard Beach, Portland, Boston. Newport, New Haven, 
Saratoga, Ticonderoga, Niagara Falls, Canada, Rochester and Watkin's Glen; thence 
home by way of Elmira, Minnequa Spring and Williamsport, having made a pleasant trip 
through nine States. Thinking he could better his prospects by locating in Kansas or 
Missouri, in the fall of 1878 he sold his property in Exchange, and in the spring of 1879, 
accompanied by his family, he visited the West with the intention of locating if he could 
find a suitable place. To make the trip one of pleasure as well as business, they went by 
way of Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore, Washington, White Sulphur Springs, Cin- 
cinnati, St. Louis, Kansas City and Carthage City, Mo., traveling only by day and spend- 
ing several days in places of interest. One of the most interesting places visited was the 
Osage Agency in the Indian Territory. The large swarthy Indians, with painted faces, 
cars slitted and full of rings, door keys and other trinkets, heads partly shaven, no cloth- 
ing but a breech cloth and a bright red and blue blanket, made a picture that will long be 
remembered, especially by Birdie, who was then nearly nine years old. The Doctor 
bought two white ponies from the Indians, giving one to his wife and the other to Birdie. 
These ponies are still the pets of the family. After traveling hundreds of miles over the 
prairie, and visiting many towns without rinding a place they would like to make their 
home, they returned to Pennsylvania, stopping for a few days in Chicago, Cleveland 
and Erie, Penn. Dr. McHenry remained iu Bloomsburg in the fall and winter, and in 
the spring returned to Exchange. He bought fifteen acres of land adjoining his former 
home, and erected a handsome structure withbav and dormer windows, verandas, gables 
and tower, from which can be seen many miles of the surrounding country; he built a good 
barn and planted over 100 evergreen trees on the lawn surrounding their home, which 
adds much to its beauty and comfort. Mrs. McHenry was the architect of their home, 
making plans of every part of the structure. In 1882 the Doctor accompanied Fowler 
Lyons and William Fowler to Texas, intending to assist them in purchasing stock to start 
*i ranch. Not finding stock at prices to suit, the Doctor returned. The others went to 



ANTHONY TOWNSHIP. 187 

the Indian Territory, bought a car load of ponies, brought them to Pennsylvania, and sold 
them at a profit more than suffiicient to pay all their traveling expenses. The Doctor did not 
fare quite so well, but had the satisfaction of seeing the Lone Star State, the old town of San 
Antonio and the Alamo. He also stopped at Fort Worth and other places of business 
interest. In 1884 he contracted with Dr. Morrow, of Buffalo, N. Y., to take charge of his 
practice for a few months, and formed a partnership with his brother, Dr. Thomas Mc- 
Henry, of Benton, for the purpose of establishing a drug and hardware store in that 
place. They erected a large three-story building, using one-half of the lower story for a 
drug store and the remainder for hardware. They had succeeded in getting business in 
good shape when Dr. Morrow was taken seriously ill, and Dr. McHenry was compelled to 
return to" Exchange to take charge of his practice and interests in that place. While in 
Benton his family spent part of the time with him, boarding at the hotel, but remained 
the greater part of the time at their home in Exchange. He has a large practice and rides 
many miles daily to attend to his patients. He is a Democrat, but pays little attention to 
politics. For several years he has been a member of Exchange Lodge, No. 898, I. O. 
O. F. Dr. and Mrs. McHenry have one daughter. Birdie, born in Exchange, October 23, 
1870. She is an intelligent student, very fond of reading, and cares little for amusements 
•or companions of her own age, preferring rather the companionship of books. Mrs. Mc- 
Henry is the eldest daughter of John F. and Julia A. (Fortner) Fowler. Tl e former is of 
English descent and the only son of David Fowler, Esq., formerly residing near Fowlers- 
ville, Columbia County. The latter died in 1866, and is buried in the Lyons Church Ceme- 
tery. She was a daughter of John Fortner of New Jersey, great-grandson of Lord Archi- 
bald Douglas, owner of Bothwell Castle, near Glasgow, Scotland. Lord Archibald at his 
death left several million dollars. This estate would have descended to his daughter, 
Lady Isabella Douglas Fortner, and her heirs had they presented their claims. Mrs. Mc- 
Henry's grandfather had secured full power from the heirs to procure the fortune and 
had all proof and papers prepared intending to start to Scotland, when he was taken ill 
and died. The other heirs never claimed the estate, and it is now in the possession of John 
Douglas, a side heir, who came into possession through the lapse of time. Mrs. Mc- 
Henry was born April 5, 1837, near Fowlersville, Columbia Co., Penn., receiving her educa- 
tion in the public schools and the Bloomsburg Higli School, and taught four terms of 
public school. She was married in her nineteenth year, to Robert J. Lyons, of Lycoming 
County, eldest son of Joseph and Sarah Lyons, now deceased. Mr. Lyons owned a large 
farm at Pine Summit, Columbia County, where they resided until 1865, when he joined 
the Union Armv, in Company I, Seventy-seventh P. V. V., and died in the service at 
Victoria, Tex., October 21, 1865, and was buried in Victoria Cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. 
Lyons had one son living, Fowler Lyons, born January 17, 1861, at Pine Summit. After 
Mrs. Lyons' marriage to Dr. McHenry her son lived with them at E.xchange. He at- 
tended the public .schools, the normal school at Muncy, Penn., and Eastman College, at 
Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He also studied medicine with the intention of engaging in phar- 
macy, but after assisting in a drug store for a time, and looking for a place to locate, he 
decided not to engage in the business. At the age of twenty-two he was married to 
Martha E., daughter of Hon. John C. Ellis, of Exchange, now deceased, and Jane, his 
wife. He then removed to the farm his father had left him at Pine Summit, purchased 
stock, hired help and went to farming in good spirit. But the farm was large, and had 
been rented for eighteen years, consequently it was not in the flourishing condition his 
father had left it, and he decided to sell it and try his fortune in the West. He sold his 
farm to his uncle, Jerry Fowler, his stock, farming implements, household goods, etc., at 
public sale, and went to Texas. After traveling over the greater part of the Slate he 
purchased property in Wiciiita Falls, Tex. A few months afterward his wife was taken 
very sick with fever, and the climate being so much warmer than she was accus- 
tomed to, her recovery was slow. Fearing she could not stand the heat another summer 
they returned to Pennsylvania, and after a few raontlis went to Nebraska and settled in 
Dawes County, where Mr. Lyons owns 463 acres of land. This farm he is improving with 
the intention of making it a stock farm in the future. He retains his property in Wichita 
Falls, Tex., and expects it to become valuable in a few years, as it has every prospect of 
becoming a large and prosperous city. 

JACKSON P. McKEE, farmer, P. O. Comly, was born in the place where he now 
resides in Anthony Township, Montour Co., Penn., October 12, 1830, son of James and 
Harriet (Scout) McKee, the latter a native of this county. Robert McKee, grandfather of 
our subject, came to what is now Montour County in 1794, and located about a mile up 
the creek from Exchange, afterward moving to the place where Jackson P. now resides, 
and here lived until his death. He was married to Agnes Craig, and died in 1832, his 
widow surviving liim about four years; they are buried at the Derry Presbyterian Church. 
They had four children of wliom "only one, James, was married. Robert McKee served 
in the Revolutionary war. James McKee, father of our subject, was born in Chester 
County, Penn., and was the tliird in order of age of the children of Robert McKee. He 
was eight years of age when the family came to this county, and when he grew up, his 
father, brothers and liimself bouglit between 400 and 500 acres of land, of which J. P. now 



188 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

owns 195 acres. They found this land covered with a heavy growth of oak timber, and' 
they struck the first ax into the improvement of this land, and put up a log cabin on this 
place with the timber they had cut down in making the first clearing. James McKee died 
March 29, 1863, his wife having died in 1832. They were the parents of eleven children, 
of whom only two are living: James and Jackson P. ; the latter being the only one in this 
county. Our subject was married February 2, 1863, to Margaret Ellen, daughter of 
David Wilson, also a member of an early settler family, and who is now living in An- 
thony Township, this county. Mr. McKee learned the carpenter's trade, which he fol- 
lowed one year. He was general agent for the Buckeye reaper when it first came out, and 
followed that business three or four years, having entire control of their agents during that 
time. He was in Kaukakeee County, 111., fifteen mouths, and there owned land at that 
time. Mr. Mckee's home is situated on Muncy Hill, and it presents the finest view in 
Pennsylvania, the valleys in Snyder. Union, Northumberland, Columbia, Lycoming. Sul- 
livan and Montour Counties being visible from his place. 

WILLIAM McVICKER. retired. P. O. White Hall, was born in what is now Anthony 
Township, Montour Co., Penn., April 21, 1814. son of James and Sarah (Miller) McVicker. 
William McVicker, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Ireland, immigrated to 
America, and located in Northampton County, Penn., whence he came to what is now 
Anthony Township, tiiis county, and bought 120 acres of land, to which he afterward 
added more. He found two acies of this land, only, cleared. He lived on this place un- 
til he died. He was born April 3, 1733, and died in 1808; his wife, whose maiden name 
was Eleanor Nelson, had preceded him in death. They are buried in the.Derry Presby- 
terian Church graveyard. He (the grandfather) was a shoemaker by occupation, and our 
subject has some of his tools in his possession. James McVicker, father of our subject was 
born in 1790, in Northampton County, Penn., and was but a child when his parents came 
to this county. He was married in this county to Miss Sarah Miller, and they were the 
parents of twelve children — six sons and six daughters — two surviving; Rebecca, wife of 
J. K. Shultz, in Derry Townsliip, and William, the father died in March, 1869; his wife 
died in February, 1862. William McVicker, subject of this sketch, was married in thi.s 
county, March 2, 1841, to Miss Mary Craig, daughter of Samuel and Jane (Miller) Craig, 
natives of Pennsylvania and early settlers in Montour County, whence they removed in 
1820, to Clarke County, Ohio, were Mrs. McVicker was born. Both her parents died there 
and are buried in the Muddy Run Cemetery, in Clarke County. Mr. and Mrs. McVicker 
were the parents of six children, of whom four are living: Samuel Craig, at Watsontown, 
Penn.; Wilson C. ; Sarah E., widow of James Schooley, in White Deer Valley, Northum- 
berland Co., Penn.; John R., in Anthonv Township, this county; Emma Jane and Mary 
Luella are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. McVicker are members of the Presbyterian Church. 
Mr. McVicker has sixty-five acres of land in Anthony Township. 

Wilson C. McVicker was born within one-half a mile of where he now resides, and has- 
always made his home in this township. He bought his present farm of seventy-four 
acres in the spring of 1868. He also has a wood lot in Columbia County of fourteen and 
one-half acres. He was married in Montour County, February 4, 1868, to Miss Ada M., a 
native of Bradford County, and a daughter of James and Margaret Pickard; former 
deceased and buried in Bradford Cemetery; latter makes her home with her daughter. 
Mrs. McVicker. Mr. and Mrs. McVicker are the parents of one child, Laura Alice. 
They are members of Derry Presbyterian Church. Mr. McVicker is a member of 
Exchange Grange, No. 65, P. of H. 

John R. McVicker, the youngest son of William and Mary (Craig) McVicker, was 
born in this township, September 25, 1851, and was reared in the township where he now 
resides. He was brought up to farm life, and makes his home with his brother, Wilson C. 

WILLIAM 8. POLLOCK, farmer, P. O. Exchange, was born in what is now Anthony 
Township, Montour County, July 8, 1822, a son of James and Elizabeth (Scout) Pollock. 
The paternal grandfather of our subject came to this country from the North of 
Ireland, and located in Pennsylvania, coming first to one of the lower counties, thence to 
Northumberland, now Montour County, locating near E.xchange. his tract of 200 acres 
being now partly owned by Patrick Dinenn, and partly by William Pollock. Here he- 
lived until he died. He and his wife are both buried at Derry Presbyterian Church. 
Jamas Pollock, father of William S.,. was born in one of the lower counties of Pennsyl- 
vania, and came to this locality with his parents. He was married in this county to Miss 
Elizabeth Scout, and they at first lived on the part of the old homestead which is now 
owned by Patrick Dinenn. In 1823 he went to the vicinity of Muncy, Lycoming Co.. 
Penn., and there resided until 1837, when he returned to what is now Montour County. 
and located on the old homestead which he had bought two years previously, and hero 
he lived until his death, his wife having preceded him. They are buried at the Derry 
Church. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom four are living: Thomas, in 
Muncy Creek Township, Lycoming County, Penn.; William S., Jane Harriet, wife of 
Henry Biddle, in White Hall, this county, and Effle D. The subject of this sketch was 
born while the family lived on land belonging to Patrick Dinenn, and the next spring his. 
parents removed to Muncy Creek, and after fifteen years returned to Montour County. 



ANTHONY TOWNSHIP. 189 

^bere he has lived ever since with the exception of eighteen months spent in the West. 
He was married December 25, 1855, to Miss Susan McKee, daughter of James McKee. 
After marriage they made their home for eighteen months at Kankakee and Freeport, 
111., and on returning to Montour County, located en the eastern part of the old home- 
stead. Mrs. Pollock died May 16, 1861, and is buried in the Derry Churchyard. She 
was the mother of two children: James B., born in Freeport, 111., now living below 
Washingtonville, in Liberty Township, this county; Bruce B., born in this township, 
where he now lives on his father's land on the eastern part of the old homestead. Mr. 
Pollock was next married March 14, 1873, by Rev. John Johnson, to Margaret Elizabeth, 
daughter of Col. John F. Derr, a colonel in the army that went to Black Rock in 
1812. Mr. and Mrs. Pollock are members of the Presbyterian Church, the former joining 
about 1851, and the latter in 1862. Mr. Pollock has been for twenty-one years an elder in 
the church. He has been supervisor of the township, and has held the office of assessor, 
judge, etc. In politics he is a Prohibitionist; he has 100 acres of land. He is a full cousin 
to ex-Gov. Pollock. 

DAVID SMITH, farmer and United States mail carrier, P. O. Exchange, was born in 
what is now Anthony Township, this county, where Samuel Smith now lives, September 
10, 1842, son of John and Hannah (Stufflick) Smith. John Smith, father of David, came 
to this county from Lehigh and settled where Samuel now resides about 1835. He was 
married in Lehigli County, to Miss Hannah Stufflick, and when they came to Montour 
County he bought 200 acres, and to this he added until he had 400 acres at the time of 
his death, which occurred April 25, 1879; his widow survived him until October, 1882. 
They are buried in Turbotville German Reformed Cemetery. John Smith was always a 
farmer, and was a strict member of the church. Mr. and Mrs. John Smith were the 
parents of twelve children, of which David is eleventh. Our subject was reared at the 
place of his birth, and was married September 26, 1865, to Miss Ellen Dieffenbacher, a 
native of Derry Township, this county, and daughter of Benjamin and Sophia (Troxell) 
Dieffenbacher, former of whom was born in Derry Township, this county. May 11, 1812, 
and latter in Lehigh County, Pena., in 1823. She died July 31, 1876, and is buried at the 
Strawberry Ridge Church. Mr. Benjamin Dieffenbacher was one of the organizers of that 
church. He now makes his home with his three daughters: Mrs. William Berger, Mrs. 
Joel Bitler, and Mrs. David Smith. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. David Smith re- 
moved to their present location, and since that time they have made all the improvements 
on the place, with the exception of the barn. The house was built at a cost of between 
$2,000 and $2,500, besides the labor. They are the parents of eight children, of whom 
five are living: William Grant; Ella Minta May; Benjamin Franklin and John Edmund, 
twins; and David Alfred. Those that died were Mary Magdalena, the eldest child; Emma 
Elmira and Lillie Birdie. Mr. Smith received his commission to carry the mails daily be- 
tween Danville and Exchange, from the United States Government in July, 1885. Mr. 
and Mrs. Smith are members of the Strawberry Ridge Reformed Church, as is also their 
eldest, son. Mr. Smith in politics is a Republican. 

JACOB SNYDER, farmer, P. O. Exchange, was born November 12, 1842, son of 
Andrew and Elizabeth (Dewalt) Snyder, former of whom died June 30, 1886, latter still 
residing on the old homestead. Our subject was reared at the place of his birtli, and 
made his home with his parents until his marriage, November 28, 1871, with Miss Eliza- 
beth Eleanor Ellis, a daughter of Stephen Ellis, Sr., and Sarah Bull, who now resides at 
Exchange, and whose father and grandfather initiated the Episcopal Church at Exchange. 
One year after their marriage they removed to another farm in Limestone Township, 
this county, and after one year there, Mrs. Snyder's father bought their present farm of 
157 acres for them. They found this place all covered with timber and brush, but they 
set to work and cleared up a good portion of it. It was splendid timber land covered 
with rock oak, chestnut, pine, etc. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder are the parents of five children: 
Sarah Isabella, Stephen Ellis, Annie Clara, James Jefferson and William Daniel. Mr. 
and Mrs. Snyder attend the services of the Episcopal Church, as do also all the Ellis 
family, and they do much to support the church at Exchange. Mr. Snyder was connected 
with the schools of the township as director one term. In politics he is a Democrat. 
Since coming to their present home, Mr. and Mrs. Snyder went back to Limestone Town- 
ship, and there resided two years, returning to their present home in the spring of 1884. 

JOHN WATSON, farmer, P. O. Washingtonville, Columbia County, was born in 
Madison Township, Columbia Co.,Penn.,May 15,1830, son of Hugh and Sarah (Seidel) Wat- 
son. John Watson, grandfather of our subject, came to tlie neighborhood of Jerseytown, 
with his parents from the vicinity of Muncy Creek, and lived in the neighborhood of Jersey- 
town until their death. John Watson, grandfather of our subject, removed to what is now 
Anthony Township, this county, in the early part of the present century, and located 
where Samuel Watson now lives, and where he (John Watson) and his wife lived until 
their death. He died about 1837, his wife having preceded him by several years. They 
are buried in the Derry Church graveyard. Hugh Watson, father of our subject, some 
years after his marriage removed to this township, and afterward bought 200 acres of land 
which Mr. (Tcarhart, foundryman atMcEwensville, now owns. From there he removed to 



190 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

the vicinity of Muncy, in Muncy Creek Township, Lycoming Co., Penn., and there he 
bought land and lived the remainder of his days. He and his wife are buried in the 
Muncy Cemetery. They were the parents of seven children, of whom six are living: 
Eliza, Jolm, Sarah, Jane, Margaret and Moliie. Allen is deceased. John Watson, sub- 
ject of this sketch, made his home with his parents until twenty-three years of age, and 
then moved to Dewart,Penn., where he rented land, and taking also an interest in the build- 
ing of the York & Erie Railroad, which was constructed through his farm. He bought a 
farm near Milton, in 1863, removed to it in 1863, and on this lived until 1869. The lirst 
piece of land he ever bought was that now occupied as the fair grounds at Turbotville, 
but he never moved to it. In 1869 he sold his farm near Milton, and bought his present 
one of 250 acres for $20,000. He also owned at that time fifty acres of timber and pas- 
ture land in Anthony Township, which he afterward sold. He removed to his present 
farm the year after he bought it. He was married at Jerseytowu, December 15, 1852, to 
Miss Louisa Catharine, daughter of John and Julia Ann (Levanna) Stiner; former died 
September 3, 1883, and is buried in the Turbotville Cemetery; latter resides at Turbotville. 
Mr. and Mrs. Watson are the parents of eight children: Kate, wife of Daniel Levanna. 
residing near Liraestoneville; Harriet, Julia Ann, Mary Jane, Emma, Clara, Blanche and 
Hugh Allen. The family are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is one of the 
progressive men of the township, and assisted a great "deal in securing the location of the 
Watsontown & North Mountain Railroad, which passes through his farm, and which has 
done so much to develop the country about. 

DAVID WILSON, farmer, P. O. Comly, was born in what is now Anthony Town- 
ship, Montour Co., Penn., January 20, 1806, son of Hugh and Ann (Crawford) Wil- 
son. William Wilson, grandfather of our subject, was born in Dauphin County, Penn., 
near Sweet Arrow Creek, and from there came to what is now Montour County, and here 
lived until he died. He and his wife are buried in the Warrior Run Church graveyard. 
Hugh and Robert Wilson came to this county with their father. Hugh Wilson, father of 
our subject, was born and reared in Dauphin County, Penn., and was there married to 
Ann Crawford. They then came to tiiis county and located land with his father, which 
was a tract of about 250 acres. Here Hugh and his wife lived until their death. They 
were the parents of twelve children, of whom the following are living: David; Nancy, 
residing with David; Eliza, widow of Robert Blaine, in Turbotville, Penn. The father 
died at the age of eighty years, and the mother at about the same age. Both are buried in 
the Warrior Run graveyard. David Wilson, subject of this sketch, lived on the old home- 
stead until twenty-seven years of age, when he was married in April, 1833, to Mary, 
daughter of John and Eleanor (Jingles) Prince. Mrs. Wilson died in August, 1879, and is 
buried in the Derry Presbyterian Church graveyard. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were the par- 
ents of eight children: William Henry; Elizabeth, widow of Thomas Heater, in Waterloo, 
Iowa; Ellen, wife of Jackson P. Mclvee, in Muncy Hill, this county; Joseph (deceased); 
Alice, with her father; Ann, wife of Jeremiah Metzger, in Union County, Peun.; Jane, 
with her father, and Nancy (deceased). Mr. Wilson was three years commissioner of 
Montour County. 



\ 



CHAPTER XVI. 
COOPER TOWNSHIP. 

JESSE C. AMERMAN, merchant and farmer, P. O. Danville, was born in Northum- 
berland County, Penn., February 4, 1821, son of Henry and Susanna (Cook) Amerman, 
the former a native of New Jersey and the latter of Montgomery County, Peun. His 
great-great-grandfather came over with the Dutch colonists and settled in New York. 
His grandfather, Albert, came from New Jersey and settled in Northumberland County, 
Penn., m 1800, where he bought a tract of land and remained his lifetime, dying in 1821 
He served in the war of the Revolution. He was a farmer previous to the war, in the in- 
terior of the State of New Jersey, and when the war broke out he gave up his horses and 
cattle and stock of all kinds, a sacrifice upon the altar of his country's liberty. He had 
his knee-cap taken off at the battle of Monmouth. Our subject's father, who was only a 
small boy when he came to Northumberland County with his parents, worked on the farm 
during his father's life, after which he learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed 
a number of years, but during the latter part of his life he followed farming exclusively, 
his sons, Jesse C. and Isaac, having purchased the old homestead. His father died in 1855 



COOPEK TOWNSHIP. 191 

and his mother in 1865. They were the parents of eleven children, five of whom survive: 
Isaac; Jesse C; William, in Illinois; Harriet N., wife of Mr. Crowell, and Andrew J., a 
Baptist minister in Illinois. Our subject helped his father on the farm, J^oiug to school 
three months in the winter, till he was nineteen; then he began boating on the canal, a 
business he followed during the summer, while he taught school in the winter. The 
boating he continued fifteen years, but gave up school-teaching after about six years. 
During the latter part of his boating he and his brother Isaac engaged in merchandising 
and dealing in grain in Danville. They owned a boat, by which they carried grain, etc., 
to Philadelphia. This they kept up until 1853, when our subject bought the farm of 
sixty-eight acres where he now lives in Cooper Township, Montour County, and has since 
lived here. He is also engaged in merchandising, keeping store at his home. Our subject 
in 1863, when the Confederate Army under command of Gen. Lee invaded his State, vol- 
unteered and took up arms to resist the invasion. In 1873 he was elected a member of the 
Legislature, and re-elected in 1874, on the Democratic ticket, under the old constitution. 
He has held a number of township offices. Mr. Amerman was married December 2, 1845, 
to Caroline Strohm, by whom he had nine children, five of whom are yet living: Lemuel, 
an attorney in Scranton, Penn.; Alvaretta, wife of F. A. Beidleman; Caroline, wife of 
Jacob S. Coxey; Laura and Ella. Alonzo, who died in January, 1886, was a physician, 
having practiced ten years. Mrs. Amerman died April 19, 1869, and cur subject then mar- 
ried, September 26, 1871, Margaret J. Appleman, by whom he has two children: Charles 
V. and Edwin C. His son Lemuel has been a member of the Legislature for two terms, 
having been elected on the Democratic ticket. He is now State reporter for the supreme 
court. 

P. C. BLECHER, farmer, P. O. Grovania, was born in Cooper Township, this county, 
June 29, 1856, and is a son of Jackson and Mary A. (Foust) Blecher, natives of Montour 
County, Penn. His ancestors came from Berks County, Penn. Our subject was reared 
on a farm and remained under the paternal roof until 1876, until his marriage, when h'e 
moved to where he now lives. He cultivates 115 acres of land, all well improved. He 
was married July 1, 1876, to Alice Janett; they have two children: Mary A. and Viola. 
Mr. and Mrs. Blecher are members of the Reformed Church. 

JACOB HARTMAN, farmer, P. O. Grovania, was born in Hemlock Township, Co- 
lumbia Co., Penn., July 5, 1826, son of Jacob and Mary C. (Heinbald) Hartman, the 
former a native of Hemlock Township, Columbia County, and the latter of Cooper Town- 
ship, this county, and of German descent. His grandfather, John Hartman, a native 
of Germany, immigrated to America about 1785, and first settled in Hemlock Township, 
Columbia County, where he took up a large tract of timber land, and there remained all his 
life and followed farming. He was in his eighty-fourth year at the time of his death. Our 
subject s father was reared on a farm, but during his early life he learned the blacksmith 
trade, which he followed about thirteen years, then abandoned it, bought a small farm 
and turned his attention to agriculture. He died in West Hemlock Township, this county, 
in 1863, a lifelong Democrat; his wife died about twelve years previous. They were the 
parents of five children, three now living: Susan Krum, Mary C. and Jacob. Our subject 
was reared on a farm and has always followed agriculture. He remained at home until 
twenty-one years of age, and then went to St. Joseph County, Mich., and was absent three 
years, working two years on a farm, and the remainder of his time in a steam saw-mill. 
In the spring of 1850 he bought a team, and followed teaming for five years, hauling ore, 
etc. He next rented a farm of Mr. Appleman, and carried on agriculture twenty-three 
years, «then bought the place where he now resides. Mr. Hartman was married in 1852 to 
Lydia Krum, and they had five children, four of whom are living: Isaac, in Michigan; 
William, in Columbia County, Penn.; Wellington and Leander. Mrs. Hartman died 
July 8, 1884, and is buried in the Odd Fellows' cemetery, at Danville, Cooper Township, 
Montour County. Our subject's maternal grandfather served in the war of 1812. Mr. 
Hartman is aDemocratin politics, has held the offices of 'supervisor of the board of election, 
and auditor. He owns 368 acres of land and the fine residence he now lives in. 

WILLIAM McNINCH, farmer and quarryman, P. O. Grovania, was born in North- 
umberland County, Penn., September 30, 1826, a son of James and Jane (McCord) 
McNinch, natives of Montour County, and of Scotch-Irish descent. His grandfather, 
James McNinch, came from Scotland and settled in this county in 1766, being among the 
very first settlers of this section. He took up a large tract of land, where he lived and 
farmed until his death. The land was all timber, and wild animals were still plenty. 
Their nearest market w^as Northumberland. Our subject's grandfather, Joseph McCord, 
also a farmer, came from Ireland and settled here about the same time. He served in 
the Revolutionary war, and was a man noted for his military ability. Our subject's 
father was reared on a farm, and moved to Cooper Township, this county, in 1845, where 
he bought the farm on which William now lives, and remained here until his death, 
which occurred in March, 1855. He was the father of nine children, four now living: 
Mary, in Catawissa, Columbia Co., Penn.; William; James, in Kansas; and Emily, also 
in Catawissa. James McNinch was a lifelong Democrat. Our subject was reared on a 
farm, and remained with his parents until their death, after which he took the home- 



192 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

'stead, which he has since farmed. In 1861 he opened a stone quarry, and built lime-kilns 
m Cooper Township, on the Bloomsburg road, and lias had them in operation ever since, 
tnanufacturing a good qualit}' of lime. He was married February 17, 1859, to Rachel 
Deitrich, and they are ilie parents of six children: Warren, in Helena, Mont.; Annetta; 
Hugh, at school in Lawrenceville, N. J.; Martha, Joseph and Elizabeth. Mr. and Mrs. 
McNinch are members of the Presbyterian Church at Bloomsburg. In 1858 he was 
tjlected county commissioner, serving one term of three years. In 1863 he was elected 
county treasurer, serving one term. He has been justice of the peace ten years, and has 
held nearly all of the township offices. In politics he is a Democrat. 

AARON C. MAUSER, farmer, P. O. Danville, was born on the old homestead where 
he now lives, July 21, 1849, son of Jacob and Catharine (Krum) Mauser, both natives of 
Pennsylvania, and of German descent. His great-grandfather, Nicholas Mauser, settled 
in what is now Cooper Township, this county, in 1785, and bought a large tract of tim- 
ber land. The deed is one hundred and twelve years old, and was bought from George 
Miller, who had just received it from William Penn. His grandfather, Christian Mauser, 
"was fourteen years of age when his parents moved to this place, and he remained on this 
farm all his life; he died at the age of eighty-eight years. The "little old log cabin " that 
■our subject's great-grandfather built, is yet standing, and Aaron C. can boast of having 
put a roof on the house that his great-grandfather built. He has a clock which was made 
in 1801, and also the old gun that his great-grandfather used in the Revolutionary war. 
Our subject's father was born on this farm, and remained here all his life. He died in 
his fiitieth year. Aaron C. is of the fourth generation that has lived on and owned this 
farm, one of the first settled in this county. He now owns 188 acres of land. He was 
tnarried March 28, 1874, to Ellen Keiffer, and they are the parents of four children: Lydia, 
Edda, Lizzie and Ellen. Mr. and Mrs. Mauser are members of the old Lutheran Church 
and are also members of the Grange. He has held the offices of constable, auditor, as- 
sessor, supervisor and collector. In politics he is a full-blooded Democrat. 

ANGUS MORRISON, deceased farmer, was born in Washington County, Me., 
September 21, 1834, son of Peter and Jane (McKaskell) Morrison, former born in Scot- 
land, latter in North Carolina, of Scotch descent. His father died in 1880, in his eighty- 
seventh year; his mother died several years previous to his father. Our subject was 
reared on a farm and remained at home until twenty-one years of age. Then he moved 
to San Francisco, where he remained a short time; then located in Shasta County, Cal., 
where he bought a farm and remained six years. He then sold out and removed to Ne- 
vada in 1861, locating in Humboldt County, where he was engaged in quartz raining and 
milling for about twenty years. He remained in this county until the spring of 1881. He 
Was a member of the Nevada Legislature for one session. In 1881 he moved to Idaho, 
and there remained until the fall of 1883, engaged in mercantile business. He came to 
Pennsylvania in the fall of 1888, and purchased a farm of 157 acres of good land. Mr. 
Morrison was married December 25, 1879, in San Francisco, to Laura Richardson Wells, 
and they are the parents of three children: Emily F., Catharine J. and Mary H. Mr. 
Morrison died January 12, 1887. 

JOHN LYMAN RICHARDSON (deceased) was born in the State of Vermont, Sep- 
tember 16, 1816, son of William P. and Laura (Lyman) Richardson, natives of Vermont 
and of English descent. Our subject came to Luzerne County, Peuu., at the age of twenty- 
five years. He began life by teaching school, which he followed several years, and was 
superintendent of the public schools of Luzerne County for two terms. He was also con- 
nected with a Prohibition paper in Bloomsburg for a number of years. He was an Abo- 
litionist until slavery was abolished, and then Ijecame a Prohibitionist, in which party he 
figured quite prominently until his death in March, 1885, at Mount Carmel, Penn. He 
dropped dead of heart disease, but no one ever knew that he was troubled with it. He 
was the father of nine children, eight of whom are now living: Mary, wife of Isaac P. 
Hand, in Wilkesbarre, Penn.; Laura, wife of Angus Morrison; Galitzin T., in Idaho; 
Florence D., wife of Willis Emmons, in Pomona, Cal. ; Emily E., wife of Walter T. Hall, 
in Idaho; William P., in Jordan Valley, Ore.; John L., in New York City; Harriet H., in 
Bloomsburg. Catharine is deceased. The mother resides in Bloomsburg, Penn. 

CHARLES EDWIN YORKS, farmer, P. O. Danville, was born in Cooper Township, 
this county, on the place where he now lives, August 3, 1853, son of William and Martha 
(Hull) Yorks; former a native of Montour County, Penn., and latter of Catawissa, Colum- 
bia Co., Penn., and of Scotch-German descent. His grandfather, Samuel Yorks, came 
from New Jersey and settled in what is now Montour Count}^ in about 1780, where he 
owned a large tract of land which he bought at a low figure. He owned another large 
tract of land in Columbia County. He served in the war of 1812. Our subject's father 
was a farmer and a lumber dealer; was also interested in the insurance business in Dan- 
ville. He bought the old homestead and lived on the farm where our subject now re- 
sides, until his death, which occurred in August, 1877. He held the office of county commis- 
sioner for one term, and was justice of the peace of Cooper Township for about thirty years. 
He was the father of six children, three now living: Charles Edwin, Ida and Dr. John, 
who resides in Philadelphia. Our subject was reared on a farm and remained at home 



DERBY TOWNSHIP, 



193 



until his father's death. He attended school at Mechanicsburg, Ponn., two yeatP, and 
Danville, this county, four years. He was married April 18, 1878, to Anna Bartholomew, 
a native of this county, and they are the parents of two children, one living, Florence. 
(Belie is deceased). Tlie farm where our subject now lives comprises 15tj acres of good 
land. The estate owns 400 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Yorlis are members of tlie Presbyterian 
Church. He is a member of the P. of H. and is reporter for the Agricultural Bureau 
of this county. 



CHAPTER XYII. 



DERRY TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH OF WASHING- 

TONVILLE. 

ALEXANDER BILLMEYER, farmer and lumberman Washingtonville, Penu., is a 
grandson of Martin Billmeyer, who came to Liberty Township, this county, with his 
father, who took up a large tract of land on the Chillisquaque, on which he died. After 
his death the land was divided among his three sons, George, Martin and Andrew. They 
erected a saw-mill on the creek (the tirst in the township), which is still in use and is 
known as the Billmeyer saw-mill. Martin died there about thirty-six years ago_. His 
widow, nee Margaret Himmelrigb, died several years after. They were the parents of six sons 
and six daughters: Daniel, Martin, Jacob. Mary, Catherine and Fannie, all deceased; 
Peter, an ex-sheriff, now living in Bloomsburg, Columbia Co.; .lohn residing in Liberty 
Township; A. Jackson, in the same township; Sarah, wife of John Gonger; Margaret, 
wife of George Wagner, both of Limestone Township, and Harriet, wife of A. J. Maus, 
of Valley Township. Jacob was the father of our subject, and lived in Liberty Township 
until a year or two before his death. He was born October 17, 1808. and died May 30, 
1881. He had been all his life a farmer and lumberman. His wife, Eliza Hower, was 
born in Northampton County, August 16, 1814, and died February 5, 1873. They had 
seven children, all now living: Henry, in Liberty Township; Sarah, wife of Martm Blue 
of this township; Mary, wife of B. F. Umstead, of Anthony; Margaret, wife of David 
Springer, of Liberty Township; Jacob H., of Anthony; Daniel, living in Talbot County, 
Md., and Alexander, ihe eldest. Our subject was born January 7, 1841, and remained at 
home until the age of twenty-six years. After his marriage, he and his brother, Henry, 
bought out their father and farmed and lumbered for eight years, paying off all the debts 
which their father had incurred. They then dissolved, Alexander buying the lumber bus- 
iness, and his brother taking the homestead. They acquired a barge amount of land, which 
Alexander now occupies (about 400 acres home farm), and erected the fine residence now 
occupied by him in 1876. In 1865 he married Miss Angeline, daughter of Daniel Blue, of 
Muncy, Lycoming County. She was born October 12, 1845. To their union five chddreu 
have been born as follows: Ella, born February 2, 1866; Alice, born August 13, 186*; Hi- 
ram, April 16, 1870; Mary, July 17, 1874, and Florence, January 20, 1879, all living with 
their parents. Mr. Billmeyer is an energetic man of business, and at present is extensively 
engaged at lumbering, at White Oak, Talbot, Md., Elk County, Penn., and also on his 
farms in this county. 

FRANK G. BLEE, farmer, Washingtonville, is a son of John Blee, who came from 
Ireland in 1795, when but twelve years old. He was born in 1783 and died in 1860, aged 
seventv-seven years. At Philadelphia he learned brickmaking, at which he subsequently 
worked in Norristown. Accumulating some money he bought land in Anthony Township, 
near the farm of Robert McKee. This he afterward sold and bought a property in Deny 
Township. Later he bousrht two other farms, and then the one where his son now resides, 
owning at one time fourfarms. By his first wife, Sarah McCord, he had ten children : 
Joseph, William, James, Robert, John, Joseph (second) and Sarah, all of whom are 
deceased; Mary, Margaret and Elizabeth are living in Illinois. His second wife was Han- 
nah Gingles, whose mother was one of those who escaped at the Wyomin.g massacre. 
By this union Mr. Blee had five children: Sarah A., wife of Edward Morns of V\ ashing- 
tonville; Susan H., wife of John Butler of Danville: Savilla and Maria F. (twins) died 
in childhood, and Frank G. Our subject was born August 5, 1839, and when seventeen 
went to Illinois, where he remained until the spring of i860. In 1861 he entered the army 
in the wagon train in the quartermaster's department, where he remained until the fall 
of 1862. August 9, of that year, he enlisted in the nine months' service in Company A, 
One Hundred and Thirty-second Regiment, and participated in the battles of South Moun- 
tain, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, seeing considerable service in a short 

I lA 



194 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

time. He was mustered out at Harrisburg, May 24, 1863, and returned to the farm, which 
he rented while lumbering in North Carolina. In 1872 he took possession of the place 
and there has since resided. September 24, 1863, he married Louisa A., daughter «f 
Daniel Butler of this township, and six children were born to them: Robert E., Winifred 
and Frank G. are new living at home, and Harry W., died in 1868, Sallie M. died 
December 20, 1885, and Lizzie died July 26, 1877. In 1878 Mr. Blee was elected county 
commissioner and re-elected in 1881 and 1884, running ahead of his ticket each time, suffi- 
cient indication of the estimation in which he is held by his fellow citizens. He is a man 
of force and much influence in the community. Politically he is a Democrat. Mrs. Blee 
died January 21, 1878. 

ANDREW BRITTAIN, farmer, P. O. Washingtonville, was born in Derry Town- 
ship, this county, five miles from his present residence, September 4, 1804. His parents 
were Samuel and Sarah Brittain, of whom mention is made in the sketch of Nathaniel 
Brittain. Our subject lived with his father until his marriage, when he moved to his 
present residence, which at that time was owned by his father; later our subject bought 
it from the estate and has since owned it. March 26, 1835, he married Mary, daughter of 
Andrew Sheep. Mrs. Brittain was born October 14, 1808, on the place where she has 
always lived, and which was formerly owned by her father. To their union three children 
have been born: James Barber, born March 15, 1836, died October 5, 1857; Elizabeth Ann, 
born August 11, 1837, resides with her parents, and Sarah E., born November 22, 
1839, wife of "William B. Low, of Anthony Town.ship. Mr. Brittain has always been a 
farmer and has held several township oflices. He and wife and family are members of 
the Presbyterian Church, of which for nearly thirty years he has been an elder. He has 
always been a hard-working industrious man, and has the respect of the people among 
whom his life has been passed, and is now one of the oldest residents of the township. 

NATHANIEL BRITTAIN, retired farmer, P. O. Danville, was born February 15, . 
1807, in the cabin which stood near his present home. His grandfather, Nathaniel Brit-c?^ 
tain, was a native of Northampton County, where he Qied in 1817; was a soldier in the 
Revolution and served in the war against the Indians on the frontier. His son, Samuel, 
subject's father, was born and reared in Northampton County, and immediately after his 
marriage, in 1796, came with his young wife to what was then the wilderness of Northum- 
berland County, settled on the place now occupied by his son and built a log cabin. He 
was always a farmer, and cleared the tract of 300 acres which he had bought on what was 
known as the Montgomery Patent. He was born February 28, 1770, and died May 19, 
1841, aged seventy-one years. His wife, Sarah Sillimau, was born in Northampton 
County August 19, 1773, and died September 3, 1845. Their children were Jane, who 
died in 1863; Isaiah, died also in 1863, leaving four children; Samuel, who died in 1818, 
aged sixteen years; Andrew, residing in this township; Sarah died in 1846, and Nathaniel. 
Our subject has resided all his life, except seven years, on his present place, where he was 
born. Until his twenty-fourth year he worked on his father's farm, helping to clear and 
cultivate it. Then, in partnership with his brother, Andrew, he bought a farm in this 
township, to which they removed and resided seven years. His father dying, our subject 
returned home and cultivated the farm for his mother for three years, and on her death 
bought the farm on which he has since lived. About fourteen years ago he retired, and 
was never engaged in any occupation except farming. May 25, 1854, he married Rebecca, 
daughter of Andrew Sheep, who was a carpenter by trade and also owned a farm in this 
township. She was born April 8, 1813. They have no children, but have adopted Ther- 
esa, daughter of William Diidine of Columbia County, who is now the wife of Eli Apple- 
man, and with her husband lives on her adopted father's farm. Mr. Brittain has served 
as administrator of six estates, thus showing the conlidence in which he is held by the 
community. He has held all the important offices in his township, and was once elected 
justice of the peace, but refused to accept. For nine years he was a lieutenant in the old 
State militia, and in every station of life has discharged his duties with fidelity and hon- 
esty. To-day, one of the oldest men in the township, with all his faculties unimpaired, 
he is a good specimen of a self-made man, and his standing in the community is excelled 
by none. 

HENRY COOPER, farmer and stockdealer, P. O. Washingtonville, is a grandson of 
Abraham Cooper, who came from Bucks County, near Philadelphia, in 1810; settled the 
farm now occupied by his grandson, buying it from his brother Daniel, who had purchased 
it from the Montgomery estate. His son Abraham was the father of Henry. The farm 
was bequeathed to his brother, Peter, from whom Abraham bought it four years later. 
He farmed it three or four years before his death, when he rented it to Henry. He was 
born in December, 1805, and died in November, 1871, a member of the German Reformed 
Church. His wife was Mary Catherine Dieffenbach, and their children were as follows: 
Elizabeth, wife of Reuben Lobach, a farmer in this township; Samuel, a farmer, who 
lives in Michigan; Susan, who was the wife of John Morris, and died in Michigan about 
twelve years ago; Aaron, unmarried, resides in Iowa, and our subject, the second child, 
who was born September 9, 1838, in Liberty Township. When he was less than three 
years of age his father bought the farm adjoining the homestead on which he lived 



DEBRY TOWNSHIP. 195 

twelve years. He then bought the Daniel Carr property on the other side, which his son 
owns. In 1862 his father built the brick house in which our subject now resides, and 
the latter remained on tlie old place until after his father's death. A year after that event he 
took possession and now owns both, aggregating over 200 acres. Mr. Cooper also deals 
largely in stock, and is the heaviest feeder of stock on any one farm in Montour 
County. In 1884 he helped his half-brother, John, the sole issue of his father's second 
marriage, to buy the Frosty Valley mill, in Valley Township. A few days later it was 
destroyed by fire, and Mr. Cooper advanced the money to rebuild it and now does all the 
merchant work there, John doing the custom work. March 9, 1864, he married Mary, 
daughter of Vincent R. Shultz, of West Hemlock, and three children were born to this 
union: Lloyd Clarence, born January 31, 1867; Vincent Welmington, born May 16, 1868 and 
■Charles Calvin, born January 20, 1875, all living with their parents. Mr. Cooper takes con- 
siderable mterest in politics but does not hold office. He is a member of the German Re- 
formed Church, and his wife of the Methodist Episcopal. He is known as one of the 
most progressive and thorough-going farmers in the county. 

GIDEON P. DIETRICH, retired, Washingtonville, is a grandson of Jacob Dietrich, 
who came from Germany and settled in Berks County, where he died. His son, John 
Jacob, was the father of Gideon P., and was born in Greenwich Township, Berks County, 
where he died at the age of eighty-four years. His widow, nee Christina Pf eiffer, survived 
him several years. They had eleven children— eight sons and three daughters— of 
whom three are deceased. The living are Samuel P., in Berks County on his father's 
farm; Solomon, a miller in Albany Township; Moses, in Greenwich Township; Charles, in 
Albany Township; Polly, wife of Charles Greenwalt, of Greenwich Township; Sallie, wife 
of Peter Kline, of Reading; Caroline, wife of Peter Krause, of Greenwich Township, all 
in Berks County, and Gideon P. The last named was born in Berks County, April 22, 
1815; lived with his father until he was twenty-three years of age. He learned the 
trade of milling which he followed seventeen years, fourteen of which were passed in 
this part of the country. In 1854 he abandoned milling and bought his father-in-law's 
farm in this township, where he now resides. He also owns two other farms as well as 
house property in Danville. Since 1879, he has lived retired. In 1848 he married Susanna 
Moser, who was born October 6, 1819, and four children blessed their union: Peter M., 
married Annie Yoder, and resides on his father's farm; Mary Ann, wife of George W. Mill- 
er, of this township, residing on one of her father's farms; Sallie, wife of Daniel Wag- 
ner, of this township, residing on her father's farm, and Caroline, who died when seven 
years old. Mr. Dietrich has been overseer of the poor for sixteen years, and served as 
school director ten years. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, of which he was dea- 
con for seventeen years, and elder for five years, when increasing infirmities compelled 
his resignation. Politically he is a Democrat. Since 1880, the Washingtonville and 
Northern Montour Agricultural Society has held its fair on Mr. Dietrich's old homestead. 

DANIEL FRAZIER (deceased) was a native of Danville, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. 
His parents came to Danville, where the father died about sixty years ago, and the mother 
some thirty-five years later. Their children were James, William, Alexander, Thomas, 
Daniel, Christiana, Agnes and Sarah, and two who died in childhood. None of the 
family are now living; Daniel was born in 1815 and died March 28, 1879. He worked for 
his father until the latter's death, when he bought the home farm from the estate, and 
many years after sold it to the Reading Railroad Company, '^whose depot now stands upon 
it, as does also a large part of the newer portion of Danville. In 1852 he bought and 
moved to the farm in Derry Township where his widow now resides and where he died. 
He always followed farming and in 1841 was elected the first sheriff of Montour County 
after its separation from Columbia. From youth until his death he was a consistent mem- 
ber of the Presbyterian Church and was a man much respected by all who knew him. 
December 27, 1840, he married Miss Ellen, daughter of Jacob Olwine of Schuylkill 
County, and born in Reading in 1816. Mrs. Frazier bore her husband seven children, two 
dying in infancy, a daughter, Alice, at the age of twenty-seven years and eight months. 
The living are James O., sheriff of the county; Mary Isabella, wife, of James E. Steaker, of 
Washingtonville; Hannah M., living with her mother; Edward D., married to Jane, daugh- 
ter of Samuel Herr and resides in Valley Township. After her husband's death Mrs. Frazier 
sold part of the farm and removed to the other half, where she now resides in comfortable 
and pleasant circumstances. 

JEREMIAH D. GEIGER, merchant, Washin'gtonville, is a grandson of Philip and 
Moriah Geiger, the former a resident of Berks County. Philip's son Henry was the father 
of our subject and was born in Berks County June 10, 1802, and died here May 31, 1877, 
aged seventy-four years, eleven months and twenty-one days. He married in Berks 
County and came to Limestone Township in 1843, and some years later bought a farm in 
the same township. In 1867 he gave up farming and removed to AVashingtonville, where 
he lived retired. He was a prominent member of the Lutheran Church in that place, be- 
ing at different times trustee, deacon and elder. He was prompt in his attendance at the 
church, and took great interest in everything pertaining to it. He was a kind hearted man 
and universally esteemed. His wife was Anna Derr, daughter of Samuel and Catherine 



196 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Derr, and a native of Berks County, born July 3, 1802, and died hero March 20, 1875, aged 
seventy-two years, eight months and seventeen days; a member of the Lutheran Cliurch, 
and was noted for her charitable acts. They had ten children, three of whom died in in- 
fancy, and a son, Samuel, who died August 9, 1858, unmarried, at the age of twenty-seven 
years and six mouths. The surviving children are as follows : Sarah, unmarried, and 
residing on the homestead in Washinglouville ; William, married to Elsie Hosteller, and 
residing at Limestoneville; Henry, married to Anna Mauger, residing in Northumberland 
County; Levi, married to Anna Herr, lives in Limestone Township on the homestead; 
Catherine, wife of John Lydecker, of Riverside, Northumberland County, and J. D., the 
youngest son. Our subject was born April 4, 1840, in Berks County, ten miles from Read- 
ing. In his youth he learned shoemaking, at w^hich he worked seven years. He then 
worked on the farm three years, and at the removal of his father, took it and worked it 
four years. He then engaged in mercantile business in Washingtonville until 1872, in part- 
nership with F. W. Ream. After two years he bought his partner's interest and a year 
later went to Northumberland County. At Shamokin, six months later, he formed a part- 
nership with Amos Ohl, and December 5, 1875, engaged in mercantile business until 
August, 1876. They then returned to Washingtonville, where Mr. Geiger has since the last 
of that year been engaged in business for himself. November 2, 1885, he was appointed 
postmaster at Washingtonville. He married, November 9, 1865, Miss Mary Ann, daugh- 
ter of John Ream, of Limestone Township. She was born September 9, 1841, in Lancas- 
ter County, and has borne her husband four children: Calvin, born August 31, 1866; Ida 
May, born June 18, 1868, and Claude W., born November 4, 1879, all living with their par- 
ents, and Oscar Allen, born October 8, 1883, died March 3. 1885. Mr. Geiger has been 
treasurer of the borough for the last three years, has been school director for nine years, 
and he and Mrs. Geiger are members of the Lutheran Church. He is also secretary of the 
Sabbath-school and leader of the church choir. The following is a list of the relatives of 
Paul Geiger. great-grandfather of our subject: John Paul, ship "Samuel," from Rotter- 
dam, August 30, 1737; Christian, "Charming Polly," Plymouth, October 8, 1737; -Wil- 
helm, "Charming Polly," Plymouth, October, 1737; Hans, "Two Sisters," Rotterdam, 
September 9, 1738; Hans Jacob, "Betsy," Deal, August 27, 1739; Jacob, Sr., "Phoenix," 
Rotterdam, September 1, 1743; Jacob, Jr., " Phoenix," Rotterdam, September 1, 1743; 
Johan Frederick, "Paliena," Leith, October 25, 1748; Paul, "Fane," Cowes, October 17, 
1749; fGeorge, "Fane," Cowes, October 17. 1749; Johannes. "Anderson," Rotterdam, 
August 26, 1751; Tacitus, "Saint Andrew," Rotterdam, September 14, 1751; Jacob, 
" Duke," Portsmouth, September 14, 1751; Johan Michael, " Louisa," Rotterdam, Novem- 
ber 8, 1752; Johan Adam, " Phoenix," Rotterdam, November 22, 1752; Josepli, "Louisa," 
Rotterdam, October 13, 1753; Johannes, " Halifax," Rotterdam, October 26, 1754; John 
George, "Richmond," Rotterdam, October 20, 1764; Jacob, "Crawford," Rotterdam, 
November 23, 1770. 

JACOB P. HOFFA, physician, Washingtonville, Penn., is a grandson of Jacob and 
Rachel (Follmer) HofEa, the latter's history dating back over a century, and whose^family 
belonged to the pioneers of this country. The former was born May 20, 1800, in Reading, 
Berks Co., Penn., and descended from German lineage. He came to Northumberland 
County when quite a boy, and learned the carpenter trade under^John Deeter, of Chillis- 
quaque, and afterward became an extensive contractor. After his marriage with Rachel 
Follmer, who had inherited large lauded estate from her father, he engaged extensively 
in farming; and having purchased large timber tracts in Clinton and Lycoming Counties 
he erected saw-mills and began the manufacture of lumber on a large scale, in which he 
contiuued for over twenty years. He amassed a considerable fortune, and died May 15, 
1882. His wife died August 26, 1867. There are four sons and one daughter living: John 
Hoffa, Turbot Township, Northumberland County; Samuel F. Hotla, Milton, same 
county; Sarah Ann, married to John Shalter, Limestoneville, Montour County; Cyrus 
Hoffa, Lewisburg, Union County, and Reuben Hoffa, Reading — all of the State of Penn- 
sylvania. 

John Hoffa, father of Jacob P. Hoffa, was born May 3, 1826, at the old homestead on 
Avhich he now lives and inherited it from his grandfather, John Follmer, being one of the 
finest farms in central Pennsylvania, comprising a tract of 220 acres. John Hoffa has 
followed farming all his life, and is one of the most enterprising and progressive farmers 
of the age, keeping abreast with all the modern improvements pertaining to the art and 
science of farming, and at all times reTusing offers of political preferment, has made farm- 
ing a success. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, and takes great interest in its 
welfare and advancement. He is also an active member of the State Board of Agriculture, 
having been called upon at various times to write essays with respect to farming. His 
first wife, Sarah Ann Schajffer, daughter of Peter Schteffer, of Watsontown, Northumber- 
land Co., Penn., died December 7, 1864. Thi-ee children of their union died in infancy. 
Those now living are Catharine Ann, wife of J. D. Smith, Kansas; Jacob P. Hoffa; Daniel 
H., in Kansas; John Follmer and William Francis (twins), in Lewisburg. His second 

*Was under sixteen years old. 

fFifly acres of land in Hanover Townsliip, Penn. 



DERRY TOWNSHIP. 197 

wife was Catharine Litchard by whom he had two children: Cora M., wife of H. Mc- 
Ginnis, of Allenwood, Union Co., Penn., and Cyrus, living with his father. Mrs. Catha- 
rine Hoffa died September 24, 1878. Later he married Margaret Follmer, his present wife. 

Dr. Jacob P. Hoffa was born June 26, 1852. After receiving a thorough common- 
school education he attended the academy at Limestoneville and completed his education 
at Seliusgrove Missionary Institute, after which he was in the mercantile business for his 
grandfather during the period of a year and a half, in Lycoming County. He then taught 
school four years. During the latter part of that time he began reading medicine under 
the preceptorship of Dr. tj. Q. Davis, of Milton, Penn., and graduated from Jefferson 
Medical College, Philadeli^hia, in March, 1876. In the same month he came to Washing- 
tonville, and the following winter took a post-graduate course at the same college, thus 
qualifying himself thoroughly in his profession. Since then he has resided in Washing- 
tonville, and has establislied a large and lucrative practice. 

On January 8, 1878, he married Miss Clara A., daughter of William and Sarah Smith, 
of Limestone Township. She was born July 18, 1856, and two children have been born 
to their union: John Sidney, born July 23, 1879, and "Willie Huber, born September 12, 
1881. .. J . . 

Dr. Hoffa has been three times elected burgess of Washingtonville, first in 1879. He 
has been president of the Montour County Medical Society, is a member of the State 
Medical Society, and was elected to the State Legislature in 1884, and re-elected in 1886. 
He is now serving his second term, his constituents sending him back well pleased with 
the manner in which he represented them during his first term. 

He is a member of Derry Lodge, No. 759, I. O. O. F., in w^hich he has passed all the 
chairs. He and Mrs. Hoffa are members of the Lutheran Church. He is active in the 
Sabbath-school and is teacher of the senior Bible class. As a man and a physician he has 
the esteem and confidence of the people among whom he lives. 

MARTIN KELLEY, farmer and lumberman, P. O. Washingtonville, is a son of Mar- 
tin Kelley, who was a farmer and hotel-keeper of Liberty Township, where he died. The 
latter's wife, Catherine Billmeyer, was a native of Liberty Township and died in Danville 
a short time before her husband. Their children were John, who died in Northum- 
berland County: Fannie died in Liberty Township; Jesse died near Milton; Andrew died 
in Liberty; Benjamin was hurt in a saw-mill which caused his death shortly after; Jacob 
died in Valley; George is a farmer in Liberty Township, and married to Annie Bill- 
meyer. Martin is the only other survivor, and was born in Liberty Township, April 10, 
1835, and was quite young when his parents died. He worked among relatives until the 
breaking out of the Rebellion, when he enlisted in Company C, Fourteenth Pennsylvania 
Volunteers, the "Columbia Guards." The company served a month over its term. A 
year after his return Mr. Kelly married Mary A., daughter of Franklin Ryan, of Muncy. 
She was born June 4, 1845, and has borne her husband six children, the youngest of whom, 
Fannie M., born April 26, 1881, died February 7, 1882. The others, who live with their 
parents, are Ida E., Emma L., Bruce C, Jesse B. and Mamie V. Mr. Kelly has never 
held any public office but attends strictly to his own business. Politically he is a Demo- 
crat. 

JAMES W. LOWRIE, farmer, P. O. Washingtonville, is a grandson of Samuel Low- 
rie, who with eight brothers and one sister immigrated to this country from Scotland, and 
settled in various parts of Pennsylvania. Samuel took up a tract where his grandson now 
resides. He had a family of two sons and three daughters. Samuel, the father of our 
subject, was born in 1800, where his son now resides, and died in 1857. He was a farmer, 
and an elder of the Presbj'^terian Church. His wife, Helen Cole, died in 1886, in her 
eightieth year. Their children were Elizabeth, Margaret, Rhoda, Newell S., Harriet, 
Emily, Mary, Agnes, Rebecca, Belle and James W. The last named was born April 16, 
1841, in the house in which he now resides, but which he has remodeled since it became 
his property. He worked on the farm until the death of his father when he took charge 
of the homestead, and conducted it for his mother imtil 1865. He then bought it from the 
estate, and has since resided on it. The timber he sold on the ground, and his farm is now 
in a high state of cultivation. In 1868 he married Miss Priscilla, daughter of William 
Bryson, of Northumberland County. Mrs. Lowrie was born May 10, 1845, and graduated 
at Muncy Seminary. Eight children were born to their union as follows: Helen C, Ata, 
Saidie, Hattie B., Mary W., Blanche, Anna and Walter. Mr. Lowrie has held county and 
township oflices, and in every relation of life has discharged his duties in a manner highly 
creditable. In 1862 he entered the army and served nine months in Company G, One 
Hundred and Seventy-eighth Regiment, in which he was color bearer, which dangerous 
service he accepted when a volunteer was called for. He was honorably discharged 
at the end of his term. Mr. and Mrs. Lowrie are members of the Presbyterian Church, 
of which he is an elder. Politically he is a Republican. 

MATTHEW L. SHEEP.farmer, P. O. Jerseylown, is a grandson of Andrew Sheep, who 
immigrated from New Jersey and settled in this township, on a farm adjoining the one 
now occupied by our subject. He had eight children, only three of whom now survive, 
Mary, Rebecca and Elizabeth. James was the father of our subject, and was born on the 



198 BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

homestead, May 11, 1800. Some years after his marriage he inherited a portion of the 
farm where his son now resides, and there he died October 18, 1881, a prominent member 
of the Derry Presbyterian Church. His wife was Sarah P., a daughter of Samuel Lowrie, 
of this township. She was born May 3, 1797, and died in 1849. Their children were Andrew 
J. (deceased), who emigrated to Texas and there died; Samuel, died inhis twentieth year, 
and Matthew L. The last named was born April 26, 1834, and lived with his father until 
the latter 's death. Two years after his marriage he took possession of the home farm, 
having paid for the interest of the other heirs. March 29, 1855, he married Miss Elizabeth, 
daughter of Robert McKee. She was born December 28, 1834, in Anthony Township, 
and before marriage taught school in Anthony and Derry Townships, To their union six 
children have been born: Lloyd S., holds the position of principal of a large academy in 
Elizabeth City, N. C, married Pauline Hinton of that place, where they reside; Jennie, at 
home; J. Willis, married Ida Smith, and resides on a part of his father's farm; S. Laura, 
a teacher, resides with her parents; Sarah L. and M. Clyde, at home. Mr. Sheep held 
several township offices and many positions of trust, such as guardianships, etc. He and 
Mrs. Sheep are members of the Derry Presbyterian Church, of which he is treasurer. 
JOHN K. SHULTZ, farmer, P. O. Washingtonville, is a great grandson of Philip 
Shultz, who came from Germany and settled on a farm in New Jersey, where he died. His 
son, Jacob, grandfather of J. K., wasborn'in New Jersey, and came to this county in 1790, 
settling first at Limestoneville. Later he came to the farm occupied by our subject. Here 
he lived until his death in 1804, when, with other old settlers, he was carried off by typhoid 
fever. He was the father of eight children, only one of whom survives — Elizabeth, widow of 
Daniel Mostellar, residing in West Hemlock Township, aged eighty-seven years. Peter 
was the father of John K., and was three years old when his parents came to this county. 
He was reared on the farm, and after his marriage moved to the farm adjoining,, where 
he resided fifty years, dying July 11, 1862, aged seventy-five years. He was an elder in 
the old Derry Church for many years, and politically a Democrat. His wife was Sarah 
Robbins, of Columbia County, Penn., who died in 1872, aged eighty-one years. and their chil- 
dren were William, a resident of Columbia County; Jonathan P., who died in North- 
umberland County in 1886; Jacob and Vincent, living in West Hemlock Township; James, 
in Rush Township, Northumberland County; Benjamin F., a physician in Danville; Peter, 
in Anthony Township; Mary K., wife of Benjamin Crossley in Michigan, and John K. 
Our subject was born in the old house, March 5, 1825, and lived with his father until his 
marriage, when he moved to the adjoining farm in West Hemlock Township, which he 
still owns. There he lived for nineteen years, when, having previously bought the old 
homestead and erected a fine house, he removed to it in October, 1874. October 11, 1855, 
he married Rebecca, daughter of James McVicker, of Anthony Township. She was born 
June 6, 1826, and seven children have blessed their union, the eldest and youngest dying 
in infancy. The others are Charles W., married to Sarah J. Watt; Anna M., wife of 
William Robinson; Clarence J., Sarah C. and William Barber, at home with their parents. 
Mr. Shultz has held several township offices, and is now justice of the peace. He ha.s 
always been a farmer, to which he has added cattle and hor.se dealing at times. He, Mrs. 
Shultz and three children are members of the Derry Presbyterian Church. Politically he 
is a Democrat. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP. 

JOHN J. BIEBER, farmer, P.O. Pott's Grove, was born intheMuncy Valley, Lycom- 
ing Co., Penn., December 4, 1855, son of George and Charlotte (Shipman) Bieber. Nich- 
olas Bieber, great-grandfather of our subject, came to America from Belgium, and located 
in Lycoming County, Penn. John Bieber, the grandfather, was also born in Belgium, and 
came with his father to the Muncy Valley. George Bieber, father of John, Jr., was born 
in Wolf Township, Lycoming Co.. Penn., and was married in Moreland Township, same 
county, to Miss Charlotte Shipman, a native of Lycoming County, and daughter of Jacob 
and Catharine (Brittain) Shipman, natives of New Jersey, the'former now living in Lycom- 
ing County at the age of eighty-nine years, the oldest inhabitant in his township; latter 
deceased. Mr. and Mrs. George Bieber were the parents of seven children, of whom John 
J. is the fourth in order of age. Our subject spent his early life in Wolf Township, Lycom- 
ing County, from there removed to Muncy Creek Township, Lycoming County, and in 
1884 came to his present location in this township. His mother's great-grandfather, John 



LIBERTY TOWNSHIP. 199 

Malachi Shamp, a native of England, was stolen from liis home in his boyhood daj^s. 
The subject of this sketch was married in this county, February i:5, 188^, to Miss Mary 
L. Murray, daughter of William and Jane Murray. Mr. and Mrs. Bieber are the parents 
of one child, Amy Shipman. Mr. Bieber is a member of tiie Lutheran Church, Mrs. 
Bieber of the Presbyterian Church. He has 120 acres of land being the old Murray farm. 
He taught school four terms in Lycoming County, and is now secretary of the school 
board of Liberty Township. 

HENRY BILLMEYER, farmer, P. O. Pott's Grove, Northumberland County, was 
born in Liberty Township, Montour Co., Penn., on the old homestead wliere he now 
resides, October 17, 1842, son of Jacob and Eliza (Hower) Billmeyer. He was married in 
1869 to Miss Hannah, daughter of James and Sarah (Smith) Flora, and a native of 
Anthony Township, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Billmeyer are the parents of three chil- 
dren: Sarah Ann, James Henry and Carrie Ellen. The parents are members of the Oak 
Grove Lutheran Church. Mr. Billmeyer owns the horn- farm of 111 acres, and nearly 200 
acrc^ in another farm in Liberty Township. He was in partnership with hi.s brother 
Alexander in the lumber business in 1874, and then was engaged in the same line for 
himself at Mooresburg and Limestoneville. They commenced in an old water saw-mill, 
and the business has always been successful. The lumber was sold to the Lehigh Valley 
Company. Mr. Billmeyer has put up fine improvements, and has one of the very finest 
barns in the county. 

SAMUEL BLUE, Potts' Grove, Northumberland County, was born in Liberty 
Township, Montour County, February 22, 1832, a son of Frederick and Elizabeth (Himul- 
rich) Blue. Samuel Blue, grandfatlier of our subject, and an early settler in this 
community, went to the war of 1812, and died at Black Rock. After his deatli 
his widow married a Mr. Bondeman. Frederick Blue, father of our subject, 
was born in what is now Montour County, Pennsylvania, and was here reared; he 
married Elizabeth Himulrich, born June 6, 1808, and they were the parents of the 
following named children: Samuel; Martin, living near Washingtonville, Derry 
Township; George (deceased), and William (deceased). The father died February 24. 
1870. He was county treasurer and sheriff of Montour County. The mother died 
February 17, 1863. The subject of this sketch was reared in this townshij) and made 
his home with his parents until his marriage, which occurred February 2, 1860, with Eliz- 
abeth, daughter of John and Elizabeth Wolf. She died March 14, 1862, at the aai' of 
twenty-seven years, eleven months, twenty-four days, and is buried in the Billmeyer 
graveyard. She left one child, Charles W., born March 29. 1861. Mr. Bluetlien married, 
December 21, 1865, Miss Clarinda Murray, by whom he had the following named children.: 
Carrie May, Wilfred Murray, Frank Howard, George Herbert, Edijar and Jennie Belle. 
Mr. Blue is a member of the Presbyterian Church, as is also his wife and some of the 
family. He bought his present farm of 150 acres in 1871. He also has 160 acres in North- 
umberland County, over half being timber land. His farm and improvements have cost 
him $150 an acre. Mr. Blue was elected treasurer of Montour County in the fall of 1877, 
and served three years. 

THOMAS J. CLARK, farmer, P. O. Mooresburg, was born July 13. 1837. son of John 
and Margaret (Maxwell) Clark. John Clark, Sr., grandfather of our subject, was born in. 
Ireland, and from there came to Pennsylvania, locating about 1786 in what is now Liberty 
Township, Montour County, where Mrs. Dr. Weaver now resides, and there lived the rest 
of his days. He served in the Revolutionary war and had a finger shot off (his brother, 
Robert, was a colonel in the same war). He and his wife are both buried in the Derry Pres- 
byterian Church graveyard. Thej' had two children John and Ann (both deceased). 
John Clark, Jr., the father of our subject, was born in what is now Liberty Township, 
Montour Co., Penn., and was here reared. He was a soldier in the war of 1812; was mar- 
ried October 23, 1818, by Rev. John Patterson, to Margaret, daughter of William and 
Jane (Bolles) Maxwell, latter a daughter of Judge Bolles, of BoUesburg, and they were the 
parents of the following named children: Sarah, deceased wife of William McMahon; 
Robert Finney (deceased), was a prominent lawyer of Bloomsburg, Penn.; John (de- 
ceased); Alexander, in Illinois; Samuel, an architect in Washington, D. C. ; James, in 
Geneseo, 111.; William, in Dallas County, Iowa, and Thomas J. The father died in 1870; 
his widow resides with Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Clark. The subject of this sketch was 
reared in Liberty Township, and was married October 25, 1864, to Miss Margaret Kyle, a 
native of Milton, Northumberland Co., Penn., and daughter of Samuel and Jane (Auten) 
Kyle, both deceased and buried at Milton, the former dying in 1878 and the latter in 1846. 
Mr. and Mrs. Clark are the parents of nine children: Eleanor H., Margaret Maxwell, Anna 
Gertrude, William Lowenburg. Charles Wallace, Edith Moore, Martha Hurley, Sarah 
Finney and George Edward. The parents are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. 
Clark has held the office of justice of the jieaec ten years, and has also been school direc- 
tor. In politics he is a Democrat. Tlie farm on which he resides contains over 200 acres, 
and belongs to the heirs of John Clark, which land, originally granted to the Presbyterian 
Church, was sold to Robin Finney, and lias passed down in the family ever since, withoirt 
any sale having been made. 



200 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

WILLIAM HENRY (fh^ceased) was born November 20, 1831, in Liberty Township, 
Montour Co., Penn., sou of John and Elizabeth (McCliire) Henr5% both of whom are de- 
ceased and are buried in tiie Centre gravej'ard, Liberty Township, this county. Our sub- 
ject was reared in Montinir County and alwiiys made it his home. He was twice married, 
his first wife having died sixteen months after their marriage. Our subject was married 
November 26, 186.5, to Miss Mary Ellen MeCracken, a native of this township and daugh- 
ter of Abraham and Margaret (Vandling) MeCracken, former of whom, a native of North- 
ampton County, Penn., is buried in the Chillisquaque Cemetery, latter a native of North- 
umberland County. Penn., being now a resident of this township. Mr. and Mrs. Henry 
were the parents of five children, all living: Samuel Peter, Margaret Ann, Clarence Alfred, 
Hannali Elizabeth and Minna Gerda. The fatlier died January 3. 1878, and is buried in 
the Chillisquaque Cemetery. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church; in politics a 
Democrat. He was for twelve years county superintendent of Montour, an office he held 
longer tlian any other man had held the same office iu the county. He was engaged in 
educational work from his seventeenth year till the time of his death. Also held several 
otber offices. Mrs. Henry taught school at Danville, this county, in 1864, and in Milton, 
NortlumiberlaTid County, in 1865, teaching from her eighteenth 3'ear to her twenty- 
second. 

WILLIAM V. KERR, P. O. Mooresburg. was born at the place where he now resides, 
February 14, 1851, and was here reared to manhood. He has spent his life on the farm, 
with exception of between the _years 1872 and 1876, when he was in partnership with 
G. P. Rfigliard, at Mooresburg, this county. He was married November 2, 1876, to Alice, 
daughter of John B. and Sarah Smith, of Mifflinburg, Penn., and they are the parents 
of four children, two now living: Joseph H. and John R. ; Mary Finney and Louise are 
deceased. Mr. Kerr has the old homestead of 100 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Kerr are members 
of the Preshvterian Church. In politics he is a Republican. 

WILLIAM McMAHON, P. O. Pott's Grove, Northumberland Co., Penn., was born 
on tlie farm where he now resides, March 22, 1832, son of John and Mary (Simington)Mc- 
Mahon. His erreatgrandfather was a native of the North of Ireland, immigrated to 
America, and settled in the valley of the Juniata River, Penn. John McMahon, grand- 
father of our subject, became an officer in the patriot army during the Revolution, serving 
throuch that struggle. After the war he came from the valley of the Juniata to what is 
now Montour County, Penn., and took up land around where William now resides. He 
and his wife are both deceased, and arebtiried in the Chillisquaque graveyard. John Mc- 
Mahon, father of our subject, was'born iu the latter part of the last century on the old 
homestead of his father, iu what is now ]\Iontour County, and was here reared. He was 
married about 1826 to Mary Simington, and they were the parents of seven children: 
Robert, iu Pott's Grove, Penn.; Jane, deceased wife of Alexander Clark; William; 
Elizabeth S., wife of John Diu-ham, in Winona, Minn.; John S., in Wellington, Kas. ; 
Sarah S., wife of Joseph K. Murray, in Liberty Township, this county, and Thomas, in 
Wellington, Kas. The father of the above died about 1852, and the mother about 1845. 
They are buried in tlie Chillis(|uaque Cemetery. The subject of this sketch was married 
January 20, 1862, to Miss Selina Mack, a native of Turbot Township, Northumberland 
Co., Penn., and daughter of Robert and Mary Ann (McFall) Mack, former of whom died 
September 28. 1884, and is buried in the Harmony Cemetery; latter now resides in Liberty 
Township, this county. Mr. and Mrs. McMaho'n are the parents of six children: Anna 
Mary, Charles H., Elizabeth S., Robert Mack, Lucy H. and John Adams. The parents 
are memt^ers of the Chillisquaque Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. McMahon has been 
elder since about 1874. He has been connected with the schools of Liberty Township as 
director since 1877. He has 170 acres of land, being the entire old homestead, and also 
160 acres on Montour Ridge. 

JAMES C. McWILLlAMS. farmer, P. O. Mooresburg, was born in Liberty Township, 
Montour Co.. Penn., May 9, 1841. sou of John and Margaret (Caldwell) McWilliams. 
John McWilliams, latherof our subject, was born October 7, 1807. in this township, and here 
reared to manhood. He was married in this county in March, 1835, to Miss Margaret Cald- 
well, born Decembers, 1816, daughter of James "and ]\Iary (Woods) Caldwell,"who were 
married June 12, 1810, the former of whom was born in Ireland, and when two years of age 
came to America, locating in Pennsylvania; the latter was of Scotch-Irish descent. Mr. and 
Mrs. James Caldw^ell were the parents of six children: Robert (deceased); John (deceased); 
Margaret; Samuel, in Watsontown, Penn. ; James Rodgers, near Trenton, N. J. and Lazerus 
Finnej' (deceased). James Caldwell, father of the above, died June 9, 1866. His first wife, 
mother of the above named children, died December 25, 1826; his si-c^nd wife, whose maiden 
name was Eleanor Woods, died June 4, 1865. They are buried in the McEweusville 
Cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. John McWilliams are the parents of four children: Mary Ellen, 
deceased wife of H. B. Kimble, Newark. N. J., in business on Canal Street, New York; 
James C; Robert Curry, in NorthumberlandCounty, Penn., (he has represented that coun- 
ty in the Pennsylvania General Assembly), and J. Woods, in New York, engaged with the 
Manhattan Railway. John McWilliams. father of the above, died August 7, 1876, and is 
b ried in^the Milton Cemetery. His widow resides at Milton. Penn. James C. McWilliams, 



LIBERTY TOWNSHIP. 201 

subject of this sketch, was reared in Liberty Township, whicli he has always made his 
iioroe. He was married here January 26, 1871, to Miss Elizabeth J., daughter of Judge 
James and Christina (Yorks) Curry, of Valley Township, -this county. Mr. and Mrs. 
McWilliams are the parents of two children: John Currj' and Mary Eslella. All the fam- 
ily are members of the Presbyterian Church at Mooresburg, in the building of which they 
were instrumental. Mr. McWilliams is a member of Catawissa Lodge, No. 349, at Cata- 
■wissa; a member ©f Bloomsburg Chapter. He has a farm of 230 acres adjoining the old 
homestead, which belongs to his mother, and which contains 260 acres. 

DAN MORGAN, P. O. Pott's Grove, was born in Aberystwyth Parish, South "Wales. 
March 5, 1824, a son of William and Jane (Seer) Morgan. The former was a skilled iron 
worker in the old country, overseeing a number of hands there. About 1839 or 1840 he 
■came to America, and became engaged in the Mount Savage Iron Works, Maryland. The 
firm conducting these works soon failed, and he moved northward to Juniata, and there 
■engaged in a tannery. While there he sent for his family who came out in 1844. He re- 
mained at Juniata until September 1845, and then engaged in the iron works of the 
Montour Iron Company, Danville, where he remained until his death, which occurred 
March 16, 1851; his widow survived him until January 10, 1856. Thej^ are buried in the 
JVIeJhodist Cemeterj', Danville. The}' were the parents of the following named children: 
William; Mary Ann was the wife of James Williams; Thomas; Dan; Jane was the wife 
of Benjamin Harris; Esther was the wife of Michael Graham, and Gad, all deceased except 
Dan. The subject of this sketch remained with his parents until 1845, when he left the 
iiome at Juniata, and coming to Danville engaged in the Montour Iron Works. In 1851 
he became superintendent of the blast furnace for this company, and held that position 
until 1883, and part of the time he was general superintendent of the entire plant, except 
the mines. In 1867 lie entered the company as a member,and held an interest in the works 
until 1878. when he withdrew his membership, but still retained his position in the works 
as general superintendent. He then bought 287 acres of land in Liberty Township, this 
■county, to which he has since added until he now has three farms containing 417 acres, 
all three places being supplied with the best of farm houses and buildings. In 1877 he came 
to his farm property and resided on it until 1879, when he went back to Danville, but after 
residing there until 1881, returned to the farm to make 'his permanent residence. Mr. 
Morgan was married December 16, 1849, to Mary Jane, daughter of William and 
Mary (Merrill) Ephlin, and a native of New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan were the 
parents of eight children, of whom five are living: William G., married to Ida A. Savage, 
August 16, 1871 (they have three children, Jennie, Dan and Joe — he was superintendent 
one year of the Waterman & Co. furnace in 1877); Joseph Henry, married to Bella 
James. April 12, 1885; John Peter, killed June 25, 1864, at the swing bridge, Danville; 
George Burliiigame, married March 17, 1883, to Ella Gabriel (they have one child, 
Laura); Dan died April 2, 1861; Robert Seei ; James D., died March 10," 1869; and John. 
Mr. Morgan is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having joined the Blue Lodge with 
224 others at Danville. 

JOSEPH K. MURRAY, farmer, P. O. Pott's Grove. Northumberland County, was 
born in Valley Township, Montour Co., Penn., February 5, 1839, son of William and 
Jane S. (Kerr) Murray. Col. James Murray, the grandfather of our subject, was of Scotch- 
Irish descent; was a colonel in the patriot armj' during the Revolutionary war, and 
after that struggle came to Northumberland County, Penn., where he lived until his death, 
which occurred in the vicinity of Watsontown. He owned most of the land north of 
Pott's Grove, including the present town site. He was three times married, and by his 
first marriage there was one son. William Murray, father of our subject, was born to the 
third marriage, in Northumberland County, Penn., where he was reared. From there he re- 
moved to what is now Montour County, and tnuglit school until he had completed six- 
teen years at that profession, part of tlie time in Northumberland County, part in Mon- 
tour County. He was in partnership with Robert Kerr in mercantile' business both at 
Mooresburg and Hartleton, Penn. He then went to Valley Township, Montour County; 
thence to where John Moore now resides in Liberty Township; thence to the south side 
of the limestone ridge, between Milton and Washingtonville, in Liberty Township, this 
county, wbere John Bieber now resides. In that immediate neighborhood he died, at the 
house of his son-in-law, Samuel Blue, where he had resided the last eight years of his 
life. He had 270 acres of land, but sold all except 120 acres some time previous to his 
death, which occurred August 4, 1883; his wife died in 1864, and they are buried in the 
■Chillisquaque Cemetery. They were both members of the Presbyterian Church. 
William Murray had held the office of school director a great many years, as well as 
other township offices. Mr. and Mrs. William Murraj^ were the parents of eight children: 
Margaret Ann, deceased; Clarinda K., wife of Samuel Blue; J. K.; James B.; Lizzie L. 
and Robert H., twins (Robert H. is deceased); Jennie S., wife of Thomas Bieber, in 
Pott's Grove, Penn.; Mary L., wife of John Bieber, in Liberty Township, this county. 
The sul)ject of this .sketch made his home with his parents, or on their land, until 1874, 
when he removed to his pre.-!ent location, and has here since resided. He was married De- 
■cember 21, 1865, to Miss Surah S., daughter of John McMahon. Mr. and Mrs. Murray 



202 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

were the parents of eleven children, of whom nine are living: William Edwin, Jennie 
Simington, Alice Foresman, Clyde Strawbridge, Robert Simington and Charles How- 
ard (twins), Thomas Stewart, Edna Vansant and Mary Elizabeth. Joiin McMahon and 
Elwood are deceased. The parents are members ot the Chillisquaque Presbyterian 
Church, ot wliich Mr. Murray is a ruling elder. Mr. Murray enlisted in the nine months 
service in 18G3, in Company G, One Hundred and Seventy-eighth Pennsylvania Volun- 
teer Infantry, colonel, James Johnson. He was mustered in at Harrisburg; thence went to 
Washington, D. C; thence to Newport News, on the James River; thence marched to 
Yorktown, where he lay six months; thence to Williamsburg; thence to White House- 
Landing, on Pamunkey River: tiieuce to Yorktown again, and from there to Washing- 
ton; thence to Harrisburg, and thence home. He is a member of Grange No. 877, P. of 
H., Chillisquaque Township. In politics he is a Proiiibitionist. He owns a fine farm, 
which he takes pains to till in the most practical manner, and takes a deep interest in all 
matters tending toward the elevation of his class. 

JAMES B. MURRAY, farmer, P. O. Pott's Grove, Northumberland County, wns 
born in Liberty Township, Montour Co.. Penn., November 23, 1840, son of William and 
Jane (Kerr) Murray. He was reared in Liberty Tewnship and has always made it his 
home, with the exception of three years, during which he was in the army. He was mar- 
ried December 18, 1875, to Miss Arabella Moore, a native of this county, and daughter of 
John and Catharine (Voris) Moore, who now reside in this township. Mr. and Mrs. 
Murray are the parents of two children: Gilbert Voris and Edwin Moore. The parents 
are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Murray enlisted December 10, 1868, in 
Company F, Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. He was mustered into the service at Har- 
risburg, and from there went to the Shenandoah Valley to join what afterward became 
Sheridan's cavalry, and he participated in all the campaigns of those famous troopers 
from that time until the close of the war. Among others he was at the battle of tbe 
Wilderness, at Gettysburg, and all the others up to the last acts of the struggle; and par- 
ticipated in all the movements about the defenses of Petersburg, including the taking of 
that famous stronghold and Richmond, and the surrender of Lee at Appomatox. He 
was discharged at Lynchburg, Va., from tliere went to Washington, thence to Harrisburg,. 
and then returned home. He became sick in the service, and was nearly two months in 
the hospital, and his health has never fully recovered from tlie effects of his campaign- 
ing. He was under Gen. Gregg, and in tlae company of Capt. Robinson (afterward Hil- 
burn), in Col. Gregg's regimf^nt. Mr. Murray owns about 130 acres of land. 

JOHN K. SHEDDAN, farmer, P. O. Mooresburg, was born on the place he now re- • 
sides on, in Liberty Township, Montour Co., Penn., May 16, 1888, son of William and Mary 
(Russell) Sheddan. James Sheddan, grandfather of our subject, was born in Ireland, 
August, 12, 1744; from there came to America and located in what is now Montour 
County, in 1774, taking up land, then all timber, where John K. now resides. The tract 
was then called Seviceberry Grove, and then in Mahoning Township, Northumberland 
County. It contained 216 acres, thirty-four perches and allowances. Here he lived the 
remainder of his life. His wife was born in August, 1749, and they were married Novem- 
ber 10, 1773. They were the parents of the following children: Sarah, Margaret, Atines, 
William, Anne, Robert, Mary and Elizabeth, all deceased. The father died August 13, 
1817; the mother April 17, 1813, and thej^ are buried in the Chillisquaque graveyard. 
William Sheddan, father of our subject, was born June 2, 1785, at the place where the 
latter now resides, and here he was reared. He married December 25, 1807, Sarah M. 
Sharon, a native of Juniata County, Penn., who died April 15, 1813, and is buried in the 
Chillisquaque graveyard. They were the parents of two children: James and Samuel S. 
William Sheddan next married Mary Russell, on January 6, 1820, and by lier had the fol- 
lowing named children: Andrew R., Maria, Isabella, John K. and William B.; of these 
only John K. and Isaliella are living. The father died January 19, 1839, the mother June 
5, 1872, and they are both buried in Chillisquaque graveyard. The subject of this 
sketch was reared at the place of his birth. He was married June 14, 1866, to Miss Mari- 
etta, daughter of William and Eleanor (Blaine) Wilson, who was born in Lewis Town- 
ship, Northumberland Co., Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Sheddan are the parents of one child, 
William Boyd, born April 8, 1867. He commenced his education in the common schools 
of his township, and from there went to the Potts Grove Academy, thence to the normal 
school at Muncy, where he graduated October 1. 1886, carrying off first honors in a class- 
of twenty-four, and delivering the valedictory address. The family are members of the 
Presbyterian Church. James Sheddan, grandfather of our subject, was an elder in the 
first presbytery of this district, known as Northumberland Presbytery. William Sheddan 
was also an elder in the church. The subject of this sketch has been connected with the 
schools of the township as director, and has also been inspector of elections. He has. 
fifty-five acres, and allowances of the old tract, which formerly consisted of 216 acres and 
allowances, the grant being given during the reign of George III. Samuel S. Sheddan, 
half brother of J. K., was a Presbyterian minister, haying preached at Warrior Run, 
Muncy, all in Pennsylvania, and in Rahway, N. J., where he resided at his death ins 
1875. 



LIBERTY TOWNSHIP. 203: 

ROBERT HENRY SIMINGTON, farmer, P. O. Mooresburg, was born February 2. 
1843, on the old homestead where his mother now lives. He was married February 26, 1880, 
to Miss Anna B., daughter of Joseph H. and Jane M. (Voris) Kerr. Mrs. Simington is a 
granddaughter of Joseph Kerr, who came to what is now Liberty Township, Montour 
Co., Penn., from Bucks County, where he was born December 19, 1770, and located on 
the place William V. Kerr now owns, a portion of a tract which was taken up by Robin 
Finney, and which has never been sold, having been handed down in the family. There 
he lived, reared his family and died. He was married to Jane Hine, born March 21, 1775, 
and they were the parents of nine children: Robert H., Alexander H., Daniel T., Mary 
Finney, Margaret McFarland, Joseph (who died in infancy), Jane, EfBe S. and Joseph H, 
Joseph Kerr, Sr., was the son of an officer in the Revolutionary war. He died in April, 
1856; his wife died in February, 1853. They are buried in the Chillisquaque graveyard^ 
Joseph H. Kerr, son of the above, was born on the old homestead August 24, 1815. He 
was married February 14, 1841, to Jane McLanathan Voris, and they were the parents of 
two children: William V., on the old homestead, and Anna B., wife of our subject, 
Joseph H. Kerr, father of the above, died December 30, 1876, and is buried at Milton, 
Penn His widow makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Simington. Our subject and wife 
are the parents of four children, of whom three are living: Robert, William and Jerome, 
Hattie Jeanette was born February 20, 1881, died September 10, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Sim- 
ington are members of the Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Prohibitionist. 

BENJAMIN C. STARNER, farmer, P. O Washingtonville, was born in Northum- 
berland County, Penn., February 17, 1831, son of Solomon and Mary (Clark; Starner, 
both of whom are deceased. Solomon Starner, father of our subject, came to Montour 
County in 1843, and located at first in Derry Township, but in 1847 removed to what ia 
now Liberty Township, and here resided until his death, which occurred about 1866; hi& 
widow survived him some three or four years. They are buried in the Washingtonville 
Cemetery. They were the parents of four children, all living: Benjamin C; Louisa^ 
Charles, in Watsontown, Penn. ; Mary, wife of Aaron Moser, in Washingtonville. The 
subject of this sketch was married November 13, 1856, to Miss Sarah A. Bogart, daughter 
of John and Mary (Ganmer) Bogart, and a native of Limestone Township, this county, 
but removed to Liberty Township, where the parents died, the father in 1873, the mother- 
in about 1838. She is buried at Strawberry Ridge Church, and he at Washington- 
ville. Mr. and Mrs. Starner are the parents of the following named children : Mary Alicei 
Rebecca Jane, wife of William A. Cornelison, in Liberty Township; Sarah Ellen, Will- 
iam Clark, and an infant deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Starner and family are members of the 
Oak Grove Lutheran Church. Mr. Starner has lield the position of auditor of Liberty 
Township since 1877. In politics he is a Democrat. He owns the old homestead of hia 
father consisting of 113 acres. 

MOSES L. STECKER,. farmer, P. O. Washingtonville, was born in Hemlock Town- 
ship, Columbia Co., Penn., May 3, 1820, son of Michael and Margaret (Lottiz) Stecker, 
George Stecker, the paternal grandfather of our subject, settled in Dry Lands, Northamp- 
ton Co., Penn., where he died when his son Michael was only thirteen years old. He was 
twice married, reared five children by his first wife and nine by his second. The 
children by his first wife were George, John, Rosette, Ann, Catharine; by his second wife: 
Elizabeth Wellper, Susan Reecer, Christian Reecer, Mariah Grotz, Sarah Grotz, Margaret 
Switzer, Henry (a preacher), Melchior and Michael (twins). Michael Stecker, the father 
of Moses L., was the only one who came to Columbia County, locating in Hemlock Town^ 
ship, and after making a deal in land, secured 100 acres. In 1826, becoming dis- 
satisfied with this location, he moved to New York State; but two years later returned,, 
and lived in Hemlock Township until his death which occurred about 1867. His wife had 
preceded him by several years. They are buried at New Columbia, Penn. They were 
the parents of twelve children; George (deceased); Mary (deceased); Moses L; John, who 
was murdered in Minnesota, his body being found in a lake; Adaline; Gideon (deceased). 
Josiah, in Bloomsburg; Nathan, in San Francisco; Crissie; Clarissa Leviana and Charity 
(twins), and Abraham (deceased). Our subject was reared at the home of his parents until 
the age of eighteen years, when he came to Washingtonville, and worked for Neil McCoy 
as clerk; then with him removed to White Hall, and remained with him three years alto- 
gether. He afterward harvested, etc., until fall, and then went to Easton, Penn., where, 
in the following spring, he hired a boat and engaged in the carrying trade on the canal„ 
but in the fall he again came to Milton, and taking another boat engaged in hauling com- 
mission goods until the fall, making two trips to Philadelphia and one to Baltimore, 
From Milton he came to his present location, and was married December 5, 1843, to Miss 
Sarah, daughter of John and Christianua (Stine) Stineman, both deceased. Mr. and Mrs.. 
Stecker are the parents of three children: Margaret S., wife of George W. Vandine, live 
on the Stecker farm, and have five children: Christiann, wife of James Madden (tliey hacj 
two children, she lives in Lititz, Lancaster Co., Penn.), and James E., in Washington^ 
ville. Mr. and Mrs. Stecker are members of the Presbyterian Church. He has been con- 
nected with the schools of Liberty Township a.s director, and has been tax collector. Iq, 
politics he was a Democrat until the death of President Harrison, but has been a Rcpubli- 



204 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

can ever since. Mr. Stecker built a wood workinfi^ shop in about 1856, and has since 
manufactured a good deal of furniture. Since 1876 he has been making a specialty of 
4irm chairs. He has about ninety acres of land. Mr. Stecker's great-grandfather came 
from Germany. 

GEORGE SURVER, farmer, P. O. Danville, was born in Upper Dublin Township, 
Montgomery Co., Penn., July8, 1820. When fouryearsof age he went to Lower Providence, 
same county, and there remained until he was twenty-seven years of age, thence removed 
to Worcester Township, and there was married (when twenty-eight years old) December 
25, 1848, to Miss Sarah Highly, a native of Montgomery County, born and reared in Lower 
Providence Township. Mr. and Mrs. Surver were the parents of four children: Jesse C, 
married to Sarah Fulmer, in Milton, Penn.; George (deceased); Edwin (deceased); Sarah 
Jane, widow oi Winfield Pennbecker, and Hannah M. Surver, married to James Wagner. 
Mrs. Surver died September 5, 1865, aged forty-seven years, eight months and twenty- 
three days, and is buried at Mausdale. Mr. Surver next married October 22, 1867, Sarah 
Catharine Hendrickson, who was born June 10, 1840, in Liberty Township, this county, 
daughter of John and Mary Ann (Davis) Hendrickson, both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Sur- 
ver are the parents of the following named children: David D.', Bertha and Lloyd. Mr. 
"Surver removed after his first marriage, in April, 1859, to Montour County, and bought 110 
acres in Liberty Township, to which he has added thirty-five, until he now has 145 acres. 
He and his wife are members of the Mausdale Reformed Church. He has held several 
■ofiices in the church, such as trustee, deacon, etc. He was a teacher in the Sunday-school 
and was a superintendent of the Sunday-school at Madden's Church four years. For fif- 
teen j^ears he was a school director, and was one year tax-collector. In politics he is a 
stanch Democrat. 

THOMAS M. VANSANT, farmer, P. O. Pott's Grove, Northumberland County, was 
born in Bucks County, Penn., June 26, 1821, son of Amos and Margaret (McMahan) Van- 
sant. Gabriel Vansant, grandfather of our subject, came to what is now Montour County 
from Bucks County, about 1800, and located where Samuel Mauger now resides, near 
Mooresburg. Here he lived until his death, which occurred about 1808. He is buried at 
Danville, this county. His widow died about 1841, and is also buried at Danville. They 
were the parents of eight children. Amos Vansant, father of our subject, was born in 
Bucks County, Penn., and was reared in that county and Montour. He was married in 
this county, about 1809, to Margaret McMahan, and after his marriage went back to Bucks 
County. They were the parents of the following named children: John, Amos, James, 
Gabriel, all deceased, and Thomas M. The mother of thi.s family died in 1825, and Mr. 
Vansant was married some two years later to a Miss Torbet, and they were the parents of 
the following named children: Anthony, Margaret, Simpson and Edward, latter deceased. 
The father died in 1860, and is buried in Bucks County, Penn. Thomas M. Vansant was 
brought back to Montour County, when he was but four years of age, by his uncle, Benr 
jamin McMahan, by wagon, taking four days on the trip, and with his uncle, John Mc- 
Mahan, made his home until he was twenty-five years of age; then went west as far as 
Illinois, and after two years he came back to Montour County, and again made his home 
with his Uncle John until June 26, 1858, when he was married to Eliza A. Best, a native 
of Union County, and daughter of Peter and Henrietta (Mensch) Best; her mother resides 
at Winfield, Union County. After their marriage they removed to their present location, 
which Mr. Vansant had bought four or five years before, consisting of about sixty acres, 
to which he has added until he now has ninety acres. Mr. and Mrs. Vansant were the 
parents of five children, two of whom are living: Margaret Henrietta and Thomas; 
Arietta Fowler, William and Edgar Ivans are deceased. The parents are members of the 
Chillisquaque Presbyterian Church, in which he has been an elder since 1875. He has 
been township auditor most of the time since 1856, and has been connected with the 
schools of Liberty Township, as director, for a number of years. In politics he is a 
Democrat. 



CHAPTER XIX. 
LIMESTONE TOWNSHIP. 

JACOB S. BALLIET, merchant, P. O. Liniestoneville, is a grandson of John Balliet, 
a former resident of Lehigh County, who with his family came to this part of the country 
in 1807, settling in what is now Limestoneville, buying' the stone house built by Robert 
■Caldwell in 1800. This house is now owned by William Balliet, a brother of Jacob S., 



LIMESTONE TOWNSHIP. 205 

and is occupied by J. C, a son of William, and is yet in a good state of repair. When 
John Balliet came here he took up a large tract of laud, "which he afterward divided be 
tween his two children, John and Mary, the latter being the wife of Solomon Levan. This 
land is now divided into five farms. The wife of the elder John Balliet was Catharine 
Mickley; they had but the two children named, both of whom were born and married in 
Lehigh County. Both of the elder Balliets died about fifty years ago. The father of our 
subject, also named John, was born March 14, 1784, and died February 1, 1854. His wife 
was Elizabeth Schreiber, who was born September 7, 1782, and died March 25, 1858. John 
Balliet was always a farmer, never engaging in any other occupation. He had a large 
farm, and when coinparatively a young man, gave up labor, his sons carrying on the farm. 
He removed from the old homestead to a house which he had built, and which is now oc- 
cupied by Jacob S. In this house both he and his wife died. He was a leading man in the 
Paradise German Reformed Church, of which he had been both deacon and elder for 
many years. He had six sons and two daughters, all but one of whom are now living: 
Nancy, wife of Abraham Stroub, who died over twenty years ago; John living near Mc- 
Ewensville, Penn., now eighty years of age: Stephen, seventy-eight years old, living on part 
of the old homestead in Northumberland County, Levi, a merchant in Milton, Penn.; Josiah, 
in Lockport, N. Y. ; William, in Limestoneville;Mary, widow of John Clapp, in Milton, and 
Jacob S., the youngest but one of the family. He was born October 24, 1824, at Lime- 
stoneville, Penn., in same house where he now resides, and lived with his father until his 
marriage, after which he farmed a part of the home farm which he got from the estate 
after his father's death, and has ever since resided on. He has always been a farmer, but 
in 1880 bought the interest of a nephew in the store in Limestoneville, and in 1883 bought 
the entire concern, and now owns it alone. January 16, 1855, he was married to Catharine 
Lewars, of Lewis Township, Northumberland Co., Penn. To this union five children 
have been born: Ella M., James L., A. Elwood, Edward F., and Harry, all living at home. 
Mr. Balliet has never been an officeholder, but does his duty as a citizen at the polls. He 
and his wife and all his children are members of Paradise Church. Li politics Mr. Balliet 
is independent. 

WILLIAM BALLIET, retired, P. O. Limestoneville, Penn., is a brother of Jacob S. 
Balliet, of this township, under whose name above is given a sketch of their ancestors. 
He was born March 8, 1821, and lived at home until his marriage, when he farmed for his 
father until the latter's death; then he bought the home farm, and, until 1882, lived in 
the house where he was born and reared. October 10, 1845, he was married to Rebecca, 
daughter of John Hague, who lived near Milton, Penn. They had eight children, two of 
whom died young. The survivors are Mary Elizabeth, born January 17, 1847, wife of 
William Royer, of Delaware Township. Northumberland County; John Calvin, born 
November 4, 1850, married to Frances Billmeyer, and living on his father's farm in the 
old home; Emma Louisa, born August 19, 1852, wife of Charles A. Linebach, living in 
Milton; Alcesta, born April 20, 1855. wife of I. Albert Eschbach; William J., born June 
19, 1858, married to Elizabeth Shaeffer, and Clarence F., born October 10, 1860, and mar- 
ried to Mary Riddles, all living in Northumberland County. Mr. Balliet has, until his 
retirement, always been a farmer. He has never held public office. He and his wife are 
members of Paradise Reformed Church. 

THOMAS L. CLAPP, farmer, P. O. Limestoneville, Penn., is a grandson of John 
Clapp, a resident of Berks Count}% Penn., whence he immigrated to Lewis Township, 
Northumberland Co., Penn., in 1818, where he lived until his death. His wife was a Miss 
Kline, who died several years after her husband. Their children were Samuel, who was 
accidentally killed by a horse near the home in Northumberland Count}', Penn.; John, 
father of our subject (both these were born in Berks County, the rest of the family being 
natives of Northumberland County); Adam, a retired farmer, who lives in Lycoming 
County, Penn.; Daniel (deceased), who was a merchant in Muncy, Penn.; Thomas, a 
retired merchant, now living in Muncy; Mary, deceased wife of John Roup, Sr., of 
Northumberland County, Penn.; Catharine, wife of Jonas Hoy, who died in Ohio; Mary 
(died in the State of New York, wife of John Linebaugh), and Sarah, who was wife of 
Philip Roup, and died in Northumberland County, Penn. The father of our subject was 
born September 1, 1811, and was seven years of age when his parents came to this part of 
the country. He worked for his father until the latter's death, at which time he took the 
old farm, and a year later was married. His father-in-law bought the farm, and gave it 
to his daughter on her marriage with Mr. Clapp. On this farm he lived and died in a 
house which he built on some land he had added to the original farm. His death toolc 
place December 6, 1879. Mr. Clapp was a man of note in the community. He took an 
especiallj' warm interest in educational matters. In early life he became a member of the 
Reformed Church, and was for years deacon in Paradise Church, and, joining the new 
church erected at McEwensville, he became an elder, remaining as such for twenty years. 
As a man and citizen he stood high. In 1832 he was married to Maria Glaze, a native of 
Northumberland County, Penn., born in 1815, and died in 1850. After her death Mr. 
Clapp was married to Mary Truchenmiller, who died about ten years later. Mr. Clapp 
was again married, his third wife being Mrs. Mary McNinch nee Balliet, sister of the 



206 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

brothers Jacob and William Balliet. His first wife had eleven children, of whom one died 
In infancy. They were William, living on part of the homestead; Thomas L. ; John D., in 
Jefferson County, W. Va. ; Mary Elizabeth, wife of A. E. Gonger, of Northumberland 
€ounty, Penn.; Sarah Jane, wife of I. N. Kline, of Williamsport; Margaret, married to 
William Kerchner, of McEwensville; Susan, married to J. C. Wagner, of this township; 
Ano-eline, wife of J. W. Balliet, living in the house where her father died; Emeline, wife 
t)f William G. Marsh, M. D., of Watsontown; Caroline, wife of O. E. Cotner, of North- 
umberland County, Penn. Our subject was born February 22, 1841, worked on the fann. 
and taught school until he was twenty-nine years of age, when he was married; then 
removed to the farm on which he now lives, and which his wife inherited from her 
father's estate. On January 14, 1869, he was married to Miss Susan, daughter of Samuel 
and Mary Lerch, of Lewis Township, Northumberland County. She was l)orn February 
31, 1842. To this union eight children have been born, one dying in infancy. The others 
are all living with their parents. They are Edmond L., Mary A., Olive F., Theophilus 
M., Jennie Ray, Paul and Elma Pearl. Mr. Clapp has always been a farmer, and deals 
considerably in' stock. He has held nearly all the offices in the township, and is now 
school director and assessor. He and his wife are members of Paradise Reformed Church, 
i)f which he has been deacon, and was recently elected an elder. In politics he is Demo- 
"cratic, and takes an active part in the affairs of the township, county and State. 

GEORGE WASHINGTON DERR, farmer, P. O. Limestoneville, was born in More- 
Jand Township, Lycoming County, April 31, 1829, son of Christopher and Mary (Opp) 
Derr. He was reared in his native county, and was married January 38, 1858, to Miss 
Martha, daughter of Thomas and Margaret Hayes. Her father is deceased but her mother 
Btill resides near Danville. After their marriage they removed to where" Mr.r Derr now 
lives, and there his wife died June 37, 1859. They had one child, Martha, wife of S. F. 
Ricketts, of Danville. Mr. Derr was again married February 15, 1866, to Miss Rebecca 
L. Schuyler, widow of Dr. Wm. B. Schuyler, who had one son by her first marriage, Ros- 
•coe C. Mr. Derr is a member of the Turbotville Baptist Church; he has been county 
■commissioner three years. He owns seventy-seven acres of laud, and has made all his own 
improvements. 

THOMAS M. DERR, farmer. P. O. Turbotville, was born in Moreland Township, 
Lycoming County, August 31, 1831, son of Christopher and Mary (Opp) Derr. Chris- 
topher Derr, father of Thomas M., was born in what is now Anthony Township, Colum- 
bia County, and his father died when Christopher was a boy. Christopher was married 
in Lycoming County to Mary Opp, and they were the parents of ten children: Hannah 
"(deceased), Philip (deceased), John, Jane, Phoebe, George, Thomas M., Wilson, Franklin 
C. and Jacob. Christopher and wife are both deceased and are buried at Moreland. 
Thomas M. was reared in Moreland, followed lumbering until he was thirty-one years of 
age and then began farming for himself. In 1863 he came to his present location, where 
he bought 135 acres of land from Barton Runyon. He now has 115 acres of good farm 
land. Mr. Derr was married September 35, 1863, to Eflie A., daughter of Lewis and Eliz- 
abeth (Brass) Schuyler. They are the parents of five children: Mary Elizabeth, Hannah 
D., Ida Estella, Lewis Christopher (deceased), and Effle (deceased). 

JAMES WILSON DERR, farmer, P. O. Limestoneville, was born in Moreland Town- 
ship, Lycoming County, August 16, 1834, son of Christopher and Mary (Opp) Derr. He 
was reared in his native township, and there resided until his twenty-fourth year. He 
spent his early life on a farm, and, when nineteen years of age, went to complete the 
trade of carpenter. In 1853 he paid his first visit to the locality where he now^ resides. 
He was married, December 30, 1858, to Miss Sarah Ann, daughter of John and Sophia 
Schuyler. After their marriage they resided for a time with tlieir brother, living there 
eight years, working at his trade, which he followed until the fall of 1865. In 1861 he 
bought a lot of eleven acres, and to this he has since added, until he now has 330 acres of 
land, nearly all of which he has accumulated by his own efforts. He located on his pres- 
ent home place in 1866, in which year he put up his present substantial improvements, 
costing him over $7,000. His farm is among the finest in this region of country. Mr. and 
Mrs. Derr are the parents of three children: Calvin W., born September 1, 1868, educated 
at Limestoneville Academy, teaching in Limestone Township; Eva J., born December 3, 
1871; Schuyler C, born October 29, 1860, and died March 37, 1866. They have reared 
two girls: Mary E. Jarrett, married to William E. Derr, lived with them twenty-one years; 
Maggie C. Hayes lived with them sixteen years. Mr. and Mrs. Derr and children are 
members of the Baptist Church. 

JOHN D. ELLIS, farmer, P . O. Turbotville, waa born in what is now Anthony Town- 
ship,Montour Countv, June 14, 1836, son of William and Sarah (Murray) Ellis. His grand- 
father, Stephen Ellis, immigrated from Londonderry, Ireland, in or about 1770, and 
settled with his wife, Mary Cunningham, in what is now Anthony Township, 
Montour County, and made farming his business. Mr. and Mrs. Ellis were parents 
of twelve children, and spent the remainder of their lives near where they first settled. 
They bequeathed some money toward founding the Episcopal Church at Exchange, at 
which place they were buried. William, their second son, was born May 8, 1800, and 



LIMESTONE TOWNSHIP. 207 

in 1833 married Sarah Murrey of Lewis Township, Northumberland County, and they 
then bought and settled on a tract of land in what is now Madison Township, Columbia 
County, where Mr. Ellis cleared up the most of his farm, which was timber land, fol- 
lowed agricultural pursuits and became owner of several farms in the adjoining counties. 
He was a member of the Episcopal Cluirch at Exchange, at which place he was buried; 
Mrs. Ellis yet survives. They were the parents of three children: Andrew, John D., and 
Stephen M. John D. was reared in his native township where he remained until he was 
thirty-six years of age, and in 1872 came to Limestone Township. He was married!May 10, 
1869, to Miss Uranna Lichard, born July 4, 1826, daughter of George and Rebecca (Dewalt) 
Lichard.both of whom resided in Lycoming County, about two miles from Moreland Mills. 
Tor three years after their marriage they remained in Anthony Township, when they re- 
moved to their present location in Limestone Township.where he bought tifty-seven acres, 
being the old Abraham Walter place on the Wilkesbarre Railroad. He now has 312 acres of 
his own, and an interest with his brother, Stephen M., in some timber lands. He made his 
own improvements on the home farm. Mr. and Mrs. Ellis are the parents of four chil- 
dren: Ida, married to Edward Menges; Franklin, Ella May and Roscoe. Mr. and Mrs. 
Ellis are members of the Episcopal Church at Exchange. Mr. Ellis has for six years 
been director of schools at Limestone Township; he was elected justice of the peace 
in 1886. James Lichard, grandfather of Mrs. Uranna Ellis, was of English origin, 
and settled in Muncy Creek Township, Lycoming County; he married Catharine Shires, 
and they were parents of nine children. George, their third son, was married to Miss 
Rebecca Dewatt; thev were parents of six children. 

DANIEL F. GOUGER, farmer, P. O. Washingtonville, was born in Limestone Town- 
ship, Montour County, August 26, 1832, son of John and Mary (Bower) Gouger. John 
William Gouger, grandfather of Daniel F., was born in Berks County, Penn., and from 
there came to what is now Montour County about 1806. He was married before coming 
here to Miss Elizabeth Fulmer, and they settled near Limestoneville, near the Limestone 
Run schoolhouse. There they bought about 200 acres of land. Both died while living in 
this county and are buried at the Fulmer Church. Their children were as follows: George; 
William; Nicholas; Jacob; Benjamin; John, father of our subject, and Daniel. John 
Gouger was born in 1798, in Berks County, and was about fourteen years of age when his 
parents came to Montour County. He married Mary Bower, and died December 1, 1880; his 
widow survived him until August 14, 1882; they are buried at Fulmer Church. They 
were the parents of the following named children: Catharine, Elizabeth, William, Mary, 
Caroline, Susannah and Daniel F. Daniel F. Gouger, subject of this sketch, made his 
home with his parents for sixteen years after his marriage, and then removed to his pres- 
ent location. He was married October 3, 18.5.J, to Miss Ursula, daughter of Col. Joseph 
and Adaline (Cole) Dean. The former was a native of Pennsylvania, and was the only son 
of Thomas Dean, who was born in Ireland. His mother was a member of the Cole fam- 
ily, who were early settlers in Sugarloaf Township, Columbia County. Mrs. Gouger's 
father died about 1869 at the age of about eighty years; her mother died on the 3d of 
July, 1845, at the age of forty-two; they are buried at the Dean family cemetery. Col. Dean 
was a colonel in the war of 1812 and engaged in the Black Rock campaign. Mr. Gouger 
is a member of the Lutheran Church, and Mrs. Gouger of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. 
Gouger has held several local offices, but has not been a seeker for official position. In 
politics he is a Democrat. He has 113 cres in his home farm and sixty acres in another 
farm. He is engaged in farming and stock raising 

JOSEPH GIBSON, retired, P. O. Limestoneville, is, on his father's side, of Irish ex- 
traction, his great-grandfather having immigrated from Ireland. His grandfather, a sur- 
veyor, in an early day located in Philadelphia, afterward removing to Berks County, where 
he died, and where his son Henry, father of our subject, was born in April, 1778; he died in 
Liberty Township, this county, in November, 1860, aged eighty-two years and eight 
months. He learned the trade of shoemaking, but a few years after his marriage aban- 
doned it, and bought the farm on which he died. He subsequently bought an adjoining 
farm in the same township, and owned both at the time of his death. He was three times 
married. His first wife, Catharine Burkey, mother of the subject of this sketch, who was 
her first child, died when he was a boy, leaving nine children, six now deceased, viz. : 
Henry, Catharine, Mary, John. William and David. Those surviving are Elizabeth, 
widow of Thomas Hopper, iu Newark, N. J.; Jacob, in Milton, Penn., and Joseph, who 
was born in Berks County, on August 21, 1804. When seventeen years of age our subject 
began learning the trade of blacksmith in Milton, Penn., at which he worked until the 
time of his father's death; he then turned his attention to droving, which he some years 
after gave up, and retired. He is now living in Limestoneville, on a place which he 
owned before his father's death. November 2.5, 1830, he was married to Julia Ann With- 
ington, who was born November 21, 1810. Their four children are all now living, viz.: 
Charles, in Liberty Township, this county; Theodore, in the State of Indiana; Caroline, 
with her parents, and Henry W. Gibson, who has a machine shop in Limestoneville, this 
county, is married to Jane Slieetz and has two children: Bertha and Joseph; at the break- 
ing out of the late war he went to Philadelphia, where he worked at gun making for three 



208 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

years, and then to several other places, and after an absence of over seven years, returned 
toLimestoneville, and bought the business he now conducts. Mr. Gibson is the oldest, 
man in the township, and has held the office of justice of the peace in this township for 
twenty consecutive years, before that beingeonst;ible for nine years. He and his wife are 
members of the Roman Catholic; Church in Milton. 

WILLIAM GRITTNER, dealer in furniture and sewing machines, and undertaker, 
P. O. Turbotville, Northumberland County, was born in Lycoming County, Penn., March 
6, 1858, san of Edward and Catharine (Kettenbach) Grittner. Edward Grittner, father 
of our subject, was a native of Prussia, came in 1852 to America and located at New York, 
where he followed the trade of cabinet-maker, which he had commenced learning in the old 
country at the age of fourteen years. He resided in New York about three years, thence 
removed to Lycoming Count3^ where he lived until 1871, when he came to Limestone 
Township, this county, and here he now resides, and has a farm of fifty-six acres. He 
was married in New York to Miss Catharine Kettenbach, also a native of Prussia, wbo> 
came to America on the same ship as Mr. Grittner. They were the parents of five chil- 
dren, of whom four are living: Anna Louisa, wife of Charles Vandine, live near Lairds- 
ville, Penn.; George William; Julia Ann, wife of J. W. Ervin, in Limestone Township, this- 
county; and Hannah Bessie. Tlie deceased was an infant. Our sul)ject spent his early 
life with his father in the shop in which he made furniture by hand, and in 1876 com* 
menced house painting, which he followed two years; then worked at home for a time, 
after which he made brushes, selling them on the road for about one year; worked also ati 
McEwensville. and Watsontown at his trade. In the spring of 1881 he commenced his 
present business, with the exception of undertaking, which line he adopted in the follow- 
ing year, adding also the New Home sewing machine, in the spring of 1885. In May of 
that year he put up his present commodious building; lie also owns a house and lot of two 
acres, situated close to his undertaking and furniture establishment, and for which he paid: 
1600. Mr. Grittner was married November 4, 1884, to Miss Anna C., daughter of Daniel 
and Sarah A. Bender Menges, both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Grittner are the parents of 
two children, Charles Oscar, born October 11, 1885, and Edward Lawrence, born December 
9, 1886. They are members of the Zion Lutheran Church at Turbotville. Mr. Grittner is 
an auditor of Limestone Township. 

DANIEL W. RANK, attorney, P. O. Limestoneville, is a descendant of Philip 
Rank, who was a resident of Earl Township, Lancaster Co., Penn.,]early in the last cent- 
ury, and whose parents came from Alsace in 1728. The next in line "of descent was Philip 
Adam Rank, to whom, by an old writing, now in the possession of our subject, he sold 
some land in the same township in 1770. Philip Adam's son was Adam. In 1790 be 
removed to a farm whicli he bought in what is now Union County; here he died. His 
son Daniel was the grandfather of Daniel W. He was born and lived and died in Uniors 
County, Penn. He was born in 1789, and died in 1854. He was a farmer and blacksmith. 
His wife was Catharine Heckel, who died some years before her husband; he marriefl 
again after her decease. The children, who were all of the first marriage, were, DanieS. 
who died in Union County, Penn.; Andrew H., living in Centreville, Ind.; Hiram, who 
died in infancy; Lambert, died at "White Deer Mill," Union Co., Penn., December, 
1886; Mary, wife of William Chamberlain, and Catharine, wife of Martin Mackey, both, 
of whom died in Union County, Penn.; the orher child was Joseph S., who was the oldest 
of the family, and was born December 20, 1807. He is now living, and has always been a 
farmer. He was married, December 30, 1830, to Catharine McGinness, of Union County. 
Penn. In April, 1836, he removed to this township to a farm, on a part of which he now 
lives. His wife died December 31, 1879. They had six children, viz. : James C, a farmer,, 
in Fillmore County, Minn.: .John M., who died in Central City, Col.; Daniel W. ; Hiram 
William, who died in infancy; Henry Clay, who died unmarried; Elizabeth Catharine, 
living at_ home. Our subject was born February 16. 1835, in Union County, Penn., and 
until 1855 he worked on the farm, and in that year began reading law in the office of 
Robert Hawley, in Muucy, Penn., and was admitted April 24, 1859, at Williamsport. 
From there he went to Millersbnrg, Dauphin Co., Penn, where he was again admitted and 
practiced there until August 31, 1861, when he enlisted in Company 1d, Seventh Penn- 
sylvania Cavalry; on October 9 he was made sergeant; on November 18 was promoted to- 
sergeant-major, and on June 11, 1864, by order ot Secretary of War was mustered back to 
July 1, 1863, as first lieutenant of Company M, same regiment. On August 31, 1864, be 
was made acting assistant adjutant-general for tlie detachment First Brigade, Second 
Cavalry Division, then at Columbia. Tenn., and was subsequently appointed to the com- 
mand of the detachment Do guard Sherman's line of transportation. He remained in this 
duty until December 16. 1864, when he was mustered out on account of ill health, not 
accepting a commission as captain which had been sent him. On his return he re- 
mained at home, unable to engage in any occupation until the beginning of 1872, whcH 
he went to Scranton, Penn., practicing there for ten years, during which time he was 
commissioned by Gov. Hartranft district attorney of the mayor's court, the only commis- 
sion issued by a governor which had to be connrmed by the Senate. In 1882 he returne<^ 
to his former home in Limestone, and in the fall of 1884 was elected district attorney of 



LIMESTONE TOWNSHIP. 209 

Montour County for three j-ears; he is also practicing law in Danville. On Maj' 12, 1875, 
he was married to Mary Catharine, daughter of Robert H. McKune, formerly mayor of 
Scranton. Penn. She was born January 11, 1846, and died July 18, 1881. To' this union 
two children were born, both of whom'died in infancy. Mr. Rank now divides hi? time 
between the practice of his profession, his duties as district attorney, and attending to 
his farm, where he makes his home for the sake of his health. He is a Republican. 

LEWIS SCHUYLER, farmer, P. O. Turbotville, was born December 5, 1808. in Mad- 
ison Township, Columbia Count5^ son of Adam and Eve (Sanders) Schuyler. When a 
boy of seven years Lewis removed to Lewis Township, Northumberland County, where he 
was reared to manhood, and January 19, 1836, married Miss Elizabetli Brass, a native of 
Mahoning Township. Montour County, and daughter of Lucas and Elizabeth Brass, both 
deceased. The former is buried at Danville, the latter at Montoursville. After their 
marriage Mr. and Mrs. Schuyler lived in Northumberland County until the spring of 1854, 
when he bought 69 acres where he now resides; to this he has added until he now has 133 
acres. Mr. and Mrs. Schuyler are the parents of six children: Mary, wife of Charles 
Romig, Dewart. Penn.; Effie Ann, wife of Thomas M. Derr, lives in Limestone Township; 
Lucas B., married to Ada S. Russell, Lock Haven; John S., married to Samantha Allen, 
lives in Lock Haven; Drucilla. wife of A. D. Hower, lawyer, lives in Muncy; William H., 
bookkeeper, married Clara Smith, lives at Hughesville. "Mr. and Mrs. Schuyler are mem- 
bers of the Baptist Church, of which he has been deacon over thirty years; he has been 
overseer of the poor, judge and inspector of elections, etc. At the golden anniversary of 
Mr. and Mrs. Schuyler, which occurred January 19, 1886, a great man}^ people were present 
who were present at the wedding, and 181 sat down to dinner. For twenty-flve years Mr. 
Schuyler worked at the carpenter trade; he put up his own house and all other improvements, 
and has erected a great many buildings throughout the surrounding country. His two old- 
est sons. Lucas B. and John S., served throughout the civil war in the Union Army, the 
former in the Seventy-lifth Illinois Infantry and the latter in the Seventh P. V. V. Cav- 
alry. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Schuyler was the first man in Montour County 
to give the right of way for the Wilkesbarre & Western Railway that crosses his farm, 
which road was built in the year 1886. A station within a mile of his place is called 
" Schuyler." 

THO]\IAS B. SCHUYLER was born in Lewis Township, Northumberland County, 
February 5, 1834. son of John and Sophia (Brass) Schuyler. Lewis Schuyler, great-grand- 
father of Thomas B., was born in Germany in 1748. and came to America in 1751 with his 
parents. They settled in Germantown, now West Philadelphia. His parents died when 
our subject was twelve years old, and he was bound out to John Fochner until he was 
eighteen years of age. and served an apprenticeship at the shoemaker trade. He married 
Keziah Horned in* 1781, and lived in New Jersey until 1794. He then came to Pennsyl- 
vania and located south of Jerseytown, in what is now Columbia County, where he resided 
five years, then moved north of Jerseytown, where he resided until his death, October 1, 
1837, at the age of eighty-nine years. He was the father of eleven children: Adam, Will- 
iam, John, Mary, Samuel. Hannah, Elizabeth. Lewis. Henry, Sarah and Jacob. Adam 
Schuyler, grandfather of Thomas B., was born in New Jersey, from there removed to 
what is now Columbia County, near Jerseytown, there was reared and married to Eve 
Sanders. He died in December, 1858; his widow survived him a number of years, having 
died about 1871. They are buried at Turbotville. They were the parents of ten children: 
Mary (deceased), John (deceased), Lewis, Jacob, William, Sarah Ann, Keziah, EfEe, Adam, 
and Henry (deceased). John Schuyler, father of Thomas B., was born December 6. 1806, 
in Madison Township, Columbia County, and was married to Sophia Brass December 24, 
1829. The former died April 5. 1885, his wife having preceded him in death, dying April 
15, 1884. They are buried at Turbotville. They were the parents of ten children: Eliza- 
beth, William. Thomas B.. Sarah Ann. John, Jackson, Adam (died at Nashville while in 
the service). Lewis, Sophia and Eve C. Thomas B. Schuyler, subject of this sketch, 
spent his early life in his native township, and made his home with his parents until 1859, 
when he was married, December 29, to Sarah A., daughter of Peter and Catharine 
(Ernest) Leidy. The Leidy family were originally from New Jersey, but her parents were 
born and reared in Columbia County, near Buckhorn. Her father died October 30, 1878, 
at the age of seventy-six years; her mother died in July, 1865. They are buried at the 
Derry Presbyterian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Schuyler were the parents of three children: 
Flora (born January 10, 1860, died June 27,1884), was the wife of Charles F. Fulmer, and 
they were the pareuts of one child, Lola; Ellsworth, born September 23, 1861, accidentally 
shot himself in January, 1883, and William, born June 4, 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Schuyler 
are members of the Baptist Church at Turbotville. He has held the office of school 
director one term. The old Schuyler farm, consisting of 162 acres, lies in Limestone 
Township, Montour County, and in Lewis Township, Northumberland County. The house 
in which Mr. Schuyler lives was built in 1802 by Abraham Walter, who had bought the 
land on which it stands from Jacob Fulmer, who was one of the brothers who were early 
settlers here, and who located on the place in 1778. Mr. Schuyler is an undertaker as were 
also his father and grandfather; he has made that his business for many years; is a mem- 

I2A 



210 BiOGEArnicAL sketches: 

ber of the Undertakers' Association of Montour, Snyder and Northumberland Counties. 
He followed carpenter work in his early life, and only of late years has been a farmer. 
His father and grandfather were also carpenters. 

JAMES K. SHELL, farmer, P. O. Limesloneville, is a great-grandson of Jacob Shell, 
who emigrated from Germany about the middle of the last century, and was one of the pio- 
neers who located near AUentown, Penn., wheie his son Jacob, grandfather of the sub- 
ject of this sketch, was born, and where he died at the age of nearly eighty years. 
His son John, father of James K., was born there in 1793, and died in 1864, aged seventy- , 
two years. He was a farmer all ids lifetime. In 1833 he bought a farm near Turbotville, 
Northumberland Co., Penn., on which he lived until his death, as stated above. He was 
a plain man of religious habits, never taking much part in politics. His wife was Elizabeth 
Kamerer; she died twelve years before her husband, aged about sixty years. They had 
twelve children, of whom four are deceased, viz.: Reuben and Amanda, who died in Lewis 
Township; Sarah, died at Watsontown; and Charles, who went to Nebraska, where he 
died. The survivors are Jonas, in Delaware Township, Northumberland County, Mary, 
widow of Jacob Stahl (who was killed in the Union Army), living with her brother, James 
K. ; Jacob, in Anthony Township; Lydia, widow of Enoch Bennett, of Turbotville; John, 
in Lewis Township, Northumberland County, on the old homestead; Nathan, in Turbot- 
ville, and James K., the fourth son. Our subject was born February 15, 1825, while his 
parents were living in Pennsboro, Montgomery Co., Penn., he was eight years old when 
they came to Northumberland County, and lived with them until he was twenty-three. He 
then went to Centre County and worked at his trade of mason for three years, when in the 
fall of 1851 he removed to the farm where he now lives, which subsequently became his 
wife's. May 20, 1853, he was married to Mary Ellen Shurtz, who was born, lived and 
died on this place. (She died February 1, 1885; she was the daughter of Col. Jacob 
Shurtz, who had lived on the same farm since he was two years old. He was one of the 
best and most prominent citizens of the town, and had served in the war of 1812, com- 
manding a company near Easton, and also served at Black Rock). They had two chil- 
dren: James S., living on a farm adjoining, owned by his father, and Mary M.-, who died 
in infancy. For about twenty years Mr. Shell has filled the offices of school director and 
overseer of the poor. He is a Democrat in politics. 

WELLmGTON D. WEIDENHAMER, tanner and farmer, P. O. Limestoneville. 
The great-grandfather of our subject came from Germany many years ago and settled in 
Maiden Creek Township, Berks County, where his son, John Adam, grandfather of the 
subject of tills sketch, was born, and where he died. His wife was Elizabeth Dunkel 
who died before her husband. This couple had eight children, all born in Maiden Creek 
Township, Berks Co., Penn. Their names are Maria, Susannah, George, John, Benjamin 
and Jacob, deceased, and Elizabeth and Anna, now living. The father of our subject, 
Jacob Weidenhamer, was born in 1797 and died in 1863. In 1837 he bought a farm in this 
township to which he moved and on whicii he lived until his death. He was a man of 
religious convictions, a member of the Lutheran Church, and was especially noted for his 
strict adherence to truth on all occasions. A good manager, he accumulated a fine propertj% 
and was well off at the time of his death. In 1825 he was married to Susannah Dreibel- 
bis, of Berks County, Penn., who is now living in Derry Township, this coimty, and is in 
her eighty-fourth year. To this union six children were born: W. D. ; William, near 
Milton, Penn.; Daniel, also in Milton; John A., living in Watsontown, Penn.; Sarah A., 
deceased wife of Jacob Sheetz, of Snyder County, Penn., and Mary Elizabeth, wife 
of Emanuel Monser, of Derry Township, this county. Our subject was born Sep- 
tember 3, 1826, and was ten years of age when his parents came to this county. 
Until he Avas about twenty-three he worked on the farm, and then he and his father 
together bought a mercantile business in Limestoneville, which they carried on for five 
years, when our subject left it and rented his father's farm for three years; then in 1857 
he purchased the tannery which he has ever since conducted together with a small farm 
which he bought at the same time, to which he has added some of the old homestead 
adjoining. In 1851 he was married to Miss Susan A., daughter of John S. Follmer, of this 
township, and born September 4, 1830. They have had nine children: Henry Muhlen- 
berg, George W. and Ella May, deceased, and Mary A., married to J. H. Cruzen, of Lan- 
caster City; James B., married to Maggie A. Smith, in Hall's, Lycoming County; Jacob 
W., married to Lizzie E. Engle, in this township; and Annie S., Maggie L. and Sarah 
Caroline, who make their home with their parents. In 1856 Mr. Weidenhamer was 
elected justice of the peace, and, with the exception of one term, has held the position 
continuously ever .since. During this time he has also been county auditor, besides hold- 
ing many township offices. He has also been a surveyor at which he has worked con- 
siderably of late years. Mr. Weidenhamer and wife are members of the Lutheran 
Church in which for many years he has been a deacon. In politics he is a Democrat of 
the JefEersonian school. He represented his district several times in the Democratic State 
Convention of his own State, and a number of times in the county convention of Montour 
County. He also served on several occasions as grand and petit juryman in the United 
States District and Circuit Courts held at Williamsport, Penn. 



MAHONING TOWNSHIP. 211 

CHAPTER XX. 
MAHONING TOWNSHIP. 

JACOB AND THOMAS COLE, owners of the iron ore mines, farmers and stock- 
s^rowers, P. O. Danville, are descended from German and English ancestors, who came to 
America and settled in Pennsylvania in an early day. The mines are located in Mahoning 
Township on the farm owned by our subjects. Jacob was born in that township, Sep- 
tember 13, 1819. and there also Thomas was born May 22, 1823. They are the sons of 
Thomas and Mary A. (Faust) Cole, were reared on the farm and made agriculture 
their business. In 1873 they opened the ore mines on the farm. Thomas has been director 
of the poor and school director of Mahoning Township. He started in life with 50 
cents. The brothers are members of the German Reformed Church, and their success is 
due to their industry and strict attention to business. 

DAVID P. DIEHL, farmer and fruit grower, residing near Danville, was born 
September 17, 1824, in Mahoning Township, Montour County, son of Christian and Mag- 
dalene Diehl, whose maiden name was Sechler, and who was a native of Mahoning Town- 
ship, Montour County. Peter Diehl, the father of Christian, was born in Berks County, 
near Reading, Penn., and at the age of two and a half years was captured by the 
Indians and brought to their village, which he in after life located as the Indian village at 
the mouth of Mahoning Creek, where he suffered untold hardships for a time from his 
captor, who had firmly decided to punish him with the full measure of Indian torture, 
until death would end his miserable life, and at one time he seized him by the 
limbs to dash out his brains against a tree.when through the kindly intercession of an aged 
squaw he was redeemed in exchange for a small copper kettle. With this woman he 
afterward lived to the end of his captivity, and enjoyed life pleasantly, and so attached 
did he become to his dusky foster mother, that when he was returned after seven and a 
half years of captivity, it was almost an impossibility to restrain him from running away 
from his former home, where it took the constant care of his elder brother and sister 
to watch him from running away to rejoin his dusky friends, the Delawares. When 
ten years of age he again returned to the home of his birth, where he lived to the age of 
manhood, when he married an estimable woman by the name of Molie Foust. He again 
sought the wilds of Mahoning Township, and located a place near his Indian home, on 
the place now occupied by his grandson, Peter Diehl. The subject of this historical 
sketch, D. P. Diehl, was reared upon the farm and was a faithful attendant of the county 
schools, and for a time of the Danville Academy, and of several other higher schools in 
• the neighborhood. From straitened circumstances he learned a trade, which afforded 
him the means to obtain a reasonable education by working at the carpenter trade in the 
summer and attending school in the winter, received from the toils of his employment. 
In 1870 he bought a small place within sight of Danville, which was planted and furnished 
with good fruit of various kinds of apples, pears and peaches, and a variety of small fruit 
such as currants, grapes, raspberries and strawberries. His health, which had become 
impaired in the toils of the trade he followed, was again renewed in the healthful exercise 
which the pleasure and toils of the occupation afforded him 

Where frequent vines, fine as could be 
On stakes or trellis tall and free. 
With bunches perfect, large and flush 
Tinged with a fair and tender blush; 
Grapes, dark and red and light they grew, 
And childish steps their places knew, 
^ And tender feet oft wandered there 

Where bunches hung, full, large and fair. 
And now and then a missing space 
Showed from a full, now vacant place, 
Yet childish voices silent hung 
Where the thrush and robin sung 
Joyful notes from the arbored vine; 
Here where the fruit was large and fine. 
Where cherries by the wayside grew 
And thievish birds their places knew. 

Such was the experience of the subject at his first efforts at fruit growing. In 1881 
Mr. Diehl bought the farm on whicli the Odd Fellows' cemetery is located, .and for ita 



212 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

size, there may be but few better farms in Montour County. Here our subject devoted 
himself to beautifying his home in fruit growing, general farming, and raising 
some market gardening in which he delights and enjoys. Politically he is a Prohi- 
bitionist, and was once nominated by that party for the Legislature. On December 
a2', 1853, Mr. Diehl married Susan, daughter of Charles Gearhart, and who died in 
1855; on January 8, 1858. he was married to his second wife, Mary C. Caldwell, who 
bore her husband two children: William E. and Benjamin. The second Mrs. Diehl died 
September 13, 1860, and our subject subsequently married Emily Runyan, and by her 
has two children: Herbert I. and Emma. Mr. Diehl, since he has become a farmer has 
taken an active part in everything which is intended to promote this industry, and 
from the interest and delight he takes in his present vocation it makes him not only a suc- 
cessful farmer,but one of the promoters of the cause of agriculture, and which now places 
him in prominent place in the history of the Montour County Agricultural Society, 
its waning star having almost set in the recollection of the past; but, through the writings 
and influence of a few, its prospect has become far more hopeful and encouraging. . 
He is now filling one of the important offices in trust of the society in which much 
duty has devolved on him, Mr. Diehl has a taste inclined to the beautiful and attached 
fondness to his home which is described by him in the following poem: 

I ask not for great riches, 

But love a pleasant place 
Where the broad landscape stretches 

In undulating space. 

Let this be a home forme 

Where air is pure and sweet, 
And the water's gushing free 

Where rills together meet. 

Why crave for silver or gold, 

When from their hoard we see 
Vile scenes of the darkest mold. 

Where peace and joy should be. 

Sweet home, that welcome domain. 

Where happiness may dwell, 
And true love and friendship reign 

And tears their sorrows tell ! 

No glory from the battle-field, 
Where hostile armies meet; 
Where frail life to death must yield 
In the red carnage heat. 

But let peace unite each bond, 

And join each sacred tie 
With kind words and greetings fond, 

Where true affections lie. 

No praise from a nation's tongue 

Can sound the name so well. 
As when the first praises rung 

Which the home voices swell. 

Where love and kind wishes reigned. 

And filled each childish breast 
With more joy than treasure gained. 

Or fading honors blest. D. P. D. 

SAMUEL MORRISON, retired farmer, Danville, was born November 3, 1821, a son 
of Edward and Elizabeth (Sechler) Mori-ison. He was born and reared on the farm where 
he now resides and which has been in the possession of the Sechlei and Morrison families 
over 100 years. His father was a native of New Jersey, of Scotch origin (whose mother, 
Sarah Lucas, was a Quakeress of English, origin), a farmer, and a soldier in the war of 
1812. He died in 1868 aged seventy-six years, and had come to Montour County when 
twelve years old. His wife was a native of Mahoning Township and of German origin. 
Her father, Joseph Sechler was an early settler of Danville, having come here when 
it was only a small village and purchased 600 hundred acres east of Danville at two 
shillings and sixpence per acre. Samuel Morrison is the fifth in a family of nine children ; 
was reared on the farm, and from his youth up engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was 
educated at home, his father paying a teacher for the purpose. His farm is a beautiful one, 
well improved, and most of his money has been made by dealing in stock and selling milk. 
In 1852 he married Hannah, daughter of Daniel Mourer, a farmer and of German origin. 



MAHONING TOWNSHIP. 213 

Mrs. Morrison died in June, 1885, a member of the Lutheran Church and the mother of the 
following children: James, married; Anna.wife of Jonathan Rudy, and Wooward. Mr. 
Morrison is a member of the Episcopal Church; politically a Democrat, and has held 
several township offices. 

HARMON S. MORRISON, farmer and stock grower. P. O. Danville, was born in 
Mahoning Township, September 12, 1827, a son of Edward and Elizabeth (Sechler) Mor- 
rison, the latter a native of Mahoning Township. His father, a native of New Jersey, 
was born September 19, 1791, and at the age of twelve years came to Mahoning Township, 
and by occupation was a farmer and cooper. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, and 
his death occurred in 1868. Harmon S. is [the sixth in a family of nine children, was 
reared in his native township on the farm, and attended the common schools. At the 
age of eighteen he began to learn the mason's trade, at which he served a three years' 
apprenticeship, and made the trade his occupation for twenty years, engaging also in 
farming. In 1870 he was appointed foreman of the construction of the brick and stone 
works at the State asylum near Danville, which position he yet holds, and also superin- 
tends his farm which "is situated near by. In 1850 he married Martha Ickes, of German- 
Irish origin, and a daughter of Michael tckes, of Snyder County, Penn., and they became 
the parents of four children: Margaret, John, Eugene and William. John having lost his 
wife lives with his father with two children (twins): Walter and Harmon S. Mrs. Mor- 
rison's death occurred February 7, 1887, aged fifty-eight years. She was a Christian woman 
being a member of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Morrison and all the children lare members 
of the Lutheran Church, in which he is an elder. He is a member of the Masonic frater- 
nity and a member of order of: P. of H., and politically is a Republican. Edward Morri- 
son, the grandfather of our subject, and Sarah Lucas, his wife (the latter a Quakeress), 
were born in the same year, 1753, were married in 1775 and lived in the State of New 
Jersey where all their children (three sons: William, John and Edward, and two daugh- 
ters, Anna and Sarah) were born. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Joseph 
Sechler, and his wife, Elizabeth, whose maiden name was Stump, came from Montgomery 
County, Penn., over 100 years ago to the town of Northumberland. When Danville was yet 
a small village in Northumberland County they moved to the latter place and purchased 
600 acres of land east of the town— Bloom road being the northern boundary of the place 
for two miles out of town— at two shillings and sixpence per acre. Their children have lived 
to see some of this original land sold at $225 per acre. Mr. Morrison's farm is apart of this 
original purchase. Other small parts of it are yet in the hands of the great-grandchil- 
dren. 

JACOB MOWERY, farmer, P. O. Danville, was born in CJolumbia County, Penn., 
October 18, 1816, a son of Christopher and Elizabeth (Smith) Mowery, natives of Berks 
Co. and of German origin. His father came to Columbia in an early day; settled in the 
woods, cleared a farm, and passed the remainder of his life there. Jacob is the youngest 
in a family of three children ; was reared on the farm and attended the schools of Colum- 
bia County. He has made farming his principal occupation, and is one of the most suc- 
cessful agriculturists in the county where he has resided for many years. In early life he 
learned the shoemaker's trade, and worked at it for fourteen years. He married, in 1833, 
Mary E., daughter of John Richards. She is of German origin, and has borne her hus- 
band the following named children: Rebecca J. (deceased); Harvey S. ; F. Adella, wife of 
John P. Weaver, a school-teacher, and John R., who was the eldest son, was a soldier in 
the late war, enlisting when only seventeen years of age, and was killed at the battle of 
Winchester. Mr. and Mrs. Mowery are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in 
which he has been a steward and class leader. Politically he is a Republican. 

GEORGE W. RISHEL, farmer and stock grower, P. O. Danville, was born within half 
a mile of where he now resides, in Mahoning 'Township, July 24, 1825, a son of Solomon 
and Sarah (Harpine) Rishel. His mother was born in Berks County, Penn. His father 
was a native of Mahoning Township, born in 1799, a son of Martin Rishel, who was a soldier 
in the Revolution and came to this township soon after the close of that struggle. He took up 
Government land, about 200 acres, cleared a farm and here passed the remaindej- of his 
life. The farm is still in possession of the family, the deed for a part of it at present 
l)eing the property of George W. The family have generally been farmers. George W. 
was reared on the farm and educated in the subscription schools in his native township. 
From his youth he has been successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits and owns two 
well improved farms in Montour County, and three houses and lots in town. He married, 
in 1847, Susannah, daughter of Hugh Cousart, of English and Irish origin. The children 
of Mr. and Mrs. Rishel are as follows: Peter, married and a farmer; Sarah J., wife of 
Alfred Topson, a farmer; James C. married and a house plasterer by trade; William E., 
married; Elizabeth A., wife of M. L. Leighow, railroad manager; H. C, a farmer and 
dairyman; George W., a farmer; Charles H.; Arthur F. and Ella'Virginia (deceased). Mr. 
and "Mrs. Rishel are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has been a 
clnss leader, steward, trustee and Sabbath-school superintendent. Mr. Rishel's maternal 
grandfather, David Harpine, was a colonel in the Revolution. Politically our subject is 
a Republican. 



214 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

ANDREW P. ROTH, superintendent of the Dairy and State Asylum Farm, Dan- 
ville, was born in Columbia County, Penn., August 21, 1841, a son of Lewis aud Margaret 
(Palmer) Roth, natives of Northampton County, Penn. His father was a farmer and 
died March 30, 1883, having been a resident of Columbia County since 1839. Andrew P. 
was the second in a family of five children, was reared on the farm and educated in the 
common schools of Catawissa, and on arriving at manhood made the dairy business and 
farming his occupation. In 1866 he was appointed superintendent of the poorhouse of 
Mahonmg and Danville, which position he held until 1872. He was then appointed super- 
intendent of the farm and dairy of the State asylum, which position he still retains. In 
1863 he married Hannah, a daughter of Charles Barnd, and of German origin. Their chil- 
dren are Lewis, Tamar, Margaret, Ellen, Hannah Elizabeth, William P. and Lulu. Mr. 
and Mrs. Roth are members of the Reformed Church, in which he is a deacon. In pol- 
itics he is a Republican. 

EDWARD WHITE, farmer and fruit grower, P. O. Danville, was born in Valley 
Township, Montour Co., Penn., March 16, 1825, a son of Hugh and Eleanore (Kelley) 
White, natives of Pennsylvania, and of English and Irish origin. His father was a 
natural mechanic, and for many years', worked on railroad and canal as contractor. Ed- 
ward received a common-school education, and in early life learned the mason's trade, 
which he followed principally until 1850, when he embarked in farming, which he has 
since followed. He is the owner of a well improved farm, consisting of eighty acres, 
where he resides. In 1852 he married Magdalena, daughter of Christian Mou.ser. Her 
parents were natives of Pennsylvania, and of German origin. To Mr. and Mrs. White 
were born the following children: Leslie H., Idella, Edward L. and John P. Mrs. White 
died in 1886, a consistent member of the German Lutheran Church. Mr. White is a Re- 
publican, but never held ofl3ce. He has been school director for several terms, is in- 
spector of elections and a member of the I. O. O. F. 

JACOB WIREMAN, farmer and fruit grower, P. O. Danville, was born in Mahoning 
Township, Montour Co., Penn., in 1818, a son of Jacob and Mary (Gogler) Wireman, 
natives of Pennsylvania and of German and English origin. He is the youngest of a 
family of seven children and was reared in Snyder County, whither his parents had moved 
when he was a child. He attended the subscription schools, and, at an early age began to 
work in the Reading railroad shops, where he remained three years. Subsequently he 
came to Danville and began to work in the iron ore mines for Grove Brothers. He was 
soon appointed superintendent of the mines, which position he filled for twenty- five lyears. 
In 1863 he bought his present farm, which he has improved and has a fine country resi- 
dence on the Bloomsburg road, Mahoning Township, where he and family reside. He 
married, in 1843, Reginia, daughter of Jacob Rishel. Her paternal and maternal ancestors 
were among the early German settlers of Pennsylvania. The children of Mr. and Mrs. 
Wireman are Henry, who was a lieutenant in the light artillery in the late war; Mary, 
wife of James Hendricksou; Libbie, wife of James C. Rishel, and Fannie, at home. Mr. 
and Mrs. Wireman are members of the German Reformed Church, in which Mr. Wire 
man is an elder. He is a Republican, politically. 



CHAPTER XXL 

MAYBERRY TOWNSHIP. 

E. H. VOUGHT, farmer, P. O. Union Corner, Northumberland County, was born in 
Mayberry Township, this county, July 8, 1822, a son of John and Hannah (Metz) Vought, 
natives of New Jersey, and of German descent. His ancestors came from Germany and 
settled in New Jersey, where they lived until their death. His father came to Montour 
County in the early part of the present century, and settled where James, his son, now 
lives. He bought about 1,000 acres of rough land in Mayberry Township, which land is 
all in the Vought name yet. He lived and died on the place where he first located. He 
was the father of eight children, six of whom are yet living: Anna, Valentine, Elizabeth, 
Lena, E. H., and James. The father died in 18G9, aged eighty-four years, and the mother in 
about 1875, aged eighty-eight years. Our subject was reared on the old homestead, and re- 
mained with his parents until twenty-two years of age, when he moved to where he now re- 
sides. He at once commenced to improve his place, which was all timber. He cleared nearly 
all of it, which required the labor of several years, and built a nice residence, good barn, 
aud now has one of the best farms in Mayberry Township. He was married in 1841, to 



VALLEY TOWNSHIP. 



215 



Louisa, daughter of Samuel Gioul, and by her had ten children, nine of whom are now liv- 
ing:Anna, Mary J. ; Henrietta, wife of Adam Pensyl; Christian M. ; Sariah E.. wife of Arthur 
Long; Margaret S., wife of Harvey Hartman, in Plymouth. Penn., Edward B ; Joseph H.; 
Alonzo C. Mr. and Mrs. Vought are members of the Lutheran Church. He has been justice 
of the peace, and held nearly all the township offices. In politics he is a Democrat. 



CHAPTEK XXII. 
VALLEY TOWNSHIP. 



JOHN BENFIELD, farmer and lumberman, P. O. Danville, was born in Columbia 
County, Penn., February 5, 1832, a son of Thomas and Catherine (Wertman) Benheld. 
natives of Pennsylvania, and of German origin. His father was engaged in several 
branches of business, among which were distilling, boating, milling and lumbering, and 
was very successful. John is the second of three children, and spent his earlier years 
with his parents on the farm in Valley Township. Here he was educated and has been 
engaged in business, being a farmer, miller, dealer in and manufacturer of lumoei> and 
has met with success in his ventures. He is the owner of 600 acres of land in ditterent 
farms in Montour County, and 400 acres of woodland in Columbia County. He also owns 
the Benfield flour-mill in Valley Township. In 1855 he married Catherine, daughter of 
Daniel and Sarah (Everett) Cromley, and of German descent. The children born to Mr. 
and Mrs. Benfield are Catherine (wife of Robert Crosley, a farmer), Emma Jane, John 
Clark and Thomas H. Mrs. Benfield is a member of the Lutheran Church. Mi\ Benfield 
is a Democrat, and was recently elected associate judge of Montour County. The judge 
is a prominent citizen of Valley Township. 

JOSEPH BRYANT, Danville, weigh-master for the Montour Iron & Steel Company, 
also farmer in Valley Township, Montour Co., Penn., was born May 6, 1833, son of Sam- 
uel and Hannah (Sperring) Bryant, natives of England. Samuel Bryant was a miner; he 
went from England to Wales, and in 1837 came to Pottsville, Penn., where he worked in 
the iron ore mines. Our subject attended school in Danville, Penn., and early in life was 
aoprenticed to learn the puddler's trade in the rolling-mill in Danville, which occupation 
he followed until the breaking out of the Rebellion in 1861, when he enlisted in the Fit ty- 
fourth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, in Company E, and was discharged m 1862 for 
disability. After returning home and regaining his health, he accepted his present posi- 
tion, and has since devoted most of his time to it. He was married, in 1856, to Lydia, 
daughter of Jacob Roup; she was born in Pennsylvania, and of German origin, Ihey 
have five children now living: Charles M. (a miner), Henrietta, Alice, Martha, Sarah J. 
(deceased). In politics Mr. Bryant is a Republican. 

D. R. P. CHILDS, farmer, P. O. Danville, was born in the house where be now re- 
sides, in Valley Township. Montour Co., Penn., October 16. 1838, son of Andrew and 
Margaret (Arnwine) Childs. The former was born in Northumberland County, Penn. 
June 13, 1789, of parents John and Mary (Gregg) Childs, the former born in England aiu. 
the latter in Ireland, and were married in Northumberland County. February 1, 178.). 
They were farmers and came to Valley Township in 1795 and commenced to improve the 
farm where Mr. Childs now resides. Mr. Child's father was a farmer, and spent nearly all 
his life here in that occupation. He reared a large family and died in 1864. The widow, 
who was born in New Jersey, November 17, 1798, a daughter of Jacob Arnwine, a farmer, 
is still living. Our subject's parents were married in Valley Township, October 24, 181o. 
This union was blessed with fifteen children, thirteen of them living to be grown, nine of 
whom were sons. Twelve of the family are now living (1886). D. R. P. Childs was the 
fourteenth in the family, was reared on the home farm, attending school in his native 
township, and has always followed farming. In 1862 he enlisted in the One Hundred and 
Seventy-eighth Pennsylvania Infantry, served nine months and was discharged in 18bd on 
account of ill health. In politics he is a Democrat. 

JOHN A. COOPER, miller, P. O. Danville, was born near Washingtonville, Montour 
Co., Penn., August 15, 1859, son of Abraham and Jane (Laney) Cooper. They were 
natives of Pennsylvania and of Irish and German origin. Abraham Cooper was a farmer 
all his life; his family consisted of six children; he was twice married, J. A. being the 
only child by his second marriage. Our subject attended the schools of Washingtonville 
and remained on the farm with his parents until he went to learn the miller's trade, and 
in due time became a miller, which has since been his business. He has met with success, 



216 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

and now owns the Frosty mills in Valley Township. His mills were destroyed by fire in 
1883, and since then he has rebuilt them. He was married in 1884 to Miss Daisy, daughter 
of Lafayette Faust, a native of Pennsylvania. They have one child, Vergia May. Mr. 
Cooper is a Republican in politics. 

JOSEPH CORELL. general merchant at Mausdale, P. O. Danville, was born in 
Northampton County, Penn., August 12, 1818, a sen of George and Susannah (Schoch) 
Corell, natives of Pennsylvania and of German descent. The grandfather came from 
Germany; settled in Northampton County, Penn., and followed farming, which was also 
the vocation of George Corell. Joseph is the fifth in a family of twelve children, and was 
reared on the farm. In 1849 he came to Columbia County and followed agricultural pur- 
suits. He served a regular apprenticeship at millwrighting, and worked at it for six years, 
and again farmed for a time in Columbia County. In 1868 he embarked in the general 
mercantile business at Bloomsburg, and subsequently moved to Mausdale, where he still 
continues in business. In 1843 he married Elizabeth Heslett, who was of Scotch descent 
and died infl870. Mr. Corell in 1884 married Rachel W. MuUin, daughter of John S. and 
Catherine M. (Plush) Mullin, the mother of German and the father of Irish-German origin. 
Mrs. Corell is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but her husband affiliates 
with the Reformed Church at Mausdale, in which he is an elder and was formerly super- 
intendent of the Sabbath-school. Politically he is a Republican; is director of the poor 
and treasurer of the board, and one of the representative citizens of Mausdale. 

JAMES CURRY, deceased, was born in what is now Valley Township, about 1812, 
where he passed his life, dying in 1876, honored and respected by all who knew him. He 
was the eldest son of William and Jane (Moore) Curry; was educated in Montour County 
and made farming his business, and was the owner of 245 acres of well improved land at 
the time of his death. In politics he was a Democrat, and held most of the township 
offices in Valley Township, also served ten years as an associate judge of Montour 
County. February 2, 1841, he married Christiana, daughter of Samuel" Yorks and grand- 
daughter of William Yorks. The latter was an officer in the Revolution under Washing- 
ton. Mrs. Curry's father was a lieutenant in the war of 1812, and died in Dan- 
ville in 1868 at the age of seventy-nine years. When eight years of age he came to 
Columbia County, and grew up on the farm where the State asylum now stands, and be- 
came a successful business man. He reared a family of nine children, only two of whom 
now survive. Mrs. Thompson and the widow of our subject. To Judge and Mrs. Curry 
six children were born, all of whom are living: William; Elizabeth, wife of James McWill- 
iams; Agnes; Mary Ella, wife of Dr. W. Faulds; Samuel and Stewart. Mrs. Curry is a 
member of the Presbyterian Church, of which denomination the Curry and York families 
have always been members. 

WILLIAM CURRY, farmer and stock grower, P. O. Danville, was born in Valley 
Township, Montour County, November 23, 1842, a son of Hon. James and Christiana 
(Yorks) Curry, of Irish and German origin and whose ancestors were among the early 
settlers of Pennsylvania. William is the eldest in a family of six children and was reared 
on the farm in Valley Township. He was educated in the country schools, and academy 
at Danville, and adopted agriculture as his vocation. In 1873 he married Helen, daughter 
of Samuel Lowrie, of Scotch-Irish descent. Mr. and Mrs. Curry have five children: Eloise, 
James, Anna, Robert and Jean. The parents are members of the Grove Presbyterian 
Church of Danville. Mr. Curry has been school director. Politically he is a Democrat. 

SAMUEL CURRY, farmer and stock grower, P. O. Mooresburg, was born on the 
farm where he now resides in Valley Township, Montour County. September 3, 1819, a son 
of William and Jane (Moore) Curry, natives of Pennsylvania and of Irish origin. The 
grandfather, Robert Curry, came from Ireland to America and settled in what is now 
Montour County, Penn., where he was killed bv the Indians. William Curry was reared 
here and became a successful farmer, and was the father of the following children: James, 
who grew to manhood, married, engaged in farming and died in 1876; Margaret, who was 
married to Daniel Montgomery; Robert and Samuel. The last two farm the homestead 
and are the third generation on it, the deed to which has never been in any other name. 
They are partners and own 250 acres of land; are industrious and honest and enjoy the 
respect of all who know them. In politics the family have usually been Democrats. James, 
their elder brother, died in 1876. and had served as associate judge of Montour County. 

JONATHAN DAVIS, farmer and stock grower, P. O. Danville, was born where he 
now resides in Valley Townshij), July 23, 1819, a son of Griffith J. and Phebe (Burry) 
Davis, natives of Pennsylvania and of Welsh descent. His father, a relative of the 
famous Jefferson Davis, ex-president of the Southern Confederacy, was engaged in farm- 
ing all his life and died in 1874. Jonathan was educated at the schools of his native 
county, and from youth up has been engaged in agricultural pursuits, and has been very 
successful. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church and a stanch Democrat 
politically. 

David Davis, farmer, P. (). Danville, was born in Valley Township, January 5, 
1823, and is a brother of the preceding gentleman. He was educated in the common 
schools and engaged in farming. He and his brother, Jonathan, are partners and together 



VALLEY TOWNSHIP. 217 

own the farm of 300 acres. Mr. Davis married in Nortluimberland County, Penn., Theo- 
docia, daughter of Gen. William Case of the Pennsylvania militia. This union has been 
blessed by two children: Thomas Beaver and William. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are 
members of the Presbyterian Church. lie generally refuses to accept office, but has 
served 3)S 3(Ssessor. 

JAMES FENSTERMACHER, farmer and stock grower and owner of the Fenater- 
macher tannery in Valley Township, P. O. Danville, was born in Valley Township, April 
4, 1849, a son of Charles and Catherine (Scbumacher) Fenstermacher, natives of Lehigh 
County, Ponn. His father came to Montour County about 1831, a tanner by trade, and 
about 1836 built the tannery, which he operated until his death in 1886. He served one 
term as one of the commissioners of Montour County. James is the only son in a family 
of three children; was reared in his native township, and educated at Danville and Mer- 
cersburg College, Franklin County. He engaged in farming and tanning, has met 
with success, and owns 200 acres of land on which he resides. He married, in 1872, Kate 
Kocher, a native of Pennsylvania, who has borne him four children, of whom Ida P., 
Charles N. and Laura May are living, one having died at the age of two and a half years. 
Mr. and Mrs. Fenstermacher are members of the Reformed Church, in which he is a 
deacon. His parents were also identified with that denomination, his father serving as a 
deacon and elder for many years. 

NATHAN FENSTERMACHER, farmer, P. O. Danville, was born in Lehigh 
County, Penn., January 8, 1827, son of Abraham and Christianna (Wise) Fenstermacher, 
natives of Pennsylvania and of German origin. His paternal and maternal ancestors 
were among the early settlers of Pennsylvania. His father was a merchant miller by 
occupation, and settled in Valley Township in 1834 on the farm where Nathan now 
resides, and which he owns. Abraham erected a saw-mill in 1838, and helped to build the 
Fenstermacher tannery, and continued the saw-mill and tannery until his death in 1851. 
His family consisted of eight children, of whom Nathan was the fifth. He was reared in 
Valley Township on the farm, attended the district schools and chose farming as an occu- 
pation, in which he has met with success, and is the owner of 112 acres of land. He was 
married in 1854 to Margaret Snyder, daughter of Henry and Catherine (Sechler) Snyder, 
the father being a native of Valley Township, born March 3, 1810. The house in which 
he was born is still standing. Our subject and wife have two children: Minnie and Estella 
J. The family are members of the Reformed Church, in which he has been a deacon 
and of which he is now an elder, treasurer, and secretary and treasurer of the Sunday- 
school. In politics he is a Republican. 

JAMES FLORA, retired hotel-keeper, P. O. Danville, was born in 1817 in Columbia 
County, Penn. He is the son of Joseph and Jane (Craig) Flora; Joseph Flora was a 
miller, and followed that as a business for many years. James, our subject, was his only 
child, and was reared in Montour .County, attending the subscription schools. Jane Flora 
lived to the advanced age of ninety-eight; Joseph Flora died before our subject was born, 
therefore the latter's knowledge of his father is limited. They were of Scotch-Irish 
descent. Our subject has made farming his occupation, but kept the hotel for twenty- 
one years. He still owns the farm in Anthony Township, the hotel in Valley Township 
and other real estate. He was married, in 1841, to Sarah Ann, daughter of John Smith; 
she is of German origin. They have six children now living: Jane E. (wife of Samuel 
Beaver), Sally Ann (wife of Grier Acor), Mary C. (wife of Westley Perry), William, 
Hannah (wife of Henry Billinger) and Caroline (wife of Harry A. Greiner). The family 
are members of the Reformed Church, and in politics Mr. Flora is a Democrat. 

EDWARD FRAZIER, farmer, P. O. Danville, was born in Danville, Penn., Febru- 
ary 16, 1852, son of Daniel F. Frazier, who was the first sheriff of Montour County, of 
which the brother of Edward is the present sheriff. Edward is the youngest of a family 
of seven children, and was reared on the farm, receiving schooling in the district school. 
He chose farming as his occupation and has followed it until the present time, being 
owner of the farm where he now resides in Valley Township. He was married in 1881 to 
Sarah J. (of German origin), daughter of Samuel Herr. Their children are Samuel and 
Alice. Mr. Frazier is a member of the Lutheran Church, and in politics is a Republican. 
HARRY A. GREINER, carriage-trimmer and musician, P. O. Danville, was born in 
Lehigh County, Penn., March 9, 1853, son of Christian and Tacy (Levan) Greiner. His 
father was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, his mother in Lehigh County, Penn., and of 
German origin. His father was a brewer in Germany, but after he came to America he 
followed the occupation and business of manufacturing carriages. His family consisted 
of nine children, of which H. A. is the sixth. He was reared in Snyder County, Penn., 
attending school at Selin's Grove. He excelled in penmanship and music. In 1873 he 
came to Montour County, and engaged in teaching music and carriage-trimming. 
He was ^larried in 1874 to Caroline, daughter of James and Sarah A. (Smith) Flora. 
They have one child now living, William. Mr. and Mrs. Greiner are members of the 
Reformed Church. In politics he is a Democrat. 

JOHN HENDRICKS, farmer, P. O. Danville, was born in Montgomery County, 
Penn., October 25, 1826, son of Abraham and Mary (Hunsicker) Hendricks. John Hun- 



218 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

sicker, his .ii;randfatlicr, was a bisliop ia the Menuoaite Church and served for twenty 
years in that capacity. Abraham Hendriclis was a farmer and the father of six children, 
all living to be grown and married. Roger Hendricks, brother of our subject, is also a 
prominent farmer in Valley Township. At the age of seventeen John, our subject, com- 
menced to teach school, and followed that until he was thirty-one years of age, and since 
then has devoted his time to farming. He came to Montour County, Penn., in 1858 and 
settled on the farm where he now resides. He was married in 1861 to Hannah, daughter 
of Jacob and Sarah (Roberts) Highley, who were of German and Welsh extraction. The 
marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hendricks has been blessed with three children: Joseph, who is 
a carpenter by trade; Frank, also a carpenter, and Sally at home. Mr. Hendricks is a 
Republican in politics, and at present is a justice of the peace. He has served as school 
director for twelve years. 

W. S. LAWRENCE, superintendent of the Montour Iron and Steel Iron Mines, in 
Valley Township, xMontour County, was born in Danville, Penn., December 20, 1842, 
son of William T. and Ann (Phillips) Lawrence. His parents were born in Monmouth- 
shire, South Wales. William T. Lawrence, a miner by occupation, was married in Wales 
in 1839, came to America and settled in Montour County, Penn., where he worked in the 
iron mines. Of their ten children only two survive, W. S., and Sarah Ann, who is now 
the wife of Joseph Woodford, .of Valley Township. Our subject was reared in Dan- 
ville, attending the common schools, and at an early age went to work in the old Rough 
and Ready Mill of that place. At the age of fifteen he commenced to work in the mines, 
and when twenty -seven years old was appointed foreman. Since 1882 he has served as 
superintendent of the mines. He was married in 1863 to Rachel, daughter of William 
Churm, a native of England. This union has been blessed with nine children, eight of 
them now living — five sons and three daughters. The family have been members of the 
Baptist Church. In politics Mr. Lawrence is a Republican, and he has served nine years 
as school director in Valley Township. He is the owner of a farm, and all he has ac- 
quired has been by his own industry and exertion. 

A. J. MAUS, farmer, P. O. Danville, was born in Montour County, Penn., Septem- 
ber 15, 1831, a son of Lewis and Catherine (Baughman) Maus, whose paternal and ma- 
ternal ancestors were among the earliest settlers of Pennsylvania. His maternal grand- 
fatner was a soldier in the Revolution, and the gun carried by him all through that strug- 
gle is iu possession of our subject. His father, Lewis Maus, ran the first keel-bottom 
boat on the Susquehanna, and bought an extensive tract of land in Valley Township, 
which was then a wilderness. A. J. is the youngest in a family of ten children, nine of 
whom grew to maturity; was reared in Valley Township and has farmed most of his life. 
Since 1879 he has acted as agent for Walter A. Wood, of Hoosick Falls, N. Y., manu- 
facturer of reapers and binders, and this is at present his principal business. In 1847 he 
married Harriet Billmeyer, a native of Pennsylvania, of German origin, and a daughter 
of Martin Billmeyer. "^Their children are Maggie, wife of Orin Kimerer; Matthew, in 
the employ of the Walter A. Wood Mowing & Reaping Machine Company, of New 
York, and at present in South America; Ida, wife of H. H. Southwick; Harry and^Edna. 
Mr. and Mrs. Maus are members of the Episcopal Church. 

PHILIP E. MAUS, bookkeeper and business manager for his father, Philip F. Maus, 
was born May 23, 1853, and is the only surviving member of the family. His mother, 
whose maiden name was Sarah Gallagher, was born in Lycoming County, Penn. ; was of 
Scotch-Irish and German origin. His father was born in what is now Valley Township, 
made milling and farming his business, and succeeded in amassing a handsome fortune. 
His birth occurred in 1810, a son of Joseph Maus, who was a soldier in the Revolution, 
serving under Washington at Valley Forge. The great grandfather of our subject was 
Philip Maus, who was among the earliest German settlers here. Philip E. attended school 
in Danville, and also the Tuscarora Academy and Chambersburg Academy. He com- 
menced business first as a lumber dealer, but, on account of his father's health, came 
home to assist the latter in his business. In 1878 he married Mary R. Leinbach, of Ger- 
man descent, and a daughter of John B., a farmer of Northumberland County. Politically 
Mr. Maus is a Republican. 

WILLIAM PURSEL, Sr., farmer, P. O. Danville, was born in Hemlock Township, 
Columbia Co., Penn., April 9,1808, son of Daniel and Mary (Green) Pursel, natives of 
New Jersey, and of Irish origin. Daniel Pursel was a blacksmith and farmer, and came 
to Columbia County with the early settlers; his family consisted of eight s»ns and three 
daughters. Our subject was the seventh child, and was reared on the farm, attending the 
subscription schools in the township; he chose farming as his occupation, but learned the 
tanner's trade and worked at it four years, when he again resumed farming, and made that 
his business until he retired from the active labors of life. In business he has met with 
success, and is the owner of the farm where he now resides. He was united in marriage 
in 1830, with Susan, daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Rupert) Farnwald; her parents were 
natives of Pennsylvania, and of German origin. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Pursel 
has been blessed with seven children, (six now living): Charles, Daniel G., Sarah B. (now 
the wife of P. Moore), Peter, William F. (deceased), James, and Samuel who has charge 



WEST HEMLOCK TOWNSHIP. 219 



^f thP farm Mr and Mrs Pursel are members of the Reformed Church in which he has 
bLV^adeTcoa'^udeMer.' He has served as school director, supervisor, and overseer of 

^'"-' 'i'^TPprTwx F ROBERTS farmer, P. O. Danville, was bornnn Mahoning Township. 
,, ^^^^P^ P.nn T,Sv 10 1814 son of Edward and Rebecca (Phillips) Roberts, natives 
Montour Co., Penn.. July lu, ^«^*' f'^" %^;^,, , Wgigij oriein. Edward Roberts was 

parents until old enougb to '«»™ '^"^ '»;'°;.4™*;^,S°n Valley Township on the ta.m 
he „?w?S,''MiXl6.T8|9 Tson^ of Jacob anC Eli.a,,^h '^^'I^^^Htl'cZZt.ri 

f trusTee aSd in wS he has been a class leader and superintendent ot the Sunday-school. 
in politics he is a Republican. 



CHAPTEE XXIII. 
WEST HEMLOCK TOWNSHIP. 

V R SHTTLTZ farmer P. O. Danville, was b,n-n January 13. 1820, in this township, 
four7h son of Peter ShuUz Jacob Shultz. grandfather of our subject, was a very early 
so tier in tW county an 1 was driven away from his. home several tmies ^Y he Indian . 
nnd for^eX take refu-e in the fort. To Jacob and his wife were born the following chil- 



220 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

John K., B. F., Peter R. and Mary. Vincent R. Shultz was born in what is now West 
Hemlock, Montour County, and was reared on tlie farm until he attained his majority, 
-when he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Mary (Long) Cox. After his 
marriage he located on* the farm he now owns, which was covered with timber and whicb 
he has since cleared. Mr. and Mrs. Shultz have four children: Melinda M., wife of Henry 
Cooper, of Derry Township; Sarah C, wife of Hiram Turner in Madison Township; Jane, 
wife of John Johnson, of Jerseytown, and Lloyd C, of this county. Mr. Shultz has been 
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for forty-five years; his wife since she was 
fourteen years of age; he has served as class leader. Politically Mr. Shultz is a Democrat. 
Has been justice of the peace for twenty-five consecutive years; and school director twenty- 
one years. 

JEREMIAH WINTERSTEEN, farmer, P. O. Danville. The Wintersteen family 
came from Scotland and located in New Jersey about the year 1740. Philip Wintersteen, 
grandfather of our subject, came from New Jersey with his family and settled in what is 
now Columbia County, in Fishingcreek and Roaringcreek Townships, about the year 
1798. His son, Philip, father of our subject, was born October 27, 1778, in New Jersey; 
when young he learned the miller's trade which he followed for several years, being for 
some time in the mill at Millville. He married Hannah Stiles, daughter of Benjamia 
Stiles, who fought seven years in the colonial war. They reared a family of twelve chil- 
dren: Jacob, Benjamin, William, Mahala, Sarah A., Hannah, Philip, Mary, Nancy, John, 
Jeremiah and Solvena. The father bought a farm at Warnerville, but after clearing it 
lost it through an imperfect title; he then moved to the place where Elias Watts now 
lives; buying this he cleared it up and here died in the fall of 1839, his widow surviving 
him until 1860. Jeremiah was born July 14, 1826, in Warnerville, now Sereno, Columbia 
County, and was reared in Pine Township, Columbia Co., Penn. At the age of eighteen 
years "he began life for himself, and when about forty-four years of age he came to this 
locality, the year prior to the division of the county. He married Sarah, daughter of 
Jacob and Elizabeth (Benfield) Sittleo, and a native of Valley Township, Montour Co., 
Penn. In 1855 he purchased the farm he now owns, which was settled about 100 years- 
ago by James Wintersteen, his uncle. He now owns two farms. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Wintersteen were born twelve children, six living: Mary L., wife of John A. Shultz. of 
Madison Township, Columbia County; Elizabeth J., wife of William E. Knorr, of Blooms- 
burg; George B. ; Hannah C. ; Daniel A. ; Thomas B. Politically Mr. Wintersteen is a 
Democrat; has been supervisor and school director of the township. He is a member of 
the Lutheran Church. 




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